Movies vs. Video Games

So I went to see 9 on it's debut. This might make me sound like a fan of movies, or someone who was excited about the movie. No, I'd first heard of it about 10 hours beforehand. I went with a group of friends of mine. But you have to be quiet during a movie, pretty much, so I didn't talk to them for the majority of time I was there. And well, while we were watching the movie...

...well, I was pretty friggin' bored. I'd brought my DS with me, and a new game that I'd barely cracked open, and man I wish I'd have been playing that instead. Okay, it might have been the fact that 9 was pretty predictable or at least didn't throw any surprise plot twists. But what really broke it for me, I suppose, was the fact I couldn't get into the movie. The entire time I was painfully aware I was watching a movie. You may say, "Yes, Chrys, you were in a movie theatre, you were sitting in a chair, you had a large coke, and you are most definitely not a foot tall. Stop stating the obvious."

...

Well my friends, let me tell you a little something about "immersion", and the reason why I don't particularly enjoy movies. I don't know about movies, but possibly the most important thing about a game is whether the game immerses you in itself. If you're playing a game and you're aware that you're just a big fat nerd sitting in a chair clutching a controller or tapping away at a keyboard, you're not playing a very good game. Isn't that why games are popular - as an escape from reality? Isn't that why people develop alternate personas? Like why furries are popular among people who aren't happy with their life. Although I could be wrong on that. ((It wouldn't surprise me in the least if a lot of people who hated their jobs were furries or something like that.))

So I don't get why movies are so popular. Or liked. I can't lose myself in a movie. Now, not all movies have this problem, I think. Comedies don't need immersion because they're funny. Pornos don't need immesion because...well...I don't really need to say that, do I? But action movies. Who likes watching car explosions? I want to CAUSE them! I don't like watching action, I like participating. AND YES, YOU MAY CONSTRUE THAT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

Yeah, I think that games take what movies and even sometimes books do and does it better. I like playing a mystery novel much more than reading it, even if it does get frustrating at times. I like playing a movie more than watching a movie - ever heard of Xenosaga? Best movie I've ever played. Seriously, I don't think I pressed X more than once.

And noooo, I am NOT stealing jokes AT ALL

But yes, movies are just lacking, in my opinion. So if anyone ever asks me why I don't particularly care for movies, I can just pull up this post and never have to explain myself again.

...Not that I really bothered in the first place. Oh well.

Want to tell this author what you think, but you don't want anyone else to see it? Think she's full of it and need to set her straight? Want to worship the ground she walks on? Well, good luck with that last one, but you can email Chrys at catharticgamer@yahoo.com and at least tell her what you think.