Going to the movies while traveling
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Going to the movies while traveling
Have you ever had the hankering to visit the cinema on a whim when traveling (not when a film festival is the reason for travel)? Obviously, seeing the latest blockbuster could usually be done at home, why waste the time? Maybe there is something special that makes it more significant.
I was in Hawaii when I found out that Step Into Liquid was playing locally, I figured that would make it a bit more meaningful. I happened to be in London when the final Harry Potter film was released, and having skipped films 1-5, I figured if I were going to see the final film, why not do it at the largest screen in the UK? Just this weekend, I was in Las Vegas and used my last few hours before flying out to see Jason Bourne in a car chase down the Strip.
I was in Hawaii when I found out that Step Into Liquid was playing locally, I figured that would make it a bit more meaningful. I happened to be in London when the final Harry Potter film was released, and having skipped films 1-5, I figured if I were going to see the final film, why not do it at the largest screen in the UK? Just this weekend, I was in Las Vegas and used my last few hours before flying out to see Jason Bourne in a car chase down the Strip.
#3
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If I'm in Santa Barbara and there's a film I'm at least a bit interested in seeing playing at the old Arlington Theater, I'll often go just to experience the ambiance of the place, built back when theaters were something special, and still featuring an organist playing before the show (at least I think they still have that).
I've gone in a few other places as well. A really unique place in Bar Harbor which had couches and you could order food -fun to join the locals.
I've gone in a few other places as well. A really unique place in Bar Harbor which had couches and you could order food -fun to join the locals.
#4
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If I'm travelling for business and have nothing better to do, then I might go to the movies. But generally nowadays I watch nearly all movies that I want to see (about three or four a year) on a plane.
#5
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I was attending a conference last week. The final session ended at 4pm and I had a red-eye leaving SEA at 11pm. Rather than fighting rush hour traffic, I went to see Star Trek: Beyond which I knew my wife wouldn't see with me 😏
#6
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Saw Life of Pi in Amsterdam at the beautiful art deco Tuschinski Theater. We just wanted to see the movie for lack of any other plans that evening, had no idea what a spectacle the building itself is.
Only problem with that movie was with the subtitles. They didn't get in the way of hearing the English dialogue. However, a few family scenes early in the movie are in Hindi (or Urdu, or another Indian language; it doesn't matter). They were, of course, subtitled in Dutch. We had no idea what was going on beyond what we could figure out from context and body language.
Only problem with that movie was with the subtitles. They didn't get in the way of hearing the English dialogue. However, a few family scenes early in the movie are in Hindi (or Urdu, or another Indian language; it doesn't matter). They were, of course, subtitled in Dutch. We had no idea what was going on beyond what we could figure out from context and body language.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,120
My husband does movies and haircuts. It is a way to get a slice of life and he loves going to movies. The ticket selling experience is different place to place, as are the snacks offered, dubbing in Spain versus subtitles, audience making fun of American actors trying to speak a different Russian in a former Soviet country, in Zurich the random break in the middle of the film for who knows what reason,....
#8
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Have you ever had the hankering to visit the cinema on a whim when traveling (not when a film festival is the reason for travel)? Obviously, seeing the latest blockbuster could usually be done at home, why waste the time? Maybe there is something special that makes it more significant.
I was in Hawaii when I found out that Step Into Liquid was playing locally, I figured that would make it a bit more meaningful. I happened to be in London when the final Harry Potter film was released, and having skipped films 1-5, I figured if I were going to see the final film, why not do it at the largest screen in the UK? Just this weekend, I was in Las Vegas and used my last few hours before flying out to see Jason Bourne in a car chase down the Strip.
I was in Hawaii when I found out that Step Into Liquid was playing locally, I figured that would make it a bit more meaningful. I happened to be in London when the final Harry Potter film was released, and having skipped films 1-5, I figured if I were going to see the final film, why not do it at the largest screen in the UK? Just this weekend, I was in Las Vegas and used my last few hours before flying out to see Jason Bourne in a car chase down the Strip.
#9
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My mother took me to a movie in London in 1964. I can't remember the film, but I do remember the newsreel feature about the thatcher who had thatched his car. It remains the only newsreel I've seen in a theater.
She took me and my two siblings to see The Great Race in the Netherlands in 1966. One scene features a "follow the bouncing ball" singalong as a joke -- that trope had been out of fashion for years, and was inappropriately used in a slow love song. The Dutch audience didn't get the joke, though, and some members tried to sing along.
She took me and my two siblings to see The Great Race in the Netherlands in 1966. One scene features a "follow the bouncing ball" singalong as a joke -- that trope had been out of fashion for years, and was inappropriately used in a slow love song. The Dutch audience didn't get the joke, though, and some members tried to sing along.
Last edited by ajGoes; Aug 1, 2016 at 10:10 am Reason: To fix a typo.
#10
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A few years ago, I was in Paris by myself during Christmas week. There wasn't much to do on Christmas day so I went to the movies, which I've done many times at home in NYC. It was fun watching an American movie with French subtitles - I studied French in school (many years ago) so I tried to follow along with the subtitles while watching the movie.
#11
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interesting point re parts of film & where one is traveling. and indeed, why not? especially to see region's films.
bourne filmed at riviera before it was torn down. seems they could have gotten more use out of it, but still really cool that it was not a set, and they were driving cars through casino, without having to prevent / worry about damage.
bourne filmed at riviera before it was torn down. seems they could have gotten more use out of it, but still really cool that it was not a set, and they were driving cars through casino, without having to prevent / worry about damage.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Aug 1, 2016 at 11:46 am
#14
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I've been to a couple films in different spots in Europe over the years. Enjoy the preview advertisements, which are often little mini-movies in and of themselves. (Last time I did this, probably a decade ago or so, Guinness was known for these little mini-movies.) I suppose my most memorable viewing was Reservoir Dogs in '93 or so in a one-screen small-town cinema in Wales.
We saw the most recent Star Wars in northern Michigan this past December. Super time-warpy little rural theater that probably hasn't changed since the original Star Wars in 1977. No online ticketing, no seat assignments: just pay cash when you get there, get a little paper ticket like the kind you used to get for school raffles and whatnot, and go in and pick any available seat. Small old-fashioned concession stand with popcorn, hotdogs, candy, and non-alcoholic drinks. Our movie time was 7PM, so they showed one preview and then the Star Wars opening crawl was rolling at about 7:02.
We saw Episode I (the crappy Jar Jar episode) in Reno, NV on the way back to the airport from a Tahoe trip. Saw it in an older, but huge, theater.
Also been to a couple IMAX shows while traveling, although usually inside of (and related to) some other tourist attraction.
We saw the most recent Star Wars in northern Michigan this past December. Super time-warpy little rural theater that probably hasn't changed since the original Star Wars in 1977. No online ticketing, no seat assignments: just pay cash when you get there, get a little paper ticket like the kind you used to get for school raffles and whatnot, and go in and pick any available seat. Small old-fashioned concession stand with popcorn, hotdogs, candy, and non-alcoholic drinks. Our movie time was 7PM, so they showed one preview and then the Star Wars opening crawl was rolling at about 7:02.
We saw Episode I (the crappy Jar Jar episode) in Reno, NV on the way back to the airport from a Tahoe trip. Saw it in an older, but huge, theater.
Also been to a couple IMAX shows while traveling, although usually inside of (and related to) some other tourist attraction.
#15
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re imax, how many of the biggest are still film, i'll have to check that sometime