Today, my wife Gladys (Glad for short) and I decided to take in a movie. It was consensus and we both decided to watch Thor in 3D. Thor made its debut last week; therefore, we knew the lines will be small and the theater inside will not be crowded. There is nothing more annoying than being in a crowded theater especially with teenagers who can not keep their phones in silence or continue to talk or text during the movie. Additionally, the aggravation also stems from a dark theater with the light from the phone emanating throughout the theater…how distracting!
It was Saturday and we decided to let my two boys, Stephen and CJ, watch our newborn, Carlson. We have left Carlson before with the “boys” for periods of three to four hours so we left him with extreme confidence. Glad and I have not been to a movie for almost a year now and the last movie we saw, in a theater, was Clash of the Titans. Since movies are becoming expensive, I normally “sneak” in some salty snacks and bottle water. Well, I did not stray from the norm as I hid a handful of peanuts in my pocket I bought earlier from a Filipino stand. However, peanuts were it as we wanted to take the whole nine yards and take in the whole movie experience (eight in this case since I had peanuts).
We got to the Dole Cannery Theater in plenty of time so Glad decided to visit the snack stand (total movie experience) and low and behold, she came back with ice cream, bottle water and popcorn. I did not bother to ask her how much it cost because a visit to the snack bar is an expense in itself! Hawaii costs of living are expensive enough and picture the cost of snacks in a Hawaiian theater.
We were the second couple inside the theater and when it was all said and done, there were a total of ten to fifteen people…much to my delight. And the actual movie was a pleasure. Thor is a series of Marvel superheroes perpetuating a superhero movie bonanza. But one has to wait as movie companies are still making millions for the likes of Ironman, Hulk and X-men en route to the “all star” superhero movie in the near term future. In each of these movies, a trend is or had been evolving in the movie making industry. You see, at the end of the movie and after the credits conclude, marvel fans are treated for one last trailer. Trailer or marketing or is it a way for the industry to ensure the third camera men and the security person for Natalie Portman gets acknowledged? To be honest, I don’t believe movie goers are actually reading the credits but a majority of moviegoers are staying to catch a glimpse of what will be. Expect to see this trend also in the upcoming Green Lantern and Captain America… I believe the trend is catching on.