I am writing to disagree with ...
Question: I am writing to disagree with your
answer to Richard S. about watching movies on network TV. I do that
all the time. My reasons may or may not make sense to you, but here they are: First, I am squeamish about violence. Being a huge Nicolas Cage fan, the "chopped-up" edited version is the only way I am willing to watch
8mm or
Windtalkers (sadly, I still haven't watched
Saving Private Ryan because I'm afraid of the first half hour — I know...). And second, I hate to waste money. Going to the movies has now turned into a $20+ event for two; I hate to throw away money for a mediocre movie where the trailer shows the only decent scene or two. The primary reason I love watching movies on TV is that I get to preview the movie to see if I want to spend my money adding it to my collection of DVDs. Third, some movies — like
That Thing You Do,
National Treasure,
Legally Blonde,
Hoosiers,
The Goonies,
Con Air,
The Birdcage,
The Sixth Sense and
My Best Friend's Wedding — I just love and can watch any time, any place, any how! I can be flipping through the channels and these will suck me in every time. My husband laughs because he'll walk in the room, I'll have one on and he doesn't understand why I don't pop in our own DVD instead. Maybe there's just something about knowing millions of others are watching it at the same time. I thought I'd shed some light on why someone
would watch a movie on regular old television.
Answer: Fair enough. I opened the door on the subject, and these are compelling reasons. I should have noted in my own response that I only wish I had more time to indulge in the splendor that is Turner Classic Movies (a commercial-free environment, which helps). And my confession: Whenever Aaron Sorkin's
The American President is on — and it sometimes seems to be on a constant cable loop — I often find myself tuning in for long stretches, even with commercials, though rarely for the entirely. (There's always something else screaming to be watched.)
