LA, CA Upcoming movies we all should, and probably want, to go see

X-Men Legends: Wolverine - May 1

Star Trek - May 8

G.I. Joe - August 7

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - July 17

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June 24

Looks like it's going to be a busy summer people. Let's get some communication going.

 

We really want to see all of them, but so far May 1st is Grand Slam Weekend and May 8th is the Second Propworx BSG Aution otherwise totally free for all the rest!!!!

 

My friend Tom's getting married the first weekend in May. Other than that, signs point to "yes."

 

Well I have devised a new plan to try to make the Thursday 12:01 screening of Star Trek mainly by getting Thursday and Friday Off this way I can attend all 4 days of the BSG Auction.

 

I might try and get that Friday off to go with to the BSG auction.

 

Cool the auction days are Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Thursday is Preview Day and there is plenty of room in the Car for you

 

Arclight yesterday just opened up a FEW more seats for the midnight Dome show of Trek (12:01 a.m. Thu night/Fri a.m.) which had been sold out for weeks. ALSO opened more showings on THURSDAY, yes that's the day before, dome at 8:40 (there were still plenty of good seats as of last night) and some of the black boxes are showing as well. Arclight members had a chance to get in on the very first showing of the day (5:00 p.m. especially for members) but while there were seats when I checked, who the heck wants to go at 5:00 p.m. and *not* in the Dome? I scoff!!! Dome it is.

Wolverine's trickier -- not going into Arclight Hollywood, so we either have to go all the way to AL Sherman Oaks or brave the madding standing-in-line and having to sit through commercials. Ugh. But if we can get into the Chinese that should be worth it. Dunno yet.

Mary -SPJ

 

who wants to go to the Dome when you can see it on an Imax?
WOOOOT!
So glad I held out.
I would really like to see Battle for Terra besides some of the previously mentioned.

 

Thx for getting the Tickets, I am so glad we are going to the First Screening at the IMAX, eventhough the City Walk is not my favorite one, plus could stop off at the Howl for a bit of Romulan Ale afterwards

PS: What about Terminator Salvation on May 22nd???

 

Well...I do, first. How is the aspect ratio for IMAX going to look for this film, and will they have to cut it to fit the platter capacity? I got nothing against both formats, but if it has the woeful MTV-style "shakey camera/jump editing" so prevalent in films, and lots of big-pore extreme facial close-ups...ugh. If I'm gonna do both, and the film is not made FOR IMAX, I do conventional first.

The Arclight often has props, vehicles, costumes, etc. on close display over opening weekend.

Besides, Midnight shows at the Dome are a good bet for surprise appearances and people watching. People I've actually met (i.e. even able to talk to) in the Cafe prior to showings include: Wayne Knight, Penn Gillette, Elijah Wood. And Robert Downey Jr. showed up to introduce Iron Man's midnight launch in the Dome.

And, look, honestly? I'm 48. I've long ago paid my standing-in-line dues in 1977, 1980 and 1983 etc. I like to have a reserved seat and excellent food, and no dumb commercials - it's well worth the coupla extra bucks!

But have fun and let us know how IMAX is, I'll probably go there afterward...

Mary-SPJ

 

Well I was formerly and Arclight Fan and saw ROTS as well as many other films at the first screening and yes the vehicles and props are on hand as well as a Celebrity Apperances. But ever since our Horrifying experience when we saw Iron Man at the Dome, I swore never again, the management stood by as my wife and Varakei were being told to get up B**** by another patron who thought we were in his seats, the truth is they double booked them and the movie is beginning and we are out in the Lobby. No Thanks you can keep the Fartlight for 8.8ghz worth of Horses couldn't drag me back there, I have had quite enough of the assigned seating experience. It is just a shame that it will not be screening at the Grauman's Chinese where it belongs especially with there Paramount affilations. I do agree that the Imax isn't the Ultimate Choice either especially since it is not in the Imax 3D Format but where else is a Trekkie to go????
PS: 44 yrs old and going strong.
PPS: Paramount decided to have the early Thursday Screenings instead of the 12:01 to reach a broader audience bases and yes the trekkers are getting older.

 

Xmen Origins Update, Yesss finally it will be playing at the Graumans Chinese for a Thursday 12:01 and Friday Screenings.

 

I'm all for X-Men and Terminator. Just let me know when so I can put money away.

 

I have been to the Arclight twice since that awful experience, although I never thought I'd go back either. (I even called the parent office to complain about the incident.)Both times were OK. I haven't seen that little troll of a manager since the Iron Man fiasco. Maybe we weren't the only customers to have a run in with him. Maybe he's gone. For future reference, next time someone treats us that way the proper response is, "B****s? You're Mother and your sister aren't sitting here, moron." We also need to have all our ducks in a row and make sure we each have our tickets with us at all times, with the proper seat numbers. Finally, if someone else is in our seats, we need to make them move before the movie starts.

