Okay, let's talk Macross Frontier: False Diva. Remember that movie? It was 2009. Showtimes were... interesting.
I'm going to say something probably controversial. I kind of liked the late show. Hear me out!
The Late Night Showing: An Ode to Sleep Deprivation
First, fewer kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids. But sometimes you want to watch giant robots fight without juice boxes flying overhead.
The late showing was usually a quieter crowd. More likely to be filled with hardcore Macross fans. Think people who knew all the lyrics to Ranka Lee's songs by heart.
Plus, the after-movie buzz was amazing. You're walking out into the cool night air. Your brain is buzzing with Valkyries and space battles. Magic.
Early Bird Gets the...Headache?
Now, the matinee. Sure, you get it over with early. But you also get the sun shining in your eyes the whole time.
And everyone’s talking loudly about brunch plans afterward. "Did you see that missile?" "Yeah, but did you try the avocado toast?" Distractions!
I always felt a weird pressure to *like* the movie more because I'd seen it so early. Like I had to justify getting up before noon on a weekend. That's just me, maybe?
Mid-Day Mayhem: The Family Affair
The afternoon showing? A gamble. Could be chill. Could be a screaming baby symphony.
Usually, a mixed bag. Some hardcore fans mixed with families just looking for something to do. Bless their hearts.
You'd get the occasional parent desperately trying to explain the significance of Alto Saotome's Kabuki lineage to a five-year-old. Good luck with that, buddy.
The Unpopular Opinion: The Showtimes Themselves
Here’s the really spicy take: the showtimes for False Diva weren’t as widespread as they should have been. Remember having to drive an hour to the nearest cinema showing it?
It felt like a secret club. "Oh, you saw it at the 10:30 showing in Northridge? You're one of *us*."
This limited availability probably contributed to the whole "cult classic" vibe the movie has now. It felt earned. You *worked* to see it.
Maybe I'm just romanticizing it. Nostalgia's a powerful drug. It might just be that seeing *Sheryl Nome* on the big screen, regardless of the hour, was a special experience.
But there's something about those late night, slightly-too-loud, slightly-too-empty showings. Something magical.
So, next time you're re-watching False Diva, think back to those 2009 showtimes. Remember the journey. Remember the awkward theater seats.
And maybe, just maybe, you'll agree with me. Late night showings were the *best*. Don't @ me.
Remember, this is all just opinion! Maybe you loved the morning showtimes. That's cool too. We can still be friends. (Probably.)
Unless you were the one talking loudly about brunch. Then… maybe not.
Just kidding! Sort of.
Anyway, go watch *Macross F* again. It's awesome. And remember Ranka Lee. And Sheryl Nome. And Alto Saotome, the pretty space boy.
