General Discussion : Describe your favourite movie-going experience of your life

[nauru]

Jurassic Park.

I had really bought into the hype around this film, including toys/prizes in cheerios boxes, TV commercials, and because I had just learned about dinosaurs for the first in the second or third grade but only ever seen pictures in books and fossils/skeletons at the museum. From the posters and ads it seemed like the film would be an adventure with moving dinosaurs, little ones hatching from eggs, with a few chase scenes.

So I invited 12 of my friends, aged 9 or 10 to my birthday party followed by watching Jurassic park in the biggest, loudest cinema in the area -- a multiplex with something like 16 screens, all the modern surround sound of the time, etc. We got there early to make sure we could all sit together in the best seats, get the biggest popcorn, candy, drinks and everything. And my parents were there too.

And then the film started. It was okay through the first act, nothing too shocking. But once the rain started things started to get a pretty intense for my 9-year-old mind. By the time the tyrannosaurus was attacking the two kids in the car I was actually hiding behind my oversized bags of popcorn and nervously peering over the top, and so were the two on either side of me. Man was I scared. From that point to the end I felt like I was basically in the film, right there with those two kids. Especially the Tyrannosaurus/jeep chase and the raptors.

At the end of the film I felt like I had survived an incredible adventure. I was wired. I didn't even notice that there were only six of my friends left by the time the lights came on. It was only the next day that my mom told me six of my twelve guests had been too scared to continue watching, and when they asked to leave my dad escorted them one by one to the hallway area where they waited with my mom for the film to be over.

In terms of sheer adrenaline-pumping entertainment, this was easily my best movie-going experience to date.

[CMonster]

Hands down Spider-Man 3. I went opening night with a bunch of people but the theater was so packed that my best friend and I were forced to sit apart from everybody else. Judging by the reactions of people around us and everybody's after the film, the two of us probably enjoyed it more than anybody else in the theater because the whole time we were basically doing a MST3K in whispers. I've probably never laughed harder at a movie in my life, especially how James Franco became retarded and the horrible emo air hump outside the clothes shop. It's an odd choice, but I've always enjoyed laughing at bad movies and between the film, the friend I was with, and the jokes we happened to make it was a perfect storm of comedy. Admittedly, I usually try to be quiet a movies so as to let other people enjoy the film and we were kinda being assholes that night, but whatever, it was worth it.

[TheDenizen]

Probably the time I punched some kid in the head for throwing popcorn all over the place like an idiot. That was a great day. I couldn't even tell you what movie I was seeing.

[movieboy]

Probably the time I punched some kid in the head for throwing popcorn all over the place like an idiot. That was a great day. I couldn't even tell you what movie I was seeing.

Not fair!!! I think we should limit it to experiences which are your favourite because of something related to the movie and not something totally external. Otherwise, people will start listing their makeout sessions in the cinema.

That said, your forum persona didn't give any indication that you are the kind to be throwing around punches in movie theatres I can imagine ShogunRua throwing punches all the way to his seat and back, but not you.

[TheDenizen]

I'm normally a pretty friendly and non-violent person (I've never been in a fight), but that particular kid on that particular day....

anyways, I'll try to think of something better.

[CMonster]

Probably the time I punched some kid in the head for throwing popcorn all over the place like an idiot. That was a great day. I couldn't even tell you what movie I was seeing.

That said, your forum persona didn't give any indication that you are the kind to be throwing around punches in movie theatres

Have we now discovered the source of the children being killed collection?

[begoniabol]

2001: A Space Odyssey

I was in the hospital for something (don't worry, nothing serious) and I already bought tickets to see that movie. I was allowed to leave for a night. Went to the place and my boyfriend at the time was waiting for me there. There was an orchestra and chorus, it was absolutely beautiful. Watching my favourite movie, with my favourite person and with a fantastic band; just incredible.
So, movie finished, went back to the hospital. Guard was in a good mood, I was in an even better mood, walking through a dark and empty hospital = awesome. Best movie-going experience of my life.

[Svengali]

Probably Holy Motors a couple of months ago, at the premiere - we were only three people and I had a huge smile on my face for an hour afterwards or so. Other than that, I find the cinema to be a very depressing place. I wonder why I keep coming back.

[TheDenizen]

Probably the time I punched some kid in the head for throwing popcorn all over the place like an idiot. That was a great day. I couldn't even tell you what movie I was seeing.

That said, your forum persona didn't give any indication that you are the kind to be throwing around punches in movie theatres

Have we now discovered the source of the children being killed collection?

lol not really.

Hard for me to pick a single "best" experience, as I've seen hundreds of movies at the theater over the years...but seeing Gattaca was really special. I knew nothing about the movie before sitting down in my seat, and it was a huge and entirely empty theater. The place seated several hundred but my gf and I were literally the only people at this particular showing (I think it was a weekday matinee). It was a strange, almost forlorn atmosphere, and added to the movie significantly, which was already a pretty dark and clever scifi feature...

[Stewball]

2001: A Space Odyssey

While I've been brought to more intense emotional experiences by other movies, this was like several epiphanies all at once: the fantastic improvements in special effects, the social and religious questions it raises, the unique and original visuals, and with all of that set to music which heightened the whole experience, particularly the trip to the moon. Yes, those things individually have been done better since, but not in unison, and not all in unison for the first time--years ahead of its time.