Last but not least, we need to go someplace else if we have a decent choice.

 

Hey GF and VK, I remember your telling about your experience last year, that still sucks. It's so strange, we have never had a bad turn at AL. I'm really sorry you guys did - it's good to keep giving it a try every so often. VK's right, keep your tickets or your paperwork and you have a much stronger argument.

Well, I don't know about the Chinese's affiliations with Paramount now, most of the recent P films debut at Arclight -- and I still go for the perks the AL offers -- the big touchy-feely snakes and lizards interaction area from the herpetological societies for opening weekend of Indiana Jones were cool ... Cherie even pet a snake, which I thought would never happen in a month of Sundays... And every time they put costumes up, it's always open displays, which close enough to get really good camera shots and details, which we appreciate. The 21+ screenings guarantee no screaming babies or children (and usually really good libations) which is well worth the money.

But I do of course adore the Chinese, we're there for Wolverine at the midnight show!

Mary-SPJ

 

Well the big thing about the whole situation was that you should always leave plenty of time get to your seats first, secure them and not at the last minute, then worry about the concessions. Also if somebody tells you to get up don't wait till the manager arrives to arbitrate the Situation, the thing that really upsets me the most personally is in all the excitement and confusion I lost my Casino Royale LE Sony Camera, which I can never replace and they didn't offer another one for Quantum of Solace.

Excellent Wafflebot and I will be there too, hope to run in to you.

 

Scooty P,m
from what a seasoned projectionist informs me who used to work at the Dome during it's heyday, Any film shown on that screen is not being used to it's capacity and that all movies shown there get chopped up. I don't know anything about ratios etc. but I do know that for the Imax screen,there is way more than enough screen for the entire film to be shown,and when the Imax "experience" scenes are shown, it is the entire screen filled up from top to bottom.Prett glorious to see. I say, see them both, I just am not going to see it on the small screen at the Dome. Rather give my money to another theater than support Scientology.

 

Well, the screen in the Dome is VASTLY changed in size and configuration from its 'heyday' -- and he's probably talking about the "Cinerama" features, which were indeed literally 'chopped up' - that was the entire point of Cinerama, they were filmed and shown in coordinated three-strip projection format. Next time they show "How the West Was Won" in its original format at the Dome, which they do every couple of years, go see it, it's an amazing treat of film history. We went there opening night the first time they showed it, and were flanked by film buffs from Dallas on one side and London on the other, who had flown over specifically for just the limited engagement - yeah, it's that good and that important!

Scientology? If by that you mean they premiered a lot of Paramount/Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes pictures, well, yeah: Until recently TC's production company was parented by Paramount, and Arclight has been Paramount's premiere house. But TC broke away from Paramount a couple years ago I believe, and Paramount still premieres at the AL, so I don't buy the "scientology" deal based on that. The AL shows a lot of other things and festivals of differing cultures/religions etc. I live in Glendale where Scientology was founded, and work at a hospital that's a block and a half away from the main Scientology compound, so I'm well versed...unfortunately.

In fact, as I was following up on your scientology idea,after a little digging, Pacific Theaters and the Arclight both are in fact owned by Decurion Corporation - google them and read about these guys! It looked a little weird and airy-fairy, but then it's composed of people who range from a) giving several thousands of dollars (which the scientology church would want...) to the hard-line (i.e. Mitt Romney) Republican party, all the way to b) a professor of sufiism and Eastern religions, etc. The rest of them are real estate investors, philosophers, etc., a real strange-bedfellows bunch. Must investigate further! And they also own the Vineland Drive-In, which we also patronize frequently. So thanks for leading me on an interesting google search, it was worth it definitely!

Again, nothing against Imax, but the platters are physically limited to 2 hours running time, so something has to give if it's longer than that. I'll likely see it in both formats though.

 

I did see How the West Was One. It was my first and free Blu-ray, sat directly in front of Russ Tamblyn and got him to sign my copy,and also had one of the camera men sign it for me as well. That was a great day. Good to know about who owns the theater. I prefer to vots with my dollars. I feel it is way more powerful in a lot of ways than the convetional way of voting.That's another story on another night.I'll try and keep it light. Can't wait unti lnext Thursday.YIP YIP yah-hoo!

 

Juan says he's going to try to got to the Midnight Wolverine screening on Thursday with you guys.

