Mid-Year Movie Roundup

So far this year, I've seen the following movies (in chronological order):

Gran Torino
Coraline (3D)
Polytechnique
Monsters vs. Aliens (IMAX 3D)
State Of Play
Earth (twice)
Star Trek (twice)
Up (once each in 2D and 3D; I prefer the 2D version)
Food, Inc.

I must say that I haven't seen any outright stinkers yet; at the very least, I've gained a fun experience from every movie. The more memorable movies from this list, however, have offered more than just pure entertainment - they've also given me topics to think about long after the final credits have rolled.

I plan to see My Sister's Keeper later this morning, even though it looks like a tearjerking chick flick (albeit, one based on a book with an interesting premise). The last time I cried at the movies was while watching Seven Pounds, and given my tendency not to cry at emotional entertainment, I vowed that I wouldn't tear up. Boy, did I ever eat crow on that one.

In the near future, I definitely want to see Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen in IMAX, despite the bad reviews it's earned. Julie and Julia also looks interesting, if only to see an acting legend (Meryl Streep) and a breakout star (Amy Adams).

ETX = A-OK

I previously said that I was planning to see Star Trek in ETX at AMC's Yonge-Dundas location. I did that this morning and, for what it's worth, ETX gets more than a passing grade. I'm not saying that it gives IMAX a run for it's money, but I was suitably impressed.

Star Trek's visuals were already amazing in the regular version, so I don't think there was any significant improvement in the ETX version. On this subject, though, I must say that I felt ripped off a bit. ETX boasts a "20% larger floor-to-ceiling screen," but the movie didn't even use all of it. This may have been due to the movie's dimensions, but if IMAX-formatted movies can make the necessary adaptations, surely they can be done for ETX.

One area where ETX proved itself very capable was the sound. We're dealing with "11-channel surround sound with 57,000 watts of power" (direct quote), and the wattage really made itself evident whenever the bass frequencies were involved. When it comes to sound (or music), I particularly pay attention to the lower frequencies; boy, did they get a workout here.

If my suspicions prove correct and Transformers 2 ends up screening at AMC in ETX, I may very well pony up the additional two dollars and check it out.

Set Phasers To Stunning

I was going to see Earth for the second time, but that plan got scuttlebutted. I didn't wake up early enough to do what I needed to do before attempting to catch the 10:30 a.m. screening. That's okay, though - I ended up watching Star Trek and it turned out to be worth every penny of the six-dollar admission price. This is one movie which probably benefits from IMAX, but I honestly didn't miss it at all.

I also didn't miss the recently-implemented Enhanced Ticket Experience (ETX) which, upon a casual glance, looks like AMC's answer to IMAX. It seems as if only the Yonge-Dundas location offers this feature, which includes a "20% larger floor-to-ceiling screen, 11-channel surround sound with 57,000 watts of power, and 8.8 million pixels providing 4X the resolution of HD" (quoted from AMC's movie listings). It also offers a two-dollar surcharge because there's always a catch. I'm offhandedly inclined to think that IMAX comes out on top, but you can see what IMAX offers for yourself.

In any event, I plan to see Star Trek again, likely in ETX for comparison's sake. I hope it's solid; AMC's Yonge-Dundas location may very well be screening Transformers 2, and I was definitely looking forward to seeing that in IMAX!

Plans For The Weekend #2

I was planning to see the new X-Men Origins movie tomorrow morning for $6.00, but seeing the middling reviews that it's getting, I might scrap that plan. By contrast, Star Trek comes out next week, but it's already earning positive reviews. Mind you, future reviews could lower the average critical ratings, but if enough of them say that you don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy the movie, then I'll probably check it out (in IMAX, if possible).

In any event, I definitely plan to attend The Clothing Show on Saturday evening. I attended the last edition in the fall of 2008 and I was pretty impressed with one of the runway shows. Many designers are featured, although they tend to cater mostly to women. Not that I'm complaining... ;-)

A few years ago at the very first Clothing Show I attended, I scored a vintage Mr. Yuk shirt. I still wear it every summer; it's one of my favourites because I'm not likely to see anyone else wearing it.

Oh yes - can't forget to play lots and lots of N! I'm currently trying to get past episode nine.

Enthralled by "Earth"

I watched Earth this morning, just as I planned to do - and I was very impressed. These days, studios rely on gimmicks like 3D and IMAX in order to attract moviegoers, so it's refreshing to see a nature-based documentary where the "characters" do the talking (along with the narrator, James Earl Jones). Not that I have anything against these gimmicks when done right, like in Coraline and Monsters vs. Aliens.

There were scenes of humour, heartbreak, terror and beauty throughout. As a matter of fact, I almost cried at two points, but I won't reveal them in order to avoid spoiling the movie. All I'll say is that you'll be amazed and awestruck by the wonder that is our planet and its inhabitants. You'll also wonder how the heck the production team "did that" and you'll do it often; watch for one scene where the camera goes over a waterfall and then turns around to face it. Wow...

This is one movie I hope to see again. It makes me look forward to Disneynature's next film, Oceans, which arrives on Earth Day in 2010.