Ever since I was very little, I loved watching movies and going to the movie theaters. I remember that every time my mom or dad would say, "We're going to the movie theater!" Me and my younger sister would get really excited and run to our room to put our "bye-bye" clothes on as we'd call them. ("bye-bye" because when we'd go somewhere we'd say "bye-bye" which are just clothes we'd wear when we'd go somewhere.)
I always thought that the movie theater was a magical place. Each theater held a different realm with it's accompanied adventures. Although I can't remember what movie I first watched in a theater, I can remember how I felt. Every time we arrived at the movie theater, I would be just as excited. Even to this day, I get so excited when I'm on my way to a movie theater.
This summer, my outlook in movies shifted. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed watching films, going to the movie theaters and experiencing the adventures with the characters on screen. What dramatically changed with this shift of perspective is the aspects that go into the film, such as the directing, producing, acting, and photography. I think this started while I was watching a YouTuber, Jack Howard, who discusses the different facets and work that go into a film. This opened my eyes to a whole different world of what happens behind the camera.
Now when I watch movies, I pay attention to different elements of the film, such as the music, the actors/ actresses, and the positions of the camera angles. This in no way has burdened me from just enjoying a movie, I feel that it actually has enhanced the way I watch a movie. Movies that I think are really good wouldn't normally make me think of those elements to point out. But in someway that they do, it would because I really like it, which may happen occasionally. But if I start to notice many things about the film, I've noticed that it is because I'm not enjoying the film.
During this summer in particular, with the new perspective I had on films, I watched a good amount of movies. I've watched, "Transformers: Age of Extinction", "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", "Maleficent", "X- Men: Days of Future Pass", "Godzilla", and "Guardians of the Galaxy". I've listed just some of summer movie blockbusters and I have to say that there are some on this list that I enjoyed watching and others that I didn't.
The top 2 I would say were my favorite to watch were X- Men: Days of Future Past and Guardians of the Galaxy. Both completely different styles of directing, but nonetheless were SO GOOD!!! X-Men was mind blowing and Guardians of the Galaxy was EPIC! Both of the movies soundtracks were good and scripts were well- written. The characters in both movies were well developed and the acting was flawless. These two films were the dynamic duo of my summer.
Empire Magazine is definitely one of the main things that has helped foster my love for films. Ever since I bought my first copy of Issue: 299, I am addicted. I only look forward to the films that come close to topping my summer movie duo and my love for movies to continue to grow.
