People missed the movie house...or maybe not

As expected, people flocked to the Hollywood Theaters when it reopened Friday night. Almost all the movies -- especially Indiana Jones and Iron Man -- were a hit among the viewers. If only we have such a big crowd every once in a while...

Hollywood Theaters on Bid?

How true is it that an interested and prominent business group is willing to take over on managing the only movie house on the island? However, I heard there's a problem with this deal since the landlord is hiking the rental fee.

I was able to talk to some people and in their opinion or personal view, the local government should have stepped in to maintain this theater. Is that possible? Would it matter at all?

Let us know...

Savoring the final day

As expected, there was a long line of people at the Hollywood Theaters Thursday night in what could be the last day of operation of Saipan's only movie house.

It may reopen in a month but the hundreds of people who were there last night did not want to take chances. Nothing beats the feeling of watching a movie in a giant screen, along with many other strangers. Then there's pop corn and nachos. We will surely miss that experience.

If only the same number of people last night show up everyday at the seven-theater movie house, and if only power rates are not that expensive, then we won't have a problem losing Hollywood Theatres which opened on Sept. 8, 1999.

What a sad day, indeed, for Saipan.

If the power outage initially planned for Friday happens, Hollywood Theaters could have been a luxurious refuge the whole day.

Film Revue: Clobber-feel on Cloverfield

As I write this my head pounds like crazy due to a unexpected migraine attack. I'm used to having this migraine every week since I was younger. However, I was feeling better two hours ago before we went to see the newly released flick "Cloverfield."

It's Blair Witch Project comeback with a different genre. This time with a "ginormous" character wreaking havoc in midtown Manhattan. So, when I mentioned Blair Witch Project, I'm sure you got the drift about the point of view of the movie that comes from the lens of a digital video camera?

The movie is gripping; makes you feel you are one of those people screaming and running for their lives in New York City. Some absurdities of course but in general the movie was very well done.

One word for you: nausea.

Be sure to take motion sickness pill before or after the movie.

The Reveler

Film Rev: Ratato-weee! vs. Trans-bore-mers

Ratatouille

We saw Disney's Ratatouille last weekend and i believe Disney has finally done it again! This is the best Disney animation since Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin! Well, except that in spite of it all, rats are still considered pests. The animation appeals to every one's weakness--food. There's no singing or a grandeur musical production in the movie, but one thing that will move you is how the screenplay appeals to the viewers as human beings, wanting to belong and longing to be appreciated. Ratatouille will bring you warmth and a light feeling in the end. It occurred to me that had it been my mom to see all those rats in the kitchen, she would have scrammed and fainted at the same time.

Transformers

Now, the Transformers. Yes, we saw the advance screening in front of humongous white wide screen of Hollywood Theaters last night. I was excited to see it because it has been showing in Asia since June 28. I grew up with the Transformers, as matter of fact, I have the VCD animation movie with me here. However, the movie really didn't live up to an avid Transformers fan standards.

Comments about the movie:

1.Director Michael Bay didn't recover from Pearl Harbor's loss. So much similarities with that movie--slow motion scenes, boarding pilots with sunset as background, music and scenes that reminded me of Armageddon with Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck displaying romance et. al.
2. Screenplay is terrible. Sorry, but it's overly written. Optimus Prime trying to be poetic with his lines? So many trying-to-be-funny lines.
3. Annoying parents of the lead character Sam (Shia L.), annoying FBI characters--again trying to be hilarious despite the seriousness in the scenes
4. Hold on, Megatron transforms into a high-powered gun as far as I recall, but in the movie he's an aircraft like Starscream.
5. Totally altered story.
6. I can't believe the robots went to earth to look for an eyeglass? c'mon!
7. Robots were made in utter details that during fight scenes, you won't recognize the robots fighting due to fast paced battle scenes. All you'd see are pieces of metal hurling each other.
8. Bumblebee and Sam didn't have that much scenes to show their affinity with one another but director Michael Bay tried to make it like a King Kong, Mighty Joe Young or Free Willy type of drama. Nice try though.

I guess the movie has a better audience with 8-years old and below. For us adults, it's just a nostalgia.

This movie has a lot of commercial sponsors in it. Panasonic memory card (they really have to show the brand!), Nokia phone (mentioned its origin), Mac and so on! That's why it has to be promoted well. During last MTV Movie Awards, Transformers the movie was the official sponsor. The movie was even given an award, "The Best Movie You Haven't Seen Yet."

I believe when you're movie is like this one, you really have to invest in so much marketing it.

What am I saying? I'd still buy a DVD copy of this--it's Transformers for god's sake!

The Reveler

Attention: Hollywood Theaters!

I hope the movie "Babel (2006)" will be shown here SOON, instead of waiting for the release of its DVD.

While watching movies at home has its advantages, nothing beats the thrill of watching a movie on big screen--plus the smell of popcorns, the chattering around you, the shrieks, the grunts, the cursing, the wonderment, and the like, the socialization before, during and after the show, and the mere fact that for about two hours, you form a bond with strangers who are hopefully enjoying the movie or learning something from it.

The movie, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Gael Garcia Bernal. The story is about "a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple's frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children, and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo."

Here's to wishful thinking!