Last week the move "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" opened in theaters all around China. I watched in envy as groups in Shanghai, including CNReviews and Shanghaiist, organized viewing parties to enjoy the opening. Soon enough, I told myself, the pirated DVD would make its way into our local stores and I would be able to enjoy the movie in the comfort of my home. I was preparing myself for another summer of exciting blockbusters displayed on a small 21" TV.
Early Friday morning, however, I awoke to find an exciting email informing me...nay, beckoning me to enjoy movies as they were meant to be seen: on a wide screen surrounded by speakers, sitting in a chair with coke and popcorn in hand.
Somehow a friend of ours happened to notice that opening weekend for the Transformers film would be shown in English with Chinese subtitles and thankfully rushed to tell us. Our city theater, not even a year old, rarely screened Hollywood films and this was the first one to ever be shown in English. The fact that it would be in English was not purposely for our benefit but we were sure to take advantage of it.
Our tickets were assigned seats, a concept which as a US citizen I am completely unfamiliar with, so we arrived in the theater 10 minutes early (a perk of assigned seating). Tickets were 40 RMB each (US$5.80) while popcorn was 10 RMB (US$1.50) and a bottle of Coke was the usual 3 RMB (US$.40). Not expensive, but I wouldn't call it cheap, either. The inside of the theater looked identical to what I am used to in the States and the quality of the movie was as I had hoped.
Unlike the Shanhai screening, we were definitely the only foreign faces in the entire theater, but that was no matter. We got to see a movie. In English.
Scratch another item off the list of "Things that make me want to live in a big Chinese city even though I love my small-town Xinjiang".
16 Comments:
I have yet to see a film in a theatre in China. Four years of teaching has left me with a 40 minute attention span, the length of my classes. Watching at home accommodates this. Although, I would like to see the new Terminator flick if it is shown here this summer.
Recent blog:=- Teaching Abroad: They’re still standing close to me
I have yet to see a film in a theatre in China. Four years of teaching has left me with a 40 minute attention span, the length of my classes. Watching at home accommodates this. Although, I would like to see the new Terminator flick if it is shown here this summer.
Recent blog:=- Teaching Abroad: They’re still standing close to me
Even though your seats were assigned, you could still take seats anywhere you like, right?
Even though your seats were assigned, you could still take seats anywhere you like, right?
Actually...no. Maybe the story would have been different if this movie hadn't been completely sold out, but as it was every seat was taken and our tickets were checked. I felt like I was boarding an airplane or something!
I just got word that the Terminator film will also be showing in English here, but I'll wait for your assessment before I take the plunge. :) We saw Transformers primarily for the novelty of the theater as opposed to interest in the plot.
Actually...no. Maybe the story would have been different if this movie hadn't been completely sold out, but as it was every seat was taken and our tickets were checked. I felt like I was boarding an airplane or something!
I just got word that the Terminator film will also be showing in English here, but I'll wait for your assessment before I take the plunge. :) We saw Transformers primarily for the novelty of the theater as opposed to interest in the plot.
As posted before: In the super luxury mall next to the Sheraton, half way through, elevator to 6th Fl is a Cineplex that shows all new Blockbusters in English snd Chinese. Urumqi is a world city, just that Pizza Hut on You Hao closed again.... the cheese?
As posted before: In the super luxury mall next to the Sheraton, half way through, elevator to 6th Fl is a Cineplex that shows all new Blockbusters in English snd Chinese. Urumqi is a world city, just that Pizza Hut on You Hao closed again.... the cheese?
Thanks. I do remember your comment from before although we have yet to visit that one Cineplex. We rarely make our way down to Urumqi, unfortunately, so it would be a bit inconvenient to make a single trip just to watch a movie :) Now it's just down the street.
Thanks. I do remember your comment from before although we have yet to visit that one Cineplex. We rarely make our way down to Urumqi, unfortunately, so it would be a bit inconvenient to make a single trip just to watch a movie :) Now it's just down the street.
That's awesome! I lived in China for quite a while and I still never saw a movie in a movie theater. What deal for the concession food though. Assigned seats makes me laugh and kind of miss China a little bit. All the more reason to go back.
That's awesome! I lived in China for quite a while and I still never saw a movie in a movie theater. What deal for the concession food though. Assigned seats makes me laugh and kind of miss China a little bit. All the more reason to go back.
Didn't you live in Shanghai? I'm pretty sure there were plenty of theaters over there, so it's not for lack of availability :) To be honest, I really only went for the novelty of it...I'm sure I wouldn't be heading to the theater often if I was in a bigger city like Shanghai or Beijing.
Didn't you live in Shanghai? I'm pretty sure there were plenty of theaters over there, so it's not for lack of availability :) To be honest, I really only went for the novelty of it...I'm sure I wouldn't be heading to the theater often if I was in a bigger city like Shanghai or Beijing.
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