The Nostalgia Newsletter
Revisiting our favorites on the big screen
Livia
Some of you may know that A24 is re-releasing some of its films in IMAX. First it was Ex-Machina and recently, they showcased Hereditary. These are one-night-only showings with no sign of coming back, so I knew that I needed to be there, despite the only IMAX showing being at my least favorite theater in San Antonio, the AMC Rivercenter.
I got tickets for Sebastian and I and we were set to see one of my favorite movies in one of the most immersive formats. We found our way to our too-close seats (I don’t do IMAX a lot so I forget that you should be in row 9 or 10 and not row 7) in a eerie theater (the IMAX in this theater is literally always playing a movie about the Alamo, so you know there’s some creepy-ass statues outside that my peripheral always mistakes for a real person awkwardly waiting for their date outside of the bathroom).
We’re waiting with anticipation as the trailers and the iconic Nicole Kidman intro plays, then — cut to black. A strange sound I do not recognize comes out of the speakers. Then subtitles flash saying: “Power over Spice.”
If you’re not a super-fan, you might not recognize the first line of Dune: Part 2. I certainly didn’t. I look to the stranger to my left and ask, “Is this supposed to be Hereditary?.” They nod and everybody around us starts talking, presumably asking the same question. This has nothing to do with the theme of nostalgia, but it’s very funny to me that the first two minutes of my IMAX Hereditary experience is simply “Fuck it, the first two minutes of Dune: Part 2.”
Anyways, once the real movie started, I was mesmerized. And honestly, that is saying something, because I’m not somebody who just has to see [insert visually compelling movie here] in IMAX. I never understood why a bigger screen and a louder speaker mattered… until now.
As somebody who’s seen Hereditary maybe 30 times, this time was truly exceptional. The visuals were stunning! There were so many things I feel like I missed, even in a theatrical format. Like, when the mom’s severed neck is facing Paimon/Charlie, there’s hundred of maggots crawling in her flesh. Didn’t catch that the first time and it added so much to the gore and depravity of the cult.
I was even catching audio things that I never heard before. Like when Annie is yelling at Peter about how nobody ever admits anything they’ve done, I always thought she sat down and just stayed quiet, but you can hear her mumbling to herself, in the same way I’m sure her mother did many times.
I’m in no way saying I’ll suffer through those uncomfortable IMAX theater seats or god forbid, park in a downtown parking garage the next time a made-for-IMAX feature comes out. BUT. If one of my favorite movies gets re-released in IMAX, I will be seated. And I recommend you do the same, especially if you remember your first viewing of said favorite movie as one of your favorite overall viewing experiences. I remember the exact way I felt after I saw Hereditary the first time and I think watching it in IMAX was the closest I’ve gotten to getting that same experience.
So, if A24 is doing this just to exploit my nostalgia to get me to pay those IMAX prices, then yea, it fucking worked. And I hope they do it again.
Anthony
At the beginning of April, I told Livia that we needed to come up with an idea for the newsletter earlier to give us more time to write (that never really works, I started writing this 2 days before our “deadline”). We both spent the next week coming up with what the topic of this issue would be.
Soon after, Keila got tickets for me and her to see Twilight on the big screen. I had also had forgotten that I booked tickets to see the first three of the eight live action Spider-Man movies Sony announced they’d be re-releasing. It was as if the universe gave me and Keila an opportunity to revisit each other’s childhood together. On the 13th, we started our month-long trip down memory lane. I can really only characterize this trip by two distinct sections: the events leading up to me finding my seat and the screening itself.
Before Showtime
Twilight
Walking to the theater decked out in our Twilight graphic tees was like walking to a concert. Nearly everyone we saw was proudly wearing shirts to show their love for the film. Some of them declaring to the world that they’re either Team Jacob or Team Edward. It was the perfect way to get excited for the film. As we walked to the auditorium, we noticed that the LED display was working (the theater we frequent never has these working). Keila exclaimed that she needed a picture under it and I was more than happy to capture the moment. She loves this movie and i’ve never seen her so excited to watch it.
The Raimi Trilogy
Walking up to the theater to see Spider-Man (2002) a few days after seeing Twilight had a similar story. The entire lobby was filled with people wearing Spidey tshirts and there were even a couple of people in full costume. As we got our tickets scanned, Keila and I got the promotional posters to commemorate the re-release event (minus Spider-Man 2 because we caught a later showtime and they ran out). If you have one, I have an extra for each of the others and will happily trade!
During Showtime
Twilight
The beautiful thing about re-watching a movie with an audience full of fans is that everyone knows what to expect because they’ve seen it tens (or hundreds) of times. For the most part, all the moments you find funny or sad are heightened because the rest of the audience is laughing or crying with you. For Twilight, it was mainly laughing at the ridiculous editing, acting, and song choices. By far my favorite part that the whole audience cheered at was during the end credits when Charlie (Billy Burke) was on screen. It was clear who the real star of the show was. The crowd was neither team Jacob or Edward—it was and has always been #TeamCharlie
The Raimi Trilogy
If you know me, you know that I’m extremely nostalgic about the Raimi trilogy and hold it in the highest regard. What stood out to me for each of the screenings was that everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives in the theater. Each screening crescendoed in applause and laughter, reaching its peak during Spider-Man 3—arguably the most meme-able Spider-Man film of all time. I haven’t been in such a lively crowd since seeing Spider-Man: No Way Home three years ago.
I loved experiencing these 4 films over the past month with Keila—even though we could have just as easily watched all of them at home. Objectively, there was no reason to go see them in the theater but you buy a ticket to just see these movies. You do it to hear your wife over a sea of laughter that follows after Edward covers his mouth as he smells Bella’s stench. You do it so you can think about how much has happened in your life in the 22 year gap since you’ve Spider-Man in a theater. You do it for the experience.
Theater chains across America seem to have entered into a new era of nostalgic screenings that is unprecedented for my lifetime. It feels like the re-release of films are being announced every other week; It was just announced recently that Interstellar is getting re-released in IMAX this fall! I cannot wait to feel Hans Zimmer’s score in my chest as Coop attempts to dock the endurance. I never got to experience that in a theater but can’t wait to do so with people who love Interstellar just as much as I do.
It’s clear to me that audiences love going to the movies for an experience and what has a better pull factor than nostalgia? With that in mind, what’s the film you’d most like to see get re-released in the theaters?
Recommendations
Livia recommends Short Term 12
Available on Peacock
Staying on the nostalgia theme, I’m recommending one of the first indies I remember seeing, Short Term 12.
I didn’t really know what an independent film was until I saw this movie. I wish I remembered where I saw this movie or how I found it, but regardless, I’m so glad I did. Short Term 12 changed so much of what I thought a movie could be and I’m forever grateful that I watched it when i did, because since then I’ve sought out independent film and I know I’m a better writer and filmmaker because of it.
Anthony recommends Hellboy (2004)
Available on Hulu
Hellboy is another pivotal superhero movie from my childhood that I would jump at the opportunity to see on the big screen.
Before I knew who Guillermo Del Toro was (or honestly what a director was), I knew that the universe he brought to life from a comic book was unique. Whether you’ve never seen this before or just finished watching it literally right before you read this newsletter (what a coincidence!), I guarantee that GDT’s visuals will continue to impress.