Trailers and movie food Grrrrr

Quick Sunday night rant...

went to the pictures last night to watch the new Bond film "Quantum of Solace". Bought the tickets in advance as it was the movie's first weekend and turned up about a minute before the scheduled start time of 8.15.

THIRTY minutes later the bloody movie still hadn't started! Now once upon a time in my childhood most main features were preceded by a movie short, usually either some rather dull and amateurish documentary or a cartoon (depending on whether it was the matinee performance or evening). Between the two, usherettes used to come down the isle selling ice cream tubs (small bite-size potions in a little pot) sweets and drinks. Then the lights would dim for a second time and there would be about 5 minutes of adverts by the infamous Pearl and Dean (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)... and off we'd go.

The shorts went years ago... and with them the usherettes (sadly) however the cinema companies seem to have decided that they will still use the time once filled by their presence to not only show ads bought by their sponsors but also for some shameless self-promotion. Why cinemas need to advertise I don't know, in most towns there is only one cinema so there is no competition and when you decide to go the movies its to see a movie not because you decide it would be nice to visit the Odeon because they have nice seats or nachos....

Which reminds me... since when did going to see a movie become an excuse to eat a 3 course meal during the movie! It used to be some ice cream a a little bag of chocolate.. now! Well yesterday there was a couple who walked in just as the lights were dimming trying to precariously balance a hot dog each, drowned in mustard, a jumbo pop corn (each!) and two giant sized coca colas!! Firstly it stunk, secondly they had to both get up and go for a pee during a movie which was only 1 hr 45 minutes long (quelle surprise given that they must have drunk 2 pints of pop).

Anyway... more pining for the past... a one-screen cinema, with rock hard seats, a smoking section (really) and a special £1.00 entrance on a Monday :-)