Our local Cineworld in Castleford is closing on January 19th. Its one of a handful the chain are shutting next year in Blighty. Poor sales, fewer films, home streaming and Covid are no doubt the reasons.
Its a shame though. My mate Mark and me have been going to watch films there for 25 years I reckon. Somewhere I've got most of the ticket stubs [yep, sad I know].
I even once applied for a job there as a projectionist. I didn't get it.
We must have seen hundreds of films over the years, greatly boosted by the old Orange Wednesday offer of two for one. The day that ended was when it got expensive for us, averaging nowadays at around £15 per film each.
Over the years Cineworld added vibrating chairs, deep recliners, panoramic screens, super loud sound, water vapour, shaking seats, Imax and Pic'n'Mix.
Pic'n'Mix was welcomed but Mark and I didn't need all those gizmos. It was the films that drew us in.
And what films! the later ALIENS, each one as they came out; the later STAR WARS - again each new one, All the X-Men, the whole new Godzilla and Kong franchise, Blade Runner 2, each Marvel and Avengers and many many more. I remember us seeing one horror film, Creep, completely alone in an empty screening one night!
Seeing the films was just half of the experience too. Then came the critique over a KFC or a Burger King. We picked them clean, praised the good bits and panned the bad. But we always appreciated the effort it took to make a movie and get it in the local flicks.
We haven't seen as many films in the last few years it has to be said, the tale end of a long stint. ALIEN Romulus was the last one. Even Gladiator 2 didn't entice us back this winter. Maybe the glory days really are over.
We've agreed to see one more film before Cineworld closes in mid January. For old time's sake really. Whether we do is another thing but there it is. The next nearest Cinema for me is Wakefield - a pain to get to - but its a major pain for Mark to get too from Leeds. Cineworld was just off the motorway.
It really is the end of a cinema-going era.
Do you go to the cinema readers?
Never been a huge cinema fan, always preferred tv shows. I too had the experience of seeing a film in an otherwise empty cinema. It was before multiplexes too, so it was a huge screen! Two of the Planet of the Apes films. I once did a Hyde Fundraisers event at a cineworld, so got to see the projection system, it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey have actually opened new cinemas in Chester, but I still don't go! You can take your dog to some!
Wow, Planet of the Apes all to yourself Kev! Are there four original flicks?
Delete5. Planet, Beneath, Escape, Conquest and Battle.
Deleteah, so 5! One day I'll watch them all.
DeletePlus a tv series which I really liked and a cartoon series too!
Deleteah, yep, the TV series was ace, I watched that too. Not seen the cartoon but I adore the toys that were released, particularly by Multiple Toymakers.
DeleteJust read today that Vue Cinema is taking over from Cineworld so you'll still be able to go. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/xscape-cineworld-replacement-already-found-30623590 . Vue are cheaper too. Alternatively if you are prepared to drive a bit further north up the A1 towards Leeds there is an Odeon at The Springs retail park right next to the A1 about 11 miles from Xscape Castleford.
ReplyDeleteWow! Vue! Great news Yorkie! Thanks for that! Superb news!
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