Voices of MainStreet: Maryellen Apelquist

Why I'm Big on the Small Screen
May 26, 2011

I love movies. I love watching them at home, nestled on the sofa, and I love watching them on "the big screen," sharing overpriced popcorn, smuggled-in-my-purse Junior Mints (or gummy worms, if I happen to be with my nephew), and $6 watered-down cola.

Despite my love, my movie theater outings have dwindled to once or twice a year. It's not a cost issue — the prices have been exorbitant as far back as I can remember — so much as an I'd-rather-be-at-home issue. The older I get, the more I prefer hanging out in my own digs, cooking for loved ones and watching movies on our own obnoxiously large flat-screen TV, complemented by surround sound and wearing my comfiest shouldn't-be-caught-in-public pants. Really, why go out?

Still, it does happen — usually for a summer blockbuster aimed at my nephew (with a few somewhat clever one-liners thrown in for the adults) or for an over-the-top action flick my boyfriend and I can't wait to see. This summer, that over-the-top action flick is Transformers 3.

Now, this is not my usual genre. I am more of a The King's Speech / A Room with a View sort of girl. For a long time I didn't confess my adoration for the Transformers movies, but it all came tumbling out last summer when the man got me hooked. Long-buried memories of playing with my brother's "robots in disguise" plagued my thoughts. I had to see Optimus Prime and crew kick the Decepticons' butts.

I saw the first two back to back, in the comfort of our own home, and I am hard-pressed to wait until July to see the third. And, yes, it has to be in the movie theater, on the biggest of big screens, with overpriced popcorn and smuggled-in candy. Nothing else will do.

As far as movie merchandise goes, I am full of contradictions. I like to think it's not my thing. I purchase DVD copies of favorite flicks — they make great stocking stuffers — but I think of movie merchandise, on the whole, as garbage that wastes money. But then I find myself making exceptions, thanks to my nephew's fanatic love of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies: A Pirates poster adorns his bedroom wall and a Pirates-themed Lego set given at Christmas has given us hours of playtime fun. And what's wrong with a Pirates of the Caribbean lunchbox, if you need a new lunchbox, anyway? Or Pirates-themed pajamas, found for a steal at Target? I guess this is how they get us.

— Maryellen blogs about the foods she loves to cook in her Vermont home on her blog Love & Scraps.