Since Winston was born, I have seen many movies – on Netflix. The convenience it offers is unmatchable – I would often choose to watch a movie on Netflix Instant after Winston has gone to sleep, and if I fall asleep in the middle, I get to start where I left off exactly the next time. I could choose to abandon a boring movie and start a new one anytime.
But there is something about going to a movie theater that makes the movie-watching experience special. I can’t really describe it accurately. The difference between watching a film at home and seeing it in the theater is akin to the difference btween eating a great dinner at home and eating in a fancy restaurant. It’s got that extra edge of excitement – like I am going to do something fun. That sense of anticipation combined with the sense of sharing this experience with many other people I don’t know and will never know makes it not only special, but also somewhat exotic.
Therefore, when a friend recommended the movie “Inception”, I decided to see it in the theater. After all, I still live (as of today) 10 minutes away from a movie theater. Michael took his whole lab out for a hiking trip yesterday. My mom is still around and so is the new nanny. After I put Winston down for his nap, it turned out that it was right before the next show of “Inception” would start.
As I was walking into the theater, I was thinking to myself, “this is the first time in my life that I am going to see a movie in the theater by myself.” Perhaps because I would know no one at the theater, I was wearing completely mismatched clothes and shoes, and my hair must have been sticking out from my hasty combing in the morning. In the old days, if I were to get together with friends, I would at least try not to look too bad!
Well, maybe that’s the advantage of seeing a movie alone in the theater – I can be as dishevelled as I like. The movie itself is quite an exciting experience. Considering how I am a fanatical fan of “The Matrix” but absolutely did not like either of the two sequels, I genuinely hope that there will not be a sequel to this movie, despite the fact that the ending seemed a bit enigmatic. Sometimes it is better to have an enigma than a revelation. As a scientist-turned businesswoman, I am the ultimate proponent of clarity and pragmatism. But I think there is a place for everything. I would not want the allures of enigmas in my daily life or relationships, irrespective of how we as human beings are naturally attracted to such things. Yet on the other hand, I would not want to seek clarity or logic in fictions or fantasy, as that would either lead to disappointment in our own pedestrian life for its lack of excitement or spice, as fervent readers of romance literature are disillusioned by the lack of perfection in their own love lives; or it would lead to disappointment in an otherwise perfectly fascinating story, which could only have stayed perfect if we left it unresearched further.
That was my feeling regarding “The Matrix” trilogy, and it is my feeling with “Inception”. I am not certain that I know exactly what happened in the end, but that was just fine. I am sure that when my friend comes to visit Bay Area later this month, we could have an interesting discussion on our respective takes, reading much more into each gesture of Leonardo Dicaprioo than necessary – I should mention that I remain a fan of his. I know that “Titanic” is a silly movie for teenage girls, but I loved it nonetheless. While he seems to like working with Martin Scorsesee, I don’t like any of those movies he made with Scorsesee. I liked “Catch me if you can” and “Blood Diamond”. And I just really like him!
Enough of this stream-of-consciousness writing about movie-watching experience....
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