Three Hours With Kong

Golden Screen Cinemas at 1-Utama
Golden Screen Cinemas at 1-Utama.

I cannot remember the last time I watched a movie in the cinema. It was such a long time ago. The wide screen and the resonating audio effects have become a distant memory. Most cinemas as I recalled neither provided accessibility to wheelchairs nor space for one. It was not until recently that I began looking for one that does in my surveys for accesibility in public buildings that I discovered a few that cater to the needs of audience in wheelchairs. Therefore, it was like being in school for the first time when Wuan, William and Cynthia accompanied me to watch King Kong at 1-Utama‘s New Wing early last Saturday morning.

Posing with King Kong Poster
Posing with King Kong poster.

A couple of months earlier, we had wanted to watch Madagascar at Berjaya Times Square and KLCC Suria but did not get around to it one way or another. When this remake of King Kong played in the big screens, I was determined to catch it. The last time I watched King Kong was in the late seventies with Dad and Mum. I was then awed by the effects but most of all, the scene where the stunning Jessica Lange went under the waterfall. Those images were sufficient to stir many erotic thoughts in the kid that I was that time.

Posing with Monsters, Inc.'s Sullivan and Mike and a partly obscured Garfield
Posing with Monsters, Inc.’s Sullivan and Mike and a partly obscured Garfield.

After shopping around, Wuan and I went up to Golden Screen Cinemas at the fourth floor to get the tickets. There was a long queue. While I was waiting in line, one of the GSC staff directed me to the Gold Class ticketing booth to get my tickets. That was a nice touch although we were just going to get the normal tickets. Most of the good seats for the day’s show were already taken. Moreover, the place reserved for wheelchairs was fourth row from the front which was a little too close to the screen too. We finally decided to watch the 12.30am show on the only available seats on the third row. My ticket costs RM6 only while the other three tickets were RM11 each.

Just outside Hall 2
Just outside Hall 2.

As expected, the third row was a little too close to the screen. There was nothing much we could do anyway. Wuan had to help me down two steps to our seats. I transferred to sit on the seat next to the aisle effortlessly. I had not expected it to be that comfortable. It was one of the most comfortable seats I have been on for a long time. I wondered what else I have missed all these years.

Inside the cinema
Inside the cinema before the movie.

We also did not expect the movie to last three hours. By the time it ended, it was already 4am. I must confess that I nodded off a few times in between the show. Although I had anticipated a more interesting movie, the excitement of being able to watch it in a cinema more than made up for some of the slower scenes. The part I like most was the stampeding dinosaurs scene. It was something reminiscent of the rolling boulder dash in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is another wish fulfilled. There have been many this year. With friends like Wuan, William and Cynthia, dreams easily become realities.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

13 thoughts on “Three Hours With Kong”

  1. Peter, I have always wondered how you would get around to watch movie in today’s cineplex. But since you have done it.. good for ya. Just wish penang cineplex do have some of these facility. Great that you are enjoying yourself… abt the 3 hrs show…. it was… in my opinion… butt numbing

  2. That’s great.

    The things we take for granted…..

    Hopefully in the near future more public and entertainment facilities would cater to those with special needs.

  3. SK,
    No hair more en dao? Can be arranged. Lets do another round of fund raising for charity. 😛

    FindingMe,
    The seats were very comfy. I am looking forward to the next movie.

    Adam,
    Such needs should be addressed. Many more people on wheelchairs will be able come out and enjoy a more fulfilling life.

  4. i really should get my lazy bum and lazy car to 1U’s GSC sometime. People are saying its seats are super comfy. what? Osim Inside? heheh

  5. suanie,
    I am game for another round if you pay for my ticket.

    Din,
    The seats are super comfy. My butts are sensitive to such things.

  6. The 2nd hour was awesome, wasn’t it? Glad that the employees at GSC were there to take good care of you by proving simple help.

    By the way, how come your hair grow SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow one? Mine already like bushes already. I feel like doing it one more time, before CNY. Yeah, going bald for CNY. And its all your fault, I got addicted to being bald. 😛 LOL.

  7. Hey..Peter,
    Glad that you have great friends..! i am really happy for you ..!!
    Take good care.. and have a happy new year..!
    Chloe and I will be thinking of you .. as we welcome our new year.. from Canada..!

  8. The cinema in Gurney Plaza, Penang is not bad. So you can still enjoy good movie when you are in Penang.

  9. Jason,
    I shaved my head again two weeks after the first. That is why tey are still so short. I like the feeling too but not when the sun is shinning on me.

    Mama Bok,
    Thank you for your kind wishes. May you have a blessed new year too.

    Tanka,
    I will do that when I get back. 😀

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