For those of you wondering what I’ve been up to these past few weeks while the site has run silent, I’ve been working like crazy out at the new Kerasotes Theatre in St Louis Park that is scheduled to open this Friday, November 20th. The Showplace Icon Theatre will be a bit different from your standard movie theatre experience, which is why I am so excited to tell you about it.
So just what is so special?
Bathroom attendents
Yup. Each of our bathrooms will have an attendant to make sure everything is clean and fully stocked throughout our operating day.
Reserved seating in every auditorium
That’s right. Every seat in every auditorium is reserved. Which means you will get to pick and choose where you sit in any theatre. Like sitting up in the corners? No problem. Have an entire party and want to be sure you get seats together? Done. And just in case you are worried about finding your seat, we will have ushers in every theatre to assist you.
After 7pm every one 16 and under must be accompanied by their parent our guardian
We want to be a theatre that caters to both adults and to families that are seeing a film together. While we enjoying having kids and teenagers alike, what we don’t want to be is a theatre where kids can simply be dropped off and allowed to run around all day. We want people to come to our theatre to watch movies.
No admission to a movie after the first 5 minutes
One of the primary goals for the Showplace ICON is to remove as many distractions as possible from the theatre going experience. A common issue is people trying to avoid watching the ads before the films, so they come late to purchase tickets and then wander in during the film and try to find seats, disrupting the film for every one else. With our reserved seating groups will no longer have to worry about finding the seats they want, and everyone will know where they will be sitting o that eliminates any potential seating issues. Thus the only reason to now show up late would be to try and miss the ads. Which brings me to my next point.
No ads
And by no ads I mean no digitally projected Coke sponsored “special presentation” during admission and no ads before the trailers. All you will have is a blank screen until we roll trailers and start the film. Once you enter the theatre we want you to enjoy the movie you paid to see and not being forced to watch ads. And since the feature will start 5 minutes after we start we won’t let people into the film once it starts so you can enjoy what you paid to see, the movie.
All digital presentation
Both sound and projection are 100% digital and you are about to experience film like you never have before. No more having to worry about films being out of focus or brain wraps causing the prints to melt. And in the case of emergency, we can actually pause the film and rewind if need be.
All 3D theatres have silver screens
One of the biggest complaints about 3D films is that the image can be dark and muddled, our 3D screens are specially made with a silver additive that allows them to reflect images much better, allowing the light to be reflected back at the audience, which makes the images appear bright and colourful and which in turn helps eliminate eye strain and the headaches they can cause.
Digital sound in every theatre
While previously mentioned, we are the first theatre in Minneapolis that uses 100% digital sound, and oh the noise, noise noise it is capable of. Multiple channels in each theatre and the crisp, clear sound makes for a listening experience just as impressive as the viewing experience.
Bar and lounge area upstairs for those 21+
If you are 21 and over you can enjoy a drink or some food at our upstairs bar and lounge. Nuff said.
VIP section available for auditoriums 1 & 2
This is possibly our coolest feature in the entire theatre. Both theatres 1 & 2 offer VIP seating for an additional $5 charge for people 21+. What this is is balcony seating for both of those theatres which have leather love seats and tables so that people can bring their drinks and food in from the bar and lounge to enjoy while they watch their movies. Its an incredibly comfortable, fun, relaxing and cool environment to watch the biggest movies out today.
Those are just some of the many features you’ll find at our theatre, along with other ammenities like real butter for your popcorn, pizzas at the concession stand and an easy to find floor staff and management team willing to help fill your every need. But the best reason to come to the Showplace ICON is our main house, which is Theatre #1.
Now I’ve been to almost every theatre in the Twin Cities. I love The Uptown, The Heights, The Riverview, and The Parkway just to name a few. And I’ve seen some impressive theatres that offer great picture and sound at them and other theatres around town, but I’ll put up our main house against any of them and not think twice about it. The seating is around 450, which is big but not huge, but the size of the auditorium is massive, possibly even bigger then The Uptown. The screen is just as huge, topping out at 70ft, making it large enough to be a mini IMAX screen. And if that isn’t impressive enough, the sound system in that house has 3x the power of the Metrodome. Then add in the VIP seating the lounge and all of our other amenities an you have a viewing experience that simply can’t be matched in the Twin Cities, and possibly anywhere else in the country. Starting this Friday, its a great time to be a film fan in Minneapolis.
The Parkway Theatre has assembled one heck of a great horror marathon for the Halloween weekend that they are calling Days of the Dead. Starting at 5:30 on Friday October 30th and running through Sunday evening The Parkway will be screening numerous horror films and other oddities for those of us who are into that sort of thing. As if that isn’t enough, each screening will have a corresponding drink/food special at the neighboring Pepito’s restaurant or at The Parkway’s concession stand. And if that isn’t enough, the entire marathon costs a mere $10. That’s right, a single ticket will get you into each and every film being shown during the entire weekend. One important note, starting at 7pm you must be 21 to attend any of the screenings due to the allowance of alcohol in the theatre.
