GUEST EDITORIAL: 5 Reasons to Watch a Movie

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5 Reasons To Watch a Movie

by Lewis Robinson

Watching a movie can, admittedly, be a commitment. It takes a lot of time and effort to watch something for two hours. However, there's also a lot to be gained from films. If you'd like to learn more, here are five reasons to watch a movie.

1. Provides Inspiration

Sure, not every movie is inspiring and heartfelt. After all, anti-hero movies like The Joker aren't exactly full of role models. Despite this, a significant amount of movies, especially ones meant for the Oscars, are extremely inspiring. If you're not a fan of family-friendly and cheesy flicks, don't worry! There's a ton of inspiring films over a variety of genres. A great example of this is Rocky. Rocky, a sports movie, encourages viewers to keep going, no matter the odds. If you're a horror movie lover, you could try Happy Death Day or The Babysitter. No matter what sort of inspiration you need, whether it involves MLS real estate or a sports championship, you can probably find it in a movie.

2. Builds Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence, which refers to someone's ability to handle and understand emotions, is never done growing. Even middle-aged individuals can stand to grow in this area. Fortunately for film lovers everywhere, movies are chock-full of emotional moments. Watching these scenes play out can help viewers to better comprehend similar situations. This is especially helpful during difficult situations. Instead of avoiding your current issue, you can instead confront it with a movie. Because movies are so effective in this area, it's especially important to show kids some offerings. Be sure that the movies in question encourage healthy emotional reactions. 

3. Lets You Relax

Sure, movies can be prolific and beautiful. However, these pieces of art can also allow for escapism. This lets viewers get away from the stresses of real life. If you're looking to escape through entertainment, be sure to pick less realistic films. Fantastical movie series like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars are great options to try. No matter what, try to steer away from dramas and true crime. When you're settling down for an escapist viewing session, be sure to put your phone away. In order to escape into the film, you must ignore the outside world for a while.

4. Portrays Different Viewpoints

When you go about your daily business, it's hard to interact with a lot of new people. Because of this, you're probably exposed to a select amount of viewpoints. So, if you want to learn more about others, film is a great medium to explore. This is especially helpful when learning about other countries and cultures. If this is your goal, be sure to choose the right movies. Some films, while acclaimed, don't portray realistic or respectful versions of various groups. For instance, Dances With Wolves is an Oscar-winner that heavily uses the white savior stereotype. A few great and diverse movies to check out are Moonlight, Parasite and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. 

5. Keeps You Up To Date

Staying up to date with popular culture, especially if you're not into social media, isn't easy. You may find yourself confused at every other reference you hear. A good way to work on this is by watching movies. Movies, interestingly enough, make up a large part of popular culture. While many people avoid the theater, streaming has made films easily available as of late. Because of this, practically every reference made concerns a movie. If catching up is your goal, be sure to do some research. Find movies that are extremely popular. When in doubt, check out any new Marvel or other Disney releases. 

Yes, watching movies takes time that you could use elsewhere. However, there's a lot to be gained from viewing films. So, sit back and enjoy a fun viewing experience.