Watching the same movie many times - Strange?

[Davy Jones]

There is most definitely topics about this matter already, but I don't feel like necroing something old. Plus, I think this might be -slightly- different from other similar topics.

I am going to see Avatar in cinema for my seventh time this Saturday. When I tell people that, they look at me weird, and they often ask me why I have seen it so many times.
What is really so weird with having seen it many times and still liking it? I don't get bored by it, it doesn't get "worn out".

I have friends who have played their favorite song(s) literally tens of thousand times. They don't get bored by that song, and I don't get bored with this movie. So what's the difference? I don't see people complaining about someone having listened to a track too many times, they rather admire their dedication to the song.
When it comes to Avatar, though, it seems to be considered being fanatic, border-lining to almost being mentally ill.

I wonder, what is really so different between a music file and a music+video file, that one "can" be listened to repeatedly, while the other "cannot"?

These are my thoughts on the subject.

Sincerely, Xynth.

[Human No More]

There's no real difference, I guess. They just can't appreciate it the same way you can, we can... To them, Avatar was just a film, while to us, it's a truly life changing experience.

[Txum_kali'weya]

because people don't other people liking things that are different than what they like.

[Davy Jones]

Originally Posted by Human No More

There's no real difference, I guess. They just can't appreciate it the same way you can, we can... To them, Avatar was just a film, while to us, it's a truly life changing experience.

Well, that's a bit what I'm trying to figure out. I doubt music tracks are life-changing to them, yet it seems absolutely okay to listen to the same track 24/7... Just doesn't make sense.

Originally Posted by Txum_kali'weya

because people don't other people liking things that are different than what they like.

This is sad, but true. People are afraid of change, but most of all they're afraid of the unknown - that they do not understand. They don't understand why we like the movie, for instance. Perhaps they felt lost after watching it themselves, and just don't know what to do with all the mixed up emotions.
Alltho this topic is aimed more generally at movies vs songs, rather than Avatar vs songs. Just happens to be one hell of an example

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by Xynth

Well, that's a bit what I'm trying to figure out. I doubt music tracks are life-changing to them, yet it seems absolutely okay to listen to the same track 24/7... Just doesn't make sense.

Hmm, maybe badly worded.
What I meant was that they see something in their music, maybe not as deep as we see in Avatar, but they must see something in it to listen that many times. They just don't understand that with Avatar, if they even saw it, they just thought 'hmm, nice visuals' and forgot about it

[Davy Jones]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Hmm, maybe badly worded.
What I meant was that they see something in their music, maybe not as deep as we see in Avatar, but they must see something in it to listen that many times. They just don't understand that with Avatar, if they even saw it, they just thought 'hmm, nice visuals' and forgot about it

They might do, yeah. But other people might not, and they still accept that people love that song :/

[Vauktu]

Before seeing Avatar, I had never watched a movie twice, and this is why I was hesitant to see it again after my first viewing. I believe this goes for many people as well, and why some may consider it strange - it's just not normal.

Does that make it a problem? No.

[Sacred Tsahaylu]

Orbz o.o

[Light Kirin]

I don't think it's strange. When I was in middle school, I would watch the Black Cauldron (a Disney movie) once a day, even sometimes twice a day. It's the only movie I've watched that much, though. I just watched Avatar three times. Once in the theater, and twice at home.

[madman]

I do not think that it is strange... If I did I would have to admit that I was strange! I'm not ready to do that yet

[Davy Jones]

I've rewatched movies before, but mostly when I was little. (I think I watched that movie.. Dumbo, or whatever, like three times a day)

Another thing I've noticed is that people seem to think you're stranger if you watch it several times in the cinema, rather than on a blu-ray/dvd.
Perhaps a price issue? They don't see why we waste money on it?

**** them, I do what I want with my money

[Isard]

I replay good games many times, as do most people. (MW2 map cycle *cough*)

[Sìltsan'awpo]

It's not strange, just not common.

[Advent]

Strange. Hmph.

Consider your devotion to your family or a lover. Someone you love. Someone you spend your time with.
Then consider your devotion to a movie you love.
People should consider the facts before judging people.
I watched it in 3-D 3-4 times, and I've watched it here much more than that. No one cares.

[rasomaso]

You can't really compare this to music. There are songs that take many listening to fully admire, movies are not the same!

I feel there is a small similarity at best between listening to music and watching Avatar, since I found it puts less emphasis on a surprise factor. In fact I started a topic on this a while ago on avatar-forums, the strenght of this movie is it's emotional power and the message it tells. It's a dream we all want to live.
It's like a legend that an old man tells kids around the campfire, the legend of pure heart, love and courage that takes place on the most fantastic place one could ever dream of. Who didn't want as a kid to fly a beastly beast towards the sunset, with a valkyrie behind your back and lead a whole clan into the last final battle that is going to change the course of history?

The small similarity is imho the way you can watch it and get immediately immersed and entertained, while other movies rely on you watching it from the first minute so you just watch how it unfolds, but there is mostly nothing that special about the scenes alone, just the common reality setting or perhaps some urban sci-fi enviroment. Well Avatar puts emphasis not only on the story, but is trying to present a beauty in every possible form in every Na'vi scene. (notice there is no soundtrack in the "human scenes" for the most part and they are all very cold-colored)

Now music is 1542 % more immediate as Avatar is, and it grows on you (at least good music does), while movies in general are strongest the first time you watch them. The music is really more about expression of a given artist. I will give rare jam recordings of Jimi Hendrix as an example, if you first hear it, there is immediate "now that's some mean groove" feeling, but you don't know the notes ahead, so while you're really into the drum/bass groove, you let the guitar guide you blindly. But more and more you listen to it, you'll find yourself "humming along" in spirit, knowing where the next turn is, where it's gonna take you. At that point, you will truly start hearing the artist, rather than listening to him. At this point I can hear every emotion that Jimi felt, every nuance of his playing is registered and has a solid meaning, ranging from ultimate sadness to "new hope" or "going someplace different". That's more or less "space" as he called it, the solid base is in the blues which is "earth". You can listen to it, but you won't hear it first time.



Eheh, on topic:

I watched it 19 times and I really enjoyed it today lol. I think it's kinda weird, but hell I'm crazy so it's ok.