b1-66er:
The Fembot: Hmmmm. I know the Hub is missing going to the movies, and so is my good friend Ls. That was a big part of your life, too, pre-pandemic. Me? There is so much on Netflix and Amazon prime I have never seen. I never need to go to a theater again.
b1: I've slowly flipped over to a watching flix on my TV guy...
... the one thing I miss is a quality sound experience (although I like a volume I can control, theaters can be earsplitting)...
...It's really REALLY nice to not have people using their phones or talking in the theater as the movies are playing.
F: Yes. I watch a lot of documentaries - it is good for no distractions.
b1: I also like:
Being able to pause.
Being able to back up.
Being able to flip subtitles on and off.
Not having people stand in front of me during the credits.
And, of course, replaying scenes after the fact.
F: Yes. I do those things, sometimes. My eldest offspring always watches movies with subtitles on.
b1: I like that, too.
The problem is I find myself following along the reading lines on the TV, rather than paying attention to the cinematography...
More than once I've been watching Asian cinema, thinking something like, "I'm getting pretty good at Mandarin!"...
F: Ha!
b1: Only to realize that while I haven't been reading the subtitles, I have...
A) been interpreting things based on film score and body language
B) spent a considerable amount of time looking at scenery and backdrops...
-And-
C) lost complete track of what the hell's going on...
...Only to back up about 7 minutes to where I DID know what was going on and replay.
Not once, but three times, I've had to repeat that exact process in triplicate...
... when I repeatedly fall into the exact same trap...
F: That is funny.
b1: ...(so let's see, Mr. Chang is upset that the shipment isn't coming from Hong Kong as expected. Mr Leung sez the cargo will be on the hovercraft entering the harbor now...
... and look! that architecture's interesting...
... see how the left front rib of the hovercraft is bent up slightly from having to beach...
... man, that's a nice day in Hong Kong. It was raining the day I was at the place they are right now...
... but I did have good dim sum AND a mangosteen...
...WAIT... what's that?...a gun?...those are WAY illegal in Hong Kong!
OH GODDAMMIT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REWIND ANOTHER 7 MINUTES AGAIN!)
