Social Media is a paradox. You can connect with people around but still feel alone. You can learn something new while also feeling like you’re killing brain cells. You can make friends with fellow cinephiles while also finding dozens of amateur Jay Shermans.
No matter what you’re talking about online, you can find someone who yucks one’s yum. This is no more prevalent, in my opinion, than in the world of entertainment, especially in films.
In writing novels and scripts, I have had to learn, and apply, storytelling techniques to craft a coherent tale. As such, I think I might have some insight into what makes a good story. And while I know there are few, if any perfect cinematic stories (Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark make this small list) exist, some films are clearly better than others. And although I have this experience with story, there are plenty of books and films I like that many people consider less-than-stellar.
And there are many folks – both on social media and in real life – who gladly remind me of that and mock me for it.
But, at the end of the day, films and fiction are entertainment. They are meant to provide an escape, to whisk you away to far away worlds and invest in characters who are about to go through hel, to reach their goal – or not. And if you enjoy the journey, whether it exhilarates you, makes you laugh or cry, isn’t that the point?
I saw Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness yesterday, and I enjoyed it. Was it perfect? No. But the cameos were awesome, and the action was good. I was invested in the story and the characters It was an entertaining two hours. To me, it served its purpose. And I will gladly let those who seem to dislike everything voice their opinion. They are allowed to feel that way.
A lot of times when I enter a cinema, I see a story play on a big screen – where these tales are meant to be told (that’s another post) – and come away feeling something. And as long as I enjoy it, that is enough for me. It doesn’t need to be perfect.
I have Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark for that.