How to Watch a Movie

I hate when I'm sitting in the movie theatre and someone pulls out their phone to text. It lights up like a solar flare in the dark room. It's not like I don't understand that sometimes pressing issues come up that people need to address - but I know all y'all aren't texting about top priority situations. Can we seriously not unplug for two hours?

However, I have difficulty unplugging sometimes too. My mom has commented more than once about how she needs to get a laptop so she can fit in with me, my dad, and my two brothers as we sit there with our computers, surfing or playing games at the same time as we're watching movies or TV. I get very restless, sometimes, and having my computer allows me to multitask while watching a movie, especially helpful during the slow parts.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to stop this. When I watch a movie, I want to actually watch the movie. If I "multiask" (which at this point in my life means playing games or Facebook stalking), I really don't get the "full movie experience." Do I sound like a snotty film student? I secretly don't care - this degree cost money, baby.

But seriously. I don't care about multitasking during My Boys reruns or Sweet Home Alabama, but there is something to be said about focusing all your attention on the film, every nuance, every small choice the filmmakers made. Learning how to watch movies takes a certain degree of focus and concentration, and that is a habit I need to cultivate a little more intentionally.