Hell Ride

Poster for Larry Bishop's Film 'Hell Ride', released under the Tarantino Presents bannerUnder the 'Quentin Tarantino Presents' banner, a new film called 'Hell Ride' has had its trailer released on the net - and has obviously made its way onto youtube. It features Michael Madsen, Dennis Hopper, David Carradine, Eric Balfour (one of the early Buffy vampire victims, and he played 'Milo' in 24), Vinnie Jones and Larry Bishop (the director and writer who plays 'Pistolero').

It looks good, very 'grindhouse'. Unfortunately I've not been able to find a UK release date. It was seen in the US at the Sundance film festival, and will be released there on the 8th August.

I simply adore the movie poster seen on the Hell Ride website.

Cinema Tickets

I wanted to get cinema tickets this weekend, and normally don't like to use the automated booking line for the cinema for several reasons 1) I can walk there during the week to get tickets for the weekend. This lets me point at the screen to choose my own seats (yes, one has some flexibility when talking on the phone, but one has none using the online system). (Update: this has now changed)

2) The phone line costs, over two pounds extra for four tickets. I really do not understand this, surely any cost would be per phone call, not per ticket. In addition they get certainty of selling the ticket and they have to pay for less staff manning all the individual cinemas! The same is true when booking online. It's almost as mysifying as a ferry company charging more for ferry tickets as the gap increases between outbound and return journeys. The only explanation is blatant profiteering.

3) The call can be frustrating

Unfortunately I did not have a chance to go to the cinema in person in the week and so I had to use the automated line. I have discovered a nice dodge.

When it says 'Please state the name of the cinema you require', saying 'Operator' puts you straight through to a Human Being.

This is so useful to know, I've put it here so I can find it again using the helpful search box on the homepage.

The film? Underworld: Evolution

Cinema Annoyances

I've just phoned the Odeon booking line. (This is paraphrased)

Them: The Odeon booking number has changed. The new number is 0871 4422007, please redial.

Me: (Muttering) Why not just forward me?


Them: WELCOME! To the Odeon Cinema Booking Line! (it was almost possible to hear the capitalisation) Please say the name of the cinema you're interested in

Me: My Town.

Them: Did you say (random town)?

Me: No

Them: Welcome to the 'Random Town' booking line!

(hang up try again)


Them: Welcome to the 'My Town' booking line!

Them: What service do you require? If you would like film times, please say times. If you would like to buy tickets, please say 'tickets', if you would like...

Me: Tickets

Them: Please say the name of the film you're interested in.

Me: Hero

Them: Did you say 'The Idiots'?

Me: No


Me: Hero

Them: Did you say 'The Idiots'?

Me: Are you taking the piss?

Them: What time would you like to book for?

We did a few more rounds of this, then I managed to persuade it to put me through to a human being.

Me: Ah, thank goodness. Your automated booking system had me going round in circles, it's nice to talk to a human being.

Them: We're not showing a film called human beans, sir.


After some careful explanation using single syllabled words as much as possible, I managed to explain that their automated system was a frustrating pile of donkey droppings. He explained to me that he could not actually take a booking and that I'd have to use the automated system. I think he missed the point I was making.

Fortunately, he had the wherewithall to sense that I was not going to shrug and say 'Oh, okay then', so he put me through to a manager type who dealt with the booking.

I said 'Two adults, one with an OU card'. (Students get a discount - useful). 'What's an OU card?' came the reply. 'Open University - a student card'. 'Erm... hang on, I'll check'.

The annoying thing aboutall this is that by booking I pay an extra fee, the cinema gets more money for hiring less people. I've only got two ways to fight this, 1) boycott the cinemas (ain't gonna happen, at least not yet) or 2) stand in line and buy tickets in person. To my mind, cinema tickets bought in advance should be cheaper.

The trouble is that I can only buy tickets for up to next thursday. I can't even buy tickets for next weekend now (let alone the week after) as the film times aren't released until near the end of the week.