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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 12, 2018 16:04:35 GMT
Would it ever consider the Dominion? Also a barn, but location wise it would attract more tourists using the TKTS booth for on the day sales.
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Serena
Sept 11, 2018 12:03:51 GMT
via mobile
Post by ellie1981 on Sept 11, 2018 12:03:51 GMT
Yes, I’d say the US Open crowds in general are worse. The capacity is so huge on the Arthur Ashe court it’s almost pointless being sat all the way up at the back. Wimbledon Centre Court gets a pretty decent view everywhere.
Still, I’ll never forget my all time fav Wimbledon year of 2001. It was the year Ivanisevic won, and pretty much every men’s match from the fourth round onwards was an epic, memorable battle. Some people still love to go on about how Henman would have beaten Ivanisevic in the SF if it wasn’t for rain delays, only completely forgetting that he’d have easily been out in the fourth round against Todd Martin for the same reason, as well as the horrendous crowd batting for Martin’s demise with every point.
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Serena
Sept 10, 2018 23:09:02 GMT
Post by ellie1981 on Sept 10, 2018 23:09:02 GMT
There were two players on that court but everything became all about her, Williams should be fined heavily and I wouldn't be unhappy with a ban of a few weeks as well. Such a display of entitlement was against the spirit of the game and either conscious or unconscious gamesmanship, Osaka should be applauded for not getting drawn in and she deserves an official apology. The crowd made Williams, and the situation, worse, if they can't keep a crowd controlled then the USTA need to be sanctioned and warned against any future similar happenings. American crowds have a habit of this, you don't get the same at Wimbledon; even with Murray there has always been an appreciation of the other player. Golf crowds are similar and the Ryder cup has, at times, gone the same way too. I distinctly remember some appalling crowds at Wimbledon in the days of Tim Henman. Some extremely disrespectful OTT cheering at every unforced error from his opponents.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 10, 2018 22:42:01 GMT
Jam Westman was the interviewee for the latest Hamilcast if anyone is interested. He recorded it in July when he was on holiday in NY. Seems like a thoroughly lovely bloke, and rather hyper too!
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 14:11:56 GMT
In terms of dress style and music videos I'd say she made a big impact. Maybe more so in America. There weren't really any pop solo singers around at the time. The US market is quite strange in that way. I suppose in the late 90s the soloists were all R&B based like Brandy, Aaliyah and Monica.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 14:03:24 GMT
I really think it’s just me. I’m the same age as Britney and never even thought of her being a “superstar”. She was just kind of a regular popular pop star in the same way Steps were in the U.K. or like a 00s version of Olivia Newton John. On an international scale no bigger than the Backstreet Boys in the same way as they had a small handful of high selling albums during a little blip in time. And I always put that down to the pre-download market where the US barely issued physical singles, forcing consumers to buy albums they otherwise never would have considered. I certainly never put her in the same sentence as Madonna. It’s only from talking to people 10 years younger that I realised she apparently meant a lot more to them than that. One factor of it is she did change the course of pop music at the time. It was mostly boybands at the peak of celebrity at the time (especially in the US), after BOMT came out there was a string of other solo female teenagers, all baring their bellies and dancing similar style to Britney. She made a huge impact and even though some who followed could arguably be as good and probably better singers, people always remember the first one as the best. Was that not just the same 10 years prior with Tiffany and Debbie Gibson, just on a slightly larger scale? Because the teen market was just larger by proportion of the population of teenagers around at the time. I don’t think she changed and course of popular music really. I’d say the Spice Girls had a far bigger impact in the 90s. I would however credit her image as being the beginning of the sexualisation of teenagers. Turn the clock back 10 years however and Kylie was the Britney of her day,
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 11:42:29 GMT
We got some riveting press out of her with the whole “meltdown” thing. Remember when she shaved her head? I actually think that might have been a turning point where she became more than just another pop star. Like a symptom of the online paparazzi and their treatment of young (mostly female) celebrities. Her mental instability may have caused her fan base to become hugely protective of her rather than just putting her on a pedestal.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 11:27:59 GMT
I really think it’s just me. I’m the same age as Britney and never even thought of her being a “superstar”. She was just kind of a regular popular pop star in the same way Steps were in the U.K. or like a 00s version of Olivia Newton John. On an international scale no bigger than the Backstreet Boys in the same way as they had a small handful of high selling albums during a little blip in time. And I always put that down to the pre-download market where the US barely issued physical singles, forcing consumers to buy albums they otherwise never would have considered. I certainly never put her in the same sentence as Madonna.
