From 16-21 I worked in a movie theater selling tickets. While the uniform was a pure polyester nightmare of maroon and ill-fitting vests, the perks ruled.
Free movies for myself and a few friends with me.
Yeah, any popularity I had during those years can almost be directly attributed to free moves (I say almost because, as you probably already know, I am gorgeous, hilarious, and humble as all get out.)
Michael Bay-splosion!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a result, movies have this talismanic hold on me. I wait with baited breath for the summer tentpoles to come out (Unless they’re by Michael Bay because to Hades with Michael Bay. And, no I’m not just saying that because anyone who has seen and appreciated “Casablanca” is immediately required to hate Michael Bay. I love spectacle, stupidity, and ‘splosions. I dislike him like a toddler hates broccoli and with the same reasons. Just yucky, and I don’t need to try it to know it’s true. If you challenge me on this I’ll respond like my 2-foot tall brethren – I’ll go limp, stomp my feet, and hold my breath.)
My film fanaticism reaches its apex about once a year when I indulge in the midnight premiere.
Thankfully, you have to be truly geek, bored or insomniac to think that seeing a two hour movie on a school/work night is a good idea. These are my people.
I love the slipshod costumes (Con-quality these are not.) The Iron Man costume made from way too small children’s jammies. The grown man wearing a beard, a T-shirt, carrying a hammer declaring himself Thor. Then of course, once, I was a part of this crew.
My first midnight show was “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” And I dressed as Hermione. In a costume that I had on hand because I’d made it earlier in the year. But wasn’t complete that night – I didn’t tease my hair out because I had to race there from seeing “Wicked.”
Ladies and gentlemen: The single geekiest night ever and further proof that it’s a small miracle I found my soulmate.
I love midnight shows. These are people who love the property, love movies, and love to be among like-minded people. They cheer and clap and laugh uproariously at the drop of a hat. They make stereotypically socially stunted comments every time Black Widow’s tuckus appears (Which, I posit, is shown more than her face.)
Most midnight shows are for properties that are about to break out of their geek niche. Not many people knew who Thor was in the Marvel universe, and on Friday evening, every normie will want to install a rainbow bridge to their house, but after midnight in the wee hours of Friday morning, this blockbuster belongs to the geeks.
Midnight shows are two parts celebration of wanton, irresponsible geekiness (Yes, my definition of irresponsible is staying out after midnight. Not just on a weekday, ever. I’m wild, let me tell you.), and one part intellectual property bar mitzvah. The geeks are letting the property grow up and go out in the world.
And, so, at 11:50 p.m. on May 3, you’ll find me sitting in the Movies Ten in Nelsonville, Ohio getting ready to shout “Mazel Tov!” at the opening credits for The Avengers.
What’s been your favorite midnight movie experience?
That Michael Bay rant is pretty epic.
While it wasn’t a premier, the last time I went to a movie after midnight, the man behind me decided to add his own soundtrack- he fell asleep within 15 min of the start and snored until it ended.
Favorite midnight movie experience: Seeing the second Matrix movie (Reloaded) at 12:01. A bit nerve-wracking actually -the theater had trouble getting the movie started in my room. All the other ones worked fine but they almost had to cancel the viewing for our screen!
Worst: When my ex dragged me to see the one of the godawful Twilight movie premiers. There was almost nothing redeeming about them, although the fighting between the werewolves and the vampires proved to be minimally entertaining. I still would have rather been asleep, at home, or hanging upside-down from a bridge by my ankles though.
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