BY DARIAN SABLON
It’s late at night and finding parking at the mall was an absolute nightmare. Thankfully, after speed-walking to the theater, it seems that making it on time to that big blockbuster movie is an actual possibility. But wait – the escalator is broken and the other one is too far away to walk to, so time to get into an overly packed elevator with that sick kid in spitting distance. The doors finally open for what seems like years and running seems to be the only option to getting to see that film finally but, what about the popcorn and the soda? After internally debating whether to wait in another long line or not, it seems that no popcorn this time but at least with some luck, a good seat will be waiting patiently. The other halls zoom past when there in the distance, with two minutes to spare, is the auditorium number. The fresh air-conditioned air beckons inside and the sounds of the movie are like trumpets glorifying the victory when all of sudden…the realization comes that there are no more seats except the ones at the back-breaking front.
This scenario is more commonplace than one would imagine, as circumstances out of one’s control wind up forcing many into the neck-straining front row. It’s a hassle no one should go through and won’t have to in the future, with the increasing adoption by movie theaters of the reserved seating system, which allows people to select their seats before even arriving to the theater, a major convenience by any standards. The new system was so successful, that in September, AMC theaters converted all of their Manhattan locations to the reserved seating system. Struggling to find a chair should not be a part of the moviegoing experience, an activity intended to be fantastical and amazing, not a chore. It’s bad enough waiting in lines to get tickets and popcorn, why add more frustration?
Some may argue that reserved seatings for one limit the impromptu movie experience, making people actually plan ahead instead of just deciding to go out on a whim. Or, that it makes the chronically late feel that they can cruise around and barge in when the film has already started, making it worse for the people who found their seats earlier, ultimately hampering the entire experience. Then, of course, the most famous complaint of anti-reserved seatings, “someone is sitting in my seat, what can I possibly do?”
For starters, addressing the “someone in my seat” dilemma, at the end of the day that’s less of a problem with the reserved seating system and more of a personal one. Also, for people who are too ‘busy’ to plan ahead and get seatings with online tickets, there’s the option in numerous locations of getting the reservations at the theater itself, so it should not prove to be an obstacle for anyone who wants to take an unexpected visit to the movies, just don’t be there late and expect to get a spot for a film that’s starting in five minutes, that’s, in the end, another personal issue instead of one within the system. In fact, most of the problems people complain about are not really about the seats but mostly about the people. Plan a little ahead and there should not be a problem.
But no matter what anyone does, reserved seats are becoming the norm on theaters across the world and when taking everything into account, it’ll improve the experience for everyone, making movie watching not just another problem, but an actual event people will enjoy again. It’s the future, accept it.
