We get a lot of people complaining about bad experiences with audio description in theaters. So I figured I'd take a moment to share a less negative one.

Unfortunately, it doesn't start off well. The Cineplex website listed that hardly any of the Star Wars showings had audio description. When I called the various box office numbers to try and confirm that only two theaters were even showing it with AD at all, none of them would answer. However, I eventually got through to customer care, who were able to explain what was up. Apparently they were changing all of there theaters over to a new system for providing audio description. But when they entered the showtimes for Star Wars for prebooking, seven months ago, hardly any of the theaters had been upgraded. However, customer service assured me over the phone, that if I went to any upgraded theater, Star Wars would in fact have audio description, never mind what the website said. And if movies have audio description available, they will always have it available at every runtime from here on, if the theater offers audio description at all.

Turns out customer service was right! I went to a 2:30 PM showing this afternoon. The staff knew what I was talking about when I asked for audio description. It did take them about ten minutes to get someone to program the audio description box for me, so it was a good thing I'd arrived slightly early. However, it worked perfectly during the movie. It's a digital system, so the voice was crystal clear, with no static, or drop-outs.

So A+ Cineplex! Once they get the website updated, the experience for blind Canadians will be first class.

As for the movie itself? I'm glad I went to the theater. The sound effects alone made it worthwhile. I won't say much more than that to avoid spoilers. :-)