I'm not sure, but it--the reason we watch movies, and are entertained by them--must have something to do with being able to observe something--be it pure spectacle, deeply intelligent storytelling, or inaccessible art--entirely separate from ourselves and allowing it to get under our skin. Once in there, cinema can haunt us, surprise us, amuse us, sadden us--and we simply dig that. Call it escapism, call it useless, but at least admit that for the few seconds or few hours that we allow it under our skin, cinema makes us feel that little bit more alive.
