Hey guys! I know this is last minute, but is anyone available to watch “Project Hail Mary” at Empire tonight at 6:30? I was going to buy tickets today so that we can all sit together, so just let me know so I can have a headcount!
As soon as I saw this message in my theater group chat, I knew I had to go. A chance to watch “Project Hail Mary” in theaters with my friends? Absolutely I’m going!
I liked the message, and sure enough, two days later, we filled almost an entire row at the Empire 8 movie theater.
I sat next to my friend Elizah, who had seen the film before, and during the film, she would add her commentary while we passed a popcorn bucket down the line.
“This is my favorite part,” Elizah said when the pink sparkle scene came on the big screen.
That night was one of the highlights for me that semester, not only because “Project Hail Mary” is a good movie (highly recommend!), but also because we had such a fun time watching it together.
In our modern age of media consumption, most people tend to watch movies, enjoy videos, or play video games alone, instead of trekking down to theaters to watch movies together. It’s hard trying to schedule a trip to the theaters or even to the living room couch with your friends when it’s easier to just not deal with the hassle and watch something by yourself.
Is it worth it? Is there even a difference in media consumption with or without our friends? Is it a better experience with friends?
Over the summer, I started watching “Psych,” a show full of hilarious and outlandish comedy, but I didn’t have anybody in my family to watch it with me. Even though I texted one of my best friends about it, I still missed having someone watch it with me, laughing at the banter and the absurdity of the show.
This solo experience of watching “Pysch” was lonely.
On the flip side, though, I play the old-school version of Mario Kart on an early 2000s Wii with my five brothers and sisters back home in Texas. It’s not necessarily the game itself that I have memories of playing (though I love that game to death), but I tend to associate Mario Kart with the experience and memories created with my siblings.
I remember all of us trying to knock off all the blocks on “Ghost Valley 2” or using the shortcut on “DK Mountain.” (Yes, there is one, trust me.)
I remember all the times I’ve shared a remote with my sister Cora since there were not enough to go around.
I remember that we truly dislike the character of Baby Luigi for no legitimate reason.
I remember playing Mario Kart at our friend Jada’s house and all of us getting humbled by her skill on “Rainbow Road”.
And we all despise Baby Luigi.
I remember making up a tag game while we raced on the courses.
I remember always losing to my brother Jon, who always beats us. I don’t know how he does it!
Oh, and did I say we all detest Baby Luigi?
I’m sure that even if you didn’t play Mario Kart with your family, you have experienced this nostalgia before, whether it was through a game, a book study or a movie.
Quoting movie lines to each other, crashing out over a terrible ending and starting inside jokes makes experiencing media a hundred times better, rather than what culture wants us to do now, which is to play games and watch movies in the living room, alone.
Humans ache for connection, so why not go to the theater together?
Or reading the book “Project Hail Mary” together and comparing it to the movie?
Or play Mario Kart with your friends and try to find the shortcut on “DK Mountain”?
Enjoying media with others is priceless and cannot be overlooked.
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