If you haven’t made it out to The Parkway yet, this is as good a time as any to make the trip to this fantastic south Minneapolis movie theatre.
Full Schedule (drink/food specials)
Friday, Oct. 30th.
5:30 Frightmare ($1.00 off any size popcorn)
7:15 Blood Suckers (two for one beers and half price burritos)
9:00 Blood Thirst (two for one beers and half price nachos)
10:30 Blood Orgy of the She Devils (two for one beers and half price nachos)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Afghan Star is getting its released date pushed, for the fourth time. Of course this is a better fate then Park Chan-wook’s latest film Thirst, which has been dropped and will not open in Minneapolis. This after being delayed twice, and after having an intial release date scheduled a full six weeks after its Chicago opening. As far as I can tell, Thirst only played in Chicago, New York and LA and that is it for the US, which is truly ridiculous. Word is trickling out that the studio (Focus Features/Universal) simply didn’t want to pay to strike prints, let alone market the film. Evidently they thought marketing a vampire film to modern day filmgoer’s was a risk not worth taking. Probably because they are idiots.
In other news Young Victoria had its release date pushed and … ohh … it says here Universal sucks. So it must be true. Hopefully one of the local Independent theatres(The Heights, Parkway or Riverview, I’m not picky) picks up the slack (Hey Trylon, throw us a freaking bone please!) and releases the film so Minneapolis film lovers have a chance to watch it in theatres.
*** – Denotes recommended viewing
All dates subject to change
09/25 Burning Plain Uptown (tentative)
09/25 Paris Uptown/Edina
09/25 Somers Town Lagoon***
09/25 Afghan Star Lagoon (NEW DATE)
09/25 The Other Man Edina (tentative)
10/02 A Serious Man Uptown***
10/02 Capitalism: A Love Story Lagoon
10/02 No Impact Man Lagoon
10/02 Flame & Citron Edina
10/09 Earth Days Lagoon
10/09 The Boys Are Back Edina
10/09 Amreeka Edina
10/09 Unmistaken Child Lagoon
10/16 Still Walking Lagoon
10/16 Coco Before Chanel Edina
10/16 More Than A Game Lagoon
10/23 An Education Uptown
10/23 The Horse Boy Lagoon
10/23 Damned United Lagoon
10/23 Amelia Lagoon
10/30 New York, I Love You Uptown/Lagoon
10/30 Canyon Lagoon
11/06 Antichrist Uptown
11/06 Skin Edina
11/13 Crude Lagoon
11/20 We Live in Public Lagoon
11/20 Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire Lagoon
11/25 The Road Edina***
11/27 RED CLIFF Uptown
11/27 Oh My God? Lagoon
11/27 Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Lagoon
12/04 The Strip Lagoon (NEW)
12/11 William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe Lagoon
12/18 The Maid Edina
12/18 Young Victoria Edina (NEW DATE)
A few additions this week, and a couple of films shuffle around on the schedule. Soul Power gets pushed a few weeks back, while The Merry Gentleman falls off the schedule, probably never to be seen. Hopefully The Parkway swoops in and shows it for a week.
As for additions, Jane Campion’s latest film, Bright Star, finally has a release date, and it will open exclusively at The Uptown, while the back end of the schedule sees several new additions with Other Man, No Impact Man, The Boys are Back and Crude receiving bookings. But, of course, the big addition is A Serious Man, the Coen Brother’s latest film has been booked for an exclusive engagement at The Uptown. But keep an eye on The Walker, as they are in talks to screen the film much earlier then the October release date.
I’m probably not supposed to reveal that little detail but really, like either party is reading this blog.
