No ad cinema! Almost.

The Bow-Tie Criterion Cinema in the middle of West Hartford is a throwback to movie theaters of old. No stadium seating, at least not in the theater I was in, real butter on the popcorn, that sort of thing. And they don't bore you with countless advertisements before a movie. In fact, they guarantee no advertisements, ever, on their website.

The only problem, however, is that once the lights have dimmed and after the previews have flickered through, the good folks at Bow-Tie Criterion Cinemas run an ad for none other than Bow-Tie Criterion Cinemas. Okay, one could see this as more of an announcement, telling you of the theater's assets. No smoking, turn off your phones, visit the concession stand, that sort of thing. But then, when it comes time for the announcement to assure you that there are no commercials shown before the film, the example used is . . . a series of old commercials. Actual commercials, with actual products, on screen and a strikethrough line through each. Now, I understand what the folks are trying to tell me, but did they have to use real commercials with real products? Isn't that a bit contradictory, to be showing an advertisement for a real product while damning the idea of showing advertisements? Couldn't the graphics department that made this filler altered the footage or even created their own example using a fake product?

Anyway, I just found this funny. The theater itself is pretty nice and the staff was friendly and helpful. The facilities themselves were also great (but, why no staggered seating?). Right in the middle of Blue Back Square, its a decent place to do a dinner and a movie.