The moviegoer experience

Imagine looking around and you are completely surrounded by cloud like snow. It covers the ground as if it were a white blanket. When you look down you can see the fresh footprints of different wildlife all around you. You can see the rolling mountains that have a heavenly glow when the sun hits them during the day. With all this beauty one could associate such a scene with the divine. One movie that wraps all of the above visuals and feelinging into one sweet experience is, Wind River. Now imagine you're watching this on something as boring as your living room tv or as small as your phone. Think of all the limitations. All you are missing out on. Something of this magnitude needs to be accompanied with a huge screen, surround sound, a crowd, and a bucket of popcorn.

Wind River takes place in Wyoming, on a Native American reservation. The story follows a Fish and Wildlife Tracker, alongside an FBI agent. Together they try to solve the murder of young woman from the reservation. This movie combines the beast that mankind can be, and the beauty of the outdoors. The film is very much a "slow burn" type of movie. This might turn some away,but it helps establish the story line. It focuses on a tight knit community that feels for each other. Much like that of an auditorium where everyone becomes united and embarks on the emotional journey together. When it's something funny we laugh, when it's something sad we cry. Together we navigate the emotional roller coaster that the theater seat straps us in for. Happy or sad , sunshine or rainfall we come together through it all. That's why we watch movies in the first place. We watch them to swap and share each of our experiences. We seek that interaction and need people around to feel the same. A movie theater creates the best environment for that. It brings many aspects into one palace. With many seats and large screens, it promotes a shared reality. A reality where anything is possible and the sky's the limit.

If not seen in a theater, the visuals Wind River creates may be overlooked. With its great wide shots and close ups. Without the big screen such shots could be underappreciated. Many of these visuals are crucial parts of the film. They help to follow the characters as they develop. Also they contribute to the significance the wild has in the story. As time progresses, more and more time is spent outdoors. This involves beautiful shots of the Wyoming landscape. For example in one scene at the end, when the main protagonist finally comes face to face with the killer. The camera captures the harsh yet zen like mountains covered in snow. Each angle lines the path with its next stepping stone. Every shot is precisely executed to reflect the situation at hand. In one's home or on a phone all this can be lost in translation. All this beauty and aesthetic thrown away because you wanted to stay home. In a movie theater not only would these effects be present, they could even be magnified. With options ranging from RPX to 4DX it's completely up to you on how far to take your movie going experience. The film does a great job using the wildlife around to portray the feeling in each sense. This constant reinforcement provided by nature aids in sending the director's vision to the audience. It gives subtle hints to growing tension by showing how destructive nature is and can be.

On top of the many visually pleasing aspects, one of the most important is one that can't be seen. It can only be heard and felt. I'm talking about the soundtrack. It is filled with wonderful pieces that incorporate high and low frequencies. Pared together they make up a very sensational experience for the ears. Not only does the soundtrack use musical instruments to create this very cold and wild atmosphere, it fully utilizes the sound of the wind. In many scenes the wind will howl like a wolf calling to its pack. Such a sound should only be heard through the highest quality of speakers. Speakers like the ones that surround an auditorium. Speakers that shake your seat and echo through your body. A perfect blend of what you are seeing and what you are feeling.

Most movies are great in the fact that they make us laugh or cry instinctively. What if a movie could make you feel those emotions on such a level that it changes you. You would wanna really take in the sounds, beautiful visuals, and a deeper sense of belonging. Belonging that you can find at your local movie theater.