Aliens and Predators near each other, but not in opposition
On Friday we start a 5-day run of Alien, Aliens, Predator, and Predator 2. Showtimes rotate throughout the week, so check out the event page for a full schedule.
These films are personal favorites, and we’re stoked to get them on the big screen. Past that, what is there to say? These films are genre-defining classics for a reason, and every one of them makes for a great big-screen experience.
Alien, Aliens, Predator and Predator 2 play at assorted times February 17 through 21. Details and tickets.
The Seventh Curse
Speaking of personal favorites, let’s talk about the filmography of Hong Kong director Lam Ngai Kai (often billed as Simon Nam, and best known for Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky). Lam began his directorial career at Shaw Brothers studios, with relatively traditional dramas and comedies.
Then, in 1985, Lam left for Golden Harvest productions, and cut loose with a string of gloriously unrestrained genre films. The Seventh Curse, an action-horror-adventure hybrid, was the second of these films.
Like this creature design, it’s just a coincidence that we’re playing this right after Aliens.
So much of The Seventh Curse is a shameless knock-off of popular American films, but when a movie simultaneously riffs on Indiana Jones, Alien and The Exorcist, and does so within the trappings of an 80’s Hong Kong actioner, the end result feels like nothing you’ve ever seen.
The Seventh Curse plays at 7:00 on Wednesday, February 22. Tickets.
Toy Story
Toy Story will be the second in our series of monthly training wheels matinees. All ages are welcome, but these shows are meant to be a place for parents to bring kids who haven’t mastered the fine art of sitting still for 90 minutes.
In addition to the usual fare, we’ll have kid friendly snack combos on hand. For now, attendance is capped around 50%. This will change in time, it felt wise to give everyone (children, parents and staffers alike) time to ease into things.
Toy Story plays Saturday, February 18 at noon. Tickets.
35mm film returns soonish. probably. I hope.
After a year of false starts, our efforts to bring 35mm film back to the Cinemagic are paying off. Last week we acquired a pair of Century model CC projectors to replace the Norelco FP-20’s we got last year
I still love the FP-20 as a machine, but that particular pair was cursed. In terms of image quality, the switch to the Century is a side-grade. They’re both excellent machines, with different strengths and weaknesses.
One thing the Century does have on the FP-20 is age and looks. The pair we got was likely manufactured sometime between 1945 and 1955, and they have the art deco aesthetics to match.
Stay tuned for more about the installation process.
February Curtain update
The big gold curtain is fully operational… for now.
