Net's trick fl·c Spoiling the plot for deceptive online movie listings By MICHAEl GlI,;TZ SAVVY New Yorkers know that if they want to see a blockbuster like "King Kong" on opening night, they've got to buy their tickets days -or even weeks -in advance.</p><p> But the two main ticker sell ers -Moviefone and Fan dango -aren't interested In helping you fmd the most convenient movie theater at the best time.</p><p> Their job is [0 sell you tickets to their movie chains and steer YOll away from their competitors.</p><p> With big films like "Kong" and "Munich" on the hori zon, here's how you can avoid the traps they lay for you.</p><p> We'll use the recent debut of ''Harry Potier and the Goblet of Fire" as an example. ~ Moviefone& Fandango Each company has exclu sive deals with certain movie chains.</p><p> Often, until opening day, their sites feature incomplete listing ornitting competitors' theaters.</p><p> Selling tickets [0 favored chains -with a nice sur cha.rge -is where the com panies make most of their money.</p><p> So when buying tick ets before a movie has opened, make sure you check both Web sites regu larly to see what theaters your movie is playing before youcommlt. can't find a good showtime? Just be patient.</p><p> Just 48 hour before "Potter" opened on Nov. 18, Loews 34th Srreet listed only one "batch" of show times -with only one prime showing at 8 p.rn.</p><p> Obviously, a movie like "Potler" will premiere on a gazillion screens, and a multiplex like Loews 34th will be showing it at multi ple times.</p><p> So if it looks like they're showing the times for only one screen and it's already sold out, be patient.</p><p> Don't buy tiClkets to [hat 5 p.m. or II p.m. showing if you can hold off and keep checking online and by phone: More times will be added.</p><p> But you have to be vigilant and check regularly - there's no t !ling when more showings will pop up.</p><p> And if you're trying to buy tickets to a movie like "Brokeback Mountain" or "Syriana," check Web sites like upcom ingmovies.com.</p><p> They might be opening only on a handful of screens before going into wider release.</p><p> Don't hang up if they start listing theaters in Jersey.</p><p> Many times, people use these phone services just to learn theaters and show limes near y.</p><p> So when the automated voke begins with chains a few blocks away and then starts listing locations In Brooklyn and even New Jersey, people hang up thlnking they've heard all the 10cations nearby.</p><p> Nope.</p><p> These services often list aU of the chains they have deals with fIrst.</p><p> You may have to skip through 10 or more listings before they mention a competitor's theater only a block or two away.</p><p> The day "Potter" opened, Movlefone listed City Cin ema's East 86th Street loca tion sixth on its list.</p><p> Fan dango listed it 17th -after iocations in Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey.</p><p> Fandango listed the United Artis s Union Square Loca tion fifth; Moviefone llsted it 14th.</p><p> When onrme. read a06stings.</p><p> They pull the same stunt online, where movie the ater locations are usually shown in batches of fIve.</p><p> You may have to scroll through five or six "-pages" before finding the theater you want buried at the end.</p><p> If you were in Harlem and wanted to see "Potter" on opening day, Moviefone listed tbe Coliseum The ater on 181st Street fourth when you entered the 10033 rip code.</p><p> Fandango listed the Coliseum 13th.</p><p> Remember, nei.rber serv i.e is "better" than the orb er.</p><p> They both list th chains they have deals with first.</p><p> HARRIED FOR HARRY? You can land tix to hot flicks.</p><p> So uyou want to get into a blockbuster on openlug night, your best bet is to check online and by pbone early and often.</p><p> Go by your local theater a week or two in advance; they might be selling tickets in person and you can avoid the $1.50 service cbarge.</p><p> And once a movie's opened, the sur st way to find out all the places a film is playing is to buy the New York Post and check out the ads and movie listings.
