From the Desk of Jim R: At the Movies: Staying Indoors Watching Movies at Home While Waiting Out the Covid-19 Pandemic, Part 5

By James V. Ruocco

Crowds. Comebacks. Tickets. Social Distancing. New Releases. Popcorn. Soda. Candy.

The pandemic is far from over, but movie theaters are open. But at a reduced capacity for now.
The option to go (or not to go) is yours.

Nonetheless, watching movies at home - streaming, DVD's, subscriptions, rentals, cable - is still the preferred choice.

You don't have to deal with an audience that talks, texts and spills popcorn and soda all over the floor.
You don't have to turn around and tell these people to '"Shut the fuck up."
You don't have to listen to them laughing, crying, gasping or delegating who's going to bring back what from the concession stand.
You don't have to suffer through 25 minutes of previews while waiting for the movie to begin.
Mask or no mask, going to a movie theater is 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 are $12, $14 and $16 a pop.

Not to worry, though.

You can cut through all the bullshit and still get your "movie high" by watching movies in the hassle-free, comfortable 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 birch 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 own pajamas. Your favorite bathrobe, socks and fuzzy bear slippers.
You can hit pause, rewind or replay a movie's big moment any time you want. You can adjust the sound - high and low - whenever you so choose.

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 United States vs. Billie Holliday