Going to the cinema has changed. I don't want to become one of those 'it was better in my day' sort of people as I grow older, but I feel I can no longer suffer in silence in my less than frequent trips to the flicks.At the heart of my complaint is the welcome you get as you enter.
Everytime I go, the ticket office isn't even open these days Instead, people are left to fend against the 'self service' machine by themselves. Not only is this an annoyance as ques build behind people who struggle to make out which side the screen is on the picture when choosing seats, it also means that you don't meet a cinema employee until 20 metres into the building. What sort of commercial operation runs itself like that?
I mean is it too much to ask for, to walk into a cinema, speak to a real person (including hormonal 16-year-olds), buy my tickets and discuss the best seating strategy. One ticket, with today's prices, would pay that hormonal teenager two hours wages.
Also, when did film viewing become a class based sport? Why have cinemas felt the need to bring in the VIP option for the more wealthy? Right in the middle of the auditoriam yesterday was a section reserved for VIP seating. It essentially equates to a leather seat and slightly more leg room as far as I could make out.
This isn't a flight. Leg room isn't going to be a problem. And if you need to recline during the movie to sleep, you've clearly not made the best film choice. Ed Miliband take note - I no longer want to be the victim of segregation when watching the latest blockbuster.
Acton Vue - please interpret this as an open letter of complaint.
