Movies Scheduled 2/28-3/5

It is the big time for movies, Oscar day! If you haven't already heard Big Fan Boy is having his A Night of Hollywood Gold at the Angelika. It starts at 6 p.m. so you can watch the Oscars with your movie buddies and have a blast!! Plus he has some cool stuff to give away!

If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com.

Sunday Feb. 28th

A Night of Hollywood Gold Angelika Dallas


Monday Feb. 29th

Zootopia Cinemark Alliance, AMC Northpark, Cinemark 17
The Brothers Grimsby Alamo Drafthouse


Tuesday March 1st

London Has Fallen Angelika Dallas
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Angelika Dallas and AMC Northpark


Wednesday March 2nd

London Has Fallen AMC Northpark and SMG Royal


Thursday March 3rd


Friday March 4th


Saturday March 5th

Eddie the Eagle

Opening:
I like a good, inspirational underdog story but this one didn’t sit right in my cinema stomach. When Hugh Jackman is one of the weakest parts, you know you have a problem. Let’s get reel and break this down.


Plot:
The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.


Directing/Writing


Pros:
I appreciated the director’s attention to the ski jumping scenes providing an engrossing, intense experience providing unique camera angles and edited in a slick way.
 
Cons:
Here are the major issues I had with this film and I need to break it down into sections. That’s right, a section within a section. I have entered a review inception:
 
Story: This is a basic underdog story and it’s way too optimistic all the time, border lining cartoony, not exploring the character enough and it seems one dimensional.
 
Tone: With its extremely overcooked optimism, it didn’t work with the few dramatic scenes it did present. They seemed out of place.
 
Main Character: I am sure the real-life Eddie Edwards is a great guy and I am sure he was unique in his personality adding a human element to the Olympics; however, the way he is portrayed in the film is a caricature and it wasn’t appealing. And if he was this way in real-life, tone it down a bit for the movie and add more subtlety to the portrayal.
 
Side Characters: Everyone in this movie was either one-note or underdeveloped, completely pointless and didn’t add anything for the story, or portrayed as a terrible person and always bring Eddie down…even after he made it to the Olympics. The commentators of the Olympics even harped on him, come on, let’s calm that down.
 
Acting


Pros:
Even though I don’t particularly care for the characters, I can’t blame the actors because they were directed that way. Everyone was ok and we get to see Hugh Jackman’s “Oh” face…that was interesting and awkward to see what Wolverine is like in bed.
 
Cons:
Christopher Walken was pointless being the movie for about two minutes and shoe-horned in at the very end, feeling forced and cheesy beyond belief.


Cinematography


Pros:
The actual ski jumping scenes have some creative angles making the jumpers look like they are floating on air, bringing that effect onto the audience making us feel like we are there.
 
Cons:
Some of the other scenes were lit very bright (like the optimism of Eddie’s character) but it looked like a set and didn’t have a sense of realism to it.


Editing/Special Effects


Pros:
The quickest parts of the film were the competition scenes other than that…
 
Cons:
…the humor and tone made the film even slower for me and I just wanted it to be done. The green screen effects were lackluster and looked kind of bad in some shots.         


Overall:
I know it sounds like I am tearing this movie apart but there some good aspects about it but I thought they were surround by more bad aspects. If you like underdog stories, I still would recommend this. For me personally, I won’t watch this movie again.
 

Grade: C-
(Review by Chase Lee)

Triple 9

The police code 999 means “officer down”. In this film written by Matt Cook and directed by John Hilcoat, triple 9 takes on a sinister and convoluted tale of crime and betrayal. Filled with an all star cast, it's sometimes hard to get a grasp on the who's and whys of the plot. The story hits the ground running with a bank robbery by a well trained crew of bad guys that turn out to be police officers. Then Kate Winselt shows up playing a cold blooded Russian mafia boss. No denying the movie is a thrill ride.

Michael Atwood (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is the leader of the crew setting the job for the heist. The reasons why are slowing revealed as he's the father of the mafia queen's sister's son. Irina Vlasolv (Kate Winselt) is shown reading stories to the little boy being the kind and caring aunt, then the next minute she is sending off a young couple to a messy demise. Atwood is roped into doing another job for Irina with his son's life on the line. Irina is trying to get her husband out of jail in another country. The evidence she needs to squash is in the Atlanta Homeland Security Depot, which is almost impossible to breach. The only way to get in is to divert the police. And nothing is more diverting than a call of “officer down”.

