(Blogger Note: Kat's bestie, Lorraine, was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to attend this event. Kat asked Lorraine to give our readers an account of her experience and review of the movie. Enjoy!)
Roving Reporter Lorraine Darcy Goes to Fifty Shades of Grey Premier in NYC and Reviews Movie
#FiftyShadesFirst on Today Show in New York City
Ziegfeld Theater, February 6, 2015
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| Outside of the theatre |
7:30 am show time…..yep….AM!
Tickets were available for pick up at 5:00 am and if you didn’t pick up by 6:30
am, they would be released to the general public. Ouch. So this journey began
with the alarm going off at 3:45 am and picking up my friend at 4:45 am so we
could drive from Long Island into New York City.
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| Alissa Marino and Lorraine Darcy |
With the temperature a balmy
11 degrees, we arrived in Manhattan at 5:30 am, parked and got in line. A long
line. Like around the block from the theater line. But hey, this is Christian
Grey were talking about here, so, on went the hood of my coat and the scarf
covered half my face. However, about five minutes later a staff member came
around asking “one or two?” I thought he meant the number of people so I raised
my hand. He said go around the corner and up to the front. Well, alrighty then!
I grabbed Alissa and we made our way to the front and then realized he meant
the Will Call window, which we were #2, and into the tent we went.
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| Looking inside the tent |
As we picked up our tickets,
we were given a “contract” and a black velvet bag with a surprise inside.
The staff and security were friendly, polite
and wished us a great time. It was pretty quiet in the tent and we quickly
started to realize the enormity that this event was going to be. Pictures
adorned the side of the tent so people could stand in front of Christian
holding his tie and take pics!
Fresh flower arrangements of red roses adorned the tents as
well.
And
then we see the men. Men all wearing grey suits lined up on one side of the
tent all holding silver serving trays of drinks!
My heart was beating out of
control and Alissa and I were shaking! We were going to be a part of something
pretty special.
Oh wait…..are you wondering
what was in the black velvet bag? J A replica key to Christian’s playroom attached to a flogger keychain!
Now we head into the warm
theater where there is complimentary tea, coffee, pastries, passed foods,
popcorn, water and soda! The theater itself is beautiful with deep red walls,
sconces and 50 Shades pictures everywhere.
as we met some friends of her's from a book group
we’re in. It still amazes me how books and the internet can turn complete
strangers into “virtual” friends and then when you’re able to meet in person
it’s so natural!
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| Alissa and Lorraine |
Alissa and I decide to get to
our seats and check things out. We enter the theater and there on the big
screen is the shot of the infamous elevator scene!
On our way
down the aisle, who do we see being photographed and chatted up is author
Colleen Hoover. I’ve read a few of her books and enjoyed them but Alissa had a
fangirl moment! We waited our turn to say hello and take a photo with her.
She is very nice, quite
funny and down to earth.
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| Lorraine and Author Colleen Hoover |
Colleen came to the event
with Vilma from Vilma’s Book Blog. It happened to be the blog where Alissa won
the tickets. As we sat down, the woman in front of me was talking and she
mentioned her blog name – The Sub Club. And then I saw another woman on my
right and knew which blog she was from – Schmexy Girl Book Blog. The bloggers,
who helped launch 50 Shades into the realm it is now in, were an important part
of E.L. James’ success. And it was great to see that they were included and
recognized. Have you seen pictures on Facebook of the swag they received in
their hotel rooms??? Sweet!
There was a bit of commotion
behind us and lo and behold….there was Kate Kavanagh….I mean Eloise Mumford.
One word – GORGEOUS!
I think Alissa and I were a
bit overwhelmed as we sat there pretty quiet just taking it all in and waiting
for the show to start. The Today Show is all set up and in walk Natalie Morales
and Carson Daly.
Things
are getting real now! And moments later….a low roar starts and then the room explodes…..E.L.
James is walking down the aisle in her black coat, red
scarf and her notorious glasses atop her head! Holy freaking cow!!!! As she
gets to front, she crying and wiping her eyes. She waves and the audience is
screaming clapping and waving back!! She even runs over to sign some people’s
books!
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| Natalie Morales and Carson Daly |
Now we know we’re only a few
moments away from another eruption of the room. And then it happens…..in walk
Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and the director Sam Taylor-Johnson. You can’t hear anything that anyone from the Today
Show is telling you what to do!! I’m elbowing Alissa like crazy because I
cannot believe we are in the same room with Christian Grey, oh, I mean the
gorgeous, talented Jamie Dornan!
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| EL James, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Natalie Morales, Carson Daly |
Okay….deep breaths. Everyone
gets miked up, seated and they do a quick interview. And then the stars leave,
the equipment is quickly moved and the lights go down. And so it begins…..
REVIEW OF THE MOVIE
The Movie
Wow. To see Seattle, Escala,
Grey House and, of course, Christian and Ana come to life was breathtaking. The
opening scene pretty much seals the deal on the instant attraction that
Anastasia and Christian have.
I know that everyone pictures
characters differently in their own mind. In mine, I pictured a physique like
Jamie Dornan’s. And Jamie nailed the brooding, intense Christian. I don’t know
if using an American accent over an Irish brogue was a challenge for Jamie
because on the pronunciation of some words, it seemed as if the brogue may have
been trying to come through. But that’s such a minor blip that it doesn’t
affect the film.
Ana was a bit more of a
challenge for me. And Dakota Johnson, initially, did not fit the bill. However,
it is Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, who steals the movie. The lip biting,
the quirks, the simplicity, the nerves, the strength, the innocence, the
determination that is Anastasia, Dakota captures them all.
The movie moves along at a
pretty quick pace but the intensity of Christian and the blooming relationship
with Ana is certainly felt. And I was happy to see and feel that because there
are many details and scenes in the book that are not in the movie. There just wouldn’t
be enough time! But the scenes that are included I believe will make the 50
Shades fans happy. A few scenes differ slightly from the book but I don’t think
it’s enough to disappoint the fans.
I’m sure you’re dying to know
about the Red Room of Pain. It’s like another character in the movie! According
to an interview with Jamie Dornan, the first time Ana sees the room is actually
the first time Dakota sees it too. I think the room was captured perfectly. The
bed is front and center as well as the variety of implements placed all over
the room. And the first time Christian brings Ana in there, well, um….let’s say
it gets steamy and pretty explicit.
The sex. Holy crap on a
cracker! Was it explicit? Yes. Did it push the envelope? Maybe for some but reading
an explicit scene is a whole other animal versus seeing it on the big screen
with 1,000 people! Did they go there? Oh yes, they did. Let me just say that
these two actors made their “acting” so real in these scenes it was hard for me
to believe it didn’t really happen! ;) I
bet there will be a baby boom in nine months!!
If you enjoyed the book, I
honestly believe you will be satisfied with the movie. Do I wish it was longer?
Yes! Do I wish that it included more of the details in the book? Yes. Do I
think that Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson fit the bill in their roles?
Absolutely.
Two days later and my heart
is still aching and yearning for more Ana and Christian. I definitely have a
Fifty Shades hangover! Hurry up 50 Shades Darker in 2016!!
Oh and yes, I’m going to see
it again on February 12th. Laters, baby.
Lorraine, this is written so well! Now I definitely can't wait to see the movie. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your review Lorraine! Makes me that more excited to see it!
ReplyDeleteso excited for Thursday to get here…
ReplyDelete