Hard Times

I was so overjoyed by losing the services of my second Windows laptop today (incredible dumb luck for both of them to crap out in the space of two weeks) that I forgot to even try to get my tickets to Avatar Day. The Avatar site crashed soon after the noon Pacific/3 pm Eastern deadline, of course, but I just tried to get a pair for the 7 pm Leows Lincoln Square showings on Monday and the site didn't laugh and tell me to forget it.

I have to admit that one of the reasons...okay, perhaps the reason why my second laptop stopped working and may in fact be dead is because I bitch-slapped it a couple of times. It was acting all gummy and sluggish so I slammed it with the palm of my hand a couple of times. Remember how Han Solo whacked the Millenium Falcon when it wouldn't start up in The Empire Strikes Back? Anyway, what's done is done so I had to buy another one today. $500 bills and change. Much bigger hard drive, more memory, etc.

Teletype<< previous | next >>Room At The Inn

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 17, 2009 at 2:58 PM

comment #1

p.Vice Author Profile Page says ...

Did you try the old huff-and-puff method? That always worked for my Nintendo back in the day.

Posted by p.Vice Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 3:51 PM

comment #2

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

Apparently Avatar tickets are going on eBay for $500, which is frankly fucking absurd. I hope nobody buys one for that price.

I ended up getting two tickets after all, just because I figured I'll see Basterds on Friday night anyway so I might as well. Got one each for the 6pm and 7pm at the Lincoln Center Loews, in case one of them didn't work. If there's a massive line of Avatards there an hour early, I won't bother.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 3:55 PM

comment #3

FredMertz Author Profile Page says ...

I signed up a bunch of times over the course of the day and it always seemed to hang on the confirmation page. Has anyone actually received a confirmation email?

Posted by FredMertz Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 3:58 PM

comment #4

Scott Author Profile Page says ...

I signed up for tickets very shortly after 3 EST, and didn't get my confirmation e-mail until a little after 6. Don't know if I'll end up making it; I'm in Boston and I'd have to reserve a Zipcar just to drive out and maybe get shut out because of lines. Seeing Inglourious Basterds that morning, though, so if the trailer's attached as promised and leaves me desperately needing more, I'll totally man up and go.

Posted by Scott Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:04 PM

comment #5

Steven Kar Author Profile Page says ...

Bosh,

You managed to get tickets for both previews, you're going to go to the cinema to check out the preview, you're probably going to have to line up just like everyone else, you'll want to see the preview so that you can brag about it to everyone else, and you're not a so-called Avatard?

I'm just as excited to see the trailer, and the movie is my most anticipated this year. I guess I'm an Avatard too, so is Wells, but so what? There's no shame in that.

Posted by Steven Kar Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:12 PM

comment #6

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

Steven Kar: Yeah, fair point. I just like the term Avatard.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:15 PM

comment #7

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey,

Congratulations! You are confirmed to be among the first to experience select scenes from James Cameron's epic motion picture AVATAR in IMAX 3D, on August 21st.
Details of your screening are as follows:

AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
1998 Broadway & 68th Street New York, NY 10023
21st Aug, 2009 07:00 pm
Seats: 1
Code: 109234201450239482034801293480219348

Please print this e-mail and bring it with you to the screening along with a photo ID.

This screening will be monitored for unauthorized recording. By attending, you agree not to bring any recording devices into the theatre and you consent to physical search of your belongings and person for recording devices. If you attempt to enter with a recording device, you will be denied admission. If you attempt to use a recording device, you consent to immediate removal from the theatre and forfeiture of the device. Unauthorized recording will be reported to law enforcement and may subject you to criminal and civil liability.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:24 PM

comment #8

Steven Kar Author Profile Page says ...

Bosh,

Oh my Gawd you are sooooo an Avatard. And guess what? i just got the same confirmation email just now for the same show at Lincoln. I'll look for you. You're English so I should be able to spot you.

Posted by Steven Kar Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:28 PM

comment #9

RSBrown Author Profile Page says ...

Wells, may I just say, being lucky enough to have met you before (I used to work at Laser Blazer), I have a really fine image of you sitting, wacking your laptop. Awesome post.

P.S.
Am I the only one who predicted the Avatar site would collapse? AICN made a post about it too. Seriously, was anyone surprised? Ridiculous.

Posted by RSBrown Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:34 PM

comment #10

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

AVATARDS UNITE!

How long will this last? I want to go see Basterds afterwards.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:48 PM

comment #11

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

Shit, 15 minutes. Duh.

I guess an 8:00 screening of Basterds would work.

Friday night - sorted. The girlfriend's away so Bosh will play... (by sitting on his own in a darkened theater for 3 hours plus).

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 4:49 PM

comment #12

Circumvrent Author Profile Page says ...

Also going to Lincoln Center at 7. Can't believe how excited I am.

I bet the Weinstein Company is crazy excited about Avatar Day, because everyone I'm going with will be heading to the next show of IB at Lincoln Center. Sure that'll be happening across the country.

