May 22nd “To boldly go to the cinema” (for an early showing)

You know the phrase “It seemed like a good idea at the time” well it is alive and well today.

I said in the last entry I seem to have 11 hours a day to fill so why not go to an early showing of “Star Trek” great idea I think.

The 14 screen cinema at North point has it listed at 10:10 am and at just over 2 hours I will be out in time to talk to Judi who is 8 hours ahead time wise.  
I assume that it will not be busy given it has been out for a while now so off I go. A ten minute drive and when I get to the complex there are only 4 cars parked. I still manage to be third in the ticket queue the guy at the front is scanning the list of films wondering what he wants to see. Now I go to the cinema to see a specific film do other people decide to go to the cinema and “then” decide what they want to see?. “That’s illogical Jim”
Anyway no bother only 10 minutes to clear everyone and I’m in. As in all of these complexes there are lots of service tills but at this time of day there is only one operator so I am now third in the queue again. The guy must be fairly new as when I order my medium diet Coke he does not try and upsize me or sell a special or chocolates, Nachos or hotdogs. I feel slighted as one expects this type of barrage every time but hey its 10:10 so off to screen 7 and settle in with the “4” other people who have come to see this Epic so early.

Trailers for Transformers, something with Adam Sandler and that guy from “Knocked up”, something with one of the cast of The Office, The girl from “my big fat Greek wedding” in something called “My life in ruins”, Stallone in a remake of “The taking Pellam 123”

enough already get the film on.

Off we go lights down music starts and “Angels & Demons” starts, what ????? all 5 of the audience stand up in union with the same thought. We are in the wrong place. We all troop out the door and stand looking at the sign above the door it clearly says “Star Trek” so without drawing straws one wanders off to see what’s going on.
From the opposite direction comes someone who looks like they are above serving popcorn (they have an official red jacket on) and we indicate the issue. He goes into screen 7 to verify we are not all delusional and comes out to confirm it is Angels & Demons and checks that this was not what we wanted to see “Doh” as if. He then goes into the opposite room screen 8 and comes back to inform us that Star Trek is playing in this one.

Now this is the Angels & Demons screening but nobody in there seems to have worked out the SS Enterprise is not actually a Papal vessel and probably think the Vulcans are a sub order of the Franciscans. The Red coat then gets out his radio and calls whoever and explains, the disembodied voice from the other end asks “are you sure” all 6 of us simultaneously respond yes.

So they stop the film but what next?. Show the correct film in the correct screen?. No that is too easy everyone has to change rooms and even though we ask, no we cannot go straight to the film we have to watch the trailers again. Transformers, Adam Sandler etc except one trailer comes up without sound now you are never quite sure so you wait a while just in case then the next trailer the same silence. (Not sure there are making silent movies any more) By now 3 of the five of us are moving towards the door.
I get there first and am immediately elected to go deal with it.
Off I go to wake up the popcorn guy as he is the only person around. I explain 8 has no sound and he picks up his radio and calls it through. “Are you sure” is the response so popcorn guy looks at me inquiringly. 
Ok it’s early so I think no sarcasm no pretending you have gone deaf or that no I’m just yanking your chain I’ve just come for Nachos with hot sauce and jalapenos at 10:15 in the morning. I just say “yes I am sure” adding “do you want to come and verify”?.

Popcorn declines as he is not allowed to leave his post (maybe they are expecting a late rush of people to arrive 15 minutes after the film has started) so back to screen 8 where hurray the sound is back on and we finally settle down to the film we paid to see.

Actually it was quite a good film only a couple of double loops to follow and time shifts where someone meets themselves which I though was not allowed but let’s not spoil a good story with Vulcan logic.

As I said at the beginning “It did seem like a good idea at the time” anyway “Live long and Prosper”