Like many people, the only two movies I watched in theaters this summer were The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
And before I join in on the rather intense discourse surrounding these two movies, I would like to say that I enjoyed both of them. Both were incredibly well produced and definitely delivered on what I would expect from two of the biggest movie premieres of the year.
But I realized part way through the viewing experience of both movies that I was thinking a little too much.
Let me rephrase: I realized that my mind was working very hard to recall all of the information needed to make sense of what I was seeing on screen.
I think many of us know the feeling of walking into a Marvel movie, realizing that you had not watched a couple rather important movies in the cinematic universe, and turning to your friend or family member who’s just a bit better about keeping up with this stuff for a quick two-minute summary of it all that you definitely won’t forget in the middle of the film.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe made being a little geeky very popular and very useful. The biggest movies in the world now require genuine dedication and some research to fully understand. In many ways, this isn’t such a bad thing. Personally, I think it makes people actually talk about the things they watch in a way that encourages critical thought and analysis.
I went to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a few friends and, as the credits began to roll, we all got out of our seats to discuss what had just happened. We talked about the story and how it carried the weight of the films before it. We asked each other what we thought all of this meant for the continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The discussion lasted well into our walk back to our cars. It is rather fun to discuss the ramifications of a fictional continuation of a superhero’s life with your friends and debate over how directors and producers will utilize what was just shown.
But I also can’t help but wonder if we have lost the ability to simply sit and enjoy a good movie.
Walking into The Odyssey felt like walking into my first high school prom again. Anticipation circled through my bloodstream as images of what I think the greatest movie ever made would look like swam through my mind. Having read the book in college and also being a fan of EPIC: The Musical, I was most excited to see just how Christopher Nolan was going to bring this expansive story to life. Furthermore, Nolan’s work has fascinated my family and I for decades now, and we all sat nervously waiting for what only he could do with this story. To my surprise, the movie felt a lot more toned down than expected. The images were indeed striking, but the story itself felt as if something was slowly being revealed to you rather than hitting you in the gut from the beginning.
I expected this from a Nolan film. However, I think the effect of the slow reveal was intensified simply because I was waiting for it. I knew Nolan’s style; I knew there had to be some intensely introspective angle to it all. So I waited for it. I got what I was waiting for. But it felt anticlimactic, as if I was only given what I had expected.
After the lights came on, I turned to my sister, who had now sunk deep into her seat. Compared to myself, my sister had very little knowledge of the Odyssey story. I asked her, “How was it for you?” She replied, “That was so intense!” Intense? I thought it was rather slow. I had to take a mental step back and ask myself, “Was I asking for too much? Did I know too much?” What should have been a new experience with a new take on the Odyssey tale turned into a real-time constant analysis of what Nolan “could” be doing with this story according to my expectations.
I was a critic, not an audience member.
I had lost the ability to come into these films with nothing but excitement. I came in with expectations, theories, possible analysis points at the ready. I couldn’t be a casual fan anymore. I had to have an opinion. I had to have put in time and energy into researching every possible angle of these films. I had to think rather than feel.
It’s not all bad. I just feel like I’ve lost something precious to the movie-viewing experience. And I hope I get it back. Will I get it back? (insert cliffhanger here)
Priscilla Chang (’25) majored in English literature and minored in linguistics at Calvin. She now works as a missionary teacher in Thailand, teaching language arts at Chiang Rai International Christian School. Apart from her love of reading and writing, she is also obsessed with learning languages, dancing, and watching the latest Korean dramas.
