So, with Dunkirk opening next week, a film that no doubt will need to be see on the biggest screen possible, I thought I’d talk about the debate of going out to the cinema.

Sadly, the world of cinema has seen a decrease in its ticket sales over the past several years. For too many people, going out to the cinema is just not as exciting anymore, and they’d much rather stay at home or spend their money on other things. There are many reasons for this decline, most likely primarily the increase in ticket prices (which are still fair in some places, but extortionate in others), and the increase in home media (think streaming and downloading) and the speed with which films arrive from the big screen to our TV screens. It seems people would just rather stay at home for the ease of it, and the avoidance of any annoying people, but by only ever seeing things on the small screen, they are missing out on a lot.

Shock horror, I am going to make the argument for the cinema (you never would have guessed it, would you), and it is not because I have anything against streaming (I am an avid Netflix user), but because I think the cinema experience gives you something you can’t get at home, and gives films the chance to have the impact they are aiming for. Plus, a quick disclaimer – this is making the argument between cinema and streaming and DVDs not illegal downloads because however you watch a film, it should not be through illegal means.

One of the things I love about film, and what I believe attracts people to it, is its presentation of the shared human experience. It is what makes the emotional connection between you and a character on screen able to be so strong that after merely observing them for an hour and a half, you can be moved to tears. The shared experience isn’t only between you and the character, but between you and all of the other people who have been touched by the same thing you are watching. The cinema makes this experience so much more palpable. By going out and sitting in a room with many other people – regardless of if you are with friends, or enter the screen alone – you all share the experience of watching the film together. There is also something powerful about the way cinema can bring people together, especially when you think about the severely fractured state of our modern world. Watching with other people helps to create more of an atmosphere, be it through the concentrated silence of watching a drama, the rising tension of a thriller, the shared laughs of a comedy, or the shared screams of a horror, seeing something with other people can give it much more impact. There is also the matter of tangible excitement at certain screenings of much anticipated films that can only heighten your own enthusiasm.

The cinema is also the purest way you can watch a film. Unless you happen to be sat next to one of those inconsiderate popcorn rustlers, or annoying talkers (which, admittedly, could put you off the cinema, but it’s a rare enough occurrence it is worth it), this is the best way to watch a film with no distractions. You can’t just have a quick check of your phone (you shouldn’t, at least), can’t pause the film to do something, don’t have it broken up by adverts like if you were watching it on the TV, and won’t have people walking in to interrupt your viewing. The cinema is the place where you can really experience the film; you are given the best circumstances to fully enjoy it as much as you can. A broken-up or distracted viewing can have a serious impact on your overall opinion of the film.

Finally, and perhaps the best reason of all to go to the cinema is for the big screen and the surround sound. In a dark room, with a screen that fills your vision, you can fully immerse yourself in the world on screen, and let it transport you somewhere else. There are also films designed to be a big screen spectacle that really need the larger projection space to have their full impact and let their visuals overwhelm you. There are even certain films for which the big screen is so important; a small screen will just diminish the film’s impact (I haven’t rewatched Gravity since the cinema because I know the TV screen will never replicate that experience). It is the way almost all filmmakers want you to view their work, and thus you should honour that if you want to get the most out of the film. The smaller the screen you see something on, the more is taken away from the experience. Whilst the big screen will no doubt heighten the experience of any film, it is obviously more important for those bigger blockbusters or those with the breathtaking visuals. There really is no better way to watch a film.

I really believe if you want to have the best experience of watching most films, there is no better place than the cinema (or maybe IMAX). Obviously prices play a big part, but if your reasons are that its more effort, or you might be surrounded by annoying people, the chances are your venture will pay off. Sometimes you just have to risk being sat near the talker, popcorn rustler or inevitable manspreader (whom you can always politely ask to be quieter/move their legs, or just try and ignore), and go for the film; chances are, it will be worth it.