 

Well, it looks like we're going to the AL Sherman Oaks instead of the Chinese - Cherie will be either rehearsing or taping the show she's working on now (The new CMT version of "Singing Bee") and is worried about line position of she gets out late, so we're erring on the side of caution and getting reserved seats/no line. I have never been to the Sherman Oaks AL, so I hope it's cool - I'm not expecting Hollywood-level though.

Did anyone make it over to the Chinese last week when Jackman did the cement ceremony? We almost went but didn't want to get up even earlier on a 'school day' than we had to...

 

No wish I could have but my work had other plans for me, SR tell Juan his spot in line is reserved, I plan on getting there plenty early.

 

Okay folks, I'm not doing this because I'm one of those "ha ha FIRST!" jerks on the interwebs, I freaking hate that, it's so stupid. But I would like to post what happened tonight, and my attendant impressions -- mostly so that when you all go to XO:W you can compare the final product.

So I get home. So Cherie says, "well, let's go get something to eat, and then I gotta watch this vid I brought from work" So we go obtain a delicious repast at Mickey Dees and come back. She loads this DVD, then turns to me and says "Why wait until tomorrow?"

Swear to god. The Fox logo, then the Marvel page-drop. I just about died.

From a source remaining unnamed at her studio, she got a nice tasty crystal clear copy of the illegal 'accidental' download that Fox was making such a stink about. With good reason, apparently. All the effects weren't finished, but the film mostly was, and it has the extra ten minutes (more on that in a minute) and actually good scratch-track music (it was fun playing 'name that score, and the scene that score piece was from!) while we watched. For what it's worth. Which is...

It, um -- uh.

Okay, like those of a certain age, I grew up reading the 'my first soap opera' of The Uncanny X-Men. And I've checked in on it regularly throughout the years since the early 1980's. I'm not a raged righteous fan, but I do know pretty much what goes where and why in the X-iverse.

So allow me to opine that I'm so glad I hadn't bought tickets to the show yet tomorrow night -- we just saved ourselves $30. Much like the new Indiana Jones, it is a great 45-minute movie. Unfortunately it's an hour longer than that. Prologue and opening credits --sweet. Basically *almost* everything up to the "we're going to put this adamantium in you" scene is good. Then after that lots of Jackman running around long-shot naked for a bit, which was swell also.

The good:
Liev Schrieber
Jackman's deltoid muscles. Dang! (!!!)
The fact that while all these girlies have been whinging about Gambit finally being in an X-men film, he is barely in it, only does a couple of things that have no real purpose, is basically a nonstarter, and they're gonna be totally p'd.

The bad:
Repetitive flying-through-the-air beatdowns committed by two actors who have won awards.
The way Deadpool turned out. Sorry, but not.

The ugly:
Oh man, where to begin.
1. In the X-Men canon, one does NOT cluck up the Silver Fox death story line - Creed dispatches her in a particularly clever and vicious way, and leaves a gory 'calling card' for Logan.
2. Silver Fox is IN NO WAY related to Emma Frost, but that sure is a story element here.
3. Said Emma Frost is showing her 'diamond shield skin' secondary mutation crap from the modern-day storylines, when the rest of the story is in the older storylines.

In summary: Once again, we have an X-men movie where Logan ends up with dead girlfriend on a ruined island encampment after a big battle. Been there, done that last time around.

I started looking at the time at 1:10 into the film, which is never a good sign at least for me. Maybe the score will be good, I'll download that.

I'm really looking forward to Star Trek next week!

Anyway, it has high points and low points, and Jackman's bod is amazing. Everyone have fun and share opinions! We'll all have 'em!

Mary-SPJ

 

The highlight of Wolverine at Grauman's ws the Star Trek premiere beforehand!
great seeing everyone and falling asleep during the movie. I have the same copy you have SPJr. It has minor holes but it is better than Twilight and Titanic.

 

I have not walked out of a Trek film before.

At least, not crying "Again, again!" - at least since TWOK. (Well, yeah, 4 and even 6 too, but I digress).

I did last night. Our non-Trek-fan friends were actually yelling louder than we were. Sure it has its "Hmmmm-'K..." moments here and there, but then all of them do, as do the series. Nothing to really get in a twisted-knicker lather about even if you're hard-core. Just go with the flow. Can't wait to go again.

Arclight midnight paid off again - no surprise celebs this time around, but each patron received a gift package including cool T-shirt, iPhone/iTouch sleeve with the Enterprise on it, and various trading MovieCards.

As usual, several costumes and props are on display in the lobby (good for close-up photos for costumers, even though behind glass this time), and some also in the paid area of the Dome displays, these are usually through the weekend, didn't get an exact date, but I'd definitely check it out, you can see a lot of details.

How was IMAX? The film runs 2:07 so I wonder what they had to shave down to the two-hour limit...