When we watch movies, do we feel good or not?

[bluedragon]

I enjoy watching movies a lot, but the more I watch, the more I feel I am not really enjoying the activity - after I have watched a movie, I don't feel I've accomplished anything - unless it was exceptional - which for me means, the best of the very best of all time movies or series episodes.

Usually though, I find a series that I love, and keep watching it. It happened with twin peaks, sex and the city, the mentalist, the fresh prince of bel-air, and not (thanks to Steve ) - Star Trek. I really think I have gained a lot from those series, that I consider very intelligent and special. And this - not strictly from an artistic point of view, or from a movie critic's point of view - but I simply love the attitudes portrayed in those movies, the characters, the nuances and the atmosphere.

However, I am worried that I am just being hypnotized by the computer screen - cause I understand this is pretty much exactly what happens when we watch movies. I read about the addictive effects of television. The thing is, when I'm bored, I feel that I need to watch a good movie. I wouldn't just go for any movie - I know that for sure - but if I have an episode of the series I'm currently watching - I cannot refrain from watching. It's like a drug.

Sometimes I'm too tired to sit up while watching it - and of course, too tired to do anything else either - and I think to myself - why don't I take a warm shower, lie down for a while, or do some stretching and meditate, so that after that, I can go on with my work. But somehow, I still find the strength to sit through another episode.

I always manage to meditate and work out and do healthy things as well - just not in those moments when I'm really bored and I crave movies. But the thing is, I'm not even sure I actually enjoy watching them. Maybe I'm like in a dream, and it's like I'm not even conscious, until the movie ends and I reenter my own body, instead of living the life displayed on a computer screen. The thing is, I have the impression that I do enjoy it, and if I do, I cannot decide to quit watching movies for good. I need to have a reason to do so. What do you think?

[magi13]

Movies do have a theme, if you can find out that specific theme, you will realize what it is trying to deliver.

Example:

When I watch animation, I recommend Eureka Seven. The basic theme is that it's sharing how a young man experiences the coming of age. If I were to watch the animation objectively there are hidden themes that if you are not being critical you will fail to notice.

These are the following:

1. The girl characters are very cute or sexy. These can influence young people to act the same way, especially if they value or love the characters.

2. Protect the environment. This is actually a good message.

3. Avoid censorship of the truth. The animated world of Eureka Seven, evolves from military background, where a group decided to go against those who are on power and decided to give out information about the truth. This may incite people to seek the truth or publish the truth. But like what the animation shows, people tend to believe in lies rather than the truth. How? A person is convinced via examples triggered by those who are on power.

Examples of these in the real world. (conspiracy theories)
1. jfk assassination
2. 9/11
3. oil war

So when we watch movies or animation, let's question it's message, for the love of knowledge we'll be more informed. Other than that, it's plain entertainment. People after all are creatures of observation and habit. They tend to emulate those who they put on a pedestal.

This is where doubt kicks in. Doubt what you see and what you touch.

I hope this helps. :3

[joecooool]

i watch mostly documentaries. you can find lots on google video. search a term like bbc then used the advanced search and set the duration to longest.

u can watch video and get educated at same time.

[bluedragon]

I watch movies because I need the stimulation of colored moving images on a screen - plus that, in a movie, they show you only the interesting scenes - they don't show a person traveling by bus for an entire hour, or taking 10 minutes to get dressed, like in real life. And this, no matter how interesting one's real life is.
However, no matter how stimulating movies are, I am not sure that when I watch, I feel good. I think it's just like a drug - watching makes me not feel the craving, and when I stop, the craving begins again.

[Manomanman]

I stopped watching almost all TV and movies about a year ago, which was 10 months before I found this website. I lost interest because living in the real world and being successful took precedence for me, and nothing new or stunning has come along to compel me to indulge. When I watch stuff these days (just saw "Watchmen"), my mind wanders from the screen, and I think about things that are more important.

My favorite stuff is Star Trek TNG, X-Play, documentaries, and cool action flicks like 28 Weeks Later.

I would argue that watching movies and TV is largely a distraction from the complexities that exist in the real world. In an ideal society, we would be creating our own narratives, not passively taking in others'.

P.S. TV and movies primarily serve an economic function, namely to zombify the masses, create a single-minded society, and keep products moving to consumers.

[Zas]

I've only recently realized how much I choose my experience. I'm in a bit of a weird place because I've always had a love for horror, gore, and all things dark and complex. Also, I'm an artist and these things serve as a big inspiration for me. It's just who I am.

I started getting a little worried that wanting a good attitude was going to affect my aesthetics . . . But I ended up realizing that that worry I was experiencing was way worse than anything a movie actually does for me. Mainly, I just look for the good things and focus on them.

[Manomanman]

There are dark recesses of the human consciousness, like the sight of gore and death can create a sense of curiosity in otherwise "civil" people.

[SimonaRich]

To see if you are addicted to movies you should try to last without them for around a week. If you cannot, then you have an addiction.

TV is very harmful in most cases, but sometimes watching very uplifting movie can actually help you. Of course, you should watch them as less as possible. If you want to attract some good thing into your life, but find it hard to see it in your reality (like wealth, expensive cars, etc. ) watching movies with those aspects in them can help you concentrate and think about these things more. This will cause the manifestation of the thing you want (this is a bit more complex process than I wrote here, but this is the basis).

However, watching TV really harms your focus, so if you find it hard to be focused on one activity for 2 or so hours, then you should reduce the time of movie watching.