ESB Secret Cinema Review and hints & tips BEWARE SPOILERS

SOJ

Sith Lord
Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
1,075
Please, please, please do not read this thread if you wanted to go the Empire Strikes Back screenings spoiler free. There really is a lot more to this event than just the movie itself; however my feeling was that I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I have more of an idea of what it was all about before I went.

For most of us this will probably be the first and last times we go to a secret cinema event and at £75 per ticket you really want to get the most out of it.
If you're happy just to go with the flow then DON'T read this. This will be a review peppered with some helpful hints and tips to get the most out of it.





SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT

So from the top.

Okay, fancy dress/ cosplay. As you'll know probably know the rebelx website will allocate you a character. If you follow the FB page for this event a lot of people are getting upset that they HAVE to buy a costume for something they've already paid £75 a ticket for. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COSTUME and IF YOU DO DECIDE TO COMSTUME YOU CAN DRESS AS WHO YOU WANT. I'd say there was about a 50/50 split between those who costumed and those not. And many of those costumed only had scarves and googles and combat trousers etc. Very few were dressed as specific Star Wars characters. Personally I went as a rebel pilot. Basically orange overalls and a scarf, no one was screen accurate. Many people were just in jeans and t-shirts.

The screenings take please in the old Daily Express print works, a 5 minute walk from Canada Water tube station (I don't think they'll move location during the run, but not 100% sure so check) When you exit the station you will see RebelX operatives on the street in hi-vis vests guiding you to the meeting location. Once there they will scan your tickets and stamp your arm. Then in groups of 30 or so people you will be taken into the print works. If you have a bag it will be inspected for camera's and any drinks removed from your person. NO CAMERA'S ALLOWED. I'll get onto phones in a moment.

The doors open at 17:30 and last entry is 18:30. I've heard they won't let in after 18:30, how true this is I do not know. I went in around 18:00

Once inside RebelX operatives will take you to the departure dock. At this point you have to put your phone inside a bag for heat sealing, and you keep your phone on you in the sealed bag. Once sealed you cannot use your phone at the event. If you need to make a call you have to go back to the reception area to use your phone and then reseal your phone again before re- entering. I actually think this is a really good idea and added to the event.

You then board a Rebel Transport and are taken to Tattooine. When you exit, you go through customs then straight into the Mos Eisley. This is really something special, lots to explore and see. Stalls selling food and drink, t-shirts. I really looks and feels the business, very authentic.

Okay, another pointer. You can't use cash at this event. Credit and debit cards only. If you've got contactless use that for time's sake.

After walking through the market place I fell upon the Cantina. Wow, with they really did a fantastic job with this. Again looks the business and the vibe inside was great with a live band. Unfortunately no blue milk. The toilets for the event and smoking area are out the back of the Cantina. I was only drinking soft drinks in the bar so am unsure what they were charging for beer. A can of coke though was £1.50.

By this time it was around 19:00 and I'm thinking "okay, where's the screen to watch the movie" Is it in another part of the building?, is it outside?, what the hell is going on? I also read on online that at previous events there were was limited seating and I wanted to make sure me and missus were sitting together.

Problem is all the staff are in character and when you ask them what time the film starts or where the screen is they look at you oddly and just won't break character. Which is fair enough I suppose but didn't help me.

Then we found docking bay 93 and got on the shuttle to the Death Star. Now I'm thinking "here we go the screening must here right???"...No.
Got taken to the Death Star and left to walk round for 20 minutes. In the end we gave up with that as nothing much was going on other than some stormies wondering around and a small bar deck out like a mess hall. So we took the express shuttle (a corridor) back to Tattooine and sat at the bar and waited. The aimless wondering around really pissed me off and was my biggest criticism of the event.

In the end, we went back to the Death Star around 20:00 and there was a re-enactment of the last 20 minutes of ANH culminating in the medal ceremony. Then Luke, Han and Chewie led everyone into the screening which off to the side of the Death Star/ Rebel base.
EVERYONE HAS A SEAT. And they're not full to capacity even when sold out so you don't need to worry about not sitting together. The film started around 20:20.

So here is my tip. Chill out when you first get to Tatooine. There is to lots to take in, don't be worried about getting a seat for the screening. Have a beer relax and enjoy. Unless you want to look around it before, don't go to the Death Star until at least 19:40.

Regards the screening, first the bad. The picture jumped ahead a few seconds every so often for the first 20 minutes of the film. I was getting really ****ed off but then it thankfully it stopped. Hopefully this was just first night jitters. Also the seating was ****ing uncomfortable, after an hour my arse was killing me. They are like the seating you get a footie matches with no padding.

