Don’t answer yet!
Everything is more expensive in Japan. I get that. Really, I do.
But does it have to be THAT much more expensive?
Resident Evil: Apocalypse opened today, and I really wanted to see it. Yeah, it’s a zombie movie based on a videogame, but I really liked the first one, so I wanted to check the sequel out. I was a bit leery though, since even though the writer was the same as the first one, it had a different director. But I figured, what the hell, and looked up the nearest theaters, showtimes and ticket prices.
Actually, there’s no need to check ticket prices. Every theater (as far as I can tell) charges the same price for every movie:
$16-fucking-50!!!
No, I’m not kidding. The only exception is on the first day of the month, when they go for the bargain price of $9.20.
I will not be seeing any more movies in Japanese theaters unless it’s on the first of the month – or the movie is just the best goddamned thing ever.
Now, considering that you can get killer deals on DVDs for less than $16-fucking-50, what could possibly be worth that much for just the cinema experience?
1. A marathon screening of the original, non-molested Star Wars Trilogy
2. The Matrix
3. Akira
4. Dawn of the Dead (2004 remake – Director’s Cut)
5. Not much else I can think of.
Now, bear in mind that, with the exception of the Star Wars marathon, those would be for the first-time viewings of those movies. The others I either own or have seen enough that I wouldn’t pay that much to see them in a theater now.And if you’re wondering why the remake of Dawn of the Dead is on that list, then you obviously haven’t seen it. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, and I don’t just mean “for what it is” or “best horror movies.”
It’s. Just. That. Good.
Sadly, Resident Evil: Apocalypse wasn’t. Sure, it might’ve been okay as a $5 matinee, but not for $16-fucking-50. It wasn’t as good as the first one, and the ending was fairly weak. The first one left you with a “hell yeah! I can’t wait to see what they do in the sequel!” kind of feeling, whereas this one has a very “gee, they’re setting it up for a sequel. What a surprise,” kind of feeling.It’s too bad really, since the franchise has so much great source material to draw on. Well, whenever the third one comes out, I’ll get around to seeing it, but you can bet I won’t be paying $16-fucking-50.
^.^