The crew once worked with Atwood an ex-Special Forces soldier for Black Water. Some of the crew came back to civilian life getting jobs as cops. Russel (Norman Reedus) brings his brother Gabe (Aaron Paul) into the mix. Gabe used to be a cop but was fired. He put the bank heist in jeopardy by stealing some of the cash, which blows up with red smoke in the getaway van. This leads to a car chase and shootout. Gabe who is already a liability to the crew is not comfortable by the new plan of triple 9. He tries to get his brother to not go through with it until there is a game changing tragedy. Meanwhile Detective Allen (Woody Harrelson) has been put in charge investigating the bank heist. He doesn't know that his nephew Chris Allen (Casey Affleck) has been given a new partner Marcus (Anthony Mackie), who is part of the crew.

The neo-noir thriller is filled with grounded in reality urban crime like gang battles and the actual police work. The story builds up slowly adding character development about the who's and why's while rolling like a boulder downhill gathering speed. Detective Allen relies on his police instincts in connecting the dots, while Marcus is fighting his own guilt in having to take down a fellow officer so they can do the next job. There's lots of violence, severed heads, Winselt eating up the screen as a truly cold calculating mafia queen. As good as the cast is, the story seems mired down in trying to explain much between action sequences, keeping the audience questions at bay. Despite it's faults, it's a taunt well made dark film that is if nothing else entertaining.
(Review by reesa)

Gods of Egypt

The CGI heavy film directed by Alex Royas and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless is filled with a competent and famous cast, but is definitely an entry into the WTF genre. There is nothing here grounded in reality. It's a video game run amok with stuff seen in other fantasy films. It's a visual treat, and you truly can expect the unexpected. The film did receive some backlash for it's predominately Caucasian cast of Egyptian characters for which the director and Lionsgate apologized. It was still made.

In this world of gods ruling ancient Egypt, King Osiris (Bryan Brown) is set to crown his son Horus, god of Wind (Nikolaj Costner-Waldau) at a huge ceremony sort of like those old cast of thousands movies complete with painted backdrops. The beloved King was set upon the throne by his father the Sun god Ra (Geoffrey Rush). Osiris's brother Set (Gerard Butler) was sent away from the kingdom and riches and of course harbors a power jealousy. So he usurps the crowning by killing everyone who disagrees. Gods apparently can be killed, even though they are giant compared to their human subjects and their blood is gold. They can also transform into gold plated warriors, some with wings. Set steals Horus's eyes that hold special powers and takes over the country by enslaving the populace and denying their entry into the eternal afterlife if they cannot pay.

Zaya (Courtney Eaton) is a Horus fan and encourages Bek (Brenton Thwaites) to break into the trap filled vault to get the eyes and give them to the Horus who is holed up in his parents tomb feeling sorry for himself. Bek being an ingenious thief manages to elude the horrific booby traps, but there is only one eye. Zaya is caught giving the plans from the builder master Urshu (Rufus Sewell) and is shot with an arrow. Bek begs Horus to help him bring her back to life, since he's a god in exchange he can get the other eye. Horus does not have all the power he needs with just one eye, so he asks his grandfather Ra for help and gets the power back long enough to go to him. Up in space, in a sort of spaceship, which is tethered to the sun and battles a space worm that is constantly threatening to eat up earth. (Phew!).

Bek and Horus set off on their quest to destroy Uncle Set's power which is underground. If they pour the water of creation into it, Set will be destroyed. They are aided by Set's Queen Hathor, goddess of love, and Horus's lover before she married Set to save her life and that of Horus. They also need the help of the god of wisdom, Thoth (Chadwick Boseman who is wonderfully campy) to answer the riddle of the Spinx. They cross deserts and fight monsters while Bek and Horus develop a friendship despite their differences. It's a never ending series of crisis with love conquering all, of course. Despite the whole weirdness of this universe, it will offer an afternoon of silly mindless entertainment that is quickly forgotten.
(Review by reesa)

