We were not alone. About three miles away from the drive-in, we hit standstill traffic. We looked for police car lights, assuming there had to be an accident or something. The time was about 9:10 with the movie scheduled to start at 9:30, just about when it gets dark in Northeast Ohio this time of year.
The minutes dragged by as we inched along, our equanimity leaking out of the car as the 9:30 start time came and went with still no break in sight. Finally, at about 9:40 we came over a hill and saw the drive-in entrance confirming our most dire suspicions: the traffic was all for the drive-in! Then as we grew nearer to the pay booth we saw there was only one girl taking money, $15 per carload, for both lanes incoming from the north and south.
Hmm, rather poor planning.
With about ten cars to go, a kid came running toward the line of cars, which trailed behind us as far as the eye could see, shouting that Pirates was sold out, its half of the two-screen lot crammed to bursting. We hurled epithets best known to seafaring folk, gnashing our teeth in lamentation.
Do we want to stay and see Superman Returns, only a week old but already seeming stale and tasteless? We're already here, may as well. We paid and drifted in - although it was now past 9:45, neither film had begun. As we passed row upon row of cars facing the Pirates screen heading toward poor neglected Superman, we realized that only distance separated the two screens, which were essentially facing each other across the large lot, with audio coming from two different FM radio frequencies.
Most of the cars in the Man of Steel's side of the lot were turned around facing the other screen, which was farther away than ideal, but certainly easily viewable. Rejoicing, we flipped quickly around and did the same just as the Pirates logo illuminated the screen. We piled into the back of the mini-van, opened up the rear hatch and, living large, absorbed the sequel, sponge-like.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
I wonder if drive-ins will make a kind of magical comeback in this new age of on demand content? I certainly have fond memories of going as a kid -- remember seeing the "original" Star Wars that way. Can you imagine a better experience for a seven-year-old?
In any event, it looks as though Entourage got their Aquaman-beats-Spiderman episode in just under the wire!
2 - Eric Olsen
the vehicle you attend in and the adequacy of your preparation makes all the difference! It's also too bad it starts so late this time of year - of course this time of year is the only time to go to the drive-in in NE Ohio
3 - Triniman
When they announced it broke the record on CNN, it was still Sunday afternoon.
What would really be more meaningful would be to see the number of tickets sold. With ticket prices going up every once in a while, the total dollar amount may be slightly misleading.
I wasn't all that into the first film, having found it to be more fun for kids than adults, but I will see this one soon.
4 - Eric Olsen
good point T-man: "Even factoring in higher admission prices since 2002, "Dead Man's Chest" still set a record of just under 20 million tickets sold, about 200,000 more than "Spider-Man."
Re the first one: for me it had an almost magically equal appeal to kids and adults
5 - Eric Berlin
The story is all the more significant as Hollywood is desperate for hits right about now.
6 - Eric Olsen
it changes the whole atmosphere!
7 - Ben Green
11th July, 2006
Stopped on time.
Thanks for the Feedback.
Looking for a Compliments Ticket.
If only Home Pages were this short, you would soon have a Statistic.
And One-Liners like the Above would work.
Ben
8 - Daniel Blackman
I’m so ecstatic to see this movie. It got si nabt bad reviews, but I think Johnny Depp is amazing as Captain Jack Sparrow. I hope I’m not disappointed when I get back from vacation (I ironically happen to be in the Caribbean right now and the tiny theater on the island only has movies that are at least a week old) and see Dead Man’s Chest in all it’s glory for the first time. Johnny Depp has really become somewhat of a star between Pirates and playing Wonka. I hope his success continues. Great review. I always look at the box office gross on Monday to see if my favorites brought in a big haul, and you’ve written the best column I’ve seen in a while.
9 - Eric Olsen
thanks Ben and Daniel!
Ben, you are cryptic.
Daniel, that's hilarious you are on the home turf, so to speak. I'm sure I will appreciate it more in an actual movie theater and/or on DVD. The drive-in was not an ideal setting - at least under the circumstances.
10 - Dawn
We weren't looking for ideal, we were looking for moderately attainable - being able to see the movie in relative peace on opening night together as a family was the goal. We almost met that :)
Awesome read!!!
11 - Eric Olsen
yes, we did achieve that - thanks!
12 - rtparker
johnny depp pulled a fast one here well jack sparrow would woudnt he, not having as much screen time as his co stars, he comes on does his turn goes again leaving orlando , bill nighy etc to work their butts off holding up the narrative, orlando is a lot better than he was in the first one but does he get a mention , not likely as for the end letting keira kiss johnny blew the whole star croossed lovers subplot and turned her in to a hussy if i was will turner id be back like ashot to voddoo woman
13 - katie luke
i really didnt like the ending to this movie very much,i didint think you know who( dont want to be a spoiler!:)) should have died
14 - diana
johnny depp is so great in all of his movies and this was no exception he is so sexy even in a pirate costume, he works well with the other characters and still makes us laugh. the kiss at the end of this movie was so hot!! wish it was me. the bloopers are also hilarious, the captian barbossa ending was a cliffhanger made in heaven(where johnny depp was made too!!)