Movie Theaters...A Dying Breed

Sorry! Senior year can be a crazy time...especially when you're in basketball, Scholastic Bowl and you just got a job. At a movie theater!

And because of my new place of employment, I started thinking, movie theaters are dying. It's kind of a negative thing to say, but it's true.

Let's face it. Movie theaters have been slowly dying since the invention of the television. Why go to a movie when you can watch the I Love Lucy show or The Johnny Carson Show? In your living room? In your favorite comfy chair?

Hollywood has been trying to evolve to ensure that films still do well at the box office. In the 60's, 70's  and 80's there began to be an escalating amount of violence and drugs trying to appeal to younger generations.

Netflix, Amazon Prime and Online Streaming has presented new problems that may lead to the death of the movie theater. However, Carmike Cinemas and AMC Theaters are just two of the companies going out of their way to get people back through their doors.

For example. I work at the new Ovation Dining Club in Bloomington, Illinois. It used to be the Palace 10 or something like that. That is, it was until the new Wehrenberg Galaxy 13 opened across town. In general, people like the Galaxy far better than the Starplex or the Palace. So, sadly, the Palace closed.

That is, it was closed until Carmike decided to renovate it.

Opening sometime at the beginning of February, the Ovation Dining Club will offer a new experience than any other offered in Central Illinois. Movie-goers will now be able to order meals to go with their movie which will be delivered to them in their seats in the theater. And this isn't anything like a hot dog or a hamburger with fries. Customers will be able to enjoy full, legitimate meal. If you don't want to see a movie, but you still want to enjoy the meals or specials at the Ovation Dining Club, then you can eat in in the restaurant.

I, personally, think that it is a genius idea. People go to dinner and a movie all the time. So why not save the gas money and go straight to the theater? Now, I don't know what the prices will be, but the specials that I have heard of include $2 Sliders, Bottomless Pizza and of course alcoholic beverages.

Although movie theaters may decrease in size, they will never totally disappear. Not if chains like Carmike Cinemas keep up what they're doing now.

Ant Man Human Sized Trailer

In case you didn't catch the premiere of the human sized trailer last night after Agent Carter, take a look right here.

Ant-Man...

So the other day I was on Facebook and I noticed the trending sidebar.

Normally, I don't pay any attention to it due to the fact that I'm a hipster and I don't care what the world thinks is popular. Just kidding, I just really don't care. But then two words caught my eye: Ant-Man.

Another superhero movie? Yes! Please! I know that I don't recognize the hero's name very well, but then again I didn't know who Guardians of the Galaxy were and look how that turned out!

I was excited to say the least. So I clicked on the link and found myself at a teaser trailer. Little did I know, because I was too oblivious to pay attention to the key words in the teaser's name, that it was an ant-sized trailer. There was nothing but a tiny little rectangle that appeared with flashing images that were to small to recognize followed by the obnoxiously large title: Ant-Man.

The human sized trailer, where we will actually be able to view the images, will premiere tonight with the new seven part series Agent Carter.

When you think about it, it's a very good advertising strategy and I applaud Marvel Studios for not only getting publicity for Ant-Man but Agent Carter as well. Even though a majority of people will simply wait until the trailer is online, which won't be long, it's still a good way to get the word out. 

For a more comic review of this trailer check out this link below to a blogger I love to read!

Adorkification's "Thank you Marvel Studios, thank you..."

And on a side note, if you have read the blog post above, I do have to disagree with the fact that Marvel could have come out with this trailer shortly after the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron trailers were released. The new Avengers, which comes out on May 1, 2015,  probably would have overshadowed the Ant-Man trailers which hits the big screen in July on the 17th. Marvel made a good move. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Dystopian societies.
Divergent, The Giver, The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games.
These are all dystopian book movie adaptations that have hit the big screen in the past year or so. Some have even said that the film industry has become too saturated with dictators trying to maintain the "perfect" society. Many of these are series that still have additional movies to succeed them.

However, before any of these end, the story that started it all will have its grand finale. And the grande finale has begun.