Eddie the Eagle with Red Carpet Event Pictures

This is a film that doesn’t come around every day. With its specificity and clean execution, Eddie The Eagle soars into the hearts of an all-ages audience with the ultimate underdog story. The story follows Michael “Eddie” Edwards, a persistent wannabe Olympian, who from a young age struggles with athletics. His parents are loving and his mother supports him through all the broken surroundings while his father doesn’t understand his son. Eddie, after failing to go to the Olympics with down-hill skiing, goes to a ski jumping resort where he begins his journey to the 1988 Calgary Olympics. The film really focused on Eddie’s courage, ambition, and diligence which I thought was done in a remarkable way and was an excellent move. In the beginning, we see an adorable child go through several broken glasses while his patient and caring mother keeps on encouraging him. When the mother says to the youngster that he’ll need his lunch box to put all his medals in, we feel the warmth and touching sweetness of her love. Eddie, who was played in an exact way by Taron Egerton, is a different and clumsy person. Because of his gentle and charming characteristics, we know exactly how people back then fell for him in a huge way. Ski jumping is constantly put to our faces as an extremely dangerous sport by the film. When one watches Eddie watch the ski jumping video for the first time, they feel shock and chills with the bone breaking while Eddie just subtly grimaces. That tiny scene in little words shouted out Eddie’s willingness to go way over the bar. Bronson Peary, a fictional coach played by Hugh Jackman, is a quick witted veteran of ski jumping who finally devotes his time to Eddie not killing himself on a mess up. Jackman has the spot on American accent, muscular build, and deliverance of lines to pull the character off completely. There’s one scene where Peary is about to do the 90m jump, the highest in the resort, while he’s intoxicated. After a brilliant choice in the script to put a cigarette in his mouth, he dives down and lands in a sports fantasy-like scene. Taron Egerton is a relative newcomer who recently starred in Kingsman: The Secret Service. He nails Eddie’s under bite and character in a researched method. This is a film that every person can watch and the story is so unordinary that one has to be reminded of its truth.
(Review by Wyatt Head)

Movies Scheduled 2/21-2/27

Good morning all!

Not a ton of movies this week. I hope everyone got passes to the movies they want to see!!

Just remember they normally over book the movies so if you don't get there early then there is a chance you won't get in or if you do get in you won't get the best seat. I hope this helps y'all out!

If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com.


Sunday Feb. 21st


Monday Feb. 22nd


Tuesday Feb. 23rd

Triple 9 Cinemark 17 and AMC Northpark


Wednesday Feb. 24th

Eddie The Eagle Angelika Dallas
Gods of Egypt AMC Northpark


Thursday Feb. 25th

London Has Fallen Angelika Dallas


Friday Feb. 26th


Saturday Feb. 27th

Risen

Opening:
I am not a fan of religious films nor am I a religious person. I think the producers of most religious films churn them out without any care really taking advantage of the core audience that goes to see them. But hey, I am an idiot and it’s just my opinion. So, how is this one? Let’s get reel and break this down.


Plot:
Follows the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.


Directing/Writing


Pros:
Director Kevin Reynolds crafts an interesting story with a different perspective told through the eyes of a non-believer versus a traditional religious film focusing mainly on Jesus or a follower of sorts. This makes the film more intriguing told from a different voice as well as having a better and more satisfying character arc from the main character.
 
Cons:
There were a few scenes where it was a little hokey for me and took me out of the movie for a bit and some of the side characters were kind of flat or over-the-top.


Acting


Pros:
Joseph Fiennes was fantastic in the main role and carried the film. His arc as a character was great to witness because he portrays an actual human being. What I mean by that is a person who questions life: why are we here? What is our purpose? He looks for answers in some areas in life and thinks he knows everything about others. His beliefs are questioned and he is forever changed and that makes a great arc. There were also a few scenes containing Fiennes that impressed me on an Oscar calibrated level. The other huge plus is that, I think, this is the first religious movie to portray Jesus as an actual Arab Jew and not like someone popped out of a Hollister ad.
 
Cons:
Besides a couple side characters, the rest of the cast was ok at best. No one was bad, just serviceable.


Cinematography


Pros:
The night scenes are filmed with great lighting and add a historical atmosphere that grounds the story.
 
Cons:
I don’t know if it’s the sets that were used or what, but every time it was daytime it had a sterile made for TV look to it. So maybe the sets at night were lit better?


Editing/Special Effects


Pros:
The interest of the story had me hooked after Jesus left the tomb and almost felt like a mystery suspense/drama providing a good pace to it.
 
Cons:
The first ten minutes, not going to lie, were a bit rough and I didn’t see it recovering but I was ultimately wrong.
 
Overall:
Listen…I am not the target audience for religious movies but I give every movie a chance and go in with an open mind. Is this the best movie ever or an awards winner? No. But what I can tell you is that when I was in that theater for an hour and fifty minutes I was entertained, simple as that.
 

Grade: B-
(Review by Chase Lee)

The Witch

It's been so long since there has been a truly scary movie that doesn't rely on scenes that are designed to make you jump and giggle. A movie that will get under your skin and visit your dreams. The new feature written and directed by Robert Eggers tries really hard to be that film. The atmosphere, the music, the sets, costumes and the language spoken by the characters lends an authentic weirdness that gives one hope that something really creepy is going to happen. Eggers has an eye for details from the hand sew clothing and the even the eating utensils. Everything is painstakingly on point. One just wishes there was more to the story.

