I love going to the movies. It’s one of the things I’ve missed the most since about home since I moved to Germany. It’s not impossible to see a movie here but it is harder to find movies in English or rather, the original version. I would rather stare at a wall for 2 hours than watch a dubbed movie. I will always choose the original version with ENG subtitles. Oddly enough, I’ve watched quite a few French movies in more recent times and I can’t imagine robbing the actors of their performances and beautiful language to overlay voice actors reading the script in English. Anywho!
One of the best days I can remember in the last 4 years was spent in a movie theater. I was living alone in Berkeley and I decided to go see a matinee on a Sunday afternoon. I went to my favorite neighborhood movie theater, the El Cerrito Rialto. I ordered a beer and lunch and watched what would become one of my favorite movies of all time, The Farewell. The movie theater is small and cozy. They only have two theaters and have very select showtimes. They make homemade pizzas and little appetizers and every year they host an Oscar’s viewing part which I’ve also attended. Then I look at the megaplex AMC type theaters and I can feel the blood being sucked out of the whole movie viewing experience. I don’t want recliners in the theater and I don’t want to sit next to 400 people. Is that too much to ask?
Berlin has all kinds of theaters. Recently, I was sitting on a step drinking a beer in my neighborhood when I saw the cutest little theater hidden between stores and restaurants. On the marquee, I read they were playing When Harry Met Sally—one of my favorites. I went back that weekend, again on a Sunday, to sit with a big bag of popcorn and a radler to watch a fall movie that makes me happy. The theater only sat 50 people max. It was the perfect Sunday evening activity. I just love going to the movies is the point to all of this.
Side note: I like going to the movies alone because it’s really hard to find a good movie companion. Someone who is interested in the same movies, who won’t text during, and for the love of God, won’t order sweet popcorn. Why would you eat sweet popcorn? I’m sorry, it’s insane to do this.
Anyway, I love going to the movies!!