I'm no longer at the Cafe because it interfered too much with my teaching job. The experience, however brief was worth it and I'm grateful for all of my new friends.
I saw my first movie in theaters the other day. The title was called Gantz II . The sequel to the ever popular Gantz I. Surprisingly enough, even though the entire movie was in Japanese I was able to follow it pretty well. This had nothing to do with my skill level and everything to do with the many actions scenes that required little or no dialogue.
The movie plot was simple. Kill the aliens and save your loved ones. It was a more gory and violent version of the Power Rangers with a typical Japanese twist ending. If anyone is curious, you can watch the dubbed or subbed version of Gantz I online.
After seeing the movie I did some research. Apparently Gantz was first a Manga or book series then it became and animated series, and then it graduated to the live action cinematic masterpiece that I beheld on the big screen.
Well enough about the movie itself, let me explain what a theater in Osaka is like. We went to a multiplex in Namba. It was on the eighth floor of a department store and it was huge! When you buy a ticket you also get to chose your seat. That's right, assigned seating. This in itself could be the main reason why Japanese movie theaters rock.
Because there is no need to fight for a good seat, one is allowed time for the purchasing of popcorn and to quote Sheldon, "the pre-show urination". Thus one can arrive mere seconds before the opening credits
with peace of mind knowing that the chair they had picked out especially for themselves would be waiting patiently for them unchallenged.
Lastly there is the concessions themselves. Not only do they have melon soda and carmel corn but draft beer, teriyaki chicken, some kind of wired hotdog/sandwich thing, and various kinds of potato substances but the prices themselves are a thing to behold.
Ladies and gentleman, I proudly present to you the two drink, two types or popcorn combo for the mere price of 800 yen. That's about $10.00. The price of two drinks and two kinds of popcorn back home is to high to mention.
The only downside I found to a night out at the Japanese Cinaplex is, the movie tickets are about 2000 yen. I won't even bother telling you all what that is in dollars.
Thus ends the account of my day at the theater.
In Romania, we have assigned seating too, but we don't get to pick the seats. A ticket is about $3-4 though :)
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