Casablanca and Me

I’ve decided to make the 1942 film Casablanca as my first reviewed movie here on Take The Cannoli. But first, a little back story on Casablanca and me.

Despite being released more than half a century ago, Casablanca is still being revered as one of Hollywood’s defining romantic films ever made. A score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes will attest to that. Evidently, it enters onto my list of ‘movies-I-will-watch-someday’. A list which includes the likes of Apocalypse Now and A Clockwork Orange.

It was in the summer of 2011 that I found myself in LA on vacation and despite staying in a hotel in Anaheim which would make a trip to Disneyland a mere 10-minute drive, I instead took the option of taking the 40 minute route to Universal Studios. And of course it was worth every minute and more. Fast forward to the end of the day and I was standing outside the park even though it was only 6 PM because it was closing time. Bummer, right? Yes, you’re tired from all the walking and waiting in line all day but also still buzzing from all the excitement you just had because the sun had only just set. You’re not getting back to the hotel just yet. You’re not twelve. The night is young. Thankfully, the folks at Universal realize this too, so they came up with City Walk. Defined as a three-block entertainment, dining and shopping promenade. Basically, an al fresco shopping mall. And truthfully, after a whole day of kid-friendly environment, a more adult setting with food and music was a welcome change. Not to mention a great place for a proper meal too.

Normally, I would love to try the Brazilian steakhouse for dinner but you know how it is, so we settled on Bubba Gump, where seafood is a given. Now here’s the interesting part (finally!). Since the place was packed (the whole City Walk was), you have to be on the waiting list. At other places the custom is you leave your name and the number of people in your party to the host for them to call out later when a table becomes available. But since we were at Universal Studios, instead of leaving your name, you get to leave the name of your favorite movie on the waiting list. Now, isn’t that cool?  Something so small yet have a way to significantly improve the dining experience.

Naturally, my inner ponce-ness emerged and the need to out-do the other patrons became my little personal objective. However, my task was made easy since they either had poor movie taste or just too starving to be bothered with coming up with a swanky movie. There were mentions of The Matrix, Shrek (probably inspired by the 4D attraction in the park earlier), Harry Potter and (it just had to happen) multiple Twilights.

As for myself, I didn’t give that much thought when I approached the host but somehow I blurted out the words “Casablanca, for two”. Funny, I wanted to say Jurassic Park. That would have definitely been the right choice at the steakhouse.

“One of my favorite movies” replied the host as he wrote down ‘Casablanca’ onto the waiting list and nodding approvingly.

Suddenly, I felt a little smug about myself.

And ever since that moment Casablanca has reserved a little place in my heart despite never having seen it. But I’m about too. This could really be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

P/S: If any of you wondered, the dinner at Bubba Gump was satisfying enough. And we get to take home a flickering tall glass as souvenir. Very nifty.