Unlikely as it sounds the foul-mouthed, ultra violence of Deadpool has rekindled my love of Cinema-going.
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Gone are the local cinemas of my youth, replaced by Cineplex’s with 20 screens, sticky floors, plastic food and a fast-food-chain mentality. I’m sure, like many in my demographic, a trip to the cinema these days consists of whatever U Certificate schmaltz/toy-francise my children want to see during the holidays.
Gone are the local cinemas of my youth, replaced by Cineplex’s with 20 screens, sticky floors, plastic food and a fast-food-chain mentality. I’m sure, like many in my demographic, a trip to the cinema these days consists of whatever U Certificate schmaltz/toy-francise my children want to see during the holidays.
Don’t get me wrong, I looooooove film. I just don’t love the ‘cinema experience’. The current experience doesn’t justify the cost of a night out. Factor in two adult tickets, snacks, and babysitter – suddenly a trip to the latest Blockbuster is the best part of £80. Not an insubstantial sum! Add in the fact that frankly, cineplex’s are a soulless cavern and you may begin to understand why I struggle to remember the last film I saw above a PG Rating.
Cutting to the chase. Deadpool comes along and here I have to point out that I’m a comic fanboy from days of old. A fully paid-up member of the Kevin Smith Clerks & Mallrats fraternity. I’d choose Spider-man over Superman every time, and I know somewhere in the attic is the a X-Force comic were Rob Liefeld first introduced the Deadpool character in 1991. Saying that, if the film had been another PG kid friendly film I would have waited, it’s R rating pulled me in though and may justify that gratuitous Babysitter Tax. But where to see it?
The local Cineplex’s Odeon & Cineworld promised the same uncomfortable, plastic experience that always leaves me feeling like cattle as I return blinking into the light, but there’s a new kid on the block (‘80s reference intentional ;)) called Everyman Cinemas*, and last night my wife and I gave them a shot.
Wow – Game changer! From the licensed bar, the sofas (with cushions), side tables instead of cup holders, wallpaper instead of peeling emulsion – the cinema experience has grown up, and at what better time?
People are increasingly shunning the big brands, the fast food chains, in favour of an authentic and personal customer experience. As a Society we may want convenience but we don’t want to be regarded as cattle. We want bespoke, not industrialisation. This isn’t just a Hipster revolution, where jeans are handmade and not washed for the first 6 months (Hiut). We can see this sentiment up and down the High St as fast food franchises profits slump, and boutique Burger chains step in (Honest Burger).
So, have I been won over by comfy seats, snuggling up with my wife and enjoying a Guiness, whilst wise-cracking Ryan Reynolds shish kebab’s another bad guy with his swords?
If my new Everyman Membership card is anything to go by then Yes.