Usually, I am on top of things happening around Naples. Now, though, I have to admit that I missed something major.
Bob and I go to Silverspot Cinema at Mercato quite often. Silverspot, quite frankly, is the only venue we visit to watch movies. I always buy our tickets online and choose our seats at the same time. Usually, I pick the row without another in front of it, which makes us feel like we are the only ones in the entire theater. The seats in Silverspot are so big and comfortable, it is like we are there for our own private showing. Upon arriving, we immediately head right for the concession area and load up on the biggest container of popcorn they have (no butter, of course). By the way, did you know that if you order the biggest container of popcorn and you finish it, you can get another big container of popcorn for free? (Don’t ask me how I know that.)
The Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer) and Tonto (Johnny Depp). Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
Last weekend, Bob and I decided to see The Lone Ranger, which opened July 3. We had been looking forward to this movie for a long time—especially me. I grew up watching The Lone Ranger starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels as his “Indian companion, Tonto.” In fact, I remember having a huge crush on The Lone Ranger as a little girl. He was so handsome sitting atop his majestic horse, Silver. So after all these many years, I could not wait to see the classic brought back to life.
In the days leading up to the movie’s debut, the reviews started coming out and none of them were good. One critic said it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen. I began to have doubts about going to see the modern version and having my childhood memories dashed in some Hollywood mishap. Just as Bob and I were about to abandon plans to see it, I received an email from our dear friends Diane and Bob Levy, who summer in North Carolina. Diane wrote, “The Lone Ranger is a must-see movie—do not miss it.” Okay, game back on. When I visited the Web to buy the tickets, I noticed our usual row seemed to be at the back of the theater instead of the front. That seemed rather odd, so I took a leap of faith and chose a different row, hoping for the best.
When we arrived, we headed straight for the popcorn and then on to our afternoon date with The Lone Ranger. The ticket taker stopped us, saying, “Oh, no—you are going the wrong direction. This movie is playing in our new Theater 12, which is outside and across the way,” and she pointed towards the exit door.
I had missed this news altogether. I had absolutely no idea Silverspot was expanding. So, out we went, past the ticket machines, and into this beautiful, brand new venue. Theater 12 has its own lobby, its own concession area (yes, with popcorn overflowing) and its own bar. It had only been open a week, I found out. And you could still smell the new paint and new leather. The biggest surprise waited inside, however. The reason I had questions about the seating made all the sense in the world now because inside Theater 12 sports the most gigantic screen I have ever seen. It seems to be two stories tall and who knows how wide. And the row I chose turned out to be perfect for optimum viewing—although, as in each Silverspot theater, there is not a bad seat in the house.
The happy ending to this story is that Bob and I watched The Lone Ranger in the glory of this new auditorium and loved every minute. The venue was great and the film fabulous. Disney Productions and Johnny Depp, acting the role of Tonto and one of the executive producers, did not disappoint. At the end of the picture, everyone in the house was applauding. I would see it again in a heartbeat. In Theater 12 at Silverspot.
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