Transformers... Row-boats in disguise!
Went to see Transformers tonight... and first up, let me say that it freakin' rocked more than anything ever, including toast, the internet and all the comics in the world. But that's a discussion for another day - besides, you can read people's opinions on the movie on dozens of sites, and I pretty much agree with the positive ones!
The interesting part is the getting there. And the getting home.
See, there are two cinemas in Reading. First up, you've got the Vue, which is in the middle of town, popular with students and just about everyone else, very commercial, shows all the big blockbusters. Then you have the Showcase, out of town a fair way, on its own in the middle of its own car park; a bit of a scumhole but open to more arty or foreign films.
Tonight, I was planning to see Transformers at the Showcase, which happens to be next to a river (in fact, I think it's the Thames). However, I got a phone call on the way there, saying that due to the scary amount of rain at the moment, there was no way of getting to the place - the car park was completely flooded. We did a quick 180 and headed towards the Vue, in the hope that they had a preview screening. The following happened...
[Us] Are there still tickets for the 9:30 Transformers?
[Surprisingly dim-witted cashier] Let me see... yes, but it's the front row. Five seats left.
[Us] We'll take them! Four please!
SdwC taps at some buttons, then stares into space. We assume that, as the thirty seconds or so pass, she's waiting for the till to load. Then realise she's gone vaguely catatonic.
[Us] Um... well?
[SdwC] ...oh. What? Sorry, how many?
[Us] Four, please.
[SdwC] ...oh, no. They just got sold by someone else.
Well, I wonder WHY!
Anyway, realising there wasn't another showing until midnight, we got back into the car and started to head for home. Then came the phone call. Turned out that the Showcase was still open, if you could get there.
We changed course immediately.
Nothing quite prepared me for the surprising amount of water in the car park. People were wading across, up to their waists in riverwater. There was one car parked there, and it was at least half-sunk. As we sat wondering how to get across, a convenient heroic but altruistic local showed up with a boat. Turned out he was going to ferry people across, at a cost of £1 per head. After checking that he'd be there until the end of the night, so we could get back, we happily paid up and got across.
Having had to remove our shoes to wade the last couple of feet, we entered the cinema barefoot, with the dozen or so others who had made it across. It was a bizarre experience, for sure. More people came across on the ferry, and we got to see our film.
(Which rocked.)
So we came out, only to discover that the cinema had asked the boat-guy to leave because they didn't approve of him making money on their property. Even though he was solely responsible for bringing customers to them. Long story short, we had to wade across, with water coming up to somewhere pretty uncomfortable. Not fun, and it was pretty damned cold.
I'm thinking of writing a letter. Or just going in and complaining... I mean, that was probably the worst customer service I've ever witnessed ever. And I used to work there.
But at least I'm home and dry now!
The interesting part is the getting there. And the getting home.
See, there are two cinemas in Reading. First up, you've got the Vue, which is in the middle of town, popular with students and just about everyone else, very commercial, shows all the big blockbusters. Then you have the Showcase, out of town a fair way, on its own in the middle of its own car park; a bit of a scumhole but open to more arty or foreign films.
Tonight, I was planning to see Transformers at the Showcase, which happens to be next to a river (in fact, I think it's the Thames). However, I got a phone call on the way there, saying that due to the scary amount of rain at the moment, there was no way of getting to the place - the car park was completely flooded. We did a quick 180 and headed towards the Vue, in the hope that they had a preview screening. The following happened...
[Us] Are there still tickets for the 9:30 Transformers?
[Surprisingly dim-witted cashier] Let me see... yes, but it's the front row. Five seats left.
[Us] We'll take them! Four please!
SdwC taps at some buttons, then stares into space. We assume that, as the thirty seconds or so pass, she's waiting for the till to load. Then realise she's gone vaguely catatonic.
[Us] Um... well?
[SdwC] ...oh. What? Sorry, how many?
[Us] Four, please.
[SdwC] ...oh, no. They just got sold by someone else.
Well, I wonder WHY!
Anyway, realising there wasn't another showing until midnight, we got back into the car and started to head for home. Then came the phone call. Turned out that the Showcase was still open, if you could get there.
We changed course immediately.
Nothing quite prepared me for the surprising amount of water in the car park. People were wading across, up to their waists in riverwater. There was one car parked there, and it was at least half-sunk. As we sat wondering how to get across, a convenient heroic but altruistic local showed up with a boat. Turned out he was going to ferry people across, at a cost of £1 per head. After checking that he'd be there until the end of the night, so we could get back, we happily paid up and got across.
Having had to remove our shoes to wade the last couple of feet, we entered the cinema barefoot, with the dozen or so others who had made it across. It was a bizarre experience, for sure. More people came across on the ferry, and we got to see our film.
(Which rocked.)
So we came out, only to discover that the cinema had asked the boat-guy to leave because they didn't approve of him making money on their property. Even though he was solely responsible for bringing customers to them. Long story short, we had to wade across, with water coming up to somewhere pretty uncomfortable. Not fun, and it was pretty damned cold.
I'm thinking of writing a letter. Or just going in and complaining... I mean, that was probably the worst customer service I've ever witnessed ever. And I used to work there.
But at least I'm home and dry now!