From the Desk of Jim R: At the Movies: March 2021

By James V. Ruocco

It's time to pop the popcorn, dim the lights and start the show.

Movie theaters have reopened all around the world hoping to lure moviegoers back indoors for two to three hours at a time. Day or night, the doors are always open.

But will anyone go?

In view of the ongoing coronavirus situation, will moviegoers take a chance being around complete strangers in a movie theater? Mask or no mask, it's still a very high risk for everyone no matter how you look at it.

And what about the ticket price?

People are out of work.
Money is tight.
Charge cards are maxed out.
Single tickets range are $12, $14 and $16 a pop.

Not to worry, though.

You can still get your "movie high" by enjoying films in the hassle-free environment of your home.

You can stream.
You can rent a DVD from Netflix.
You can watch or subscribe to Hulu, HBO MAX, Showtime, YouTube, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, to name a few.
You can also purchase lots of new films ($19 a pop) on the same day they are released in theaters.

It's that simple.
It's great fun.
It's affordable.
It's relaxing.
It has many benefits.
And better yet, you don't have to leave the house.

Think about it.

You pop the popcorn.
You make the ice cream sundaes and root beer floats.
You make the hot dogs, the hamburgers, the pizza bites, the sandwiches, the fried mozzarella sticks and the nacho chips.
You supply the drinks.
You pick the candy, the cookies, the gummy bears, the chips, the crisps, the cheese sticks and the chocolate.
You order the pizza, the sushi, the Chinese food and the hot wings from your favorite local eatery for home delivery.
And finally, you call the shots in terms of what you want to watch and when.

You can wear your pajamas. You don't have to dress up. You can hit pause, rewind or replay any time you want. You don't have to deal with mobile phones ringing loudly during an important screen moment. You also don't have to listen to people talking out loud or ordering their designated family member to bring back another round of overpriced refreshments from the concession stand.

You control everything from start to finish.

To make life easier, here's yet another list of 20 films that offer the perfect, eclectic mix of entertainment. Some are new. Some are old. Some are classics. Some are in a different language. Some are personal favorites.

You pick. You decide.

The Boys in the Band