![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_5419.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
Even though it will be running there until mid-November, I had to see it on opening night because I was leaving for New York right after, and I didn\u2019t want to see it anywhere else. So I was lucky enough to attend Opening Night; it\u2019s always extra-exciting to see a film at the El Capitan with all those rabid Disney fans. And there are so many little perks involved. So let\u2019s get to all the excitement, including what awaits all of you who are going to see it in the next month or so.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
As soon as you enter the building, you notice a display case with Maleficent\u2019s magnificent costume. It\u2019s wonderful to get to see it so up-close like that.<\/p>\n
If you move further into the lobby, you come upon a giant stand-up floor display of the three female main characters, which is impressive. You can, of course, take pictures in front of it.<\/p>\n
But do not forget to go downstairs for a major<\/em> photo op, either before or after the film. There\u2019s a giant display of\u00a0Maleficent\u2019s wings which you stand in the middle of; that way, they look like they\u2019re coming out of\u00a0your\u00a0body! If I hadn\u2019t seen others doing it before me, I don\u2019t know if I would have realized to do that. So you guys are already ahead of the game because\u00a0I\u00a0just gave you the heads-up.<\/p>\n A guest, trying out the Maleficent wings. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n As with most photo ops offered at the El Capitan, there\u2019s a member of the staff on hand to snap the pix for you. In this case, it\u2019s best to make it a solo shot because of the wings, but it\u2019s still fun to take a duo or group shot, as well, just for the memories. (Or social media, of course!)<\/p>\n In that same lower lobby where the wings poster is, you can also view several costumes and props from the film. And there are beautiful photographs from the stunning sets.\u00a0\u00a0I went down there before the show, so seeing them gave me a lovely portent of things to come in the movie I was about to see. But it would also be entertaining to view them after, so that you can recognize each scene depicted.<\/p>\n I was actually most interested in seeing some of the tiny displays, such as Aurora\u2019s engagement ring. (On a personal note, it looked just like one that Mr. X had gotten me years ago. The short version of the story is that I was the jewelry host on a really stupid shopping show back then, and when I was showing that attractive ring, I said something like, \u201cIf someone loved me, they would get this for me.\u201d It was just the baloney the writers made me say, but Mr. X was watching, and he thought it was a clue to him. So he called the number on the screen, and not only paid full price and tax, but shipping and handling, too! On a ring I could have gotten for almost nothing. But the good news about it is that now Aurora and I have something in common\u2014super-generous boyfriends!!!)<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Since most Opening Nights at El Capitan are usually designated as a Fan Event, let me tell you what extras we were treated to for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil<\/em>, to show you why you should want to attend one for another film at that special theatre. Before the film, they raffled-off some fun Maleficent merchandise to lucky winners. (We each received a free raffle ticket on the way in.)<\/p>\n Then they invited all the guests who showed-up in costume to go up on the stage for all the world to see and admire.\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m always amazed at the creativity of these audience members. My friend, Marc, actually thought that one girl worked there because her ensemble was so perfect!!!<\/p>\n The costumed guests. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Then we got an interesting surprise\u2014the movie\u2019s director,\u00a0Joachim R\u00f8nning, came out and chatted with us about his work. And then he did something unexpected. We had all received cardboard Maleficent horns on the way in, and he asked us to don them so\u2026he could take a selfie with us!!! How clever.<\/p>\n But please, please, please, potential audience members\u2014be polite to the people behind you and take off all horns before the film begins, whether the theatre gives them to you or you wore your own! (When I saw a special showing of the original Disney cartoon version of\u00a0Sleeping Beauty<\/em>\u00a0at the El Capitan a few months ago, one woman told the manager that she\u00a0couldn\u2019t<\/em> take her horns off because she had them intertwined with her\u00a0hair<\/em>! So that manager very smartly moved the woman to the back row, so the people who were behind her originally could see the screen, and she got the woman candy and soda for cooperating. That was a great way to handle the situation. But please just be considerate of the people behind you in a theatre to begin with!)<\/p>\n Director Joachim R\u00f8nning. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n As we exited on opening night, on top of everything else that we had already been offered, (including free popcorn and a drink,) we also received a beautiful Maleficent poster and an item they referred to as a \u201csouvenir popcorn container,\u201d but is big enough to be a decorative catch-all for a kid\u2019s room! (Or mine<\/em>!) And it\u2019s really attractive.<\/p>\n No matter\u00a0when\u00a0we see Maleficent: Mistress of Evil<\/em>\u00a0at the El Capitan, you\u2019ll be sure to appreciate your experience there. That\u2019s because they have the best screen and sound system around.<\/p>\n And, by the way, the movie is really good, to boot! I adore Angelina, and she does not disappoint. So it\u2019s a big win, on every level.<\/p>\n Maleficent: Mistress of Evil<\/em>\u00a0at the El Capitan running through November 17, 2019<\/strong> MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL Despite the fact that\u00a0I adore humanitarian Angelina Jolie, I\u2019ve never seen the original 2014\u00a0Maleficent, which is the story of\u00a0Sleeping Beauty\u00a0told from the perspective of the infamous villainess, so this sequel was a treat to me. In all honesty, the only reason I decided to see\u00a0Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is that it\u2019s<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n www.elcapitantheatre.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"