When we lived in Palm Springs, Calif. which is one of the hottest spots in our nation — next to Death Valley — we used movies as an escape from the heat. It didn’t matter what was playing, we’d find something we were mildly interested in. It got us out of the house where we spent most days.
Then COVID hit and movie theaters were closed. I missed movies a lot. I loved the smell of popcorn when you walk through the theater doors. I loved the few hours sitting in the dark, watching the big screen with unbelievable sound.
I remember writing during the shutdown that the first thing I wanted to do when things reopened was go to the movies.
Fast forward to September 2022 — and we hadn’t been yet. The reason why? I was uncomfortable sitting in the theater with a bunch of strangers. Once we moved, the theater was a 30-minute drive, not a few blocks. The Phoenix area has 6 million people, rather than the 48,000 of Palm Springs. Whenever I looked online, the theaters were full.
Labor Day was packed at the beach. We went early and left when floods of people set up their umbrellas and chairs. We came up with the brilliant idea of going to the movies!
We saw Top Gun. I loved every minute of it. I felt like it was a milestone of getting back to “normal.”
What was first on your list to do post shutdown?
As soon as things opened I was there…bookstores, botanic gardens, didn’t matter. I went.
We’ve done everything else except the movies.
Love the idea of timing going to the movies when theaters aren’t as full – Top Gun has gotten such great reviews, it sounds like a good one.
There were six people in the theater — including us.
Top Gun was also my first movie. We went early on a Friday to avoid lots of people. By the way, that is the way to make a sequel.
We have not been to a theater in years, mostly for the reasons you listed. Tampa gets hot AND humid, driving people into A/C space or the beaches. Problem is, parents use the theaters as a babysitting service and can be seen dropping of hordes of unsupervised kids in front. There is no way you will get me into a confined space with a mob of unsupervised, undisciplined, un-respectful teenagers who all have cell phones with unlimited text, phone and data, and an overwhelming urge to fight someone. That is what streaming and Redbox eliminate.
That sounds painful. We didn’t have a kid population in Palm Springs, so that wasn’t a problem.
I recently saw top gun and despite my reservations, enjoyed it very much. Love the sound track too.
The soundtrack was great!
Yup! My new favorite track
🙂
That’s so great. I went for a movie for the first time a few months ago and it was a really fun experience. It felt nice doing that after so long,
I hope more good movies are released this year. I’m excited to go back to the theater.
The last one I saw in the theatre was The City Of D and it was really good.
I haven’t seen that. I’ll look online for it.
Yeah you totally should. It’s really funny.
👍🏼
I too miss going to the movies. My boyfriend and I used to get cheap tickets a couple times a month. I’d like to get back into that. I’m still very cautious and don’t like crowds though so that hampers some of what I used to do.
I missed the movies, but I’m like you. I’m not into crowded spaces. Thanks for stopping by.
We recently went to the movies for our first post-Covid movie – Top Gun! Ha. As soon as I got vaccinated, I insisted on eating out. Damn tired of cooking every single night. (Take out not a really viable option when you live a half hour from town.)
Wasn’t Top Gun great? We lived downtown for most of COVID so I could walk for take out.
We totally enjoyed it!
👍🏼
I love going to the movies for exactly the same reason as you! Sound, large screen, and popcorn! The only movie we’ve seen since the pandemic is Top Gun! I thought it was awesome! 💕C
I have quite a few friends who have only seen Top Gun. I loved the music.
Lovely backyard! So you’re a tom cruise fan? I recently watched “the mummy”. 100% recommend
I have not seen that. I will take a look!