Temporary Expat

I Love \S/

When I was 7 (that's 19 years ago), my father took me to the cinema for the first time in my life. We went to see Superman IV, the last Superman movie with the late and great Christopher Reeve. It was just me and my dad, my sisters stayed home with my mother, they were to little at the time I guess, but just to avoid any jealousy, I remember ducking beneath car window when we drove off, so it would seem my dad was leaving alone.

I don't remember how he or we chose to go that particular movie, and even though Superman IV was the worst in the series, back then I thought it was to coolest thing I ever saw. From that moment on I have been a huge Superman fan. I love Superheroes in general, but Superman is The Greatest Superhero.

This Sunday was another memorable day for me, Superman-wise. The moment I have been waiting for since I saw Superman IV... the first Superman movie in 19 years. For years I have been following the development of this film on the internet and now it is finally here. I originally wanted to go to LA to checkout the big premiere in Hollywood and catch a glimps of all the stars. But then I went to Hong Kong, so I chose Sydney instead, because when you're coming from Holland, HK is already half way to Australia. But the more important reason is that Superman Returns, as the new movie is called, was shot in Sydney. Most of it at Fox Studios Australia, but some of the scenes were shot right in the city. When I read and saw this on the internet, I knew I had to go there. I would have loved to have come to Sydney on June 28 already and see the premiere with other Superman fans, but the IDO workshop didn't end until June 30.

So I went to Sydney on July 1 and arrived here on July 2. Last week I already bought the movie ticket online, because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't waste a minute to see the movie as soon as possible.

On Sunday night I took a bus to Entertainment Quarters, which is right next to Fox Studios! Appropiate place to see Superman Returns for the first time (this is also were all the online Superman geeks went for the premiere). Online I had booked a ticket for the 8:30 pm screening, but I was there early, so I changed my ticket to the 7:30 show. I walked around the area, ate some noodles, bought a 'Superman cup' at the cinema (silly promotional cola cup) and some popcorn and waited for the doors to the theatre to open... I chose a seat right in the middle.

Then I saw the movie.

After the movie I decided to walk back to the hostel. I like to be able to know my way around without looking at a map. Because I had already looked up where the hostel and the cinema were on the map earlier, I just walked back to the hostel on instinct. Coincidence or not, I suddenly recognized a place that I saw in the movie! It was Martin Place, where a scene involving Superman rescueing a car was shot. I was actually standing at the spot where Superman stood, just two hours after seeing that scene! Soooo cool... In fact, this place is on Pitt Street, the street where my hostel is.

But it appeared that having reached Martin Place, I walked too far north and had to walk back south to the hostel. But it also meant that I stumbled upon one of the shooting locations unintentionally. Couldn't have been a coincidence...

Of course you want to know what I thought about the movie...

It was FANTASTIC. It's what every Superman fan has been waiting for and I can't wait to see it again... many times. And to see it right next door to the studio where it was shot and walking on the place where a scene was shot later that evening... that's something to never forget. But there was only one thing missing this day... my dad. I would have loved to see this movie with my dad as I am a Superman fan because of him. I'm sure it's no coincidence that I love Superman so much. I hope to see it with him when I get back to Holland.

Photos of me arriving in Sydney, the cinema where I saw Superman Returns, here

posted by Patrick @ 6:42 PM Comments: 0