Now, when I first heard that this film would be split into two films I asked myself, "What the hell are they thinking? It has less than 400 pages? What are they going to do?" I trusted the filmmakers to do a good job though. After The Hunger Games and Catching Fire adaptations, I put a little faith into the filmmakers. Unfortunately, I believe that little bit of faith was a little bit too much.

After watching the previews for several months, I was beyond excited. The teaser trailers with President Snow and Peeta by his side thrilled me. The idea of how they were going to pull Katniss together again enthralled me even more, but there arose a problem when I went to see the movie last Saturday.

As much as I sat there, wanting to love it and wanting to be disgusted, repulsed and angered, it just didn't happen. Even when *SPOILER* Katniss sees all the dead bodies of those who died in District 12 I thought to myself, "I need to be crying. This should be sending shivers down my back and making my hair stand on end." But it just didn't. Liam Hemsworth sat there and blamed himself for all the deaths and I still felt like I was missing something. Heck, when Jennifer Lawrence sang "Hanging Tree" I felt nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

Whether it was because I had read the books or maybe I was expecting too much from the film, it was not what I wanted it to be. Honestly, the 2-part finale probably should have been consolidated into one movie. But looking on the bright side, once both movies are released on DVD and I can watch them back to back, I feel like it will be a lot better.

So if you haven't caught Mockingjay Part 1 yet, wait. Trust me. Unless you work at a movie theater and can see it for free, it's probably better if you wait until it's out on DVD to buy or rent.

Robin Williams

This past year, we lost a lot of great talent. Lauren Bacall, Mickey Rooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman. The list goes on. One of those losses included Robin Williams and he is the one I would like to focus on for now because I grew up with him. And I don't want to focus on the sad details of his death, but the his crowning achievements of the past.

Robin on the Johnny Carson Show

Good Morning Vietnam Best Scenes

Robin William's Salute to the Flag

Dead Poet's Society

He was not only brilliant and funny, but he showed depth while still managing to make us laugh. Rest in peace, Mr. Williams.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes *SPOILERS*

When word of the revival of this classic franchise first reached my ears, I wasn't sure what to think. After the new Star Trek films, part of me was hopeful. However, I, like an logical person, know that remakes don't always live up to their predecessors.

I remember watching Charlton Heston trying to survive the much evolved planet that he landed on only to find out that it was Earth. I was only a kid then and the idea of it all entertained me so much. However, I have since grown up and although I appreciate the good action movie with no greater meaning to it at all except for the explosions, I love a good movie that I can analyze, with meaning and depth.

The first remake was great. The relationship between Will, his father and Caesar tugged at my heart. However, this film has brought it to a new level. The relationships between Caesar, his son, Koba and Malcolm are all things you want to see develop.

In addition, through the film, you see a variety of themes that are executed with precision. Forgiveness, how we fear the things that we don't understand and the good people and creatures in our world being few and far in between.

I think what really clinched this movie together for me was at the end when Caesar and Malcolm stand together. As Malcolm informs Caesar that the human military has been contacted, Caesar tells Malcolm to go. He tells him the humans will not forgive and there is no avoiding the war now. Malcolm is disappointed and says that he thought they had had a chance to work together and coexist peacefully. Caesar says, "I did, too." I wish I had a clip of it, but it is a really amazing scene. I think it speaks volumes of the human race and how no matter how many good, strong leaders we have, there will always be people who screw up the peace and push for war.

And finally last but least, we can't forget Andy Serkis.

The man is a genius. He is so talented and expressive it's down right scary. Although Caesar is an ape, Andy brings such humanity to him it's astonishing. You can almost always tell what he is feeling or why he is doing the things that he does without any dialogue or in this case (most of the time) sign language.

I highly recommend this movie. The acting from everyone isn't the best, but seriously, guys...Andy Serkis. If you're not a broke high school student or college kid, I suggest buying the DVD. If you are broke, rent it for sure. It's good for some excitement, or if you're like me, a little philosophical thinking.