...more than meets the eye!

Yes, we went to the midnight showing -or rather 12:01 am. I had thought about not going, but it doesn't happen often that I WANT to go to a midnight opening night showing of a movie -Batman IV (yeah yeah yeah, I know, save your breath), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory come to mind. So I scored tix online at 10:30 with bated breath as 3 of the 4 screens at the closest theatre were sold out. We arrived around 11:20, so Madster held our seats while I went to the concession stand. I have never seen lines like these at a movie theatre concession stand -4 or 5 registers open & all were 20 people deep. Yeah, I wondered if I would get back in time for the beginning or if I should just give up the quest for popcorn (MUST have popcorn; you know me). Wished the movie theatre would do like a stage theatre & dim the lights momentarily to warn folks of the impending start of the show. As it was, I got back in time for commercials, various shouts of "TRANSFORMERS!!!!!" from some teenaged male voices, & chillin' with the Madster.

The crowd was mostly kids Snick's age, give or take a couple years. Personally, I couldn't get the cartoon theme song out of my head & sang it a few times until Mad told me to stop on the way in to the theatre because I was, you know, embarrassing . "Told ya so", I responded when we heard other renditions around us.

The previews were "appropriate for all ages" but apparently MPAA didn't have my daughter in mind when they were labeled. She sat through the preview for "2012" & while folks around us chuckled, she clutched her belly & whimpered. Don't know if it was the popcorn, lack of sleep from the night before's sleepover, or the depiction of end times on a big screen, or a combination of the 3, but she immediately didn't feel well. Poor thing. She left 2x & tried to watch Transformers when it finally started, hoping it would take clear her mind. No dice. I reassured her that we could get rainchecks & come back another time. Finally she couldn't deal anymore & we left. She was close to tears as we left, she felt so bad -ill & disappointed & apologetic.

So, we will return, this weekend probably.

I did learn this much from the beginning 10 minutes that I can pass on to you: Sit as far away from the screen as possible. We had the usual choice seats almost in the center of the screen -just back from center, but it wasn't far enough. I don't know about you, but I abhor, loathe, despise movies that are sooooo freaking larger than life that you can't actually see what's happening on the screen -and I suppose theatres that are too short for said movies. There's that.

AND -for all you parents out there- just the short bit we saw was MUCH racier than the first movie. So much so that I thought the guy next to me was going to bust a nut viewing the first shot of Megan Fox...& I kind of wished I hadn't brought my DAUGHTER (or my son, if I had one). Seriously. Call me old fashioned, but the below & behind, slowly panning in & up, shot of Megan Fox's ass cheek hanging out of her too too short Daisy Dukes while she's laying prone on a motorcycle isn't exactly how I want my kids to think girls should behave or dress. And you know the subtle, over-the-kids'-heads sexual innuendos in the first flick? Not so subtle this time around.

That said, I'm still psyched to see the rest of the movie. OOOOH! and the
new Camaro???? SWEEEEEET. 306 HP AND 29 MPG??????!?!????? and that body design????!! Be still my heart!!! I think I've found the mini-van replacement (please please please seat 5!) All you folks who think Transformers is nothing more than a 2 hour Chevy commercial: Bite me!