Two—Count 'Em, Two—Visits to the Cinema!

This is perhaps unprecedented: Andy and I went to a movie alone last night and then took the kids to another movie today!

Alone we saw "The Bourne Ultimatum," which was an extremely exciting, suspenseful, action-packed movie—almost too much for me, and you know I dig that stuff. Andy was actually shushing me at one point, when I was scrunched down in my seat with my hands partly covering my eyes, yelping "Oh! Ah! Yikes! Oy! Ugh!" That was during perhaps the most violent fist-fight I've ever seen on film. Wow. But ... There was an unforgivable moment at the end, when A Message was presented to us in such a ham-handed way that I snorted in my heart and soul (and possibly out my nose—you'll have to ask Andy). It nearly ruined the movie for me—really, don't you hate when people are trying to kill each other for 2 hours, and then when one of them finally has the other in his cross-hairs, they have to have a long discussion about all they've been through together? Give. Me. A. Break. But it was still as exciting as all get-out. Matt Damon has turned out to be a one-trick pony, but he does that one trick awfully well.

Today we decided that it was OK to take our 5-, 8-, and 10-year-olds to see a PG-13 movie, namely "The Simpsons." You know I love me some Simpsons, and I don't regret this. As I suspected, the more subtle humor (political jibes, wordplay) was lost on them, while the more blatant stuff (burps, naked butts, etc.) was harmless. I laughed out loud way more than once, and I still think this is the greatest comedy series ever created.

But. During the trailers, the film frame was off-kilter, so you saw the bottom half at the top and the top half at the bottom. I excused myself and went to complain; the problem was fixed. But. Several minutes into the movie, we couldn't help noticing that one of the main cinema lights was still shining right into our eyes. I went to complain again. The light stayed on, and then another one flashed on and off repeatedly. Finally, after about 30 minutes, all lights went out. I don't know about you, but when I spend big bucks to see a movie at the cinema, I want to lose myself in the movie, and I am pissed beyond belief when the Real World disrupts my experience. I eventually relaxed again, but then at the end, those big lights never came back on, so exiting the theatre with three young'uns was a wee bit treacherous.

At that point, Andy took Pete to the bathroom and I took Julie and Steph. Then, separately, we complained to cinema staff about the lighting problem and were each issued 5 free movie passes. Yeah, $100. Can do.

Comments

[Going Like Sixty]

I am with you 100% on the gabbing between the people that supposedly chase each other all over Hell's half acre.
Also Bourne is running thru the whole deal, but the bad guys just go at a fast walk and still keep up. Come on make it real - this is only a movie!
:-)

[Elena]

I had to go and complain about lights being left on during the Bourne Ultimatum! My kids thought I was being a dork, but I also don't want to be prevented from totally immersing myself in the movie. I thought it was fantastic--no complaints at all!

[TwoBusy]

The fistfight with Desh was badass -- definitely the high point of the movie for me.