It wasn't really all that long ago that this craze got started, but still I can't say that I understand the madness behind it. Last night I gave in and saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Had my friend not wanted to see it I probably would've waited until it came out on DVD, but like what has happened with the previous Harry Potter movies there is always someone who wants to see it near opening.
I don't mind the Potter movies, they're entertaining enough, but I haven't read any of the books and it usually takes me the first 30min of each movie to remember who everyones name is again. Apparently, I was in the minority last night.
We headed to the Galaxy to see two movies because it was cheapie Tuesday and two movies for $10 is better than one on any other day. We bought both our tickets when we got there at 6:30, saw License to Wed (an enjoyable enough comedy) at 7:15 and got out with 20 minutes until Potter at 9:30. And I'm sure you're reading this because you were wondering what time the movies played last night . . .
We both expected it to be busy, but I was naive about the whole thing. Coming out of the first movie we see a huge line up around the doors specifically for Harry Potter ticket holders. I thought, well screw that, we already bought our tickets way earlier and we're already in so let's just go stand by the theatre until they open it. That was wishful thinking.
We stood there until the theatre opened about 10 minutes later before the guy standing there said, sorry we give first preference to the people in the line. I looked back at the line and knew I wasn't going to go to the back, so we went to the second checkpoint . . . and got the same response. Sure, fair is fair, but we did buy our tickets at 6:30 waiting in line at the theatre and we were already passed the lobby so it's not like we were really scamming the system. Not wanting to put up with the nonsense anymore, we both just ripped our own tickets and pretended we were part of the meandering line and got decent seats in the back row.
I've never been a fan of opening weekends (or weeks) because of the crowds and the resulting full theatre which makes it tough to lounge comfortably. It's an experience though, and it had been a while since I'd been to a sold out show. I ended up sitting next to a nut-job though who was there alone but talked to the screen throughout the movie. He commented continously on how cool it looked to himself, but he also struck me as the kind of guy who probably thought he was watching a documentary about wizards.
Wizard-boy also brought a stupid little laser pointer which he insisted on playing with throughout the previews and acting like it wasn't him doing it. Thankfully he didn't do it through the movie, but the general awkwardness suggested that he probably didn't get out much.
The movie itself was probably the best out of the 5 so far. The effects and action have improved, and it didn't feel like it dragged on as much as the others. Pretty much if you liked the series so far, you're bound to like this one too.
All this brings me back to what's the big deal though? What am I not picking up on? Maybe I should read one of the books, or maybe people are just hard up for fantasy films these days. I don't know, I probably just didn't jump on this bandwagon soon enough to get swept up.
At times I find myself being fascinated by the simplest things. Moments of essentially little consequence, that only in the right frame of mind seem to trigger reflection or inspire me to think out a scene for a screenplay I haven't written yet. I doubt that this is uncommon as we all have moments that are conveniently entertaining, but I've discovered that the more I can absorb these moments the happier and more self assured I become.
For instance, today I was at Walmart and overheard someone say 'I have no idea where my car is, I parked somewhere out in the boonies'. I started to laugh because I refer to the 'boonies' all the time, and until hearing this other guy say it I thought to myself that I have no idea what that means. I guess it's just slang for the middle of nowhere, but still, boonies? When did that catch on and where did i pick it up? Pointless, I know, but there are a lot of dumb sayings that I've embraced over the years.
Also, today the temperature reached a new record high in Regina, beating a previous high from the 1920s. It was 37 degrees Celsius, the kind of hot and humid weather that makes you feel like you just got out of the shower and can't seem to dry off. The dorms are pretty good, I have AC in my room. My one roommate though, or person who also has a dorm here (roommate sounds like we know each other) insists on opening the windows on a daily basis (which leaves me following behind to close them). His reasoning for this could be to let out the smell of his cooking or maybe he likes fresh air, but all I can think about is that the work it took to cool off the place is lost in 5 minutes. Not to mention all the energy it wastes. Plus, how does 37 degrees feel good unless you're on a quest to turn your shoebox of a room into a personal sauna?
My history in residence is full of stories like this that both irritate and entertain (after the fact). There is enough material here for numerous seasons of a residence based sitcom. I'm a white guy in College West (the dorms) which puts me in the minority to a largely Asian population (especially during the summer when most Canadians have gone back to live with their parents or whatever). The cultural differences can be vast. Although, what I may justify as cultural differences is more likely the general stupidity of a select few.
I've learned to deal with residence life so when it came to the open windows on one of the hottest days of the year, I was once again cheerfully shocked as opposed to angry. In contrast, I've experienced everything from the routine loud music and roommates, to people using the toilet as a garbage disposal, cutting their hair in the kitchen and leaving it, and cooking food that smells like the sewer backed up. It's far from glamorous, but it's the kind of fodder and abuse that breeds creativity. No doubt, building character in numerous ways too. Any how, I've left a note on the windows, hopefully we can save some AC now.
The cherry on top of the day was getting a Slurpee (or technically a froster) at macs. With it being so incredibly hot, the machines were overworked and some of the Slurpees were pretty runny. A kid came up, maybe 8 or 9, and as he turned the lever to fill his cup a rush of liquid just sprayed all over him (clearly inexperienced). Noticing the obvious shock of the kid, and trying to hold back laughter myself I turned and said what anybody in that situation would say, 'that sucks'. Probably actually cooled himself off anyway, so, lucky kid. Not that I thrive on the bad experiences of others or anything, but it's the hiccups that keep things interesting.
Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a good day.
Check out the updated post for this Desert Island Flick by clicking on the banner below.
It wasn't really all that long ago that this craze got started, but still I can't say that I understand the madness behind it. Last night I gave in and saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Had my friend not wanted to see it I probably would've waited until it came out on DVD, but like what has happened with the previous Harry Potter movies there is always someone who wants to see it near opening.
