Thursday, September 2, 2010
Have you been holding your breath for that live action Pokemon movie? Breathe man, breathe! “Battle League Horumo” is here to sate your craving for seeing Japanese students make small creatures fight their battles for them. Actually, the small sprites know as Oni that fight in the battles remind me a lot more of Nintendo’s “Pikmin.” They even make the same sound when they die.
Loveable creatures just waiting to be bossed around
This movie is fairly light and feel good, so don’t expect the character relationships to be any deeper than your typical teen-targeted anime film. Though this film was probably targeted at teens and tweens in Japan, it feels like a very PG film. In other words, fun for the whole family! Pry that DS from Jimmy’s fingers and give him some culture at your local art house cinema. He might just thank you.
your faithful GI blogger—dan (Friday night concessionaire)
Sleepy Eyes of Death - Data Grave video
A few months ago, local photographer Patrick Wright asked us if we’d lend the cinema for a scene in a music video he was shooting. Within our capabilities this is something we will do most of the time, especially when the video is for one of our favorite bands, Sleepy Eyes of Death. So we let them in, he shot some magical scenes in the booth and cinema, and they went off gallivanting around town to finish it. The GI and a silhouetted yours truly are in it for about the first 40 seconds and from there it spirals into a nightmare of brainwash and baptism. I can’t get Vimeo video to embed here, so here’s the link to the video.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Yet another two films to blow your mind this weekend.
First up is a fresh-faced debut feature film (alliteration!) from writers/directors Ben Chace and Sam Fleischner boasting an interesting blend of reggae and New York indie music. The film features music and appearances from bands such as MGMT and Yeasayer, both of whom recently played awesome sets at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party. Also appearing in the film as Sean Bones’ girlfriend is multiple Grammy winner Norah Jones.
Bones + Jones
While watching the trailer I got a bit of a young Cillian Murphy vibe from lead man Sean Bones. The film has a great look to it, filled with vibrant clean colors and lively Jamaican scenery. Come for this film, but stay for the late night.
Late night is the great night when we’re showing a classic 80s gem like “Amazon Women on the Moon.” Really a collection of sketches featuring reoccurring characters, this send up of TV clichés will have you laughing out loud. My personal favorites include David Alan Grier as the hilarious singing “black man without soul,” a funeral wake turned roast with real life roasting greats (look for Rip Taylor and his confetti), and Ed Begley Jr. as “the Son of the Invisible Man.”
‘Twill be a good weekend at the Grand Illusion. Showtimes for “Wah Do Dem” are at 7 and 9 pm Friday – Thursday and “Amazon Women on the Moon” at 11 pm Friday + Saturday.
We’re rocking a “doc block” at the Grand Illusion right now.
Currently showing is Jessica Oreck’s “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo.” For those of you still pumped after watching the TV miniseries “Life,” this gorgeous documentary throws more insects at you than you can shake a stick at. Though you wouldn’t want to shake a stick at them, because that would anger the beetle queen.
The beetle queen when she's not conquering
The film goes further than merely observing the natural world, but reflects on Japanese philosophy and cultural obsessions, the namesake beetles in particular. The narration may feel a bit unncessary at times, but the colorful imagery and rich soundtrack (natural and musical) make this documentary well above par.
Starting Friday, August 6 is a more traditional style documentary, Leslie Zemeckis’ “Behind the Burly Q.” This film delves into the rich history of America’s burlesque shows, centering mainly on the biggest stars of the first half of the 20th century. This film is not the vibrant stimulation that is “Beetle Queen,” rather it takes a storied collection of tales of the golden age of American burlesque, told by many of the stars themselves, and sheds light on this nearly forgotten cousin of vaudeville. Don’t expect to see any examples of modern burlesque, but maybe the film will inspire you to visit some of the great burlesque acts around Seattle.