It’s only from talking to people 10 years younger that I realised she apparently meant a lot more to them than that.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 8:55:25 GMT
She does indeed. Over the years, Kylie has actually turned into quite a wonderful live performer. Probably much to the surprise of many people. And not to anyone who has been there since the 80s. My first albums were Kylie on tape! I adore Kylie and she's very much still on my 'bucket list' performers that I'm very sad not to have managed to see yet. Oh she’s a real treat. I’ve seen her 8 times now and each one was a blast. The best was the Anti-Tour when she did a series of one off gigs only playing her album tracks and B-Sides, so you had to be a proper fan to go. One of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever attended.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 8:52:20 GMT
What about Tiesto, Guetta, etc? All these big name DJs playing to 10s of thousands of people a night. Famously pre-mix their set and just stand behind the decks miming. All male too. The value for the fans is getting to see their idols in the flesh and the production element has taken such a forefront that everything needs to be perfect. If Britney sang live every night, would he ticket sales remain the same? Hell no, people wouldn't stand or sit through 90-120minutes of out of tune howling, ticket sales would drop and the machine would run out of business. A few years ago I went to some weekend dance festival with some friends. I only really went because Soul II Soul were on the bill, and I went to their tent to see them alone which was absolutely wonderful. The rest of it was standing around watching men on a stage with a laptop and a light show. The “star” headliner was Eric Prydz - it honestly could have been anyone up there and no one would have noticed. I can’t tell you how bored I was, especially when there was clearly quite a bit of drug use going on in the toilets. I hate to be all judgmental about it, but the music I love doesn’t need drugs to be enjoyed as it’s a high just to see it performed alone.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 6, 2018 22:14:43 GMT
I'm shocked that people are still buying tickets to her shows and expecting anything else. Never been a fan of her or her music, but she used to be a very good dancer, these days from what I’ve seen she dances like a robot.
The likes of Steps got awa with it all the time too. Then there are the bigger stars that re-record vocals to make them sound live (Madonna, Beyonce and Janet Jackson are massive culprits). Kylie Minogue on the other hand always sings live as far as I can tell.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 6, 2018 13:13:40 GMT
Oh my. Well the 7 year old Bros fan in me would be dead excited. I moved on to bigger and better things after that, like New Kids on the Block!
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 6, 2018 12:58:49 GMT
I booked for "After the Screaming Stops" too but I'm a bit concerned by the news on Twitter that Matt and Luke will be at the premiere on the 17th. I'm not sure that the screaming will have stopped judging by the number of fans who booked tickets this morning. Oh no, that’s the day I booked and I’m going alone. I thought it would just be a normal screening as it’s just in NFT1. I only booked that because Border was sold out at the same time.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 6, 2018 12:39:17 GMT
Missed out on Border and Wildlife which were sold out by the time I got to them. Website was a nightmare and somehow only allowed me to buy one ticket at a time rather than stacking them up in a basket to purchase together. Luckily my friend got all the big ones earlier this week so overall going to: Alfonso Cuaron and Keira Knightley NFT talks Widows Colette The Old Man and the Gun The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Lizzie Beautiful Boy Roma The Front Runner Destroyer Wild Rose Life Itself After The Screaming Stops (for the old Bros fan in me) Etangs Noirs The White Crow The Favourite Can You Ever Forgive Me? Nancy If Beale Street Could Talk The Hate U Give Stan & Ollie Phew, will be a tiring week and a bit. So wasteful as most of them will probably be released everywhere next year and I could have seen them using the Unlimited card
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 5, 2018 22:17:41 GMT
Just come back from this and I really hate to say it but I was disappointed. Nothing to do with Adrienne as she was just brilliant, but the show itself and tone was all off for me. It felt like a very good tribute act and I just wanted to kick myself for never seeing the real Tina Turner when she was actively touring.