It's the 17th century and life is run tightly in a small Puritan village. One particular family is banished from the patriarch's refusal to kowtow to the leaders. They pack their meager belongings and leave the safety of the fortified plantation to the unknown countryside. They rejoice to find a pretty setting at the edge of a wood to build their new life. Things seem to be doing well for a time, but one day while their oldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) is playing peek-a-boo with the her infant brother when he mysteriously disappears. Things begin to fall apart for the family quickly afterwards. The mother, Katherine (Kate Dickie) stays in her bed crying and praying. Her father William (Ralph Ineson) worries about their crop of corn not being able to get them through the winter and takes out the oldest boy Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw) to check on their animal traps in the woods. While Tomasin is left the care of the young twins Mercy and Jonas (Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson) who misbehave and tease the black horned goat they call Black Phiilip.

The overly devote Calvinist parents constantly preach their brand and gloom and doom to their children feeding the superstitious fear of witches for anything unexplained. So when Thomasin scares the twins by telling them how she made a pact with the devil, they all scream that she is a witch when bad luck seems to befall them. Their fear and paranoia runs amok leading to an ultimate tragedy. The naked crazy lady in the woods (Bathsheba Garnett) that is apparently the source of their trials is never fully explained. The real devil is the human failings of pride and an blind adherence to some religious dogma that seems to perplex people even today.

Anya Taylor-Joy is wonderful as the young girl who is becoming a woman. Her awareness of her world turning in on its self is amazing to watch as everyone she loves attack her. The parents are equally disturbing as they wallow in their guilt and prayer hoping for redemption they wouldn't have found even if it slapped them across the head. The film won the Directing Award at the 2015 Sundance Festival which gives it some cred. But for non festival viewing movie goers, it may be too slow and ponderous with the Early American language of thee's and thou's. But one thing you will find most disturbing of all will be those weird twins.
(Review by reesa)

Race

With the upcoming Summer Olympics coming, it's a perfect time for a biopic about the great African American athlete Jesse Owens. Supported by the Owens family, the Jesse Owens Foundation, the Jesse Owens Trust and the Luminary Group, the new film directed by Stephen Hopkins hits the screen with an inspirational story. The Owens family had final script approval to make sure that the writers Joe Shraphel and Anna Waterhouse stuck to the facts. The film not so subtly suggests some comparisons from the racism that Owens faced not only in his school but from the Nazi's at the Olympics, that unfortunately still persists to this day.

Stephan James plays Jesse as a young man who is heading to college wearing a nice jacket made by his mom and the pride of his father. He leaves his poor small home promising to marry his girlfriend Ruth (Shanice Banton) and their three year old daughter. Ohio State University's track team was having a bad couple years with their new coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudekis), who notices the running times of Jesse then offers him a chance to possibly aim for the 1936 Olympics. The film covers the struggles of dealing with having to listen to the hostile attitudes of the racist students and teachers. Jesse is also trying to earn money working at a gas station and fit in his practice and studies. Snyder and Owens build a friendship over the years as Jesse begins to break records at track meets. He's earns the title of the fastest man in world by the press.

While Jesse trains for the upcoming Olympics in Berlin, the world is watching the country as Hitler begins his reign of terror in Germany. The U.S. Olympic committee considers not participating due to the human rights violations and the pressures of the public. They send Avery Brundage (Jeremy Irons) to talk to the Germans whose Olympic committee is run by Joseph Goebbels (Barnaby Metschurat). Avery wants the Swastika removed from the streets and Olympic arena. The horrific treatment of the Jews to be out of sight and they can not restrict non-white athletes and Jews from competing. Goebbels had hired filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl (Carice van Houten) to film a propaganda documentary of the Olympics to the glory of the new Nazi Germany. Leni ends up including all of Owen's medal record wins over the German competitors. Despite the fame and honor of winning, Jesse is still treated poorly when he can't even attend a dinner in his honor by making him and his wife walk through the back door through the kitchens.

The Olympics are supposed to be about the athletes competing against the best from other countries, and politics be dammed. But Owens was pressured by the NAACP not to go to send a message about the Nazi's policies towards Jews and people of color. The choice he made sent a bigger message when he brought home a record four gold medals.
(Review by reesa)

Movies Scheduled for the Week of Feb 14 – Feb 20

Now that the Deadpool madness has ended, we can all get back to entering contests and getting our own passes. Keep in mind the moderators do not personally have passes to hand out to y'all. We have to fill out forms and hope for the best like everyone else. We see the same people every week requesting passes from others. So please, don't wait until the last minute!

