Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 August 2006 18:56:42
I have spent most of this weekend doing something I haven't done for ages - film watching.
I went to see Miami Vice at the local cineboxbuilding. Thankfully it lacks the cheese of the original TV series, which was very much of its time. If you're expecting a 21st century version then you are in for a shock. Yes, the fast cars and boats are there. Sonny and Tubbs are there but the rest of the team are there as filler. I think that one of them only says 3 words throughout the film.
It is a lot darker, and the original had its moments. There is a little too much Firth and not enough Foxx. There is also an absense of women in bikini and Hia Lai - from the TV titles.
What ruined the film was the behaviour of some teenagers watching it. They shouted, moved around, swore at people who complained and made shadow puppets on the screen. One guy collared them afterwards and demanded that they refunded his money for ruining the experience for him.
I was in a bad mood before I got there. Then I couldn't buy popcorn or a coke as there was no one serving at the kiosk but a big queue. I had people in front of me at the ticket line waiting to complain to the manager about a ticketing problem. They got upset as the woman in front of me was being served but they kept trying to badger the clerk. He explained that the manager was on his way but they wouldn't stop.
Then the woman ahead turns and tells them to leave the guy alone as he's trying to serve others. They were being dealt with so leave the rest of us to get served. This caused the guy and his wife to start arguing with her as well.
Then the manager arrives. They explain that they are having a cinema party for a child but 2 haven't turned up and they want a refund of the tickets. The manager explained that it isn't normal policy but he'd be happy too. This wasn't acceptable as he was being to slow in doing it and they wanted more for the inxonvenience caused in them waiting.
In the pre-screening adverts they make a big thing about the Cinema Experience. They tell you how watching a movie at the cinema is much better tthan watching pirate DVD copies or films on TV. What they don't remind you is that its quieter at home. No one interrupts - usually. You don't have people shouting or talking overly loud and sticky floors from spilt coke and popcorn.
In addition, at home you get to drink what you want, eat what you and pause the film for toilet breaks - well some of you are getting old now....
Personally, I have second thoughts about going in future. The experience seems to get worse every time I attend. At 5-6 quid a ticket I think I'd rather wait for the DVD and watch them on the soon to arrive 37" LCD TV. All I'll need to do now is get the wife to leave me alone more often.