From deep in the heart of London’s Soho, thoughts from the manager. Plex has worked in the industry for a decade and if you can stand the occasional rant, you might find an occasional interesting angle. And get involved, he’ll answer back.
I know it’s fashionable to hate on Twilight. That’s not why I hate it. I hate it because it’s awful. My other half is obsessed with it. For that reason, I have had to part with much hard earned cash (against my better judgement) to buy him the books, the blu-rays, and even the board games. I suppose that shows just how good a boyfriend I am.
When I first arrived at university in Bath over three years ago, I instantly sourced out the nearest cinemas. Coming from a small village in the Midlands, where the nearest cinema was a half hour drive away (and even then it was only an Odeon), moving to a city was most exciting for me as it meant I might finally get to see a larger variety of films where they were meant to be seen - the cinema. I was presented with an Odeon, a Vue and a Cineworld all closer than the Odeon back home, and a true gem: The Little Theatre.
A couple of months ago, I was reading a feature in a well-known film magazine (its name is often followed by ‘Strikes Back’, ‘Of The Sun’ and ‘biscuits’) about Paul W. S. Anderson’s upcoming The Three Musketeers 3D (UK release on 12th October 2011). A swashbuckling adventure for all the family, no doubt; but unlikely to receive any interest from yours truly.
The spark for my ire at Anderson’s Dumas adaptation was admittedly not difficult to strike, due to my general distaste for anything and everything that he directed (see my bio, below). I do, however, feel that this is one occasion on which vitriol is more than warranted. This is not focused directly at Anderson, however; rather the producers and studio decision-makers in the modern industry.
Helen Cox edits New Empress Magazine, and she’s got something to say...
A strange and frightening phenomenon is sweeping the British multiplex: picturegoers everywhere are being short changed when it comes to the quality of their tickets. Once over it was possible to go to the cinema, pay your £4 (we are talking a long time ago here) and be presented in return with a sturdy ticket stub that clearly marked the date, film and, often, the showing time. Now, in the standard multiplex cinema and even in some independent cinemas, your grossly inflated £8-12 gets you a slip of flimsy receipt paper printed in patchy ink that fades and decays after just a few weeks. On the surface this may seem something of a trivial issue but it is a little bit galling that the price of cinema tickets constantly rises (the British Film Institute reported that admissions were down 2.4% in 2010 but box office takings were up – thank you 3D) whilst the cinematic experience itself becomes increasingly substandard – even down to the smallest stubby detail.
Recently I saw Studio Ghibli’s Arrietty, in Japanese with subtitles. Not because I’m a cinematic purist, but because that was the only option available to me. I didn’t see it in a cinema, I watched it online. It was divine quality; crisp and in sync. I was lucky with the quality of this one, but normally a film online is blurred and badly lit, handled by an ameteur camera man, and riddled with foreign subtitles.
Anti-piracy marketing would have you believe I am a monster, forcing lumps of sodden blood-money into the greedy mouths of terrorists. I am nothing more than a thief, according to The Man. The fact is, I am just a film lover with no other option.
It's not easy, this being a film geek lark. You get all kinds of funny looks from people when you mention stuff they've never heard of, have to defend your beloved titles against the derision of others and must fight the urge to cringe when friends try to get you to watch romantic comedies where the cast have 'quirky' facial expressions on the posters. However, there are more terrifying issues that an avid film-goer must deal with on a regular basis, such as the search for the elusive perfect seat in the perfect row.
It was film night last night at the Plex household. We’ve just about got our gear unpacked form our recent move and a £70 investment last week has led to the pretty funky eight-speaker sound system being very nicely calibrated. And, now that we live in splendid rural isolation, it means that I can crank up the sub a little more than terraced suburbia allows. I’m looking forward to giving that a proper run-out, let me tell you... (Suggestions for the film I should use to pop that particular cherry very gratefully received…)
Lost in the Multiplex has a very strong group of writers plying their trade for us. But we’re always on the look-out for more, and the relaunch is as good an opportunity as any to put the word out – if you think you have what it takes to write for us, and if you’d like to showcase your words on the best-looking movie review site on the interwebs, get in touch.