Hope everyone is enjoying the great weather!


February 14 – February 20

Sunday
2/14

Monday
2/15

Burn Witch Burn – 9:45 pm – Alamo Drafthouse Dallas

Tuesday
2/16

Risen – 7:00 pm – Angelika Dallas
Race – 7:30 pm – AMC Northpark
Asian Movie Madness: Let the Bullets Fly- Alamo Drafthouse Richardson

Wednesday
2/17

Busco Novio Para Mi Mujer – 7:30 pm – AMC Valley View

Thursday
2/18

Eddie The Eagle – 7:00 pm – Cinemark West

Friday
2/19

Saturday
2/20

Deadpool

Opening:
This might be one of my favorite superhero movies I have ever seen. Not only was it faithful to the insanity of Deadpool and its atmosphere, it was extremely entertaining. Is it perfect? No, but this is one superhero movie you won’t forget soon. Let’s get reel and break this down.

Plot:
A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool.

Directing/Writing

Pros:
Director Tim Miller and the writing team embrace Deadpool as a hardcore, R-rated, movie and run with it without holding back. You could see the passion behind this and it looked like Miller had a gigantic sandbox to play in and he used it to his advantage. It’s humorous, violent, crazy, and Miller adapted this character as best as possible and placed him comfortably in the X-Men universe.

Cons:
This is mostly a humor thing for me. I thought the majority of the jokes worked but I thought in some instances they were trying too hard for a laugh. In terms of the story, I thought the villain was a bit underplayed and I wanted to know more about him and the evil organization at play. The villain was enjoyable to watch and I thought he did well with what he was given, I just wanted a bit more from his character, or at the very least, go even crazier given the nature of the film.

Acting

Pros:
Ryan Reynolds is meant to play Deadpool. From the humor and down the most emotional human moments, he becomes Wade Wilson. I always knew Reynolds was great at improv but he really surprised me with the smaller moments involving his inner demons, emotions, and his relationship. The director really let the actor’s impov a lot and you can sense the fun with the actors thus springing the fun on the audience. T.J. Miller is also great and he had a better grasp at the improv than Reynolds did. The supporting cast is really good including: Ed Skrein as a great villain (definitely a step-up from Transporter Refueled), Morena Baccarin and her believable chemistry with Reynolds, and X-Men favorite Colossus and newcomer Negasonic Teenage Warhead are a nice addition as well. I also must add it’s amazing to see PG-13 X-Men in an R-rated X-Men movie and to see them cringe at the graphic violence.

Cons:
Gina Carano. Listen, I think she is a gorgeous woman who could kick my butt at any point of the week, but she can’t act. She can sell an action scene and she is awesome at delivering the choreography but she can’t deliver lines.

Cinematography

Pros:
The action scenes are gritty, exciting, and get your blood pumping adding a nice aesthetic to the overall style of the film.

Cons:
I know it has a lower budget than most superhero films but for some reason it showed a bit in some scenes. It had a TV feel to it in some areas of the movie. I won’t knock it too much because 20th Century Fox didn’t give them much to begin with. Here is to hoping the sequel is even bigger in the budget that way Deadpool can also comment on the budget of it.

Editing/Special Effects

Pros:
The pace of the film is infectious and it’s just so much fun to watch making it one of the fastest movies I have seen and one of my favorite theater experiences. The special effects of animated Deadpool were crisp, clean, and well-done for the budget they had.

Cons:
None.

Overall:
This is a superhero movie that is entertaining to the highest caliber and I had a smile on my face the whole time. Some of the humor didn’t work for me but this is about as true of an adaptation of comic book character I have seen thus far. This movie is insane, fun, gory, funny, and most importantly, refreshing in the superhero genre. This is the first one out of the gate in 2016 and the bar has been set. Your move Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Grade: B+
(Review by Chase Lee)

Zoolander 2

Opening:
This…uh…is going to be interesting. I guarantee you will be confused by my explanation and rating. This suffers from Dumb and Dumber To syndrome…kind of. Let’s get reel and break this down.

Plot:
Derek and Hansel are modelling again when an opposing company attempts to take them out from the business.