Posted by Circumvrent Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 5:21 PM

comment #13

Circumvrent Author Profile Page says ...

Also, are these shows over-booked? Meaning, does my confirmation not guarantee me a seat? Should I be heading out of work a few hours early to make sure I get there in time?

Posted by Circumvrent Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 5:23 PM

comment #14

Steven Kar Author Profile Page says ...

Just because we got the confirmation emails doesn't mean that we're guaranteed to get in. If I do get in, I hope that I can get a good seat. But I'm sure there will be a long line of Avatards waiting an hour before the show begins.

Posted by Steven Kar Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 5:41 PM

comment #15

Jeffrey Wells Author Profile Page says ...

I was confirmed a couple of hours ago for two tickets to the Lincoln Square 7 pm show....good. I thought I'd be out of the running, requesting late in the afternoon.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 5:42 PM

comment #16

Circumvrent Author Profile Page says ...

People will wait longer than an hour, no? I remember when I saw SHINE A LIGHT last year, people were lining up an hour early to get into a Saturday evening show, to guarantee a good seat.

Posted by Circumvrent Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:00 PM

comment #17

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

If the wait is longer than an hour I really can't be arsed. Don't we get the regular trailer before IB anyway?

I'd take a camera as it seems there'll be fun to be had in line for this thing, although I'll likely be strip-searched on the way in so it's probably not a good idea.

Do camera-phones count as "recording devices" these days?

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:11 PM

comment #18

Steven Kar Author Profile Page says ...

104 IMAX theatres in the US will show the preview.
Probably 2 shows per theatre.
68,000 tickets were available. I'm assuming all of them have been taken by now.

Posted by Steven Kar Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:15 PM

comment #19

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page says ...

I wonder how many tickets are Avatards - like myself - booking into multiple shows for security. That site crash could really fuck things up severely.

Nevertheless, it seems to have worked and could well be a genuine marketing success story. Although the cost of this event must of course be taken into consideration. I guess they're banking on those 68,000 spectators twittering and facebooking and blogging all about it to spread the good word.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:18 PM

comment #20

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

That site crash was the best thing to ever happen Avatar. Now it's a legit news item, being reported outside of the movie/geek press.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:39 PM

comment #21

EdHavens Author Profile Page says ...

And after seven hours, there are still more theatres with tickets still available for Avatar Day than there are theatres sold out for the event.

Posted by EdHavens Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 6:49 PM

comment #22

berg Author Profile Page says ...

original format IMAX good, faux IMAX bad

Posted by berg Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 7:03 PM

comment #23

Steven Kar Author Profile Page says ...

"And after seven hours, there are still more theatres with tickets still available for Avatar Day than there are theatres sold out for the event."

It is a bit disappointing. You'd think all the tickets would be taken within the first few minutes or at least by the end of the day.

Posted by Steven Kar Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 7:17 PM

comment #24

Emmanuel_Goldstein Author Profile Page says ...

Got mine; Bridgeport Village regal cinemas in Tualatin, Oregon. Boom shackalacka

Posted by Emmanuel_Goldstein Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 7:39 PM

comment #25

QualityGibberish Author Profile Page says ...

OK, it's up to me, I guess. Macintosh.

Posted by QualityGibberish Author Profile Page at August 17, 2009 7:48 PM

comment #26

Renfield Author Profile Page says ...

There is absolutely no way Cameron would allow that site to crash. He wouldve been researching for weeks in anticipation for a massive "turn out". They crashed it on purpose in order to gain press.

Posted by Renfield Author Profile Page at August 18, 2009 1:13 AM

comment #27

dp4m Author Profile Page says ...

I'm just pissed off when I was on the friggin' site at 3 pm EST the only options for even selecting theaters were Sheepshead Bay and Deer Park in New York... I didn't even know the Lincoln Square IMAX was an option.. le sigh...

Posted by dp4m Author Profile Page at August 18, 2009 5:28 AM

comment #28

Rich S. Author Profile Page says ...

"Remember how Han Solo whacked the Millenium Falcon when it wouldn't start up in The Empire Strikes Back?"

Umm, who's going to break it to Jeffrey that The Empire Strikes Back was just a movie?

Tips for the future:

Clicking your heels three times and saying "There's no place like home" does not instantly teleport you to Kansas.

Landing on the wrong space on a Jumanji game board does not summon baboons.

Swallowing a red capsule does not free you from the Matrix.

And so on.

Posted by Rich S. Author Profile Page at August 18, 2009 5:45 AM

comment #29

Cde. Author Profile Page says ...

Rich S.: To quote McBane, "THAT'S THE JOKE".

Posted by Cde. Author Profile Page at August 18, 2009 6:06 AM

comment #30

Stringer Bell Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff: Laptops nowadays are cheap as anything. Just got a 15.6 WS HP with 4GB of memory and a 300GB HD for $400.00. You shouldnt have too hard a time finding a good deal on one. Also, you'd qualify for a Windows 7 upgrade for free when it comes out.

Posted by Stringer Bell Author Profile Page at August 18, 2009 9:30 AM

Leave a comment