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Review unit 2

Fluency Strategy: PQR + E

Page 80

Movies for the Blind

When you think of the cinema, the phrase watching a movie probably comes to mind, and indeed, moviemakers work very hard to make their films interesting visually.

They may use elaborate costumes, beautiful locations, or amazing special effects to tell a story. An actor’s expression or movements can also sometimes say more than words.

But what about people who are blind or have trouble seeing? Movies also contain dialogue, music and sound effects − things that people don’t need to see in order to enjoy.

Movie reviewer Marty Klein, who is blind created a website called Blindspots to help people choose movies that they can follow without the help of someone explaining what is happening on the screen.

He gave a rating, from 1 to 10, based on several things. A movie received a high rating if it has only a few main characters whose voices are easy to recognize.

Klein also liked interesting stories without too many changes in time and place. A large amount of dialogue between the characters was better than long silences or noisy action scenes.

His reviews are still online, but the site is no longer updated. Another blind movie reviewer, Jay Forry, maintains the website Blindside Reviews.

He also writes for newspapers and is a guest on radio shows. Forry gives movies one of five ratings, including, “So good, blind people like it” and “I’m glad I couldn’t see it”.

Forry he became a writer after going blind at the age of 28, and his writing skills and sense of humor are what keep people reading his reviews or listening to him on the radio.

After “watching” the animated movie Up, Forry commented that he wished he, too, could have a talking dog to tell them to watch out for cars and to not “go into the ladies’ restroom again”.

Sometimes, though, it’s nice to go to a movie without reading reviews and knowing what to expect. Some movie theaters have begun to offer recorded audio descriptions of the movements, scenery and special effects so that blind moviegoers can follow what other audience members see on the screen.

They usually receive a wireless headset to wear during the movie. This allows them to listen to the narration while still hearing the movie’s music and other sounds that surround them in the theater.

Jay Forry also notes that modern theaters now have excellent sound systems, something he appreciates more than the average moviegoer.

In the end, going to the movies should be a fun and exciting experience − for both the sighted and the blind.