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I Love Movies

I love movies. I think they have always been my fondest art form. I love watching a narrative being presented visually as it unfolds, but I also appreciate films that work on other levels besides traditional story vehicles. Chiefly, I want to be entertained, but it would also be nice to have some aspect of life I never appreciated before illuminated. I do believe in the power of cinema to express ideas and values that are universal and I think the accessibility of the moving visual image makes it a superior medium for conveying ideas.  

For me, entertainment is the most essential requirement. I want to enjoy the time I spend watching the movie. Illumination is a wonderful bonus, but often too much to hope for and a subtle art besides; nobody wants to be preached to. I love a good mix of the familiar and the bizarre, so I am biased toward science fiction and fantasy films, though I’ll be the first to say most of them fail – I have very particular standards. Nevertheless, I love any film that is fun and can transport me and give me a new look on life, regardless of setting. Most of all, however, I believe very strongly that if you can’t be original, you have to be better than what’s come before. I don’t have the patience for predictable stories unless the way they’re being told has something new or innovative in it.

Movies only exist because lots of talented people work together to present a show and it’s amazing anything intelligible emerges from that process, so for something great to come out is all the more astounding. Major contributing factors such as script, casting, direction, production design, cinematography, editing, sound and music each matter in their own way but they all have to work together and support one another in the presentation of an authentic story. That’s not easy to orchestrate and I am fascinated by the process of making movies, knowing who does what. Most of the time, it seems to me, movies will excel in some departments while failing in others, and the overall effect evens out the film to make it unremarkable despite some of the talent involved. When all of those departments are firing in concert, however, you tend to end up with something at least watchable.

Naturally, I have my prejudices when it comes to movies. I’m very hard to please when it comes to comedy, for instance. I enjoy comedic elements in a story, but all-out comedy is tricky for me. I like stories that explore concepts of morality, justice and de-mystification. I dislike stories where villainy goes unpunished because I get enough of that in real life and I want to escape. I like seeing oppressive monocultures busted by groups defined by diversity, or determined, non-conformist heroes. Ultimately, I love stories of solidarity and support in spite of the egos and deceivers that always seem to divide and conquer communities.


Movies have been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love the medium, the way it involves co-operation among often hundreds of people of diverse opinions and talents to present a story. I think the best movies have simple stories dressed up with lots of symbolism and design so you can read as much (or as little) into them as you want. If a picture is worth a thousand words then you should be able to say almost anything with a movie. All I ask is for something that deserves my undivided attention.

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