I'm not the most social person. Not that I think I'm anti-social… I'm just not the guy going out of his way to strike up a conversation with total strangers. Hell, I stopped wearing t-shirts that said things years ago, because I realized that they encouraged people I didn't know to think I was interested in talking to them.
And yet, somehow, I seem to put out this "come talk to me" vibe at the most inopportune moments. (I remember once in college, looking across the quad at some guy wearing an Imperial Fleet Officer Cap and thinking 'god, what a loser'… only to have him walk over and strike up a conversation with me moments later. And yes, I know what that implies about my social status at the time. All too accurate, I fear.)
Last week, we had just seen Alice In Wonderland and were heading to the restrooms before leaving the theater. Outside the women's restroom, presumable (hopefully?) waiting for his wife, I was accosted by an older guy, asking me what I'd thought of the movie.
I'd actually enjoyed Alice much more than I'd expected and told him so. Then I tried to continue on to the men's room. But, no such luck. "Really?" He asked me. "I was kind of disappointed in the 3D… they didn't have enough stuff coming out at the screen at you!"
At this point, I still have to pee, and now I realize that I'm being talking to the type of guy inherently responsible for the one thing I truly detest in 3D films… the apparent need felt by most directors to remind you that you're watching 3D by shoving stuff out of the screen at you. I've said it before, and I stand by it now… as long as 3D directors feel compelled to shove things out of the screen, then it's going to remain a gimmick, and not a true storytelling device. To that end, Cameron was very restrained in his use of this effect in Avatar (I can only think of one or two instances early on in the film when he resorted to this) and, as my new-found 'friend' was trying to explain to me, Alice had also avoided the temptation to indulge in this technique.
I told him that I actually preferred it when 3D movies didn't feel the need to remind you they're in 3D, and that I liked the subtle approach, as it was more immersive. He responded by telling me that he really liked Journey to the Center of the Earth — how "that movie really got the 3D right!"
And all I could think about was how god-awful that movie was when I'd seen it on cable a few weeks previous. The two moments that stick with me the most are the tape measure being shaken into our faces early on in the film, and the extended flying fish scene, with countless number of fish vaulting over the adventurers raft (and, of course, out of the screen at the audience).
I tried to shrug off his comments and move on to the men's room before he could regale me with his reasons for liking Journey, and telling me how much he was looking forward to "Why Did I Get Married Too" (to no avail, obviously), but it wasn't till Dani came out of the restroom and escorted me away that I was able to make my escape.
I don't know if he stalks the local AMC, looking for people to talk to about movies, or if I just lucked out last week… but I'm watching out for Mr. Loved Journey to the Center of the Earth in future trips to the movies, just in case.
And yet, somehow, I seem to put out this "come talk to me" vibe at the most inopportune moments. (I remember once in college, looking across the quad at some guy wearing an Imperial Fleet Officer Cap and thinking 'god, what a loser'… only to have him walk over and strike up a conversation with me moments later. And yes, I know what that implies about my social status at the time. All too accurate, I fear.)
Last week, we had just seen Alice In Wonderland and were heading to the restrooms before leaving the theater. Outside the women's restroom, presumable (hopefully?) waiting for his wife, I was accosted by an older guy, asking me what I'd thought of the movie.
I'd actually enjoyed Alice much more than I'd expected and told him so. Then I tried to continue on to the men's room. But, no such luck. "Really?" He asked me. "I was kind of disappointed in the 3D… they didn't have enough stuff coming out at the screen at you!"
At this point, I still have to pee, and now I realize that I'm being talking to the type of guy inherently responsible for the one thing I truly detest in 3D films… the apparent need felt by most directors to remind you that you're watching 3D by shoving stuff out of the screen at you. I've said it before, and I stand by it now… as long as 3D directors feel compelled to shove things out of the screen, then it's going to remain a gimmick, and not a true storytelling device. To that end, Cameron was very restrained in his use of this effect in Avatar (I can only think of one or two instances early on in the film when he resorted to this) and, as my new-found 'friend' was trying to explain to me, Alice had also avoided the temptation to indulge in this technique.
I told him that I actually preferred it when 3D movies didn't feel the need to remind you they're in 3D, and that I liked the subtle approach, as it was more immersive. He responded by telling me that he really liked Journey to the Center of the Earth — how "that movie really got the 3D right!"
And all I could think about was how god-awful that movie was when I'd seen it on cable a few weeks previous. The two moments that stick with me the most are the tape measure being shaken into our faces early on in the film, and the extended flying fish scene, with countless number of fish vaulting over the adventurers raft (and, of course, out of the screen at the audience).
I tried to shrug off his comments and move on to the men's room before he could regale me with his reasons for liking Journey, and telling me how much he was looking forward to "Why Did I Get Married Too" (to no avail, obviously), but it wasn't till Dani came out of the restroom and escorted me away that I was able to make my escape.
I don't know if he stalks the local AMC, looking for people to talk to about movies, or if I just lucked out last week… but I'm watching out for Mr. Loved Journey to the Center of the Earth in future trips to the movies, just in case.
Comments