Jakarta's big screens: Tough choice<\/p>\n
Rough data presented in Janji Joni: An Indonesian Adventure --
\na movie written and directed by The Jakarta Post's very own film
\ncritic, Joko Anwar -- claims that seven out of 10 people on the
\nstreets will say that they are into movies.<\/p>\n
We can be sure that a big chunk of this group can be found in
\ntheaters. And, most likely, even a bigger chunk hovering around
\npirated DVD vendors.<\/p>\n
While the owner of the 21 Cineplex chain -- not a monopoly,
\nreally, because the company merely owns roughly 90 percent of all
\nexisting movie theaters here -- complains that \"buying pirated
\nDVDs is stealing\", consumers have no place that will accommodate
\ntheir complaints.<\/p>\n
I was about to watch the epic bloodbath Alexander at Studio
\nXXI in Entertainment Xenter -- one of the most expensive theaters
\nin Jakarta -- when I noticed that one of the security guards --
\nwell-trained club bouncers, I always call them -- stopped an old
\nlady in a wheel chair at the studio door.<\/p>\n
The reason was very dire: The old lady had a shopping bag full
\nof bread from a nearby bakery.<\/p>\n
\"Thou shalt not bring food or drinks from outside this
\ncineplex\" -- that's the law.<\/p>\n
The old lady, lacking the energy to fight over her precious
\nbread, gave up and let the bouncer take them to a deposit
\ncounter.<\/p>\n
Discipline? As I was watching ugly Colin Farrell butchering
\nand slaying his enemies, I heard children crying in the seats to
\nthe rear. Whatever happened to age restrictions?<\/p>\n
Whatever happened to the other law -- \"Thou shalt not be noisy
\nwhile the movie is playing\"?<\/p>\n
Of course, no bouncers were around to slap and throw out the
\nidiotic father who took his 5-year-old to watch this brutal (and
\nbad) movie. We can be sure these unfriendly big guys were busy
\nlooking for bread and drinks from outside.<\/p>\n
As an adult consumer, I would love to complain in a decent
\nway. I looked for a suggestion box in this so-called glamorous
\ntheater lobby -- you know, the kind of box that will accept our
\ncomments, ideas and suggestions, and which can usually be found
\nin every other place.<\/p>\n
Did they have any? Not a one.<\/p>\n
I did try to locate a feedback link on their website, but all
\nI found was just a list of movie screening times -- and without
\nany viewer ratings or warnings as to age restrictions.<\/p>\n
(I am sure we can bring toddlers to that so-called luxurious
\nand prestigious cineplex to watch Will Smith cursing, swearing
\nand slaying villains in Bad Boys II -- as long as we pay Rp
\n60,000 for a single ticket.)<\/p>\n
I kept my peace until another issue arose.<\/p>\n
I was watching Kingdom of Heaven at another cineplex --
\nDjakarta 21 Theater, where tickets are half the price of the one
\nabove. The promised Dolby Sound System went flat in the middle of
\na battle scene, and the audience started to grumble. I looked for
\nany bouncer in the house. None.<\/p>\n
Feeling all-heroic, I went out to tell the staff, technicians,
\nbouncers or whoever they might have, about this annoying
\nincident. I asked that they check out the sound system. Without
\nchecking, the man in the uniform looked me in the eye and
\ndelivered straight information: \"It's the reel. We can't do
\nanything about it.\"<\/p>\n
I asked him to just go and check it out.<\/p>\n
\"No, it's the reel. Just go back and watch, or leave if you
\ndon't like the situation. We will give you back your money.\"<\/p>\n
Now, I'm starting to think I should spend my precious money on
\nthose pirated DVDs on the street. I know I'll deal with bad-
\nquality discs, but it's better than dealing with poor-quality
\nhuman resources who lack both proper attitude and brain cells.<\/p>\n
Other complaints from reliable consumers include movies that
\nstart too early because the staff want to go home early, and --
\none of the most unforgettable cases -- security officers that
\nsell tickets to Ada Apa dengan Cinta? to calo, or ticket hawkers,
\nfor them to sell at double the original price. Oh yeah, this
\nhappens at Megaria 21 in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Of course, we movie buffs -- apparently 70 percent of the
\npeople on the capital's streets -- are happy to watch summer
\nblockbusters on the nearest big screen. We love movies -- movies
\nthat, as the trailers note: \"coming soon to your beloved
\ntheaters\".<\/p>\n
Beloved theaters? Let me know if you find one.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, let me know which one has the best deal:
\nMangga Dua or Ratu Plaza?<\/p>\n
-- Ve Handojo<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakartas-big-screens-tough-choice-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }