The Majesty of Telling great big stories

SHAWN LEVY, THE DIRECTOR OF FREE GUY AND DEADPOOL 3 AND THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF STRANGER THINGS, ON THE POWER OF POPCORN FLICKS

- MICHAEL SEBASTIAN

I WENT TO THE THEATER AGAIN AND AGAIN to see Return of the Jedi. I vividly remember the scene in which Luke is hiding from Vader in the Emperor's room and Vader gives the speech that ends with "If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps your sister will." It was dead quiet. Pin-drop silence. Suddenly Vader has pushed the wrong button. Luke comes screaming out of the shadows and just goes to town in a lightsaber battle against Vader. The way that felt: The forty seconds of stillness from the audience, then the spectacle and emotion, is seared not just in my eyeballs but in my heart.

That's the essence of the blockbuster. When the tone is singular, when the themes are resonant, when the experience is connective, when the audience is reminded that the world is far bigger than ourselves, it creates a forever memory.

I think that's beautiful.