When most of us think about watching a good movie, we envision a work of fantasy. Some of the most popular movies of our time are not based on reality, but are mostly computer generated masterpieces that have a lot of action and special effects. These are great movies, but this was not always the way movies were made. Even now you can find some videos that are not based on fiction or merely entertaining creations. There are a lot of documentary type movies available and they are currently in the movie spotlight.
The Joy of Fiction
Fiction movies are fun to watch. They are entertaining. They may make you smile, make you cry, laugh out loud or shake in the seat you are sitting on. They are designed to capture your attention and give you something to make family movie nights great. Most of them are good at doing just that, but what more do you gain from them? Chances are good, you will not learn how to enhance your super powers, become a better husband, or anything else by watching fictional characters live in a fictional world. For the “facts” you need to venture into other genres of movies and more fact-based films.
The Movies of Truth
The movie spotlight should be more focused on the documentaries that are often overlooked. Through them, you have the ability to learn about things. They are often rented by people who want to know more about something they may be dealing with in the real world. For instance, if you have a greyhound, you could learn about what it takes to own and care for one. The greyhound documentary may cover whether they need a lot of exercise or the common greyhound teeth problems that other owners have had to deal with. You can also learn why they are the “40mph couch potato” and how they are the fastest dogs in the world, therefore needing a lot of room to run and play. It is often surprising how much information you are missing out on and it can go far beyond pets. There are documentaries about past events, present issues, and future predictions. All are designed to teach you and help you understand the world that we live in. For that reason, they can also be very entertaining.
Give Movie Night a New Twist
It is fine to want to be entertained by movies and videos. We all need to have a great time that is worry and stress free. However, perhaps just once in a while you will turn family movie night into a night where you devote yourself to learning something new. Your family will benefit from it and once you show your kids that learning can be interesting, they will continue to learn as they grow into adulthood. This could be a new spin on a fun night together and may open up the door to other interesting, learning based, trivia style games and activities on other family fun nights.