I love the movies.  I love television too.  And I’m not even discriminating in what I watch.  It doesn’t matter how bad it is, I’m always willing to give it a shot.  Netflix is completely to blame for my need to binge watch any show.  There are some shows that I specifically wait to watch just so I can watch the entire season without waiting a week between episodes.  Instant gratification (sort of) and no patience (absolutely).  Most recently I binged on a Netflix offering called Reboot-The Guardian Code.  Not the best show out there for the teen audience, but it was entertaining and just  fun to watch.

I’m not a visual person.  When I read, I get caught up in the characters and the story but I don’t get a visual image or impression of what I read.  Movies and television provide that missing visual.  Ready Player One was a stunning movie on the big screen.  Huge special effects and creativity at its best.  Had I read the book (which I am going to at some point), I guarantee that I would never have imagined what I saw on the big screen.  And television goes much the same way.  For those of us that are visually impaired (and I know that I can’t be alone in this), video, regardless of the medium or distribution method can open up new worlds both good and bad.  Documentaries (one of my favorite genres) puts a whole new perspective on issues.  The Cuba Libre Story is a 6-part documentary on the evolution of Cuba which was very educational.  I look at Cuba in a completely different way than before.  And don’t get me started on my Hitler fixation.  I’m sure there’s some deeper reason as to why I want to understand a mad man.  I’m just hoping it doesn’t mean I have latent dictator with mass murder tendencies.

And that’s the other thing.  Regardless of whether a movie is Oscar material, another big budget installment of the comic book universe, or a cheesy B-rated action film, for a few hours you can be transported to anywhere in the world – anywhere in the universe!  You get to leave the present outside the door and just immerse yourself in a new place and with new people.  There are no expectations, no demands and no stress.  Not that a movie or tv show can replace or fix your life.  You can’t hide forever.  No, it’s about having a moment of total freedom to rejuvenate the spirit.  For me a few hours with a halfway decent flick and my mind is clearer and it’s easier to focus on the task at hand.  Music can do the same thing, but not like video.

I’m not a very social person, something which gets worse as I get older.  Sitting in a dark theater with surround sound means no forced discussions or small talk.  You can either share the moment with someone or be alone and it doesn’t matter.  Granted, watching alone means there is no one to discuss what you just saw and experienced.  And sometimes that stinks.  I like an intelligent conversation as much as the next person.  But you’re also never alone in the theater.  I think that might fall in the leaving the real world behind category, but it’s true.  Never alone, never let down and never left wondering – unless it’s a season cliff hanger.  I really hate those!  The cliff hanger is the worst thing ever created by television writers.

Escapism.  That’s the beauty of both a movie and television.  Oh I know all the negative connotations associated with that.  And I’m not saying that I’m not guilty of any or all of them.  Too much of a good thing always turns bad.  I get it.  And I know that I’ve let time pass me by when I should have been doing something more productive.  But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad.  I’ve learned a lot of random information and explored areas that I might not have given a thought to because of what I’ve seen on television or watched in a movie.  In today’s political and economic climate, I don’t think a little escapism is a bad thing.

And have I mentioned how great the internet it is at feeding my habit?  I have more apps on my phone for video content than I do games or any type of social media.  And if I can rip the band-aid off my dvr addiction, I will be cutting the cord soon (like next week!).  All internet based content all the time.  Except for some reason I can’t seem to remember to check out YouTube.  It’s very strange.  I suspect it might have something to do with my Google bias.

So go watch a movie, preferably a good one.  Please don’t sink to my low level of entertainment.  If it’s bad then turn it off!  Don’t stay to see how the train wreck ends.  From experience, I promise that it won’t get any better.  Whether you’re a fan of the old black and white classics or the new blockbusters, just take time to sit and enjoy the moment.  And if you’re looking for a great television show, then check out Timeless on NBC or Hulu.  History, science fiction and eye candy all in one show.  Can’t beat that.