1LR Midnight Movie- Dark Knight Rises - Fanboy Reactions

Ultra Batman Fans!

We all know who comes to midnight shows: The Ultra Fans. And let's just say the Ultra Fans were pumped.

When I first arrived at the theater twenty five minutes early I noticed that the parking lot was PACKED. I had to park at the nearby grocery store! I had already purchased tickets and when I got into the theater I realized I was going to have to sit in the front row! There were a TON of people dressed up for the event. A bunch of them wore Batman T-shirts and the like but a few brave fans dressed up in character. I noticed some of those cheap plastic Batman masks they sell at Target and the like. Planet X comics showed up to hand out free comics and discount coupons which was cool (but they only gave them to the fans in the DBOX seats... Booo! Where were they for Amazing Spider-Man?).

During the movie, the fans were mostly silent. There really aren't very many reaction shots in the film. Twice the audience laughed at truly funny moments in the film. The surprise twist got a reaction from the crowd and the ending of the film really got the fans pumped. They applauded when the film was over but booed when there was no post-credit scene.

After the show, I eavesdropped on several conversations. The general consensus I heard was that everyone enjoyed it, just not as much as the first film. People thought Bane was a good villain, just not as good as the Joker. People loved the ending and the surprise twist. I heard a bit of nitpickery on plot details but nothing too serious.

Overall, Fanboys were pleased and if you enjoyed the first two films I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

Superhero Halloween Costumes for Ladies

I was in a costume shop looking for props for my Halloween costume the other day (I'm going to be a king) and I saw some cool superhero related costumes for women. Check 'em out!

These are from the Women of Marvel line. What's your favorite? I personally like the Black Spider-Woman!

The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #6 - CONCLUSION

This is the last post in this series. So far, we've said that if you want to dress up for a movie you should follow these rules...

#1 - Go with friends
#2 - Know you're going to get some weird looks
#3 - Think about the likelihood of others dressing up for this movie
#4 - Only dress for "big" movies
#5 - Only on opening day

And now, #6 - Be practical with your costume. There are two things to consider here - yourself and others.

First, the primary activity you're going to do is to see a movie. Full face masks, eye patches, helmets, and other visual impairments make this activity more difficult. Nobody will care if you remove your headdress during the film, so please do so. But I've seen people sit in full Storm Trooper garb or a full-body Spidey costume for the entire movie. Relax. You can put your lid back on when the movie's over. Enjoy the show the first time you see it.

Second, is to be considerate of those around you. While it's impressive that you made a Doctor Octopus costume with 12 foot arms (it looks great at the last Con!) it's not going to fly at Amazing Spider-Man. Neither is your Galactus costume with a four foot headpiece. Your costume should in no way invade the personal space or block the view of the other patrons. Once again, it seems like it is common sense but it needs to be said.

So there you go. Follow those simple rules and you'll have a great time dressing up for the movies. A couple of closing remarks:

Ladies, just so you know, guys LOVE to see a woman who is awesome enough to dress in costume. That's MAJOR credit with the dudes.

If you see somebody not in costume but they're wearing fan clothes (say, a related T-Shirt), give them some props... but encourage them to go all-in next time. After all, how often do you have an opportunity to attend, say, a convention of just Spider-Man fans? That's why movie premiers are the perfect place to dress up - we should feel free to boldly declare our rabid fandom well our fellow rabid fans! Don't be shy! Let people see your inner fanboy (or fangirl)!

So next time you're going to a movie premier, to borrow a line from Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother, "SUIT UP!"

 

The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #5

Is it cool to dress up to attend a movie? Of course it is (as I proved in my prior "Great Debate" post). However, there are some simple rules everyone who is planning on dressing up for a movie should follow. Today's rule appears to be common sense, but... well... it isn't - not to everybody.

To summarize the rules...

#1 - Go with a buddy

#2 - It takes guts to suit up

#3 - Dress when it is likely that others will dress up

#4 - The bigger the expected crowds and/or box office, the greater likelihood that you should dress up.

And now, #5 - Only dress up when the movie first comes out. And I don't mean a week after the movie first comes out - I'm talking the first day and, preferably, the midnight showing. Because, let's be honest, any movie worth dressing up for is going to have a midnight showing. 

Why is it more acceptable to go to the premier or opening day dressed up? Because that's the day when the uber-fans will be there. These are your people - the folks that have loved this property and have been counting down the days until the movie's release. They're much more likely to think it's cool that you dressed up for the movie than, say, Ma and Pa Stapleton who come to see the movie three weeks after its release. 

             

The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #2

This is a continuation of the series I began earlier detailing the rules you need to follow if you wish to successfully dress up for a movie premier. Rule #1 is use the buddy system - bring a friend, even if they're not dressed up.

Rule #2 is to remember - it takes guts. Dressing up for a movie premier is not for the faint of heart. In our society a man can go to an outdoor football game in January with nothing but a pair of shorts, flip flops, and full body paint and nobody bats an eye BUT if you show up to Green Lantern dressed in a full-body Green Lantern costume you're bound to get a few odd looks from some folks.

Remember, not everyone at the midnight showing is an ultra-fan like you. I've had people make rude comments right in front of me (Can you believe he brought a Captain America shield?) as if I can't hear them. You've just got to have thick skin. Remember, for the most part your fellow fans think that you're costume is cool. Man up, ignore the hate, and just do it! But don't say I didn't warn you.