Envying Innocence

I went to see Spider-Man Brand New Day at the cinema recently. It was a big day for me because, despite running a blog founded on mainly film review, it was to be only the fifth film I’ve watched this year to date, and my forst time this year in a cinema as the prices sky rocket to get in. But I always turn up for two things: Godzilla and Spider-Man, so I was obligated by my own soul to go.

This post isn’t a review of Spider-Man, that’ll come later, it’s just to say that I was sat next to a very invested woman. This woman made me smile a few times as each action sequence made her put her hand over her mouth, and every emotional beat in Peter Parker’s character arc had her fanning away tears. All I can say is that I wish I wasn’t quite so jaded, as I found myself a bit envious of her absolute pure enjoyment of the film.

Remember Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Me neither, but we’re more concerned about a particular fan who posted his reaction to the trailer online and ended up in tears watching it:

This guy caught a lot of flak from strangers online. He was called a Disney shill. He was called a child. He was called naive. He was bullied. Say what you want about this guy, but he is clearly just a normal person wearing his heart on his sleeve and who wants to share his love for something. It’s true that reaction videos like this intentionally over-react to entertainment value and to draw more views, and I think it’s true of tbis video too, but it’s clear this video isn’t cynical at all. If it was he wouldn’t be bullied for being a naive and uncritical. Clearly, even the bullies see this guy genuinely feels what he shows.

I could never be like this guy, or the woman I sat next to during Spider-Man, and I am actually glad about that because I enjoy having a crticial eye. But, at the same time, I am envious because I know that I was once similar to this when I was a teenager. I was just the right age for all the new Star Wars films to hit right, and to grow up alongside the MCU from Iron Man to Endgame. I recall going to see the first Avengers film three times in cinemas and every time felt like the first time.

I had a similar reaction to Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014). I was 14 when it came out and in absolute awe, despite the main critisism many adults had of the film being that the monsters weren’t on screen enough. I remember seeing it with my mom and, as soon as we left, phoned my Dad to tell him “it was better than the Avengers“, which was a very high bar to clear at the time.

That part of me clearly isn’t dead, as I always turn up for Spider-Man and Godzilla and generally enjoy them regardless of objective quality, and I’m glad for that.

‘There’s no point in being grown up if you can’t act a little childish sometimes.’ – Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.