*** – Denotes recommended viewing
All dates subject to change
07/31 In the Loop Uptown***
07/31 $9.99 Lagoon ***
07/31 Shrink Edina
07/31 Humpday Lagoon
08/07 The Cove Uptown***
08/07 The End of the Line Lagoon
08/07 The Answer Man Edina (tentative)
08/14 Not Quite Hollywood Lagoon***
08/14 Adam Edina
08/14 Ponyo Edina ***
08/14 Spread Lagoon
08/14 Soul Power Lagoon (NEW DATE)
08/21 Inglorious Bastards Lagoon***
08/21 Lorna’s Silence Edina
08/28 Cold Souls Uptown ***
08/28 The World’s Greatest Dad Lagoon ***
08/28 Taking Woodstock Lagoon***
08/28 Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg Edina
08/29 The Adventures of Robin Hood Edina (One Night Only) ***
08/30 The Bride of Frankenstein Edina (One Night Only) ***
08/30 It Happened One Night Edina (One Night Only) ***
09/04 Thirst Lagoon ***
09/04 Afghan Star Lagoon
09/04 My One and Only Edina
09/09 9 Lagoon ***
09/11 The Baader Meinhof Complex Uptown
09/11 Captain Abu Raed Lagoon
09/11 Play the Game Edina (NEW)
09/18 Bright Star Uptown (NEW)
09/18 The Beaches of Agnes Edina
09/18 Burning Plain Edina/Lagoon (tentative)
09/25 Somers Town Lagoon***
09/25 Paris Edina
09/25 Other Man Edina (NEW)
10/02 A Serious Man Uptown (NEW)***
10/02 No Impact Man Lagoon (NEW)
10/02 The Boys are Back Edina (NEW)
10/02 Amreeka Edina
10/09 Earth Days Lagoon
10/09 Damned United Lagoon
10/16 Still Walking Lagoon
10/16 New York, I Love You Lagoon
10/16 Coco Before Chanel Edina
10/23 An Education Uptown
10/23 The Horse Boy Lagoon
11/13 Crude Lagoon (NEW)
12/04 William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe Lagoon
Thanks to Switchblade Comb for the heads up on this. I only had the chance to catch one of the films in this series last time, and it was absolutely fabulous. Their are several more in this one I would like to watch, and hopefully a few more people will turn out to watch these locally [Minnesota] produced films. Also, after every screening their will be a Q&A with the cast and crew, while Pepitos will be running Homegrown Happy Hour specials next door. Come one, come all for a fantastic time of true Independent film making at its best.
SEPTEMBER 8 – Married at the Mall & Whole, two early films by Melody Gilbert. Married at the Mall is a delightful documentary that features an assortment of lovebirds who tie the knot at the Chapel of Love in the Mall of America, while Whole takes you into the world of people obsessed with becoming an amputee.
SEPTEMBER 13 – Stimulus, directed by Jason Schumacher. For most people, the nebulous time between high-school and college is a prime opportunity to develop and implement a plan for the rest of their lives. For Simon and Bert, it is much easier to spend the time aimlessly taking courses at the local community college or serving coffee for minimum wage. As the summer goes on, however, they are forced to reconsider precisely what their friendship means, as well as what kind of people they are developing into.
SEPTEMBER 22 – When the Sidewalk Ends, directed by Joseph Larsen. Haskel travels the midwest in search of vengeance for past, unspoken crimes. His journey doesn’t go as planned, however, as he instead spends his time apathetic in anonymous hotel rooms. From bizarre anime conventions to a femme fatale who might be working for the enemy, Haskel’s directionless path wears him down to where his ultimate destination no longer matters. The film is a hypnotic tale about a road trip to revenge, and how lonely and tedious such a journey can be.
SEPTEMBER 29 – Murphy’s Law, directed by Todd Pitman and featuring local band Look Down. For three weeks in July of 2006, one camera followed Look Down cross-country in a borrowed van on their first tour. Things quickly unravel as they deal with canceled shows, car trouble, label problems, and simply trying to get across the country with as little fuss as possible.
OCTOBER 6 – The Reception, directed by Jason Mitchell. The Reception is a feature length narrative/documentary hybrid shot entirely in 12 hours. Guests of the faux wedding reception ate and mingled as if at a real reception, with cameras rolling. A screenplay worked as a framework for a film where everyone used their own personal background to improvise strikingly realistic exchanges. A small two-camera high definition video crew captured candid conversations in a documentary style along with the scripted narrative. The result is a film that is funny, honest, and at times uncomfortably real.
OCTOBER 13 – The world premiere of Love: A Documentary, directed by Dave Ash. In the fall of 2006, videographer Ethan Burroughs was working on location at Cratech Industries producing a promotional film about the company. While taping interviews of employees, Burroughs befriended John Stevens, a mid-level financial analyst that was unresponsive to direct questions about the company. Instead, Stevens spoke earnestly and passionately about how he believed that God had recently chosen him to spread love and happiness throughout an uncaring world.
Sunday, October 12 will also be a Homegrown Grab Bag Day of features playing from 11 AM until 4 PM. This line-up has yet to be finalized.
For those of you wondering what I’ve been up to these past few weeks while the site has run silent, I’ve been working like crazy out at the new Kerasotes Theatre in St Louis Park that is scheduled to open this Friday, November 20th. The Showplace Icon Theatre will be a bit different from your standard movie theatre experience, which is why I am so excited to tell you about it. 
Entries (RSS)