TMT: “We’re on an express elevator to hell; going down!”
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time, a series that was begun here. I moved this memory download up specifically in response to an upcoming blog series, John Kenneth Muir’s The Cameron Curriculum. As well, this month marks the 25th anniversary of the extraordinary film in question. Beginning his week, the author and TV/film critic will review Cameron’s third major motion picture to open the series. He will endeavor to examine…
“…one Cameron film a week, until we’re done, or until the readers shout uncle.”
Theatre
The Marina Del Rey Six:
Movie
Time
July 19, 1986: My, times were a changin’. As much I enjoyed going to the grand movie palaces of my Los Angeles hometown, sometimes convenience — and cool beachside weather — came into play. Still, heading out to the Marina Del Rey area of L.A. County wasn’t bad, even if this theatre did epitomize the newer, blander movie experiences ahead for local ticket patrons. Still, there were some good memories here.
My long-time, and soon-to-be ex-, girlfriend, the same one who attended Alien with me some years before, came along for one of our fewer and fewer movie dates together.
Whatever Spidey-sense I have, it’d go off during those nights when she didn’t return till almost dawn. Oh, well.
Perhaps, that should have been the telltale sign. The dwindling of shared movies. Well, that and having her go out with her friends, most involving late Saturday nights. We’d had by this time been together 7 years. Though we weren’t married, we had lived together for much of that time. Hmm… Wasn’t there a movie about that? Y’know, suggesting that happiness in a relationship declined after around year seven. “Nah.”, I thought.
At least, we were headed out together for a good time at a Saturday matinee…cuz she may have been going out that evening…with her girlfriend, again.
Though the venue, the Marina Del Rey Six, did not engender anything close to memorable, James Cameron’s Aliens1 made up for it…in spades. The expectations on the Terminator director for delivering a sequel based upon Ridley Scott’s 1979 groundbreaking sci-fi horror film were extraordinarily high. But damn it, the enfant terrible director and cast delivered for all those in attendance at that afternoon showing!
Including that couple sitting together, who didn’t have much to talk about, of late.
The entire TMT series can be found here. If you’re interested how it’s put together, click here.
- This was my initial exposure to the theatrical cut. I wouldn’t catch the even better Director’s Cut till 1988. Presented on the now abandoned technology that was Laserdisc, in fact. At a friend’s house in the Simi Valley…on a date with my future bride! ↩
It Rains... You Get Wet 
16 Responses to “TMT: “We’re on an express elevator to hell; going down!””
Hi Michael,
Thanks for starting off the Cameron Curriculum with such fanfare. Great quote from the film (and apt; VERY apt). Can you believe it’s been 25 years since Aliens?
LikeLike
Happy to promote this, John. I’m really looking forward to this James Cameron series. It’s a perfect summer season subject. A lot has happened in 25 years, my friend. Thanks.
LikeLike
L13/M,
This film is wonderful for so many reasons, not least of which, is that it is so infinitely quotable. Think about all of the wonderful dialogue and quotes and quips throughout the film that make it so memorable and lasting. All the best, sff
LikeLike
Oh, hell yeah!
Thanks, SFF :-).
LikeLike
If you want to re-live the experience, several cast members (Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein) and producer Gale Anne Hurd will be at a 25th anniversary screening of ALIENS at the New Beverly on July 16… See you there?
LikeLike
Argh! I just checked and the advanced online ticket sales have ended for this! The New Bev hints “… a small quantity of additional tickets may become available.” I hope to see if I can get a ticket for this. That’s an awesome line up of cast members and producer for this celebration. Man, I hope I can join you there. I’m going to try, Joe! Thanks for the heads up!
LikeLike
I love this movie! I’ve been meaning to watch it on DVD because the last time I watched it was on VHS (yep, it’s been that long!) and the sound quality was so terrible. I’m thinking the DVD version will be a much better way to view.
LikeLike
Make sure you watch the Director’s Cut of Aliens. It’s so worth it. Thanks, Rachel.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tip!
LikeLike
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLike
Funny, my good friend lives in a condo directly across the street from the Marina Del Rey 6 (and I used to work for UA back in college). I haven’t been to it lately, but did actually visit this theatre in 1993 before I lived in Los Angeles to see that fondly remembered classic: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday.
LikeLike
That is so cool, Kevin. I know that neighborhood well. Tell your friend my family and I make regular trips to Nichols Restaurant (along with the Costco up Glencoe). Thank you very much.
LikeLike
[…] October 22, 1994: a year before children would enter the life my wife and I had to that point, the film Pulp Fiction arrived. I’d read or seen a number of positive reviews for the film at the time of its release, in print and on television. My younger brother (who was nicknamed the ‘mountain lion’ by me because he’s rarely seen in this habitat, though we know he exists) was hanging out with us for a short period back then. On this Saturday, I asked him to join me on one more segue to another film in what is a long line of them. My wife did not enlist for this excursion as by this time, more than five years into our marriage, she knew all too well that my taste in cinema was not hers. What can I say? I married a smart woman. The old standby of the Marina Del Rey Six beckoned (the same place where I first saw Aliens). […]
LikeLike
LOOOOVE this movie. Even if the girlfriend is gone you still have one of the best sci-fi flicks and best sequels of all time, right?
“Stay Frosty”
LikeLike
Indeed! Great to hear you’re a fan of this one, Keith 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I’m crazy about it. My wife will attest to that. LOL
LikeLike