My Vista Escape

The Vista Theater in Los Feliz -- hands down my favorite theater in
LA, if not the country (and perhaps, the world). Street parking is
usually fairly readily found, if you are willing to walk a few blocks
(though probably not further than the parking garage of other
theaters, without the endless circling to find a spot and, later, to
escape the concrete maze). The quaint exterior, with lighted marquee
and the one-person ticket booth brings out nostalgia for a time
before mine or my own days sitting in the box at the Enzian theater
in Winter Park, FL. Inside, the Egyptian murals and sculptures
distinguish this theater from the megaplexes that have taken over.
Finally, the leg room. My theory is it was an old theater with no
leg room so they just took out every other row. Anyway, I am pretty
sure, though I never tested it out, that I could lay my 5'5" self
down between the rows without need for contortions. The screen is
beautiful and clear. The sound is crisp.

Unlike most indie theaters, it is a great place to see a earth
shaking movie like Superman, which is exactly where I brought myself
on my Friday night date with myself to celebrate the end of school.
A horrid day it was, despite the shortened schedule and the absence
of students. The bureaucratic idiocy is beyond retelling without a
lot of whining, ranting, raving, and mumbo jumbo. So, trust me, it
backed up like bad plumbing to be spewed on the teachers the last
minute so we could carry the stink of the administration with us
through the vacation. Great way to raise morale for next year. I
needed to restore my faith in "truth, justice, and all that other
stuff . . . ." I needed Superman.

Like all good things (except maybe sex . . . ) I do find that absence
makes the heart grow fonder. Since I rarely see movies or watch TV,
the sensationalism of the big screen has regained its magic. Many
times I jumped in my seat at sudden attacks, crashes, and floor
shaking special effects. The sight of Superman effortlessly pulling
Lois and others out of the grips of death mesmerized me, wide-eyed as
I let my imagination return to the innocence of my childhood.
Everything about this movie invoked my willingness to suspend my
disbelief. For instance, no matter what calamity befell her, Lois
always emerged without a hair displaced. Except for the exhilarating
flight in Superman's arms (yes, you know the scene is in there, so
really, don't say I am ruining anything for you). The
cinematography is beautiful and playful. Much like the characters
and plot. Yet, the filmmakers also manage to give Superman depth.
He is more than a hero and more than a boy from a Kansas farm. He is
a model for what we all strive to be: passionate, true, and aware.