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Every other week, it seems like another cinema in Hong Kong is waving the white flag. Do I care? Not really. In a world where streaming services have turned movie-watching into a cozy couch affair, it’s a wonder there are still cinema halls left at all.
Seriously, what’s the point? The last time I found myself in one, it was under duress, forced to endure the flickering lights and the collective sighs and shuffles of a restless crowd. What a joy, right?
The so-called cinema experience
Let’s talk about this absurd idea of the “cinema experience.” Who are we kidding? You’re telling me that sitting in a dark room, surrounded by a bunch of strangers who can’t seem to keep their mouths shut while they chew popcorn like they’re auditioning for a role in a horror movie, is supposed to be enjoyable? Give me a break.
And don’t even get me started on those annoying mobile phones. You know, the ones that light up like a Christmas tree right when the plot is thickening? It’s like they’re trying to ruin your night on purpose.
What do we really miss?
What am I missing out on here? The ambience? The group experience? Please. I can recreate that at home with a couple of friends and a decent sound system. No need to pay exorbitant ticket prices to be trapped in a concrete dungeon, gasping for air between coughs and sneezes.
And let’s not forget the hefty price of snacks—because of course, the cinema has to squeeze every last cent out of you while you’re trapped there.
The decline of an era
As the world spins further into the digital abyss, it’s only natural that cinemas are on the decline.
Why would anyone want to pay and suffer through a collective experience that feels more like a prison sentence than a night out? Let’s face it: we’re witnessing the slow, painful death of the cinema as we knew it. And frankly, it’s hard to muster any sympathy for these establishments that failed to adapt. They had their chance, didn’t they?
A personal grievance
And to top it all off, let’s discuss the culprits of this disaster—certain actors who seem to appear in every single film, like a bad smell that just won’t go away. Seriously, how many times do we need to see the same face plastered across our screens? It’s like being stuck in a perpetual loop of mediocrity. You’d think that with all this content available, we’d at least get some variety. But no, we’re stuck with the same tired tropes, the same predictable plots, and the same overpaid actors who wouldn’t know a good script if it slapped them in the face.
Where do we go from here?
So, what’s next? Will cinemas disappear entirely? Probably. And will anyone care? That’s debatable. Maybe it’s time to embrace the reality that we’re better off streaming movies at home, where we can control the environment and avoid the plague of annoying strangers. After all, who needs a cinema when you have the entire world of film at your fingertips? It’s a brave new world, folks, and the old guard is crumbling. But who’s really shedding tears over it?
