A Trip to the Cinema

There's something about going to the cinema on a Friday night. A busy week of work and school, but then Friday rolls around and it's the perfect evening to be whisked away into another time, another world, another universe.

That's why Friday is, or at least typically was, the day when new films are released. Too tired to hit up the town, we flock to the movies instead. Friday means we can spend the whole week looking forward to the new releases- deciding which film we want to watch.

Going out to watch a new blockbuster on a friday night is an experience. The excitement and anticipation is still there, even though Netflix, LoveFilm, Sky Anytime and the internet have diversified choice, resulting in the film watching experience becoming somewhat diluted, or diminished.

Going out to the cinema should be an experience. You are escaping the real world for a few short hours, sharing in the watching of a brand new film, that few other people have seen. It's tempting to complain on a Friday night when the cinema is full and you're left to squash in next to people, or take those awful seats at the front where you have to crane your neck to the see the screen. But the fact is, it makes the whole film so much more entertaining when you're sharing every laugh, every shock, every tense moment with hundreds of other people, each one hanging on the edge of their to seat to find out what comes next.

And watching a new film on a Friday night should be an experience because it costs a small fortune to do it. It is effectively a night out. Of course, thanks to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I am still technically a student until 2013. Win win for discounts at the cinema. And naturally, Friday night means the prices are jacked up, and if you're seeing a 3D film, you're going to be paying more. Still haven't quite figured out why that is yet.

But, if you've listened to your mother, you will have recycled those 3D glasses and be using them again and again. They do come in handy you see. Gone are the free plastic glasses and big cardboard bin days.

Don't get me started on the cost of concessions. It really is cheaper to go for a three course meal than to buy a couple some popcorn and drinks. Then again, perhaps it is better for us that the concessions are so expensive...obese country being health conscious and all that. But without that struggle to find the tickets as you're balancing a big box of popcorn, an enormous drink and a bag of candy, you lose some of that Friday night experience.

Simple answer... Take someone with you who has a big bag, or a coat with lots of pockets.

This particular Friday, I was privileged enough to be in the audience for one of the first screenings of The Avengers. What a film it was. Just sheer awesomeness on every level. A blockbuster with heart that the whole cinema could get behind. The concepts were incredible, and the storyline was well designed with plenty of exciting action. But it was the characterisation which really sold it for me. Each character has their own unique back story, evident with just little snippets of information; yet when they are together, the characters gel so well, with great interactions and witty dialogue. There are just so many angles to take everything, and sure to be lots of sequels/spin offs, if the box office takings are anything to go by. Certainly, this film alone warrants repeat viewings to catch everything.

With the film over, a moment of satisfaction was shared with the whole audience. I think we almost all clapped. Then it was like we were all just ants, flooding out of the cinema, piling into cars and all driving our separate ways. Back to the real world. That's the Friday night experience.