01/01/2010
Ritzy Jukebox - Launch Night - 12th January, 2010.
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton.
Join us for the first ‘Ritzy Jukebox’ at the Ritzy Picturehouse in Brixton.
New for 2010, the Ritzy Jukebox gives the audience a chance to select the film they want to see at the cinema on the night. Three independent feature films, fresh from the festival circuit, will be cued and ready to play. The filmmakers introduce footage from each film on the night to entice the viewers, and then voting begins…
It’s an innovative way to get these new titles on the big screen, with an audience whilst the films are still screening at festivals and without distributors & marketing budgets.
**Tickets onsale now**
http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/new_cinema_home_date.aspx?venueId=ritz
Box Office Tel: 0871 704 2065
In the Jukebox this month:
- Hardly Bear To Look At You
- Lovelorn
- The Agent
We’ll be there on the night too (sans Van) See you soon.
Photo posted at 17:48
31/12/2009
Happy New Year from Cannes in a Van!
See you all in 2010! x
Photo posted at 08:53
13/12/2009
Avatar Review *Spoiler Free*
Avatar
Fern Gulley meets Aliens in 3D?
I love to get excited about cinema. I remember first seeing the trailer for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and excitement rose up in me like I’d not experienced before, as soon as the Lucas Film logo and the Star Wars music made an appearance I was hooked. Unfortunately, when the film (and the following sequels) emerged I also experienced a level of disappointment with film which I’d not experienced before. Over the years, I’ve fallen into exactly the same pattern with instalments to some of my favourite Hollywood franchises, X-Men 3 for example, and most upsettingly, Indiana Jones 4. So like a lot of film fans out there, I looked at Avatar cautiously. Writer/director James Cameron has claimed a number of times that this is the revolution of cinema, but should cinema goers believe his immodest claims?
Ultimately, the answer is yes. Putting on the 3D glasses was like being strapped into one of the Avatar machines from the film. Avatar is the spectacular cinema event of the year and takes the audience to somewhere new. Cameron is a keen storyteller, and manages to push the boundaries of technology to realise his tales. From Terminator to Titanic, he has been at the forefront of spectacular cinema.
It was jaw dropping from start to finish, it’s not because of elaborate set pieces or objects flying towards the audience, its because for 161 minutes, the audience is transported to a living, breathing and completely believable alien planet and get to witness its own eco-system and living jungle. The detail is obscene, but thoroughly rewarding.
All of this would of course be a waste of time if it didn’t have the storyline to back it up. Please don’t worry; this is as solid a sci-fi narrative as you could hope for, a classic fish out of water tale, with some depth. Whilst this is a hulking effort of cinema, the (uncomplicated) narrative is reassuringly solid, and revolves around a handful of intimate relationships. This gives the audience time to not only take in this fantastic new world being presented on screen, but to care about these characters and their development.
This is not to say that the film doesn’t have any problems, I agree it’s big and silly (The Na’vi are 12 foot tall, blue cats for starters) And sure, Cameron still can’t write (human) dialogue, and beware of Sam Worthington’s fluctuating accent. But none of this is problem enough not to detract a great deal from the experience at hand.
Cameron’s space opera is a thrilling piece of narrative cinema, which deserves the attention it has been stirring. It’s lengthy runtime flies by as it hits the ground running and avoids any unnecessary pauses in momentum.
For me, watching Avatar was a genuinely exciting experience, which reminded me of when I first saw Jurassic Park at the cinema, age 6, with my Dad. It was exciting because I felt it met my expectations, and then some.
Avatar is the kick up the arse that blockbuster cinema has been waiting for. See it in 3D where you can, on the biggest screen available.
(In cinemas nationwide from Thursday 17th December - special previews on Wednesday night)
Text posted at 11:51
10/11/2009
» The Times presents their 100 films of the decade...Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know...
The Times has posted their top 100 films of the noughties online…personally, some of their choices are way off the mark (Anchorman, higher than There Will Be Blood!?) But their No.1 is very worthy. I also find the lack of some of this years best films (The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married, Inglorious Basterds, UP, Star Trek, Moon…etc) quite eye opening.
Let us know what you think.
(The Incredibles made it, but where is one of 2009’s best, UP 3D which opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.)
Link posted at 13:31
04/11/2009
» Future Shorts Event at Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton - tomorrow!
Brixton’s Ritzy Picturehouse host’s a unique short film event tomorrow night, featuring a brand new batch of short films from Future Shorts. They are inspired by Stephen King’s upcoming release - Under the Dome. There will also be readings from King’s new book, live on the night.
It’s not often you get a chance to see short films on the big screen, we’ll see you there!
Link posted at 12:44
31/10/2009
Also, if anyone is at a loose end - The Ritzy in Brixton are hosting a whole evening of late night shows. American Werewolf in London, Twilight (+ New Moon preview) Colin + Q&A and a double bill of Drag Me to Hell and Let The Right One In. The bar is also open to 3am.
I might see you there…
Photo posted at 17:47
Happy Halloween!
Whether it be a party, trip to the pub, some scary DVDs or the X-Factor on ITV (with those scary twins!)…Have a good night!
Photo posted at 17:44
18/10/2009
» Zombie 48 Hour Film Challenge - Next Weekend!
Mr. Johnnie Oddball is once again hosting a 48hour film challenge. This time, as ‘tis the season, he’s looking for budding filmmakers to write, produce, edit and screen a Zombie Movie. All of the details are on his site here:
http://www.oddballchallenge.com/oddballchallenge.html
Oddball’s challenges are alot of fun, and provide a great oppurtunity for filmmakers to screen their work and network, plus, who know’s, you could make the next Night of the Living Dead…or Resident Evil: Extinction.
Link posted at 15:28
17/10/2009
» London Film Festival - off to a good start.
Have had a busy week at the London Film Festival…
Following Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr.Fox, which opened the festival on Wednesday, we’re 3 days in and still alot to come. Next week there’s Up In The Air from Juno director Jason Reitman, Toy Story 2 in 3D, A Serious Man, The White Ribbon and The Road to name but a few.
Last week amongst the bigger galas, were some excellent small or less well known productions. Personally my favourite so far is Inferno and most bizarre experience has been Gasper Noe’s follow up to Irreversible, called Enter the Void. For 2.5 hours it assaults the audiences senses, in the most intense and at times beautiful way, not one for the fainthearted, but must be watched with an audience to fully realise it’s potential.
Link posted at 11:03
11/10/2009
» HMV to show films via their 'instore cinema'
Bad news for cinemas, but an interesting experiment. Has anyone had a chance to attend this yet?
Link posted at 10:05
