My first time watching JAWS on the Big Screen

ABOUT FLASHBACK CINEMA

John Hersker grew up working in his parents’ theatre in West Hazleton, PA. His love for movies gave him the idea of creating Flashback Cinema which brings classic movies back to the big screen. The program partners with various theatre operators around the United States. Hersker believes movies are best enjoyed on a big screen with an audience. The Flashback Cinema titles includes a variety of titles from different genres and different decades – including the summer blockbuster of 1975 – JAWS.

A FAN FAVORITE

I don’t remember when JAWS became my favorite movie. Going to the movie theatre was rare in my childhood – so I probably saw it as edited for TV when I was in middle-school or high school. But I did know that I was no going to miss this what seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity to see JAWS on the big screen.

PROS OF A BIG SCREEN VIEWING

1) Larger than life – the larger-than-life characters became even larger on the big screen. Their presence was doubly noted especially that of Bruce which took on mammoth proportions.

2) Theatre food – movies always need theatre-buttered popcorn. And this specific theatre had a kitchen where a pepperoni pizza was created for our enjoyment while watching this classic movie.

3) The SOUND – the best thing had to be the high-definition sound. I could hear all the little bloops of the oxygen masks under water – I could hear what I took for hidden chords in the music – I would even go so far to say that I heard heartbeats speeding up as shard induced adrenaline started pumping – you just can’t get that on non-theatre speakers.

4) The camaraderie – sharing the experience of your favorite movie with other JAWS enthusiasts in the audience – I am not alone in my crazed fandom of this movie masterpiece.

DRAWBACKS OF A BIG SCREEN EXPERIENCE

1) No remote – having to suffer through the promotions before the movie starts can be a big drawback. And not being able to stop the movie – nor rewind for favorite scenes can be a disadvantage.

2) Drive – there is a little more planning involved with having to find a date that works within your personal calendar, driving to that destination, and not being able to wear your JAWS pajamas as you watch.

3) Not readily available – Flashback Cinema has a variety of theatre partners who show the weekly selected movies. My state of Mississippi listed only two theatres that participated. Luckily one of them is a forty-minute drive from where I live. I would have been willing to drive more for this experience of seeing Bruce on the big screen – I’m just glad I didn’t have to.

4) Expense – My big screen experience came to a total just over $100 – but that did include a once in lifetime experience for me and two family members that went with me.

It all boils down to a daytrip, lunch, a movie, and a memory that will last me a lifetime. How JAWSome is that?

Words by Pamela J Hatch author of ‘The Opposite Side of Lonely’

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