MovieChat Forums > Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Discussion > The Empire State Building - Little Annoy...

The Empire State Building - Little Annoying Things...

posted 15 years ago by KatrinaW
36 replies | jump to latest

I know it's a movie, but how unbelievable is it that the characters in this movie can just take the elevator up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, without having to either wait or pay?

On any given day, at any given time, there's a huge, long, long, long (and I mean long) line to get up to the top of the building, and it's quite expensive as well. It's a major tourist trap! And, once you get up there, it's usually tremendously crowded, and you have to wait for a spot at the wall, so that you can look out over New York. Plus, the deck doesn't close at night; that's prime viewing time, because of all the city lights.

I know, I know... I need to get over it, as I know it was just for the movie. But it's like when they show a movie or TV character driving somewhere in a large city, and then finding a parking spot right in front of the building. It's one of my biggest pet peeves.

Whew, I feel much better having gotten that off my chest!

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] maxmillion99 15 years ago

you do have to turn a blind eye to that stuff -- fiction is about telling a story well and dramatically as possible.

If you actually saw all the minutiae they skip, you'd be bored to death.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Treg1980 15 years ago

how unbelievable is it that the characters in this movie can just take the elevator up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, without having to either wait or pay?

On any given day, at any given time, there's a huge, long, long, long (and I mean long) line to get up to the top of the building, and it's quite expensive as well.

Hey Katrina, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you. When I was in New York (mid July) I could go up right away, there was no line at all and I'm not the only one who had this luck.
Also I did not have to wait to look out over New York.

Like you said, it's just a movie, so get over it. ;-)

[–] suzzmartin 12 years ago

In your dreams.

She does not need to get over anything, she was stating a fact that is well known to anybody who has ever visited the Empire Estate Building. You were lying.

[–] Treg1980 12 years ago

I'm lying? Wow! All I can say is, I'm not. There was no line and I could go up right away.

[–] sherylheartjude 14 years ago

First, I want to say, I really, really, really like this movie.

But...I agree with you, Katrina, I've even said the same thing after I visited the Empire State Building for the first time.

Yet, that's not even the most unbelievable thing about the movie. The most unbelievable thing is that an 8-year-old kid can book a flight for another 8-year-old kid, get that kid on said flight armed only with their saved up allowance money for taxis, etc., his backpack, and teddy bear, and then the kid manage to fearlessly get through Kennedy, into a taxi, and up the Empire State Building without a hitch, all to meet a woman he doesn't know but that he hopes will be his mother.

Not to mention that Sam did not immediately alert authorities in NYC that his 8-year-old son is headed for Kennedy, please find him when he gets off the plane, and if not there, on top of the Empire State Building.

But it's a heartwarming story that I enjoy watching with cocoa and popcorn. When you think about it, what romantic comedy doesn't take liberties and indulge in fantasy?

Watson: http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/1347/heythereladies.gif

[–] matthiasspillemaeckers 14 years ago

True... You need to either get over it or get it of your chest by posting it on a message board of some kind :-)

[–] mdmzara 14 years ago

I'm on the west coast, so I'm not familiar with NYC, but I thought the Empire State Building was in (on?) Rockefeller Center. When Annie runs out of the restaurant where she had been having dinner with Walter, the marquis of the building says Rockefeller Center on it. She then hops in a taxi to go to the Empire State building. Would she really have to take a taxi? Couldn't she just walk there? As I say, I'm not familiar with New York, or the layout of Rockefeller Center, so any info is appreciated.

[–] nocomputer1962 14 years ago

Mdmzara, Rockefeller Center has a tall building of its own, but it's not the Empire State Building. Rockefeller Center is a few blocks east of Broadway on 48th Street, while the Empire State Building is about a block east of Broadway on 34th Street. While we're on the subject, my wife and I weren't sure why the cab driver let Meg Ryan out about A BLOCK AWAY from the building entrance. Was she a loser on "Cash Cab?" We also thought it was odd that the Empire State Building would close at sundown on February 14th, which would be about 6 p.m., the peak of the evening tourist rush.

[–] mdmzara 14 years ago

Thanks for the info. I'm just going to have to get myself to NYC and check it all out!

[–] nocomputer1962 14 years ago

Go ahead, you'll love it!

[–] dylan1669 12 years ago

Funny, I actually found all that stuff kind of plausible... I mean Jessica understood "the process" of air travel because she had been around it all her life, and cops do have 500 other priorities besides looking for the kid of some guy from Seattle, and maybe there was a communication mix up at the airport and that's why no stewardess found him or went looking for him? :)

Actually, the thing that I really felt was the most "unbelievable" part was that Sam had Jonah go through all the letters that were written to him. Can you just imagine how many bare breasts and crude letters Jonah would have stumbled upon in real life?

[–] BrianRaess_Is_FinallyGone 13 years ago

I know how you feel. I was quite annoyed with Apollo 13 for the very same reason. They made it seem like it just takes 30 minutes to get to the moon when it actually takes about 3 days!! Couldn't they at least attempt to make a movie more realistic?? I think a movie that lasted 3 days would be a real bargain for the price of a movie ticket.

I also don't like how in movies they never show anyone taking a dump. Don't people have to go to the bathroom in the movies?? How about the show 24? We see Kiefer Sutherland running around for 24 episodes and not a single person every takes a dump! Come on! Where's the realism?? I think at least one episode should've shown Jack Bauer taking a nap for an hour!

And how about those unrealistic James Bond movies? I mean, come on!! He "globe trots" all over the world in a matter of seconds! Why don't we ever see Bond on a plane and reading a magazine or sleeping on the plane or watching a movie? How about showing him waiting at the airport and his flight is delayed and he's worried because the bad guy may blow up the world if he's late??

Yeah, I think you have an interesting point.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] dylan1669 12 years ago

I actually think that's a brilliant idea for a movie. Sounds a little indie-film festival'ish, but I like what I'm hearing. It would just show all of James bond's down time, cooking breakfast, burning the eggs, etc, and the movie would end right when he gets the call that he needs to save the world.

[–] pgFiSheYe 11 years ago

I know how you feel. I was quite annoyed with Apollo 13 for the very same reason. They made it seem like it just takes 30 minutes to get to the moon when it actually takes about 3 days!! Couldn't they at least attempt to make a movie more realistic??

And how about those unrealistic James Bond movies? I mean, come on!! He "globe trots" all over the world in a matter of seconds! Why don't we ever see Bond on a plane and reading a magazine or sleeping on the plane or watching a movie?

yes yes I agree

It also pisses me off, like in The world's not enough, that Bond makes love to Elektra (Sophie Marceau) for like 2 minutes and they don't show anything, when in reality I would bang that woman for like 8 hours straight and spread her legs wide open ala bear with WIDE CANYON!

[–] silponde 8 years ago

Hilarious :)

[–] aluminum_foil 13 years ago

I've never been to the Empire State Building, but I once made it to the top of the Seattle Space Needle right before closing. There was no line.

[–] SVU14_1 13 years ago

The movie has very unrealistic moments but that's to be expected of every movie.

No way can anyone go into the Empire State Building and get to the observation deck so quickly. When I went, I had to wait in line (a shorter than usual wait because it was a Wednesday afternoon rather than a Friday or a weekend day), and we had to go through like four different levels to get to the top. I think you take an express elevator, then a local one (or something like that).

Also, it's very pricey to get up there - it was 16 dollars back in 2007, Idk what it cost now. Nowadays, there's also the extra security post 9/11 (which wouldn't have necessarily been the case in 1992 - maybe after Feb. 1993).

[–] rizdek 13 years ago

It's called deus ex machina