Listen up folks, here's an editorial. I've been steaming on something for quite some time now, and decided to finally sound off on it. "RESERVED SEATING" and "ADVANCE TICKET SALES". What set me off, was the letter below. A letter that's subject line was, "HARRY PLEASE HELP US.!!!" How could I say no?
First off, let me deal with Reserved Seating. THIS SUCKS!!! (My Harry, what a wonderfully thought out response) Ok ok ok. There is a ritual to the theatrical experience. A 'high' one gets from being... 'first in line'. The thrill of being first through the doors in to that wonderful auditorium and having the option to choose from ANY of the seats in the theater. The rush of the crowd at your back. You rush down the aisle, you head towards the middle, or the aisle, or the wings. You get excited about it. You get thrilled by it. And when you get your seat, you are proud. You did it. You hear the 'disappointement' of the fan sitting behind you mumbling something like, "I really wanted that seat." Or the person that asks you to scoot over so there whole party can sit down. And you say, "I was first." If you take this away. If there is no urgency to get to your seat, then damn, part of the fun is gone. Tis a shame for sure.
Now for the advance ticket sales... This also SUCKS!!! Why? I mean if I'm sitting at home I ought to be able to just pick up my phone and use my credit card to buy a ticket right? WRONGO!!! You didn't EARN it. You didn't bake in the sun or get drenched by the maelstorm. You didn't have the ritual of the ticket. I can't imagine buying my ticket 'early' for a film. That takes all the 'spontinaity' out of it. The thrill of going to a theater, "HOPING' to see a movie, then that film being sold out, and you deciding, "What the heck," and buying a ticket for that film that's open. Now, you'll just call the theater and say, "I'd like to buy a ticket for TITANIC please." "Oh it's sold out, ok.. Thanks" and then staying home to watch reruns of 'Grape Ape' cartoons. (Which there ain't nothing wrong with, but ya might of decided to, "What the heck," and see GOOD WILL HUNTING)
Anyway, here's the letter that set me off. I'll say it came from "The Dimeless Brother". And there is even some news down at the bottom about a flick ya might be interested in...
Harry, Just thought I should drop you a note and let you know what is happening here in NYC. I went to go see "Good Will Hunting" again at a Cineplex Odeon theatre in Chelsea last night. When my friend and I got there imagine our suprise to see that the whole damn theatre was now "reserved seating" which means that it operates just like a concert, you buy your seat depending on which row and seat you want. In my humble opinion, "this sucks". Not only was everyone walking around looking for their damn seats up to and after the movie started (God forbid an usher was available to help with this evil scheme) but since people were having trouble finding their "assigned" seats they kept the damn lights on during the previews (not that the previews were all that great -Great Expectations, Primary Colors - but it's the principle of the thing Harry!) so that you could barely see the screen. What do you hear about this Harry? Is this going to happen everywhere? What can we, the movie going public do about it? HELP US!!!
Also, I was a the NYC Public Library today where they were filming "The Astronaut's Wife". Both Johny Depp and Charlize Theron (sp?)(hubba, hubba) were there. They were filming a scene where they were supposed to be in Grand Central Station but due to construction... Not much, but fun to watch. Nice talking to you Harry.
Nice talking to you to Dimeless Brother. This is a serious theatrical issue. I mean, we all know about those insensitive creeps that come in after the start of films and ferret about for seats. Now there will be dweebish flashlight people searching for their number. ARGH!!! That's all we need, a distraction beyond the EXIT signs...
