A weekly ode to the joys of moaning about your holiday, by Tim Roxborogh.
Maybe it's the altitude, maybe the lack of oxygen, but there's something about movies and planes that creates a strange, emotional combo. The two films that jump into my head for getting the eyes more than just a little moist on a long-haul flight are The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and Marley And Me. Marley And Me!? It's a good movie and I'm very partial to pets - but really!
Luckily the dim lighting and constant noise of flying are kind to the privacy of on-board blubbers, but there's not much you can do if the tears start flowing during the meal service. "The chicken or the fish, sir?"
Which is where we should spare a thought for passengers who flew during the ancient days before personal screens and the ability to watch what you wanted, when you wanted.
Let's say it's 1988 and the entire plane is engrossed with Bette Midler in Beaches. Here's a 29-year old spoiler alert: imagine what it would've been like at 30,000ft with a couple of hundred passengers seeing Bette's lifelong best friend pass away? And all the out of control sobs during Wind Beneath My Wings? Pandemonium in the skies!
