Well this is it. This is the final installment for my summer
movie memories. If you are just now tuning in you can catch up with part 1 and
part 2 before continuing. So after believing that dinosaurs once again roamed
the earth in 93’ I went through a summer movie drought. The problem was that I
was at the mercy of my parents giving me the go ahead and the funding.
All this
changed right before the summer of 96’. As a matter of fact my sophomore year
of high school was transformative as I became aware of my talent for
storytelling on screen. However during the end of the school year I had
acquired my first job. I was now a proud team member at KFC. I was beyond excited
because now I didn’t have to ask my parents for money (something I always hated
doing). Consequently I gained a new financial freedom.
My videogame collection
doubled overnight, as well as my music collection. The greatest joy however was
the fact that I now had money to go to the movies anytime I wanted (by the way
I also had my operators license). So the summer of 96’ was set. The Nutty Professor was set to release on the same day as my brother’s birthday June 28.
That was perfect because we both wanted to see the movie.
Talk about excited it
was just my brother and I. We were finally able to get whatever we wanted from
the concession stand. We got two bladder busting large drinks with popcorn to
match and my brother got a box of sour gummy worms. During the previews we saw
the next movie that we would have to come back and see the very next week. Now
to note the theater that we went to had just been built a couple of months
prior so everything was new. When the movie started I almost jumped out of my
seat and my brother laughed as the THX sound played across the theater’s
speakers. It scared me because I haven’t heard such a beautifully crisp sound
system up until that point (to this day I still love the THX intro whenever it
plays).
During the movie we laughed until our sides hurt. After the movie I was
satisfied that I was able give my little brother such an enjoyable gift with
money that I earned. Plans were already made to return to watch the movie ID4 aka Independence Day with Will Smith. My brother and I were huge Fresh Prince
of Bel Air fans and we loved Bad Boys so it was a no brainer. A week passes and
we return to the theater but this time with my cousin in tow who also wanted to
see the movie. At the concession stand it was the same deal 2 bladder bursting
large drinks with popcorn to match and a box of sour gummy worms for my
brother.
This time when sat in the theater I was prepared for the THX intro. My
brother chuckled when it played at the memory of me jumping the first time. The
movie starts and we all get silent. Everything was cool until the first ships
started showing up. Okay so the setup was in place and they just built up the
suspense. I was on the edge of my seat when the first ship opened up its weapon
and you could see the swirling energy build up and then…boom! The speakers in
the theater erupted with the sweet sweet nectar of explosions and debris along
with the rush as a wall of flame engulfed the masses on the screen. I was
hooked.
I was totally engrossed in the story. I wanted to see some
payback for the first attack. The counter attack ensued and I was like damn we’re
screwed but I took solace in the fact that Will Smith’s character not only
survived but he beat the crap out of the alien as well. Now to note I didn’t
want to leave my seat but my digestive system had other plans. I had downed
about 48 ounces or more of soda. So I’m doing the dance in my seat. I waited
until I was sure I was at a slow point in the film and then I got up and ran to
the restroom. I came back cool nothing major happened just missed a bit of the
build up dialog.
On screen July 4th flashes oh god here we go again
the urge to go returns. I try to suppress it. They found out a way to take down
their shields. Oh yeah it’s on now. That’s what my bladder was saying as well.
I made it all the way until Will’s character was about to get married. I
couldn’t wait any longer I once again dashed out during this slow moment and
returned. Cool didn’t miss anything important. The final attack begins.
The
adrenaline inducing visuals along with the heart pounding clear sound put me in
pure ecstasy. Yeah my bladder also decided to start knocking again. This time I
remained determined not to miss one second more of this movie. When they took
down the first alien ship everybody in the crowd just erupted including myself
in a chorus of HELL YEAH!!! The explosion of the mother ship and the pimp strut
of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum walking away from their wrecked craft elicited
another theater outburst.
Speaking of bursting my bladder was on the verge as
well. Mercifully the film ended and I immediately rushed out for one final
time. My brother was cracking up because of how many times I had left to go use
the bathroom. Aside from the bathroom breaks I can say that it was the greatest
movie experience of my young life. Afterwards my cousin and I talked all night
about how awesome the movie was and how we had to come back and bring our
friend Ed to come see it as well.
It was at that moment that I realized three
things. One I would never ever again get another large soft drink before a
movie again. I only get the frozen drinks now because even in a large cup the
actual liquid content is a fraction of that. Also I use the bathroom right
before the start of the movie. Second My love affair with surround sound was
born. I’m constantly improving my home theater system and it’s on par with most
theaters with the exception of IMAX theaters. Third it reinvigorated my love for
movies and cemented my desire to become a filmmaker.
The rush that I felt and
the shared excitement in reliving the experience talking to my brother and
cousin forever stuck with me. I want to be able to have that effect on someone
with my own films one day. I would trade in 10 Academy Award wins to know that
I had that effect for one person and their life. Movies are personal and at the
same time meant to be shared.
In this I have passed on my love of summer movies
to my nephews. Whenever they are around for the summer I always try to take
them to at least one movie. Recently I was able to take two of them to see The
Dark Knight Rises at my favorite IMAX theater. Afterwards I asked them how did
they like the movie and my nephew Jorden said, “It was the greatest movie
experience of my life.” And the cycle repeats.
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