I’m a big fan of the What’s Love Got To With It film and the portrayal of Ike on stage is so much like a cartoon villain, it just makes no sense how or why he was able to manipulate people as he just came across as a mad man. Nothing like the slimy charmer portrayed by Laurence Fishburne.
The Wednesday audience full of crumbly coach parties (no offence, but the average age was about 60 and not an ethnic minority in sight apart from my own friend). We even saw the one and only Barry Manilow there tonight outside during the interval.
I thought it was getting better in the second act with the disappearance of Ike, but the story just started dragging a bit not long after Tina got to London. I just kept thinking the whole time how wonderful Memphis was in comparison. I just don’t think jukebox musicals work for me at all, no matter how much I’ve tried.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 5, 2018 22:09:01 GMT
I don’t quite get what they’re going to do. They’re advertising Russell Kane and Jon Culshaw as “the hosts”. Not sure how you “host” a West End show which runs night in and out, let alone with Culshaw probably squeezing impersonations in too. Peter Andre - not a man who is known for any Michael Jackson covers or relationship. Is he just going to turn up at curtain call and perform Man in the Mirror or something? Is this meant to attract people to buy tickets? Peter Andre was always one of those fairweather Michael Jackson fans. Talked him up when it suited him (all that nonsense about liking him until Thriller), then changed his tune when he died. Only real connection is that he was a support act for Janet Jackson in the mid 90s.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 4, 2018 23:43:18 GMT
Saw this again tonight and love love loved it again. New cast members were just great, particularly Neil McDermott as Evil Lord Hector, putting a whole new comic spin on the character.
Shocking how Heathers gets a transfer before this.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 2, 2018 8:53:36 GMT
They really are talking up the Embakment Garden Cinema this year with the loss of the Odeon (which had the most uncomfortable seating, so that’s one plus).
I went to the launch thing at the Mayfair hotel, and apart from being showered with wine and snacks, it seemed more of an opportunity for the programmers to sit and tell everyone about how many films they’ve seen at other festivals. It wasn’t all that necessary an event.
My patron friend wants to go to lots of the Gala screenings. I’m only interested in a couple of them, but I’d rather see them for cheaper the next day, however because he’s a workaholic and refuses to take any time off, he needs to do the overpriced evening red carpet affairs... I don’t own enough nice dresses to do six in a row!
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 27, 2018 17:19:21 GMT
I think she’s just got a good reputation as a consummate professional who rarely disappoints, coupled with a sentimental side of the fact that most of us grew up with her.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 27, 2018 9:03:25 GMT
Got Row F stalls for £25 for Sat 8th evening. So looking forward to seeing Bonnie Langford.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 26, 2018 15:10:11 GMT
I never see tickets for less than £200 when I look at Ticketmaster. Yes, either look quite far ahead, as soon as the extension dates are announced or 24-48 hours before for returns. When you’re only looking 1-2 months ahead only the premiums will generally be available.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 26, 2018 9:52:59 GMT
Panton Street is the Haymarket one - currently showing Mamma Mia HWGA, Mission Imposible Fallout, The Meg, The Equalizer 2, and The Spy Who Dumped Me. 😒 Oh wow, they’ve totally changed it then. I went once earlier in the year because it was the only London cinema from any chain showing Roman J Israel Esq (not recommended by the way).