Now the good. Seeing Empire with a crowd of fans was great. I've seen Empire 100 times but in this environment with no distractions it was really cool. And it really showed how this 35 year movie holds up. It was great and the crowd we were with we really into it. The picture was great and the sound mix top notch, I could hear sounds in it I had never heard before.

Also at key moments "actors" would come out dressed at characters and act out what is going on screen. I won't spoil at which moments this happens, but what I will say is some work and some don't. The lighting also reacted to blasters being fired on screen and light sabres being ignited.
It's the 2004 version of the special editions for those that want to know.

After the movie there was a rave in the Death Star area and the cantina continued to serve drinks. Not sure what time it ended as we had to get our train. I was back in the Tube station by 22:40.

So overall I did really enjoy myself and it was something I'll always remember. Was it worth £75? Debatable, however I think if I'd of known more of what it was in for before I went I'd of enjoyed myself a lot more.

Hopefully I've filled in the blanks some of you may have and allow you to get more out of it. If I can get another ticket cheap before the run ends in September I'd go again.
 

Bonsai_Tree_Ent

Jedi Master
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Messages
985
I too took a trip to The Secret Cinema, a group of 6 of us went on Friday night. I can confidently say I was the biggest SW fan amongst them but if you want the short summary then believe that all 6 of us LOVED IT.

I didn't have a clue what was going to happen, haven't been to a secret cinema event before and so went in totally cold. To be honest this is what I would recommend everyone does, but seeing as you've already read the spoilers above then I trust you too have already seen it so read on if you will to hear my thoughts.

I didn't have a proper costume to wear but I did have a neck scarf and was also 'armed' with my rather impressive Master Replica lighsaber (this bad boy is still running on the same batteries since it was first given to me about 10 years ago!).

Upon arrival at the venue you are slowly 'shepherded' through several corridors and chambers - each seemingly more impressive than the last. The actors all stayed in character and to be honest 'the audience' were equally brilliant. The Friday night crowd (seemed like around 600-800 people) were in great form, real buzz in the air, and made me proud to be a SW fan. We were cast as part of 'Rebel X' and this section of the event culminated in a quite impressive launch - leaving London behind (pretty cool seeing a Star Destroyer hovering above the Gherkin on the skyline!). We were then queued up like cattle to enter Mos Eisley. Stormtroopers came in and slammed one of our group up against a wall and then took him away to the distress of his sister - where the fonk had they just taken him? Our 6 was down to 5 but we played along and entered the incredible Mos Eisley environment. This **** was awesome. A full size Landspeeder driving down the street, Beru serving blue milk in the Lars Homestead. Luke gazing wistfully out at the twin suns, and meditative Jedi training in Kenobi's hovel.

We found our missing group member in a barred cell and busted him out with a bribe (you are given polished stones as currency). Then we headed into the Cantina - this place put a grin on my face that still hasn't gone away. The Bith Band were playing that famous tune and we proceeded to order the first of many beers that night (be assured this was a 'grown up' event, saw a couple of kids about but on the night I was there it was nearly all adults). The locale is filled with costumed actors and all around Mos Eisley mini 'tableau' events are taking place. No visitor will see all of these events but all the ones you do witness are exciting and add to the drama of the occasion. I should note that the actors also engage with you spontaneously, my lightsaber was held by Farmboy Luke himself - he told me I must have been smoking deathsticks to bring a weapon like that into Owen and Beru's home!

We then moved through to another huge environment - the Death Star! Here you see a brilliant re-enactment of Star Wars (the audience gasped and cheered as Ben fought Vader, but alas Ben vanished in an amazing effect as Vader struck him down). Then a full size X-Wing - yes - flew overhead and fired Proton Torpedos to destroy the Death Star. The £75 ticket price is well justified, you do indeed get your moneys worth!

Finally onto the movie, The Empire Strikes Back (Special Edition). We had no technical issues with our screening, it looked great, and the film is enhanced with the actors appearing at certain moments (to great cheers from the lively audience). It is a BRILLIANT film of course and it was a memorable viewing - so thank you Secret Cinema I had a blast!
 

hannahsmetana

New member
Joined
Sep 15, 2015
Messages
1
I'd say you missed out a bit - there was a point to all those characters walking around - they are integrated in missions, both on Tattoine and the Death Star. The idea is you need to trade for passage to Alderaan (Death Star), then on the Death Star you have additional missions, making it a much more immersive role-playing experience. It's very worthwhile doing these missions as they add to the feeling of being a member of the Rebel Alliance and wider part of the GFFA.
 
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