Every year for the better part of my adulthood, I made a tradition out catching the earliest showing of the biggest new blockbuster in the theater on the 4th of July. With everyone so busy chasing meat, charcoal, beverages, bags of ice, and appendage dislodging instruments of Chinese gun powder doom wrapped in cardboard. I rarely ever had to wait in a line. I just waltz right up to the window, drop my dough and pray that I didn’t waste my money and just donate more money to rich people for Botox injections so they can look good on their next stint of Celebrity Rehab. After my loan application goes through. I grab my snacks, and off to my seat I go. This accomplishes two things. First, I get to see what ever movie I want without the crowds, and second I don’t have to spend as much time with the family. The first movies usually start after 11 am, and by the time the previews, the commercials, and the movie is over it is usually 3 o’clock. Then I go home and gather my belongings, and it is usually after 4 when I show up. By that time, my family is sufficiently liquored up to a tolerable state , and the food is coming off the grill.
Last year, was the first 4th in 15 years that I missed. The writer’s strike left the summer movie cupboard pretty bare. I had already seen Star Trek, and had no desire see the giant HASBRO commercial. I loaded up my family for a 600 mile day trip through the Redwood forest, and back up the Oregon coastline instead. Couldn’t get a much better day than that I must add. This summer was supposed to be different. My family is a big fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender and we were excited to learn that there was going to be a live action movie. Even if it was going to be directed by M. Night Shyamalan, we had our plans set for the morning of the 4th….so we thought.
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