If you’re like me and felt mainstream summer movies already peaked with Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece “Inception,” come feed your newly blown mind with these tasty morsels nightly at 7:00 and 9:00 for both weeks.
your faithful new GI blogger—dan (Friday night concessionaire)
About a month ago, the Grand Illusion Cinema hit a moment of uncertainty. Memberships and ticket sales were low and we had some unexpected expenses pop up. Without many options—we have no paid staff to cut, no major costs to slash besides what it takes to show movies on 35mm film—we sent a plea to the community for help and got it. Some local news outlets picked up our story and we wound up with nearly 50 new and renewed members. Thank you!
So things have evened out a little bit for now, but we still need new members and plenty of your ongoing support. If you’re not a member, please consider joining. You get reduced admission, you can bring a friend for free on Tuesdays, and deduct the cost from your taxes among other things. Sign up for our newsletter and get a weekly update to keep us on your radar. Then come see some movies! Even if you’re not a member, our $8 general admission price is one of the lowest in town. We’re not some faceless multiplex theater, we’re a cozy, non-profit theater that’s part of your community, run by volunteers who love movies.
We’re planning a real, live fundraiser in September to help keep us running steady in the coming year. Nothing too fancy or outrageously complicated, just movies, drinks, and some fun stuff to be determined. Join the newsletter and keep your eyes peeled!
Thanks!
Showing now at the Grand Illusion: two of John Waters’ greatest films! John Waters’ films are certainly shocking and gross at times, but they have a charm all their own shining through. His regular cast (nicknamed “Dreamlanders”) has the sort of inexplicable and bizarre screen presence that keeps you glued to the screen, even if they aren’t exactly easy on the eyes.
“Pink Flamingos” is truly an entertaining film, putting to shame more recent shock comedies such as the “Scary Movie” series. Where else will you see the white trash lifestyle portrayed so glamorously? Where else will you see a fully-grown woman sitting in a crib asking to eat nothing but eggs? And let’s not forget great lines like “Someone has sent me a bowel movement!” and “Hold these goddamn chickens!”
“Female Trouble” is the real gem here; Waters packs it full of even funnier lines (“I’m moving to Detroit to find happiness in the auto industry”) and funnier scenes (Divine leaping on a trampoline and throwing dead fish at an audience full of pretentious art hipsters).
And the number one reason to see these films: David Lochary’s moustache, the only moustache more gleefully deviant than Waters’ himself!
Moustache of Champions!
Come down to the Grand Illusion and see these camp classics while you can in glorious 35mm. Pink Flamingos continues through Thursday playing at 7 and 9 pm, Female Trouble starts this Friday, July 23, at 7 and 9 pm.
your faithful new GI blogger—dan (Friday night concessionaire)
Poster by our very own Beny!
The Grand Illusion proudly presents two classic films from the king of B-movie sleaze, John Waters! We start our mini-series on Friday, July 16th with Waters’ notorious, Pink Flamingos (“…bad taste with an aggressively offensive edge never seemed so relevant.” The Onion A.V. Club). Then on Friday, July 23rd prepare yourself for one of the sleaziest films of his career, Female Trouble (“Camp is too elegant a word to describe it all.” Variety).
We have never been so proud! Our very own saturday projectionist, Kate Abel, is on the front page photo for the world record breaking zombie walk… Check out the link here: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/97770819.html
On Saturday August 7th at the Grand Illusion Cinema, the Portland Grindhouse Film Festival presents an OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU DOUBLE FEATURE. The only known 35mm prints of two of the greatest kung fu movies ever made will be shown: INVINCIBLE POLE FIGHTER (at 7pm) and THE MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING (at 9pm). Grindhouse Film Festival organizer Dan Halsted will be on hand to talk about his attempts to save this unjustly maligned genre on 35mm, and his adventure last year unearthing the largest collection of these films in the Western Hemisphere. See photos from this story here: http://salvagingshaolin.blogspot.com/ Find more information on the Portland Grindhouse Film Festival here: http://grindhousefilmfest.com/
