I believe in Harvey Dent
Originally published at Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered. You can comment here or there.
In all my years as a film nut, never have I experienced such ceremony involved in buying tickets. I popped over to the local Vue just now to pick up my pre-ordered tickets early, to avoid any rush this evening and the lobby was as quiet as I expected. Swansea is currently in the midst of a very pleasant little heatwave so those who aren’t in work have no doubt taken the kiddies to the beach, apart from the odd few who have turned up to see…well I think it was Wall-E but I didn’t even know that was out.
The screen displaying film times already told me that, as expected, the Dark Knight is well and truly sold out. I turned up at the counter and handed over the card I’d pre-ordered with, then signed the receipt. All as standard so far, until the tickets were printed when the guy behind the counter turns and says;
“Now, what I’m handing over to you is a very precious commodity, guard it with your life!”
I was pleased not to be the only person getting really psyched up about tonight.
“Oh you don’t have to tell me.” I replied with a grin.
He then explained that every last ticket is now gone and I have two of the only ones and as such we should be sure to make it to the cinema at least half an hour early. Emphasis was put on the at least part. By this point as it was clear I wasn’t going to be going into the usual detail of buying food and drink I expected to be hurried on, only two people manned the ticket desk and there was still a fairly impatient queue despite the quiet cinema. I muttered how I remembered the queue for Sex and the City the Movie, the other recent blockbuster and was surprised that the conversation continued. No, he said, Sex and the City still had tickets left so I can just imagine how long the queue tonight will be and then I was warned that the queue for food and drink will likely be even longer. I was then shown where the queue would be starting and told to expect them to let us in around twenty minutes before the beginning.
Finally I asked about the other special screening bonus, the posters. I was told how the posters will be handed out to everyone as we file into the screen.
Finally he congratulated me and assured me that I can expect the film to be amazing.
Ceremony of a sort. Not even the biggest blockbusters so far have involved such a momentous handing over of tickets.