Directing/Writing

Pros:
I appreciate the passion Ben Stiller brings as a director because throughout the movie I felt like he genuinely cared in making a worthy sequel. On the most absurd and stupid level, I thought the story was creative and outlandish and, oddly enough, it fit in this Zoolander “universe”. I enjoyed the entertainment of the story on that level, however…

Cons:
This is not a funny movie. I may have smiled a few times and some things caught me off guard but there were a lot of misses. Most of the characters are wasted and it was trying way too hard to be dumb. It is a severe disappointment in this category since I enjoyed the first one quite a lot. The weirdest thing about the humor is that relied on dumb, raunchy, comedic violence, and smart humor and it didn’t have a consistent tone and was jumbled all over the place.

Acting

Pros:
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson were committed but where this movie fails is the humor and how lazy and uninspired it was unlike the first one. Kristen Wiig has a handful of funny moments that are included in the already low amount of laughs generated.

Cons:
Besides a couple of cameos, everyone was wasted or uninteresting and I was scratching my head as to why some of these actors decided to be in it. It’s hard to talk about since I don’t do spoilers and there are a lot of cameos in here.

Cinematography

Pros:
It’s a nicely shot studio movie?

Cons:
When I got my bachelors in filmmaking, I am aware that I am not a great cinematographer. I am okay at best. But for some reason, this one looked cheaper than the first one. It had a made for TV look to it, which is never a good thing.

Editing/Special Effects

Pros:
The story was entertaining enough to keep my attention.

Cons:
The pace drags at certain points when jokes go on and on and the special effects and green screen look fake and never seemed like a big budgeted studio film.

Overall:
Ok, this is weird for me to say but I actually recommend it. I like the ridiculousness of the story so much that it’s pretty magical to witness. But when it boils down to it, it’s an uneven, unfunny comedy sequel that will be forgotten. Did I confuse you? It’s ok; go see Deadpool this weekend instead.

Grade: D+

(Review by Chase Lee)

Drafthouse Does Dallas: Alamo Drafthouse to Open in Dallas Feb. 12

There's a new kid in town movie lovers. It's the first theater in downtown Dallas in 16 years. The Alamo Drafthouse has opened a new cinema in their plan for world domination. Dallas Movie Screenings was invited with other DFW press to walk through the new facility and explore what we can look forward to in the future. The beautiful new building is on the southwest corner of South Lamar and Cadiz, the beginning of the new urban area of Dallas called the Cedars. What is nice that it's near a local DART train stop at Convention Center serviced by the Red and Blue lines. The walk time was tested at 6 minutes. You can also access the theater from the Cedars Station, but we did not test that walking time. Plans for two additional locations in Las Colinas and Little Elm will be opening soon. Tarrant County is in the works, but maybe not in the city of Fort Worth.

At first the programming between the two Alamo Drafthouses will be similar with first run movies and their signature theme nights. But there will be opportunities to explore community partnerships with the local arts districts and music venues. There are other possibilities to have a role in the local film festivals and even bring a Dallas version of the Fantastic Fest that currently runs in Austin.

The seats and table setup are different from the Richardson location. The front row has recliner capabilities and they are 20 ft from the screen. There are tables instead of a bar in front of you, leaving you plenty of room to get up and move around if necessary. They have hired 140 movie centric employees, training them in the Alamo Drafthouse art of ninja service. From Feb 8-11, there will be a soft opening to give the new people hands on experience by offering $1 movies and ½ off food non alcoholic drinks. The theater will have it's grand opening on Feb 12, but there will still be special discounts on food for the first week or so. There's plenty of parking with over 400 spots and you don't have to worry about fighting for space from the other Southside events. Plans are in the works for an Uber station for those inclined.

Each of the lobbies of the Alamo Drafthouse has their own theme. Mondo, a sister company of the Alamo Drafthouse will be doing three original Dallas made movie posters for this location. New executive chefs will be making changes to the menus. Of course there will still be the special movie theme menus to enhance your experience. As well as a wide selection of beers on tap with and elite selection, since afterall it is called Drafthouse. There will be a bar and restaurant upstairs with an outside patio and view of Downtown Dallas. More on that later.

Attached is the official press release. Hope to see you all there!



Drafthouse Does Dallas: Alamo Drafthouse to Open in Dallas Feb. 12

Look out, Big D: Alamo Drafthouse Dallas is getting ready for its close-up with a soft opening Feb. 12. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema provides a unique combination of both theater and restaurant, showing first-run movies, independent film and other fun, alternative content while also offering delicious scratch made in-theater food and a refreshing beverage service. Entertainment Weekly dubbed Alamo Drafthouse Cinema “The Best Theater in America,” CNN International said it’s “One of the Top 10 Theaters in the World,” and Time Magazine called it “The Best Theater Ever.” Locally Alamo has earned D-MAGAZINE’s reader’s choice award for Best Theater as well as DALLAS OBSERVER’S Best Theater. Both these accolades were given to Alamo in 2014 as well as 2015.

