The Day I Discovered Hollywood – A Turning Point in Cinema
I remember the exact moment when everything changed for me. It was a time when CD markets were booming in Nepal, and people were transitioning from VHS tapes to compact discs. This shift was more than just a format change it was the beginning of a new way of experiencing cinema.
At that time, foreign films typically came on 2 CDs, while most Indian films required 3. The process of switching discs was a minor inconvenience, but what mattered most was the content. It was something completely different something I had never encountered before.
It was during this period that my best friends introduced me to a movie that would completely change the way I looked at films: Independence Day.
But before that my understanding of English movies was quite limited. I used to watch Jet Li and Jackie Chan films and thought I was watching Hollywood. Of course, now I laugh at that thought. I watched them just for the action, not the story, not the language. They were visual treats, high on kicks and punches, but low on connection. Again, back then, I had just completed the era of 90s Bollywood movies, the kind where scenes often had no connection to the storyline and many moments were just fillers. I had accepted it as normal. That’s what cinema was supposed to be, right? Enter Independence Day, and everything changed.
It was the year of 2002 or 2003, we gathered at our place, popped the CD in, and began watching. I still remember the moment when I saw the massive alien spacecraft in the sky for the first time. The visuals, the scope of the story, and the depth of each character left me astounded. I had never experienced anything like this before. The concept of extraterrestrial life, the design of the UFOs, and the intensity of the film’s narrative were all new to me. The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming.
Until that point, I had been watching films featuring Jackie Chan and Jet Li fast-paced action, martial arts, and stunts. I thought I understood what Hollywood was, but I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Watching Independence Day was a revelation. The movie wasn’t just about action or special effects. It was a story with real depth, where every character contributed in some significant way. The way the narrative weaved together personal struggles, government responses, and the fight for survival was something I had never encountered before in cinema.
In a way, I was unprepared for this kind of storytelling. The transition from the martial arts flicks I had been watching to something as grand and layered as Independence Day was jarring. I was so caught up in trying to process everything that my friends and I spent weeks discussing the film, trying to decode its plot and execution. We were fascinated by the presentation, the scope, and the way the film made us feel emotions I hadn’t experienced from a movie before.
That was my introduction to Hollywood and, frankly, there was no going back after that. It was a new world, one filled with endless possibilities for storytelling and innovation. From that point onward, my understanding of cinema was forever changed.
A Week Later – Air Force One: A New Hero Emerges
About a week after Independence Day, I found myself diving into another Hollywood film: Air Force One. I didn’t know what to expect. But this time, I wasn’t just introduced to a new plot; I was introduced to a whole new concept the Air Force One, the president’s plane.
I learned that the name itself wasn’t just a title, but the actual designation of the plane when the President is aboard. And what a plane it was it looked like a moving luxury house in the sky, complete with the most secure measures imaginable. I was fascinated by the plane’s interior, its vast spaces, and the comforts it provided.
But, then came the realization despite all that security, it could be hijacked. The juxtaposition of such immense power and the vulnerability of the situation left me conflicted. It was strange to think that such a well-guarded fortress could fall under threat.
And then there was Harrison Ford. Here was a man I had seen in action films, but I never expected to see a middle-aged actor playing the role of a heroic president. Was he the hero of this story? The president himself? At first, I was in denial how could the president fight to survive and protect his family? That didn’t fit with the image of the hero I had in my mind.
Yet, somehow, Ford pulled it off. The way the movie was shot inside the plane, with all those insane, unbelievable action scenes, made me forget all about my doubts. The president himself fighting against the hijackers, making impossible decisions on the fly, and doing everything he could to protect his people was a new kind of heroism one that didn’t fit the traditional mold, but was powerful nonetheless.
The presentation and execution of the film were something I could appreciate. The sense of urgency, the tightness of the narrative, and the unfolding drama within the confined space of the plane made me realize just how much more there was to Hollywood films than I had previously understood.
This was a turning point. With Air Force One, I could finally validate my journey into Hollywood. It wasn’t just about action or special effects anymore it was about exploring different kinds of heroes, new narratives, and even questioning what a hero truly is. I was hooked. There was no turning back. The journey had only just begun
And Then Came The Matrix – The Explosion
Just when I thought I had seen it all, The Matrix entered my life. By then, CDs were still around, but DVDs had started entering the Nepali market. One disc, better quality, more compact it was the perfect evolution. And let me tell you, the quality of that DVD even today beats some of the modern 4K streams. It wasn’t Dolby, but those local stereo speakers made us feel like we were in another dimension, that would have beaten Dolby Atmos or AuroMax from now.
I remember the first kick by Trinity, shot with 24 cameras. I don’t even know how many loops we watched it in. Over and over, we wondered how the hell was that filmed? And then came Neo dodging bullets, that greenish digital vibe on screen, and the dilemma of the red pill or the blue pill. We weren’t ready for it not mentally, not emotionally.
It wasn’t just a film. It was a philosophy. It was like someone unlocked a new level in our brains. We weren’t just talking about it for weeks we’re still talking about it.
Every time we meet, that memory comes back. And it always starts the same way: “Remember that DVD? That one that came all the way from Australia?” It was like today’s version of “Whose Netflix account are you using?” You get reply, “I know a guy who knows a guy, who shared it from his friend.” That Matrix DVD was like a secret treasure, and once we got it, we never let go. Like Netflix account we don’t know, whose DVD we were using like we don’t know the owner of Netflix account.
That film introduced Keanu Reeves into my life. And I’m still a fan boy. That hasn’t changed. That movie changed the definition of what cinema could be for me from visuals to narrative, from philosophy to action. It was the final push. The confirmation that I was on the right path.
Looking Back Now
It all started with a disc. Then a film. Then a feeling.
And before I knew it, I was on a lifelong journey through stories that challenged, inspired, and redefined what movies meant to me. Jackie and Jet Li were my gateway. Independence Day was my portal. Air Force One was my lesson in unexpected heroes. And The Matrix? That was my awakening.
Some moments just stay. And this one? It built the film lover in Rustam Khadka.
Movie journey…. truly it was amazing. Sometimes I use to think….today this read took me back. Beautiful work