Midnight showings...
Ok, so I love going to the midnight openings of movies. This is partially due to my late night person biases, partially due to in the old days wanting to see the film the first time it went through the projector, before it acquired dirt and scratches and the like, and partially due to the general fun of making an event out of a movie opening, waiting on line, gathering a group of friends to attend with, etc.
Movie theatres have clearly responded to the demand for midnight openings, but perhaps things have gone a little too far. Tonight at my favorite theatre, the following three movies are having midnight openings:
African Cats
"An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, "African Cats" captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother's strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion."
Water for Elephants
"During the Great Depression, Jacob, a penniless and recently-orphaned veterinary school student, parlays his expertise with animals into a job with a second-rate traveling circus. He falls in love with Marlena, one of the show's star performers, but their romance is complicated by Marlena's husband, the charismatic but unbalanced circus boss."
Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family
"When Madea's niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health, all she wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can't manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again. It's up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how: with a lot of tough love, laughter -- and the revelation of a long-buried family secret."
Hmmm... I have to say that out of those, only the Tyler Perry one seems like it might make sense. Perhaps this is just snobbishness on my part since my midnight outing love was grown around summer blockbusters, but I don't really see those three films as the sort that drive big crowds to line up hours ahead of time for a midnight start.
Movie theatres have clearly responded to the demand for midnight openings, but perhaps things have gone a little too far. Tonight at my favorite theatre, the following three movies are having midnight openings:
African Cats
"An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, "African Cats" captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother's strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion."
Water for Elephants
"During the Great Depression, Jacob, a penniless and recently-orphaned veterinary school student, parlays his expertise with animals into a job with a second-rate traveling circus. He falls in love with Marlena, one of the show's star performers, but their romance is complicated by Marlena's husband, the charismatic but unbalanced circus boss."
Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family
"When Madea's niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health, all she wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can't manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again. It's up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how: with a lot of tough love, laughter -- and the revelation of a long-buried family secret."
Hmmm... I have to say that out of those, only the Tyler Perry one seems like it might make sense. Perhaps this is just snobbishness on my part since my midnight outing love was grown around summer blockbusters, but I don't really see those three films as the sort that drive big crowds to line up hours ahead of time for a midnight start.