And now, Dallasites can call it theirs.

Alamo Drafthouse Dallas will soft open Feb. 12 at 1005 S. Lamar Street, at the corner of Cadiz. Alamo Drafthouse is already a part of the neighborhood: the building itself is new construction built from bricks salvaged from other local buildings in the Cedars area that were torn down.
Combining old with new — celebrating the past while looking to the future — is a thematic not lost on Alamo Drafthouse, where there is always something fresh and new.

“There is so much diversity that our programming is never the same,” said Bill DiGaetano, COO Alamo Drafthouses DFW.  “In a given week, we can have a Mean Girls Quote-along followed by a Monty Python Quote-along, a Queen Sing-along and Taylor Swift Sing-along, or a screening of Caddyshack with Godfather Feast on the same day.”

Every theater at Alamo Drafthouse Dallas is 4K digital projection with 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound. Select theaters also have 35 mm capability for classic and repertory screenings. Every seat in Alamo Drafthouse Dallas is a luxury recliner, with the front row of seats featuring a larger chair with a deeper recline and a footrest (all at no additional charge). Additionally, this new theater will feature a 30-foot outdoor screen and four private karaoke rooms so you and your friends can sing your heart out.

Alamo Drafthouse Dallas will feature an upstairs bar with two patios, each with amazing views of downtown Dallas where guests can hang out and listen to live music, sing karaoke, or enjoy other fun parties that Alamo throws on the patio, whether or not they also see a movie while they’re there.
Hungry for more? The extensive menu at Alamo Drafthouse Dallas features an array of freshly prepared food made in-house from scratch with a wide selection of craft beers, great wines, cocktails and adult milkshakes.

Alamo’s attention to detail in film presentation and programming has made it a second home to movie fans all over the world. Alamo Drafthouse Richardson opened in 2013. This new location will be the first in the downtown Dallas area.

“We are looking forward to being in the energy and activation of the downtown Dallas area, in the Cedars, south, and Uptown Dallas,” said DiGaetano. “There is so much growth as far as residents, retail, and office that the potential for the theater is endless.   Traditionally residents who live in a downtown area are more active in regards to entertainment, restaurants, and social events.  It gives Alamo an amazing canvas to program the theater and restaurant/bar.”


Role Play Dates (Help the Alamo staff get trained!)
Feb. 8th – 11th receive 50% off Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Soft Opening
February 12th – March 8th
Feb. 12th – Feb. 14th 30% off Food and non-alcoholic beverage
Feb. 15th – Feb. 21st 15% off Food and non-alcoholic beverage
Feb. 22nd – Mar. 8th Free Order of Cookies per party

Grand Opening:
March 9th:


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Setting Alamo Apart
“People always ask us what makes Alamo different from other theaters. It is our culture and our people,” said Bill C DiGaetano, Alamo Drafthouse DFW, COO. “Alamo always has been and will always be for movie lovers, by movie lovers.”

“Since we are a theater for movie lovers, we took the 3 biggest annoyances of theater goers OUT of the Alamo equation. These include: concessions that cost more than your first car, advertisements longer than a line at the DMV, and talking/texting on cellphones during a film. At Alamo, you won’t find any of these!”

Opening Credits: Roll ‘em

Soft Opening date: Friday, Feb. 12, 2016

Location: 1005 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, Texas (at the corner of Cadiz and Lamar)

Official website: http://drafthouse.com/dfw/dallas

Social media: Hit Alamo up online, um, after the movie: facebook.com/AlamoDrafthouseDFW
twitter.com/AlamoDFW

Founder: Tim League
DFW Owner & Chief Operating Officer:Bill C. DiGaetano

Idea behind it: A Haven for Cinephiles, Foodies, and Craft Beer/Cocktail Enthusiasts. And WAY over-the-top events
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Leaders in: Presentation quality. If filmmakers put that much effort into making high-quality films, shouldn’t theaters show them the decency they deserve when showing their films? The answer is yes.

Alamo supports: Local breweries. And Alamo only serves fresh, high-quality scratch made food.
Most strict rule: No talking or texting in a theater, and Alamo means business. Patrons are given one warning, then they are asked to leave if the disruption persists. Alamo insists, however, that laughing, crying, sighing and quietly asking your better half to pass another cold beer are all OK.
Signature special effect: Ad-free custom pre-shows. No one deserves to be inundated with ads after paying for a ticket so Alamo has none. Instead, moviegoers enjoy a custom pre-show made in-house. Many times, the pre-show will be directly related to the film, so get there early.

