BY MAX MCAULIFF, STAFF WRITER
The movie theater versus streaming service debate is one that is constantly talked about in the media. Media pundits, websites, blogs and even I all offer differing opinions on whether movie theaters and streaming services can coexist. No matter the opinion, nothing is better than watching a movie in theaters for the first time.
After more than a year of limited movie releases, it is great to return to some form of normalcy. The return of movies has yet to disappoint, and October will be no different.
There will be at least one major motion picture released every week in October, starting with “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” and “The Many Saints of Newark” on October 1st.
Releasing on October 8th is “No Time to Die” which will serve as Daniel Craig’s last appearance as the suave British secret agent James Bond. “Halloween Kills,” the follow-up to 2018’s successful “Halloween” reboot, will release alongside Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel” on October 15th.
The highly anticipated sci-fi movie “Dune,” which has one of the greatest casts ever assembled, releases October 22nd. A sequel to “Dune” is expected to follow, brewing what could be the greatest sci-fi series of all time.
Finally, on October 29th, Edgar Wright’s “The Last Night in Soho” starring Anya-Taylor Joy will be released. To say the month of October is loaded with movies is an understatement.
There is no better place to watch these movies than at a movie theater. People will inevitably elect to watch movies like “The Many Saints of Newark” and “Dune” on HBO Max because Warner Bros. is releasing movies simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service. However, people will miss out on the best parts about seeing a movie.
The anticipation one gets driving to the movie theater will not be experienced. The debate over what size popcorn, whether to add butter and whether to purchase a drink to wash down the popcorn will not be had. Experiencing previews for highly anticipated movies while realizing the popcorn is almost gone is an all too classic occurrence that does not happen at home.
The theater experience when “Spider-Man: No Way Home” releases in December will be one to remember. Movie theaters have never been as fun as they were when “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Avengers: Infinity War”, and “Avengers: Endgame” were released. The reaction when Captain America finally, after ten years, said “Avengers assemble” will go down as one of the greatest theater experiences ever.
Disregarding the trivial aspects of going to a movie theater, seeing a movie in theaters can present a much-needed escape. For two hours at a time, the only thing that matters is what is happening on the screen. Any stress, anxiety or problems can be left at the door of the theater. The only thing that matters after walking through the doors is whether the knight saves the princess, or the guy gets the girl.
To paraphrase “The Wizard of Oz,” there’s no place like movie theaters.