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 26, 2018 8:57:30 GMT
Yes, that’s why I’m finding it so hard to see the smaller films - even the Haymarket and Covent Garden Odeons are showing the big blockbusters while Leicester Square is being refurbished. The trouble is Odeon is the only cinema locally! In central London they appear to have moved the smaller films to the Odeon Luxe on Panton Street, which is very expensive.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 25, 2018 18:29:14 GMT
I’m still wondering how Viagogo can successfully sell these tickets. How? Are they sending credit cards to be swiped to the buyers? The photo ID thing I can see how they get around because the staff aren’t all that thorough in their checks.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 25, 2018 17:22:39 GMT
I'm currently pondering a membership to Picturehouse Central. I see a lot of independent films and the place is wonderful! Membership gives you entry to the lovely members bar and rooftop terrace (a great place to take friends and you can take 3) Also 4 free movies per year, exclusive screenings and events, £3 off every ticket and money of snacks and drinks! It's £25 for a student one which is an amazing deal or £80 plus for the full memberships. A friend of mine did this last year and didn’t renew her membership. She really wanted the access to that rooftop bar, but whenever she went it was closed for some private events, which defeated the object of the whole thing. Strangely the tickets there work out cheaper with a Cineworld West End membership.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 25, 2018 7:55:27 GMT
Lucky! Unfortunately I already had plans for that night before it was announced, otherwise would have been furiously refreshing Ticketmaster.
I went (again) on Thursday by myself. This was when I randomly booked a Grand Circle seat just to see what the view was like. View was excellent and the most intimate I’ve felt in any Upper Circle, but oh my you all weren’t lying about the legroom. I’m 5’5 with short legs even for my height and it was excruciating. If I wasn’t on the aisle I don’t think I could have managed to stay seated.
All principle cast were on except for Waylon Jacobs playing Lafayette/Jefferson. Waylon may very be the most hard working of all the cast. How many roles does he cover? He seems to do it a lot!
I’ve warmed to Giles’ performance now, and think his Wait For It is the best, although Sifiso’s The Room Where It Happens is better. I just can’t imagine either hold a candle to Leslie Odom Jr. and so wish I’d seen him in the role, perhaps more disappointed to have not seen him than Lin.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 24, 2018 21:46:27 GMT
I pay the £2 uplift for the West End Cineworld, which also gives access to £5 tickets at the Picturehouse Central. The West India Quay branch near Canary Wharf tends to show the artsy stuff too - I seem to have the best of all worlds with it as I live in Greenwich and work central - The O2, Canary Wharf, Leicester Square (with added 4DX seats for a mere £4.23) and the Picturehouse... plus my work scheme gets 30% off the annual pass.
I also have BFI and Prince Charles membership, where the latter does £1 screenings of random old films every week for members.
What I’m saying is that I like going to the cinema. A lot. The rest of the public who go a couple of times a year, spends a small fortune on 3D uplifts, popcorn (yuck) where half of it ends up on the floor and £15 a ticket - you fund my bargains. Not dissimilar to the premium price tickets at the theatre I suppose.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 24, 2018 16:43:31 GMT
The Unlimited schemes are well worth it if you want to go more than once a month. I make stupid use of it with at least two or three week. It even works with Meerkat movies so if you book on your Unlimited card and generate a Meerkat code, a friend can go for free.
I also have a work rewards scheme so I can generate codes for Cineworld, Odeon, Vue and Picturehouse for about £6 a ticket, so I use that if going with someone who doesn’t have an Unlimited card.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 23, 2018 18:22:07 GMT
The only solution to the above is to leave it all up to me. I probably see more films per year than some critics, and I’m a damn sight less pretentious but still open minded to the non mainstream... I have no life outside of work, friends and cinema/theatre with friends.
It’s the only way I’ll ever be satisfied with the results.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 23, 2018 15:55:12 GMT
Wouldn’t this be perfect for another pop up at the Marble Arch Theatre?
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