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Vol. I
No. 9 Spotlight on Broadway Film in Focus
The Broadway boasts eight theaters in a complex that offers you the very best presentation in this area . It’s been a benchmark for about 10 years and was originally a Pack and Save-type store. Those of you fortunate enough to visit the big major theaters of San Francisco such as the Metreon or the AMC 1000 Van Ness complex will see a similarity to the Broadway. The modern way of building theaters is evident here. The Broadway also proudly displays and reminds you that it has four THX certified theaters for your ultimate experience. THX is a certification developed by George Lucas of Star Wars fame and is known for his high quality multi-channel films. THX is short for Thomlinson Holman Experiment, named after the engineer that worked with Lucas during the days of THX 1138. I’m sure you recognize the connection! THX demands the theater to do a number of things to improve sound, such as build baffle walls behind their speakers systems to improve the bass kick. They need equipment that meets THX certification and have periodic tests and recalibration by one of their techs. Simply put, it means you’re going to get a quality presentation closer to the way the director intended you to perceive his or her art.
Looking at the bill of fare I noticed King Kong was playing so off I went. Now I had intended to see this flick with the Humboldt Sentinel’s rumpled critic, David Giarrizzo. We were even going to do a dueling review but my schedule made it impossible, so Dave did the review solo. Dave did an awesome review of Kong, I hope you all read it! It was so good that I wouldn’t venture to add anything to it, as he covered it all accurately. Dave is a trip at the movies, he really gets into it, sometimes even talking to the screen. He incited a burst of howls from the young girls at a Harry Potter screening recently. On to the film. In short I have to say Peter Jackson did a magnificent job on this Kong. The original has never been bettered ‘till now. He really did his homework here. So many remakes of great pieces fail to insert the elements that made the original great. Here that’s not the case as Jackson not only resurrects them but embellishes them to the max. Scenes I cherished were taken to new heights and lengthened and made more interesting. The casting was great and included Academy award winner Adrian Brody of Polanski's The Pianist and Jack Black in the role of Carl Denham. Kong itself was grand and commanding and the Faye Raye part of the heroine was aptly carried off. The special effects were cutting edge and this film sets a new standard for all forthcoming productions, no wonder it won at the Academy Awards! Just as Star Wars changed the way movies are made, Kong sets new standards in the art of filmmaking. So much so that as of today you really can’t believe every thing you see. Congratulations to Mr. Jackson on another incredible achievement. Thanks to the Broadway Theater for giving me such a great presentation. The sound was the best I’ve ever heard there, it not only created a live sound field but things wizzed and banged and flew all over the place in synch with the picture. I felt I had paid a visit to Skull Island as I made my exit.
Here’s a tip: The DVD version of King Kong will be 4 hrs long and contain scenes deleted from the theatrical presentation. Wow, an even better Kong to look forward to! |
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Copyright © 2005-06, Humboldt Sentinel. All rights reserved. |
Knowing
that the film industry is a major player in the arts and entertainment
field, we now turn our attention to the houses that screen their labors
of love. I always gravitate to my favorite theater in this area, the Broadway.
I’ve been attending this North Coast cinemaplex for about six years
and have always come away feeling pleased at the event.
The
rooms themselves are like pods, separated from each other to isolated
sound and noise. These pods are connected via a common lobby. All this
ensures you a private chamber to view motion pictures. Even the decor
is similar among this design, sconces containing prizms are another part.
These bend the light and create patterns on the walls around the fixtures.
Nice motif, I must say! Now I’ve been involved in designing home
and commercial theaters for many years so I’m very fussy of presentation.
It really takes a big hype to get me out to see new films. I usually prefer
to view them at home. But now I’m reviewing the theater so I have
no choice here.
I
visited the Broadway weeks later and was given a tour by the gracious
General Manager, Gary Franklin. After a short visit and chat I realized
how much the owners, Gary and his staff are involved in making your movie
experience the very best they can. The Broadway is located at Fourteenth
and Broadway and you can reach them by phone at 444-FILM. More information,
including features and showtimes, can be obtained at their well-informed
website, 