The Midnight Movie Club
on Jul 08 in General by DanI’ve just started reading Jpod by Douglas Coupland. The jury is still out on whether I like it or not. To be honest I haven’t really rated any of his books aside from Microserfs (which was bloody fantastic). His head is generally too firmly placed up his own arse for my tastes.
Still there is no denying that the first sentence in Jpod is possibly the best one ever written:
“Oh god, I feel like a refugee from a Douglas Coupland novel”
Pure genius.
My consumption of popular culture has increased quite dramatically recently. Not only have I started to read again, but I’ve also begun going to the cinema. In fact I’m doing it weekly.
Inspired by Lee and Rol’s rave reviews of the new Hulk movie I decided on impulse to catch a late night showing at the local multiplex. I enjoyed the experience so much that a new tradition was born. I am now the founding (and currently only) member of Dan’s Midnight Movie Club. The rules are quite simple; every Wednesday night at around 10pm I head off into the night and catch a movie on my own. There is no stipulation as to what genre the film has to be, but it must finish after the hour of midnight.
So far I’ve seen the Hulk and Wanted, and this Wednesday is either going to be Prince Caspian or Hancock depending on my whim.
There is something about watching a late night showing of a film. It’s almost like you’re cheating time. You’ve had your day. You’ve done your morning thing, your afternoon thing, and your evening thing, and now it’s time for bed. But wait! What’s this? Ka-blammy! You’ve fitted in an extra thing too! Take that conventional social norms! In your face mortality!
It is probably a very sad indictment of my current existence that such things excite me.
But is it though? Come on, doesn’t the idea appeal to you too? Why don’t you join me? Wednesday night down at the local multiplex, it doesn’t feel so expensive when you’re only buying one ticket. The rest of the cinema patrons may think you’re seeing the movie alone, but they couldn’t be more wrong. You’ll be seeing the movie alongside bloggers from all over the world.
So go see your film and then we can come back here and talk about it. Or why don’t we start our own blog reviewing them? You have to admit that The Midnight Movie Club is a damn fine catchy title for a website. Maybe this could be the next big thing. We could be bigger than Aint it Cool. Bigger than IMDB. Bigger than Google! We could all retire early! Buy houses in Bermuda!
I think I better go for a lie down
Related posts:
- Hurrah, its Lee and Dan’s Midnight Movie Club!
- Hey ho, lets go! Lee and Dan’s Midnight Movie Club
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- The end of Fat Club and a few pumpkins
- Movie Review: The Tooth Fairy
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So what did you think of Wanted? I’ve heard bad things but seen good trailers!?
I like an early morning showing of a film because the cinema tends to be quieter and then I have the rest of my day to overthink the movie.
But I will discuss this with the wife and consider some later, midweek viewings.
Media? What is that anymore. I would love to get back to the place in my life where I could do just that, since I love movies. Not there just yet, so I will have to settle for 8PM showings of ‘The Wire’ in nifty 55 minute increments. Maybe I will through caution to the wind and watch 2 on one night!
Jamess last blog post..Making the Cut!
They still show movies in the theater??
When I used to manage a small movie theatre, I’d have private midnight showings with my friends. They were a blast.
Avitables last blog post..A face for radio
I have seen a movie by myself at the theater exactly ONCE in my whole life. It was 1988, the summer before I met my wife. All my friends were out of town for internships and travel. I was so bored I thought I’d go see The Presidio (starring Sean Connery). Hated the experience. I felt like everyone was staring at me.
Now they stare at me just because I’m so funny-looking.
Phils last blog post..Ten Commandments of Fatherhood
I couldn’t do this if I wanted to anyway… My wife works nights.
However, can I join in the conversation and make stuff up about the movie you saw?
Phils last blog post..Ten Commandments of Fatherhood
That’s about the time that I sit down with an ice cold Netflix.
Whits last blog post..Parts is Parts- Now with Chagware!
When I was not yet 18 I went to see an all-night horror film marathon, five or six 1960′s English horror films shown back-to-back through the night with the belief that the knowledge that it was dark outside as well as inside the cinema would add something to the low grade horror on show.
It was rubbish and I fell asleep during film two to be woken up at 6am when everyone was leaving.
I’m just saying thats all, so that you’re not tempted.
Garys last blog post..Goodbye, goodbye, we’re leaving you goodbye…
BTW, Coupland’s “Life After God” is my favorite of his and “Eleanor Rigby” was painful to get through (I don’t even know if I ever did).
Whits last blog post..Parts is Parts- Now with Chagware!
Okay this is a brilliant theory IF I could stay awake past 10.30pm, which seems to be out of the question lately :o(
Penelopes last blog post..A favour…or two…
The first time I went to the cinema on my own I kept expecting someone to come up to me in the queue and say ‘you can’t come in here, you haven’t got any friends’ but I’ve been quite a lot on my own – once I was even the only person in the entire cinema which was a bit disconcerting (To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything Love Julie Newmar, cinema near Clifton in Bristol mid 90′s).
