I’ve watched movies since I was a kid. I remembered the characters’ names in a film when I was five. Back then, I watched many Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean dramas. When I started learning English seriously in university, I watched hundreds of Hollywood movies, documentaries, and TV series on Netflix. Since then, I have deeply fallen in love with watching movies.
In the past, when I watched a movie, I just cared about how beautiful the actors and actresses were. After many years of watching experience, I care more about other aspects of a film, such as the script, plot, directors, soundtracks, culture, the chemistry between characters, etc. In my view, watching movies is not only an entertainment activity but also enjoying art and learning new stuff. There are five benefits of watching movies:
1, Feel better
I will watch a movie when I don’t know what to do and feel like I’m lazy. I can’t enjoy a film when I’m so stressed, but I can spark joy with a movie when I feel a little bit tired. Sometimes, a movie can pull me out of reality for some minutes. I immerse myself in a film, making me feel better.
2, Learn new languages
When I first started learning English, I watched movies with Vietnamese subtitles. Nowadays, I mostly use English subtitles or even non-subtitles to watch English movies. My listening skills improve a lot by doing these things. I don’t pause many times and learn new words when watching movies. Still, I listen carefully to the pronunciation, accent, and short phrases in context.
3, Understand different cultures
I’ve never been to a different country. Still, I can tell a lot about Korean, Chinese, or American culture thanks to watching movies. How people dress, eat, listen or behave in a film reflects their culture. I realize that the world is so diverse. People in different regions have different lifestyles and mindsets. Movies have opened my mind like this.
4, Learn about storytelling
A movie always has its storytelling structure. It guides us through many situations and solves the problem in the end. Some film crews are so good at portraying the emotional connection in their stories. In life, we use storytelling all the time, such as when we tell someone a story or write a blog post. That’s when we can apply some storytelling techniques and incredibly emotional connections in our daily lives.
5, Learn life’s lessons
Some movies have changed my life. For example, Harry Potter blew up my imagination, and BLACKPINK - Light Up The Sky inspired me to get advanced English. Besides, some remarkable movie screens and lines still stick in my mind. In my view, when I watch a movie, I take a step back and observe other people’s lives. I see the bigger picture and learn new things from them during this time.
I would say that movies refresh my day. When I watch different genres of movies, I broaden my tunnel vision. I prefer watching movies at a cinema, but watching Netflix at home is still fun. My favorite movie these days is Stranger Things, a fiction series. If you have time, let’s enjoy it, It will blow up your mind this summer.