Orthopraxy

In a crumbling theatre perched on the third floor of a dead mall, alone I watched the new Lord of the Rings film War of the Rohirrim, directed by Kenji Kimiyama, whose body of work I confess I am not familiar with. This wasn't the first Lord of the Rings film I've watched in this very theatre--I have distinct memories of watching The Two Towers here. I loved that film from the moment it started playing, and the desperation felt in that packed house during the Battle of Helm's Deep may have been the first moment I gained an appreciation for the types of media I have today. And so, in service to this legendary moment from my childhood, I paid my $15 for entry to the new film. It was also partially in service to convenience and an empty schedule; that particular theatre is just a short bus ride from my apartment. My partner was working today, and none of my friends felt particularly interested in going to see it. So, on basically a whim, I decided to check it out on my...