Special events: Alamo’s known for them. Special events, Alamo-style, will begin rolling in shortly after opening.

Food and drink: Freshly prepared food made from scratch, great cocktails and wine, and 32 craft beers on tap. Drafthouse is its middle name, after all. Also, check out the signature wine series. For example, last year, Alamo partnered with The Princess Bride with the wine BOTTLE OF WITS.

Theater Specs: 7 auditoriums seating over 700 fans.

Theater Details: Every auditorium is equipped with 4K digital projection, digital 3-D and the latest in sound. Two auditoriums are equipped with two 35mm in order to project classic films the way they are meant to be seen.

Ninja-like service: Servers are so unobtrusive patrons may be startled when their food seemingly appears from thin air!

Kids: Alamo loves ‘em, and patrons are welcome to bring kids with them. Unaccompanied kids under 18, however, are never allowed at Alamo. Kids under the age of 6 are only allowed at select “baby day” screenings. G and PG films allow Children under 3.

About the Alamo Drafthouse:
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star-studded special events.

Movies Scheduled 2/7-2/13

When you go to the screenings please remember not to talk in the movie. Let the actors do the talking. I have heard from a lot of people they get frustrated due to people can't keep quiet for a hour and a half or so. You may think you are whispering but when people can hear you three or four seats over you are too loud!!

We posts contests, links, or whatever when we see them. Sure it may not be the very second it posts that is why we have asked if you see something post it. We are not always in front of the computer. Sure sometimes it may seem like we are but we are doing our very best to get the stuff to you!

If you have any questions please email me at damitdaina@hotmail.com


Sunday Feb. 7th


Monday Feb. 8th


Tuesday Feb. 9th

Zoolander 2 Angelika Dallas and Cinemark 17


Wednesday Feb. 10th

How To Be Single TBA
Deadpool Cinemark 17
Eddie The Eagle Regal MacArthur Irving


Thursday Feb. 11th


Friday Feb. 12th


Saturday Feb. 13th

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

The concept of mashing together chick lit and monsters was inspired leading to others like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter which was also made into a movie and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel had been parodied by Seth Grahame-Smith in 2009 and was immensely popular. Director Burr Steers (Charlie St. Cloud and 17 Again) who also wrote the script leaving out some elements from the book, but keeping some of the original popular romantic Jane Austen scenes, with some swords and guns in between. It's kinda like a Cliff Notes version with pictures of Zombies added to the sides of the pages. It makes for an interesting, sometimes amusing but very uneven story.

In this alternate universe, Regency England has been hit by a plague that causes those stricken to die, rise from the dead and seek out brains to eat. London had built a wall around it, then a canal was built which makes the land from the wall to the canal called the “inbetween”. There is only one bridge to connect them from the rest of the country which has learned to live with an occasional out break of bitten by everyone of class and breeding being trained in Japan to use the sword. Mr. Bennett (Charles Dance) had his family of 5 young women Shaolin Temple-trained in China. Outside of the sisters training with each other they still live like typical young women of their day, with their mother (Sally Phillips) trying to secure marriages for them with well to do young men. Even if these women warriors can hold their own with a horde of undead, they still cannot inherit their family's land or wealth.

The set up with sisters Jane (Bella Heathcote) and Elizabeth (Lily James) meeting the dreamy Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth) and the dour Mr. Darcy Riley) is still the same. As is the conflict with with Darcy and Mr. Wickham (Jack Huston). Matt Smith practically steals the movie as Parson Collins, the cousin who is due to inherit the Bennett estate and marry one of the sisters. He's delightfully annoying. Lena Headey plays the Lady Catherine de Bourgh who is also the baddest kick@ss woman warrior in the land with a patch on one eye, who challenges Elizabeth because her sickly daughter is supposed to have been betrothed to Darcy.

The book probably adds more details to the story. The movie quickly moves without explanation of why the infected can still talk and act like humans. Supposedly eating human brains will make them into monsters. The movie starts with Col. Darcy seeking out an infected at a high class whist party, then quickly dispatching it, finishing it off by smashing it's head leaving the guests to clean it up. It's like people are just inconvenienced, rather than horrified. The fun parts are when the Bennet sisters gear up for a fancy ball, then battle attacking zombies with their hidden swords. One moment they are discussing romance and flirting, the next they are knee deep in carnage. There's some four horsemen who are supposed to foretell doom, but that element is never explained. Overall, the movie is kinda fun, but somewhat brainless.
(Review by reesa)