fitzroyalty

Part 3 of the ongoing film rant… and today’s whinge is about deceptive film advertising and editing. People used to worry that the best scenes from a film were all in the trailer or in the television advertising, meaning that seeing the film did not provide sufficient further entertainment. Now you get even less.

After seeing Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby at the Hoyts cinema in Melbourne Central on Tuesday night, I mentally went through the advertising I had seen for the film and the film itself, and noted several scenes that feature in the television advertisements and online trailers but NOT in the film. These include Jean Girard shaving his legs in the bath and the scene when Ricky Bobby is lying on the ground next to his father’s car wresting a wild cougar. In the tv ad we see more of this scene than we do in the film.

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It must be whinging about cinemas week. After the Nova rubbish on Sunday I went to see A Dog’s Dream at the Greek Film Festival at the Palace Como Cinema on Monday night. They have a stunning foyer, a good bar, make reasonable coffee and have comfortable seats with wide isles. They also do allocated seating for all sessions, even when there are only 30 people in a cinema that seats 300. The film was quite good – slow dreamy magic realism and surrealism – David Lynch Greek style. Gorgeous lead actress in a Franka Potente / Run Lola Run fluorescent red wig. A few people walked out, and there were about 50 in the audience.

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On Sunday I went to the Nova cinema in Carlton to watch United 93, which is soon to close. I am an avid film goer, and see at least one a week. However, as films have shorter and shorter screen lives, I sometimes have to travel far and wide to see a film before it disappears.

I have been to a lot of the cinemas in Melbourne and I can say that the Nova is possibly the worst. Their projection is appalling, and I suspect they only have one projectionist on to service all 8 cinemas, all the while he/she is busy shooting up and falling asleep on the floor. Previous efforts have included leaving the lights on during the film, turning the sound way down and projecting the film at an odd angle, not evenly horizontal.

This time, the film was well out of focus. Not for the first time. I was tempted to walk out and ask for it to be fixed, but when I have done that previously at the Nova I have missed the start of the film. This time, I sat still, and expected it to be quickly fixed. It wasn’t. After the film finished, I went to the candy bar, asked politely for the manager, and was pointed to the woman at the gate checking tickets. I explained the situation and asked for my money back; after all, I did not get what I paid for, namely to see the film in reasonable circumstances.

I was told that I should have come out to tell them it was out of focus. I replied that it is not the role of the patron to have to ask for the film to be in focus. I was told that I could have a voucher to use on my next visit. I responded that I would make no further visits. The woman made no attempt to refute or deny the issue of the film being out of focus. Because I sat through the whole film, I was not eligible for a refund. Because I consumed 90 minutes worth of rubbish, rather than five, I deserved LESS compensation rather than MORE.

I got no refund and no satisfaction. The Nova staff were indifferent and incompetent. I’m a contientious proactive consumer. If I am badly treated I have a long memory and a great willingess to share my experiences.

I enjoyed an excellent coffee at the always reliable Retro cafe on Saturday afternoon while discussing the meaning of life and the virtues of a good scotch with a friend. I love their 1950s chrome and laminate furniture and I sat at the yellow table.