Sunday, February 27, 2011

Midnight Movie and One Particular Guy

As I sit here trying hard not to watch the Oscars (I don't know why I dislike award shows so much), I can't help but wonder what Christian Bale would have been like in the first Batman. And Heath Ledger vs. Jack Nicholson? Regardless, the Dark Knight has been in the can now for several years, but I bring it up because I will always remember the opening of Batman in June of 1989. Not because of the way it was overhyped at Burger King or the fact that Prince somehow got to do a large part of the soundtrack. But because of One Particular Guy.

I honestly don't remember the ride down I-95 and don't want to think about how fast we were going after Pruitt met Karyn, Wayne and myself after we closed Frank's. When we got there, Golden Ring Mall(RIP) was closed but there was a door open that allowed you to get into the mall at the cinema entrance. To our dismay, there was a pretty long line, even for the midnight movie. We got in line and started trying to gauge whether the tickets would extend to our spot in line. That One Particular Guy came in behind us in line, seemed to be alone and was wearing one of the seemingly ubiquitous Batman tees. The only thing I remember him saying was "I think this movie will be great, but they should have gotten Kirk Cameron to play Robin." Pruitt, in that stoic yet often intimidating manner, turned around and said, "Good for you." I laughed, I didn't know why at the time. I wasn't trying to be mean, I just laughed. What made it worse is that turning back a few minutes later, that One Particular Guy was gone. It forever scarred Karyn because she never forgave us saying "he" might have just been lonely and wanted to watch the movie with us.

It didn't dawn on me till years later watching "A Christmas Story" with Laura one Christmas Eve, that the "One Particular Guy" reminded me of the kid wearing an aviator helmet in line with Ralphie and his kid brother Randy as they waited to see Santa in the department store. "I like the Wizard of Oz....I like the Tin Man." Good times.