So earlier this week I decided to go check out a movie since I’d not been to a movie theatre (or “cinema” as they say here) since arriving in London and wanted to check something out.
There’s a few differences in going to the movies here, which you wouldn’t expect. For the most part, things are the same – concessions are overpriced and trailers/commercials before the movies add a good half hour to the pre-show. There’s some unique things though, which include:
1) Booking seats in advance
—– Not all theatres are like this, but a lot of them require you to choose your seat BEFORE you even go into the theatre. When you buy your ticket, they have a seat map and you have to pick. I don’t care for this, I’d rather just go in and see the venue first and choose. Seat selection’s also highly dependent on the amount of people around you, etc… which you can’t predict beforehand.
2) Popcorn
—— So back home, popcorn is ALWAYS made fresh in a classic popcorn machine, served piping hot and then you’ve got the option of melted butter/Becel on top for an extra fee, right? And that’s amazing. I almost always get popcorn when I go the movies, even if it is $128, because to me it’s part of the full experience.
Anyways, a lot of the theatres here serve you popcorn that’s already been made in advance and is served cold or “warmed” under lamps. I once saw the stocks of this popcorn being refilled and it came from what looked identical to a garbage bag, notably the clear kinds we have back in Canada that you put leaves into during the fall. Not appetizing. AND, you have the choice of “salty” or “sweet” popcorn. I’m not sure what sweet popcorn even is. It doesn’t look like caramel corn or anything. I’ve yet to try it and don’t feel superinclined.
3) Movies come out later
—— This really irks me sometimes, especially when it concerns a movie I really want to see. For some reason, a lot of movies don’t come out in the UK until several months after they’ve already debuted in Canada and the states. Current example: Where the Wild Things Are, which is out already back in the New World but won’t be showing here until mid-December. Not only does this movie look great, but it’s the spawn of Spike Jonez and Dave Eggers (my all-time favourite author) so it’s gotta be good. They say patience is a virtue, but it sucks to feel like you’re living behind the times.
At the end of the day: Cold popcorn aside, I still love checking out the cinemas. Something about being in a multiplex (which seems very North American to me) dispels any homesickness I might have.