How to Like Movie?

[Spooked]

Have you ever gone into a movie totally pumped and excited to see it only to feel let down and crushed upon leaving the theater? Or gone to see a film rather indifferent only to be blown away by how much you enjoyed it? What is it that makes us like a film? The obvious answer might be whether or not the movie is any good, and yet it's never that simple. I'm sure most of us have movies we personally love that most people consider duds, but we love them anyway.

I got to thinking about this topic over the weekend as we approach the opening of Edward Gareth's Godzilla. For me? I feel like I need to love this movie. I want to feel good about it, and I want it to be something I remember forever. Regardless of critical and fan reception after the fact. Just a film for me - personally - to believe in.

How do I go about cultivating that experience? How would you? Do you go in blind? Do you go in having read and studied every scrap of available detail on the film? Go with friends? By yourself?

Are there certain things we can do to make the movie experience more enjoyable for ourselves? And in turn help us enjoy the movies we see?*



* Obviously this might not be a good thing from a critical reviewers' standpoint, but for the average movie-goer who want to reclaim some movie magic from childhood...