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When AMC's A-List becomes a problem -- (edited)

Posted by JD (aka Jason Dean) Apr 13 '21, 14:20

Stolen from The Defector's Mailbag:

I saw Frozen II in theaters 31 times. I know. This sounds insane. But you have to understand a few things: (1) I had AMC A-List, so it cost me almost nothing; (2) it’s a brisk hour-forty-five so it made a great time-killer; and (3) the movie is good! It’s fun and visually stunning and the songs kick ass! And also I had a ton of free time because my partner of eight years, who is a performer, was out of town on a six-month cruise ship gig. So yeah, maybe that had a little bit to do with it. (She caught the movie on one of their port days and agreed that it was good, but still expressed severe concern for my mental state.)

At first it was genuine enjoyment of the film paired with restlessness and boredom in my social life that was driving my repeat viewings, but I admit that once I hit double digits the sense of chasing a record started to take over and it got a bit out of hand. To conserve my A-List reservations, I started sneaking into showings of Frozen II after seeing other flicks. On two separate occasions, I saw F2 three times in one night — once in multiple theaters. It had become an endurance race. One time I even paid to see it at a Regal.

But despite the madness, the truth is that I just plain loved this movie. “Show Yourself” is one of the greatest musical sequences ever committed to film, and I wanted to stand and applaud it every single time. And every time the credits rolled, I thought to myself, “Hell yeah, I wanna see that again!” I think my favorite viewing was around the 25 mark. I had an evening flight to visit my partner on the cruise, so I took a 90-minute bus ride to the only nearby theater with a morning showing. Whether anticipating a weeklong Frozen II withdrawal, worried it would be gone from theaters when I returned, or simply emotional from looking forward to seeing my girlfriend after months of distance, I have rarely been so wrapped up in the experience of watching a film. I wept, early and often, at moments that were already memorized in the marrow of my bones. Judge all you want, but it was wonderful.

I saw Frozen II for the 31st time in February 2020. A few weeks later, I was working from home, suspending my AMC A-List, and praying my partner made it home safely from — Jesus Christ! — the cruise ship (she did). It was one of the last movies I ever saw in a theater, and I’m not sure when I will again. Looking back, I don’t regret a single one of those 31 viewings. I’ve seen Jurassic Park (my favorite film and one I don’t think anyone will judge me for watching over and over) at least a hundred times across the years, but only a half dozen of those were on a big screen. You better believe I’d trade in every small-screen viewing for the full theatrical version in a heartbeat, especially now that I can’t take that experience for granted.

I guess I don’t really have a question that requires a response. I just wanted to share my magical journey and live my truth. Like Elsa. Man, I miss the movies.

Ok, I saw Crazy Rich Asians more times than I can count thanks to A-List but I'm not sure I if I got much more than double digits. Uh, and I saw Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again 'lots' of times as well....hmmm...maybe I was in a bad place when that happened.

But I got nothing on that F2 fanatic.

Responses:

Frozen 2 was so bad I honestly don't know how an adult can sir through it more than once. -- nm - MDH Apr 13, 15:06 4
- I was looking through my A-List history and found Teen Titans Go! to the Movies and I remember being the only single person (as opposed to being in a -- (edited) - JD Apr 13, 15:15
- saw it twice in the theatre. once with my 5-year old nephew. we had a blast. -- nm - Diva Apr 13, 15:09 2
  - With a kid, totally see that. (I love seeing movies with the partner's nephews/niece) -- nm - MDH Apr 13, 15:22 1
    - Only since seeing it have kids on school field trips at the museum been able to identify ice tongs. I doubt if their parents even can :) -- nm - Meg Apr 13, 15:29
We watched it seventeen days it a row when it came out on Disney+ -- nm - znufrii Apr 13, 14:37 3
- 😂 -- nm - Diva Apr 13, 15:09
- Did you sell the child on Day 18? -- nm - ty97 Apr 13, 14:38 1
  - “I’ve seen dark before, but not like this.” -- nm - znufrii Apr 13, 14:38
I've only seen one movie more than 10 times (Blade Runner, ~16) The next four most would likely be Episode IV, Episode VI, BR 2049 & Alien (each 8-10) -- nm - mud Apr 13, 14:32 1
- I can not even guess mine, but TESB was dozens. - Spawn Apr 13, 14:58
Jebus. And I thought my 6 viewings of Endgame in the theater was excessive. - Spawn Apr 13, 14:28 3
- That's interesting. I saw Infinity War more times than Endgame in theaters. -- nm - IAmQale Apr 13, 14:55 1
  - Having a wife and son really put a damper on some things. If AMC Stubs had been out when I was single, it would have been used 3x a week, always. - Spawn Apr 13, 15:02
- Right? My five theater viewings of Home Alone feels perfectly fine now. -- nm - Krusty Apr 13, 14:39
i still haven't seen Frozen 2. i guess i should. (I don't love Frozen, like, it's fine.) -- nm - Andie Apr 13, 14:28 4
- It’s a very different film from the first one. -- nm - znufrii Apr 13, 14:48
- I don't think I've seen it either. I only saw the first one as part of family night when my brother was putting me up -- nm - JD Apr 13, 14:46
- I have not seen I or II. I am waiting for III to come out and I will binge them. -- nm - Spawn Apr 13, 14:29 1
  - Frozen III: Solid -- nm - Beryllium Apr 13, 14:49
I don't even think I've seen The Neverending Story that many times. (I'm purposefully ignoring Rocky Horror Picture Show, of course.) -- nm - IAmQale Apr 13, 14:24 2
- I'd be impressed if you've seen The Neverending Story even twice on the big screen. That's kind of the thing about that story: 31 times in a theater - JD Apr 13, 14:32 1
  - I have seen it twice on the big screen. Once as a kid, the second time was a Fathom event. And The Childlike Empress liked my tweet about it! -- nm - IAmQale Apr 13, 14:54
This is exceptionally well typed for my daughter. -- nm - Reagen Apr 13, 14:22
I haven't even seen Xanadu that many times. - Max Apr 13, 14:22 1
- I've yet to see Xanadu even once theatrically 8( -- nm - JD Apr 13, 14:23

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When AMC's A-List becomes a problem -- (edited)

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