Home > Uncategorized > Reloading….

Reloading….

May 10th, 2003

Got my tickets to see “The Matrix Reloaded” today. It opens on June 7th in Japan, but as is the case with big releases here, the movie will have special screenings on Saturdays for a few weeks before the official opening. Why, I have no idea. So I’m going to the May 24th showing at 5pm; had to get to the theater in Minami Ozawa (not far from where I live) before 9am to get good tickets.

As with many other things in Japan, Movie theaters have changed somewhat over the past 20 years. They are still expensive–1,800 yen (about $15) per full price ticket, no bargain matinees per se, but advance discount “picture tickets” are sold for as little as 1,300 yen (about $11), but only at special ticket shops. But now foreign chains have entered the market, most notably Warner Bros. and Virgin. Both have features that vastly improve on traditional Japanese theaters.

First of all, most Japanese theaters still have general seating, and in fact they do not even limit attendance to the theater capacity–which means you sometimes have to stand in the back to see a popular movie. The new chains sell tickets for specific seats, meaning not only that you are assured a seat, but you can see which seat it will be before you pay for the ticket. Very nice–this also means you don’t have to wait in lines for hours, just buy the ticket in advance, then return just before the show. Some Japanese theaters will do this, but in a negative way–they cordon off the best seats in the house, and only people who pay in excess of $20 can sit in them.

I got choice seats for the Matrix Reloaded–center of the theater, but the next row up is about 8 feet away to create an aisle. that means good leg room, and it’s easy to get up if I want to get a snack or rush for the men’s room.

Second, the foreign chains’ snacks are much better than most Japanese theaters. Japanese theaters are famous for stale popcorn, a strange assortnment of packaged junk food, and drinks from overpriced vending machines. The new chains serve freshly popped popcorn, and offer butter (OK, butter flavoring–um, OK, flavored anhydrous butterfat, but it still tastes good). Hot dogs and nachos and the like are also there. And interestingly, the prices are lower than they are in the states. A large popcorn (a big thing which would be called “small” in U.S. theaters) and two medium drinks cost 1,000 yen, about $8. In the U.S., the same thing would likely cost more than $10.

Another advantage is the multiplex concept. Japanese theaters tend to have no more than three screens, and even that is only in the big theater districts. The new chains have 8 or more screens, meaning you don’t have to walk a ways to see your second choice of films if the first is sold out–or if there are no seats left that you would want to sit in.

And finally, there is the Late Show. Most Japanese theaters never have matinees, as I mentioned. Instead, they reduce prices to just 1,000 yen ($8!) on the first day of every third month–just four days each year. Whoopee. The foreign chains offer Late Show prices, 1,200 yen for every show starting after 9:00pm. Not as good a deal as afternoon matinees in the U.S., but better than the local alternative!

I still find it cheaper, in most cases, to just get the DVD. I can buy them from Amazon.com usually for around $20, which is less than the ticket and popcorn price–and I get the special DVD features and get to see the movie whenever I want. But some flicks you just have to see at the theater.

You can locate a theater and get show times at the Virgin or Warner MyCal web sites.

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: by
  1. May 11th, 2003 at 20:48 | #1

    Prices do get a bit high for movies here in Tokyo. Luckily, there are cheapy weekday tickets available at cinemacity in Tachikawa. Weekday tickets run for 4400 yen for four tickets. These tickets expire after three months and can only be used during the week. CinemaCity also offers a Late Night show from 9 PM for 1200 yen.

    CinemaCity RoadShow: http://cinemacity.co.jp/roadshow.html
    Ticket System: http://cinemacity.co.jp/ryoukin.html#%82%B2%93%FC%8F%EA%97%BF%8B%E0

Comments are closed.