A classmate of mine brought up a thought-worthy point when he mentioned that he was going to watch a movie alone. Mind you, it’s not because he’s lonely. He has a girlfriend and a social life that 99% of the otaku population lack.
My first reaction was to ask him why he was going alone. He replied that there isn’t any point going to the movies in a group, since no one starts discussions halfway during the movie. Hence, watching alone and watching with 30 other people makes no difference. You’ll still be doing the same thing.
I found myself agreeing with him, but at the same time, I found that I’ve been doing the exact opposite. The only time when I would pay a visit to the cinemas is when I have people inviting me. I have never gone to watch a movie alone. I’m just too lazy to go alone, I guess. Really, if no one asked, going to the movies would be the last thing on my mind.
On the other hand, my thoughts on watching alone extend to other forms of media besides movies. It’s not like I’ve ever had anyone else to watch anime with in the first place. Except for my sister, who often interrupts the screen time by asking irritating questions and bugging for answers. She’s right at the bottom of my list of people to watch a movie or anime with.
I think the only frequent time when I get some sort of a group viewing session is during the weekly Monday Code Geass R2 viewing ritual. Sometimes, I can people standing behind me, watching on too. However, as I plug my headphones in, they usual move on after a while. I can use the speakers instead, and if I did, I’m sure that they would stay on and join in the viewing session. I definitely don’t want that as I want to focus on and fully enjoy 20 odd minutes of the episode, hence the choice of headphones.
This brings on the question of whether watching in a pair or a group results in one becoming less focused on the media. I’m an individual who’s easily distracted. Therefore, in order for me to fully enjoy something, I have to be focused. The only way I can get that focus is by being alone.
Another reason why I want to watch alone is so that I can make stupid comments to myself without looking like a fool to others. I can laugh out loud and comment to no one but myself about how retarded or awesome a certain character or part of the plot is without holding back. Weird, I know, but I guess a portion within me loves monologues.
Maybe I should really start off with the habit of watching movies alone too.
Watch them alone. And I am with you in the movies part, not even bothering to go alone, I did so last time heh. Besides, anime is better than movies most of the time nowadays…and less expensive.
I was supposed to have an experience like that today, as I went to an event supported by the Japan Foundation which showed Tokikake (for the first time) in Philippine cinema. It’s a good thing I discovered new friends while watching the movie. While watching anime or any movie is supposed to be an individual exercise, it’s fun having someone to discuss or dissect what happens in the movie or episode after its run. While watching alone is great (as it allows one to focus properly on the medium that he’s watching, reading, or listening to) it’s not altogether a bad experience watching anime movies or live-action ones with others.
Something more problematic would probably be reading. I believe that is more of an individual action.
I always watch movies alone. Unlike Michael, I hate people and their noise. I hate hearing people’s opinions after the movie. I hate having to plan my schedule around their lives. Watching movies alone kicks ass!
I actually never really go for movies alone, seeing as I usually am called out TO watch a movie with friends.
However, I would consider watching a really good one a second time by myself. To avoid any distractions of course.
I watch anime alone but hang out with my friends when it comes to movies. It seems like I’m a passive person where my friends are the ones that call me out to the cinema but strangely we can enjoy a block buster title together but the same cannot be said for anime.
I like to watch movies with friends, but not Anime.
I subscribe to the Misanthropy-Raptor school of film-watching. If I think I’m going to enjoy something then I try to go to it solo. More than hearing other people’s opinions, it’s the irritation of being expected to give my own thoughts at a time when ideally I’d just be mulling things over and enjoying the aftermath at my own pace. In a perfect world I’ll see every great film on my own, and if anybody else wants to go to the cinema we can just go and watch something crap together.
Like coburn and Baka-Raptor I’m a lone moviegoer, but it’s not because I dislike giving my opinion afterwards, but because I invariably wind up thinking - during the film - about what my companion(s) will think of it. Reader-response criticism ruined me for moviegoing, you might say.
I’m solo when it comes to going out to movies. I used to have a lot of friends I could simply call up, and they’d be willing to go anywhere. What alienated me from them wasn’t me turning into an otaku and consequently a loner, but rather the fact that you can’t end the night with just a movie. You need to go out to a few clubs afterwards and spend a lot of money on drinks, so I gradually stopped. Perhaps the otaku inside me refused to allocate my budget to slutty habits? xD
What Baka-Raptor says is true; it’s simply easier to go out when you want to, and you get to watch what you want. That way you don’t need to make any sacrifices in terms of movie choices.
I usually watch movies with my friends as we usually discuss most fo the things during the ending credits or afterwards when we head out to dinner. I sometime watch anime with friends when I visit their house since they’re always recommending things for me to watch so we end up watching at least one episode.
It depends on the type of movie for me. If it’s something I detest like Hairspray or Juno, I will make comments throughout the whole movie, potentially ruining it for a few but making everyone else laugh. But if it’s something actually good, then I won’t say anything. But I somewhat do like watching movies with other people, especially if it’s comedy. Serious movies are better to watch alone because my friends don’t talk about them much after anyway other than “oh I thought it was good.” Or they just recollect funny scenes.
I usually prefer to watch movies with friends, as once the movie ends we’re able to discuss details/aspects of the movie, maybe gaining more in-depth knowledge to what was going on, what’s the theory/psychological plots being used etc. Come to think of it, the only time I watched a movie alone in the cinema was when I caught Eva 1.0 lol.
As for anime, I prefer watching alone as I like to do random self-talk and LOL without getting other people attention.
Well, watching a movie alone isn’t quite fun.. I usually prefer being dragged along by friends to the cinema to watch it.. At least we can spend some time chatting before the movie starts..
And yeah, anime is a different story.. They are indeed better than some movies and some need more focus to understand the story..
Another lone viewer here. I love watching indie/niche movies at film festivals, but my friends won’t watch anything without a review first. At least they won’t interrupt me with questions during the movie.
I watch my anime alone, but I go to the movies with my friends
Making snarky comments in shows is where the fun is - whether alone or in a group
i watch most movies alone. a part of me was going “Nah, dun feel like asking them cos i’m afraid of bothering them..” while another part of me is going “You’re a freaking emo boy!! Loner!! You have no frens XD” Yap, that’s a strange part of me =P
and having monologues is normal. Most of me frens admitted doing so when I asked them one day. Although they find it strange =/
As for animes, alone becos my desktop is where all my animes are. ^_^;
Panther > I hardly have the time to go to the movies now.
Michael > Going to an event is always better in groups. Watching a movie is a different scenario, in my opinion.Reading should always be done alone, at least in my case.
Baka-Raptor > The point about not wanting to schedule around other people’s life hit bullseye. I’ve been played out a couple of times, and it really pisses me off each time.
C.I. > But that usually means less money for the moemoe pretty plastics!
Hynavian > I used to frequent the movies a couple of years back, but I seldom do so now. This year, I’ve only gone to the movies thrice. Evangelion 1.0, Koizora and Kungfu Panda. The last one was because it was a exchange programme group gathering outing
Kozta-boom, Ez > Personally, I like watching all forms of media alone.
coburn > Watching crap as a group sounds like a pleasant idea.
IKnight > Yea, I really hate when some smartass decides to make some “witty” comments during the film’s climax.
Miha > Once or twice, my friends and I had differing choices of movie. The result? We both watched different films, even though we met up for a movie.
Adun > You’ve some really cool friends.
Icystorm > I try not to ruin movies for other viewers. For example, even after I’ve watched Battle Royale more than 20 times, I make it a point to keep my mouth shut whenever I watch it again.
Hirito > Hurray for another monologue lover.
Fariz Asuka > I think watching movies alone or in a group each have their own pros and cons. It’s just what perspective you view them from.
MrMayat > I actually prefer watching stuff without a review. It’s adventurous.
Issa-sa > Well said =D
Tiny Red Man > I hold monologues more frequent than you think.
I like to watch movies with friends, even though most of my friends stay silent. I guess it’s just nicer to watch sitting next to someone you know vs. having the random chance that you might get stuck next to the loud talker or the popcorn spiller.
I never go to movies alone simply because I expect my friends to buy snacks which I can leech off them. I don’t mind idle chatter on the movie itself, just as long it’s not during the screening.
You can always watch a certain movie on DVD… Lock the door and focus on the movie. You can always watch it again if you don’t understand WTF they’re talking compared to watching it on movie houses which is expensive nowadays.
Caitlin > If I go alone, I would pick seats near the ends where there would only be one person seating next to me. That way, it’ll reduce the chances of any irritating buggers being seated next to me.
Shin > Smart move.
samejima > For some movies, watching at home on the TV and watching on the big screen produce 2 different results.
I kinda agree to some people here. I like to watch movies with friends since I’ve never watch one alone. On anime, I prefer watching it alone… I don’t know why but I really feel uncomfortable especially when someone-who’s-not-an-anime-lover is watching anime with me…
I don’t think I’d ever go to the cinemas to watch a movie by myself (though I have done that way back when I was 6 years old nyahaha). I deem movie watching to be a time for bonding with friends (and my brother, who pays for my tickets :P). People who prefer watching movies alone might be the ones who want to get soo much into the movie that they’d rather isolate themselves from other people when they’re watching
When it comes to animes, there are some which I prefer watching with my brothers, like Macross for example. I don’t think I’ll get the same enjoyment without them discussing all the Macross tech stuff while watching lol.
I like to be alone while watching anime too. ^^; Like you, I tend to talk to myself as well. XD