Memories of the Cinema

Words by: Pui Kuan Cheah

The cinema is a safe space for me; a form of escapism. Being completely immersed in a movie in a dark cinema hall, I usually would not bother about the people seated around me. However, this changed when I watched Avengers: Endgame back in 2019. It was a full house, a rare sight and only reserved for the biggest blockbusters. Given how quick pre-sale tickets sold out, presumably most if not all the audience present, including myself, were fans of the MCU, eager to find out what was in store after the shocking ending of Infinity War a year earlier.

Many criticise Endgame for having too much fan service, but that was what made this opening day viewing so special and one of my best memories of the cinema. Multiple times throughout the movie, the audience collectively gasped, cheered, cried, and even broke out into rapturous applause for the entire credits. The scenes that garnered the biggest reactions? When Cap took hold of Mjölnir, and when all the heroes from the MCU came together to take on Thanos’ army (Alan Silvestri’s “Portals” score makes me shed happy tears to this day). I had never seen such loud reactions to a movie in the cinema, and it made this experience even more enjoyable. By the end, I had borne witness to a cinematic universe that brought together people who shared a love for characters they had grown up with. I left feeling euphoric, carrying that radiant experience in my heart out of the hall.

Words by: Lucia Cubb

The cinema is an amazing place: from the humongous screen in front of you to the surround sound system, it is a space that can captivate anyone. The first time I ever went was to watch DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon, a movie that I can describe as none other than epic. The thrill of cinema for the first time is something that I am sure most people will remember; even the adverts before the movie started were exciting (although this may have been due to the build-up of adrenaline in anticipation of the film). I popped on my 3D glasses, ready for the action to start – and I was instantly enthralled. The roar of the dragons across the screen as their wings seemingly popped out and nearly hit me was incredible. I was no longer a child sitting on a seat in a cinema, but a Viking alongside Hiccup. In one of my favourite scenes, Hiccup is learning to fly with Toothless, his dragon, and the music alone is enough to send chills down your spine and goosebumps across your body. This breathtaking part is filled with laughter, amazement, and light-hearted fear as they both soar through the air, enchanting the audience with the film’s incredible animation. It is a movie that can be enjoyed by anyone. Being well-executed and simply magical, this film will never be forgotten, with my first ever experience of the cinematic atmosphere forever memorable and cherished.

Words by: Megan Shinner

The cinema is an arena for the imagination to go wild. I have spent many magical hours pondering the screen, including my first trip to see Wall-E with my parents and once to see the release of The Princess and the Frog wearing my princess dress. However, my fondest memory of the cinema must be the release of the Downton Abbey movie. I’m not one to indulge in and obsess over a TV series but whilst Downton Abbey was running, I’d count down the days until the next season’s release - then would binge the season like there was no tomorrow. Downton Abbey was the world I could slip into for hours on end. The second tickets were released, I was buying them! On the day of the long-awaited visit, I distinctly remember being the youngest in the cinema; my mother was the closest in age to myself. However, it was so wholesome to see all the old ladies with their friends and husbands, chatting away about what the Grantham Family had been getting up to after all this time. As soon as the first glimpse of Highclere Castle appeared after its lengthy driveway, and the first few chords of the theme tune played, there was not a dry eye in the house! There was a multi-generational love and emotional unity over this family and their story. My mother, grandmother, the older ladies, and I were back in our happy place - catching up with the Granthams.

Design by: Rahima Bhatti