I hardly go to the cinema anymore as I loathe modern multiplex cinemas and really LOATHE people who behave badly whilst they are there – you know chatting loudly to their mates, making and taking phone calls, texting, eating really noisy sweets……a plague on them all I say.
Midnight!? Good god man, that’s the MIDDLE of the NIGHT! I’m not getting up after two hours in bed to meet ANYONE at the cinema.
As for Douglas Coupland, I’m a huge fan of his, but I’ve been put off Jpod by all the negative reviews. I will get round to it eventually, I’m sure.
Rols last blog post..A-Z Meme
Lee – Wanted was ok, although none of the characters were remotely likable and the whole film placed such a low value on human lives that it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. and please – Loom of destiny??
James – That’s the beauty of the midnight movie club, it allows time starved paents the opportunity to grab some “me time’ back.
Ed – It’s generally plays in the theatre. To see a movie you have to go to the cinema (You wacky americans and your so-called English)
Avitable – I bet you were rather popular
Phil – When I see someone on their own in the cinema I always think ‘good for them”
Whit – It’s not the same man.
Gary – I’ve been to one of those too, but we left at 5am. Saw Frankinhooker, Deathrace 2000 and a few others. I’ve alos been to a seven movie long stsar trek marathon. Never again.
Penelope – I often don’t get back from work until midnight, so late nights are not unknown to me.
Morticia – I was the only one in the cinema for the hulk right up until the opening credits.
On the subject of other people, I tend to find thm annoying only during the previews.
Rol – I haven’t read any reviews of Jpod. I’m not sure I’ll like it though, all seems a little too unbelievable so far.
And probably only for that reason, too.
Avitables last blog post..Myocardial Infraction
Let’s do it! And then we can start a Thursday morning Drowsy Desk Club.
Jeffs last blog post..You have no idea…
Avitable – Ah well, at least these days they like you for your halloween parties too.
Jeff – Drowsy Desk Club, another fantastic name! If only I had more time to blog.
I only go to see films that a 5 year old can get in to see. We saw Kung Fu Panda last weekend. It was OK but I didn’t like the tiger much, bit too full of herself for my liking.
My little ‘un now goes round saying “Ouch, my tenders” all the time while clutching his billies.
How about a Korner for a Kids Klub too?
Gails last blog post..What Do I Look Like?
Isnt Wednesday two for one day (or has that stopped)?
Maybe you should invite someone off the street to take the other ticket (so long as they buy popcorn).
Sams last blog post..Time Out
Dan, you’re reading too much into Wanted with it;s lack of regard for human life. Was that not the point? It was a film about people shooting each other after all! Hancock’s worth seeing and we’re off to see Prince Caspian tomo, so I’ll let you know about that. Oh by the way, I really enjoyed J-Pod. It’s a bit odd, but very good…
Gail – The only sad thing about the midnight movie club is that they don’t tend to have late night showings of kids films
Sam – It is, if you have an orange phone. Anyway, I like the experience of going on my own.
Paul – Nope, not convinced me. I don’t mind the people shooting at each other dying, its the fact that civilians get killed left right and center that irritated me. That train crash was horrific, and the “hero” just gets on a train and starts shooting. That is sociopathic, as was the whole film. And it’s message of “you can only be someone who counts if you kill people” I thought was very dangerous. I’m sure it will be some seriously disturbed people’s favorite film for quite a long time.
The action was enjoyable, but the underlying mean spirit of the film was just unpleasant.
Who’s “we”?
Dans last blog post..The Midnight Movie Club
I liked it but (compared to Microserfs) it seemed so bitter! As if he’d suddenly realised something about his fictional world that he really loathed. Positively brimming with self-disgust, as if he were possessed by Will Self.
(un)relaxeddads last blog post..Yesterday was a long day
Wow, a midnight movie sounds like a good idea. In fact, that’s probably the only time I’d ever get to see a flick…
Before the kids, we used to go to the cinema at least twice a month, maybe more. Now? Not so much. We haven’t even been since Pirates 2 came out. I think I’d feel too guilty about leaving LA Mommy home, though…
But, now that we’re in Ohio, we can hit up some babysitters and do our date nights again. It’s time.
L.A. Daddys last blog post..How Green Is Your Valley?
I love and adore going to the cinema on my own – I hate going with people as for me film watching is a very personal experience. As for JPod. I liked it, not as much as Microserfs, but I liked it. Maybe because it is so similar to Microserfs. So so similar. But having read nearly everything Coupland has written I can honestly say that it’s not the worst thing he’s ever written.
Becs last blog post..Waiting and Waiting and Not Getting Anywhere
Dan, you rebel. Way to buck the system.
Speaking of Douglas Coupland, his “Hey Nostradamus!” is one of my faves ever. Highly recommend it if you haven’t checked it out yet.
Holmess last blog post..365 # 14: Tentmate John