Yesterday was my first time back at my local Six Flags Theme Park in many years.
It was refreshing, knowing that, in my mid thirties, I am still able to stomach (most of) the rides, both new and classic (not to mention all the walking).
All of that was a cake walk to the previous night, when I went to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.
(It should now me stated that this is not so much a review of a film as it is of an experience.)
I admit to being a fan of her music (a subtle Swifty, if you will.) I remember the first song I heard of hers, which was “Mean”. I’m not sure I have a personal favorite song or album, but I do have a bunch of them liked on my Spotify (my newest playlist is rightly called “Mom…Dad…I’m a Swifty”.) That said, I entered my local theater for a 7:40pm showing on a friday night. I picked the main showing that had already been just about sold out.
It did not take me long to realize I was in for something truly unique.
I was expecting most of the crowd to be of the youth crowd, but not entirely to the point of them all being dressed up. Only when I found my seat (right in the front row, in front of the stage and screen) did I realize I never have felt more out of place in a movie theater in my life. Eventually, once the movie started, the screaming began. The film (directed by Sam Wrench) showcases about 40 songs from the different eras of the career of Taylor Swift.
I admit to looking ahead of time what the songs would be (click here for the list of the songs), which I first felt guilty of, since I figured being surprised would be better. Turns out I was right, since it would prepare me for what songs would be more popular. I am not one to ever have his phone in the theater, (unless the film is truly atrocious), but twenty minutes in, I decided to turn around and look at the audience. What I saw was truly distinctive, as those behind me stood when Swift told them to, had phones out for flashlights during the slower songs, and the obvious singing along.
Once it got to around the hour mark, the kids started filling the aisles and dancing. The space between my seat and the stage (it is an older community theater) was soon filled with about fifty kids. During the song “Look what you made me do” (the song most recently in my head these days), I had to move to the back of the theater with the parents for my own safety. I have never had to do that before (and I was forced to twice throughout the film). One of the workers of the theater had to stand near the stage to be sure the kids did not get on the stage. Nearly every song got the same response from the youth (especially 1989).
Only at times was I able to actually watch the film, and, to my surprise, it was very well done. There are times in between the songs that we get to hear Taylor talk about the songs (giving us old folk a time to breathe). It is also beautifully shot and expertly edited. It is near the same realm of the best of concert films (while I only saw Stop Making Sense once, it was enough to know why it is considered the best). It is so surprising how extremely well done the film is that it almost felt like putting on a warm cardigan. My only qualm was the length (though I would be afraid to say which songs get cut).
Parents, speaking of the songs, it is no secret that Swift has sworn in her songs, and some of them are present in the film. These do involve an F-Bomb or two. To be fair, it was hard for me to hear it with all the screaming and such, but that does at least explain the PG-13 rating. I would just say look at the list of songs and go from there.
With the exception of Beyoncé , I can’t think of another more popular female pop star of the 21st century than Taylor Swift. Her control of a crowd is borderline scary: There is one moment where she is able to command the crowd almost as well as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would do during a wrestling event. Despite all the haters, she has always been, well, fearless. Now, she has made a truly remarkable, memorable concert movie.
It is a theater experience I will always remember….all too well.
Overall:
Nothing else to say 