Out @ Tron: Legacy

Well, it was a close one this month. Yogi Bear got one (pity?) vote; The (Golden Globe-nominated) Fighter earned 5 votes; How Do You Know? came in second with 8 votes and Tron: Legacy took first place with 10 votes, roughly 42% of the total votes.

So, December 21st = Out @ Tron: Legacy!

This is our last outing of 2010, so I'd love to see as many of you as possible!

But what if Tron: Legacy's not your thing? What if you don't remember what happened in the original? Good questions, all. You can re-read the original synopsis and watch the trailer below. I've also included IGN's "10 Things To Know About Tron: Legacy." So grab your disc and hop on your light cycle!

The Plan

• You can RSVP to the Facebook event here.
• Tuesday, December 21st.
• Meet at Empire Theatres Park Lane, near arcade.
• Arrive between 6 and 6:30.
• Look for me (Kirk); I'll be the guy in glasses and orange cap.
• We will head in at 6:30 (to ensure we get good seats).
• Tickets are $5.99 and can be purchased online.
• Movie starts at 6:50 p.m.
• If you arrive late, I will wear orange cap during previews.
• Movie is just over two hours long - estimated finish: 9:15.
• After movie, we will head to Second Cup (corner of Spring Garden and Queen).
• At Second Cup, you can grab a drink, get to know other moviegoers and write a review for the blog.

Find out more [SPOILERS AHEAD! - both for 1982's Tron and Tron: Legacy]:

More Tron: Legacy Videos

---

Tron: Legacy

Sam Flynn , the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant Quorra, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, James Frain, Beau Garrett
Web: http://Disney.com/TRON
Trailer:

See you at the cinema,

Kirk

How Do You Bear the Fighter Legacy?

Well, after a brief hiatus in November, we are back!
December is here and it's time for another outing. We'll head to Park Lane on Tuesday, December 21st.

We've got four potential movies to see on our last outing of 2010:

• How Do You Know? - a romantic comedy
• The Fighter - a hard-hitting drama
• Tron: Legacy [2D] - animated action
• Yogi Bear [2D] - family-style fun

Which one do you want to see? Before you cast your vote, let's review the nominees:

How Do You Know?

Lisa's athletic ability is the defining passion of her life, having been her focus since early childhood. When she is cut from her team, everything she has ever known is suddenly taken from her. George is a straight-arrow businessman who is accused of a financial crime, even though he's done nothing wrong. Although he may be headed to jail, George's honesty, integrity, and unceasing optimism may be his only path to keeping his sanity. George and Lisa meet on the worst day of each of their lives: she has just been cut, and he has just been served. When everything else seems to be falling apart, they will discover what it means to have something wonderful happen.
Cast: Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Owen Wilson
Web: http://www.howdoyouknow-movie.com/
Trailer:

The Fighter

Life story of boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and his trainer brother Dick Eklund, chronicling the brothers' early days on the rough streets of Lowell, Massachusetts through Eklund's battle with drugs and Ward's eventual world championship in London.
Cast: Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams
Web: http://www.thefightermovie.com/
Trailer:

Tron: Legacy

Sam Flynn , the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant Quorra, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, James Frain, Beau Garrett
Web: http://Disney.com/TRON
Trailer:

Yogi Bear

Jellystone Park has been losing business, so greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors -- and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is "smarter than the average bear" as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.
Cast: Anna Faris, Justin Timberlake, Dan Aykroyd, T.J. Miller, Nathan Corddry, Tom Cavanagh, Andrew Daly, Dean Knowsley
Web: http://yogibear.warnerbros.com/
Trailer:

On which movie do you want to spend your hard-earned money? Cast your vote below. Poll closes at 7 a.m. on Thursday the 16th.

(Can't see the poll? Go to http://poll.fm/2it1l)

November = No-vember

Hey moviegoers!

Since the first Out @ the Movies night out (May 19th, 2009), we've never missed a single month. Despite times where I was away or sick, we've gone to at least one movie per month. Unfortunately, that's ending now. No movie for November. Sorry. I know some of you are new and wanted to keep the momentum going.

I do still intend to have a movie night on December 20th, so mark that in your calendars.

However, after that, I need your help. I have recently returned to university full-time and have classes on every night except Friday/Saturday/Sunday night. I know most of us have plans those nights so they don't seem ideal nights for Out @ the Movies.

So how can you help? I need volunteers to host movie nights!

You would arrive to the movie theatre early and wear something distinguishing so newcomers know who to look for. You would introduce moviegoers to one another and make sure everyone knows the post-movie plan. You'll also foster discussion amongst the group before leading everyone into the movie.

After the movie, you'll rally the troops to head to whichever coffee shop, restaurant, etc. is hosting the post-movie discussion. Once there, you'll facilitate discussion (but usually at this point, everyone is good to go on their own) and get moviegoers to write up reviews that we post here on the blog.

If you can take pictures as well, that's a great addition!

I can do the rest (writing up the blog, making facebook events, sending out e-mails, running the twitter account, posting to various forums and so on).

There are some details about volunteers you should know:

• You'll have been to one (or more) of our movie nights already so you know how they've worked in the past.
• You'll need to be able to commit to seeing whatever the movie is (and trust me, sometimes we will pick movies that you don't want to see).
• You'll need to be somewhat outgoing as well.

My ideal scenario would be that a few of you (say 3 or 4) would volunteer. That way, some months, we'd have several hosts but when someone can't make it, there's a back-up plan.

So, if you're interested (and I hope you are because otherwise, we're going on hiatus until the summer) - please send an e-mail to halifax.out.movies@gmail.com. If you're somewhat interested but need to know more, send an e-mail too and I'll try and answer them.

Thanks to everyone who's come out to our movies and I hope we can continue the fun into the new year,

Kirk

RED Reviews

RED = action comedy = fun = good times!

Our first-ever Monday night movie outing was a smash success with several newcomers and a great movie! While RED's not winning any Oscars (well, maybe for special effects) it was a solid action comedy. But don't take my word for it, read some of the reviews below.

• Definitely an entertaining film. I kind of wished the script had matched the caliber of the cast but I can't really complain too much about a movie that gives me Helen Mirren wielding a machine gun - that alone was worth the price of admission! Plus, it has Mary-Louise Parker, so that's a nice bonus. - Mackenzie
• The old timers still have it! Entertaining, action-packed film with plenty of hilarious scenes. - Antoinette
• RED = Retired, Extremely Dangerous. It also means Recommended, Extremely Diverting. Very fun movie. - Curtis L
• The queen accessories her white evening garb beautifully with a large gun and combat boots - FANTASTIC! - Matt F
• Very funny and very entertaining. Bruce Willis has still got it! Loved seeing Helen Mirren wielding a gun! - Tara

After the movie, we did a few photos (check them out on Facebook) and then we hit up our staple coffee shop, Second Cup for an hour or so of coffee and conversation.

That's it for this month. See you in November!

Kirk

Out @ RED

People like Bruce Willis. They like Mary-Louise Parker. They like comedy. They like action. They plan to like RED.

With 58.33% of the vote, RED was the clear winner of our October poll. In second place was Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie with 25%. Stone got half as many with 12.5% and Nowhere Boy lagged behind with just 4.17% of the vote. In dead last, with not even one sympathy vote: Jackass 3. You'd think someone would want to see a bunch of fit guys running around with little clothing but apparently none of you!

So it's off to see an action comedy about CIA agents who are Retired, Extremely Dangerous on Monday, October 18th.

The Plan:

• Monday, October 18th <- NOTE we're trying Monday this month!
• Location: Empire Theatres Park Lane
• Pre-movie meet-and-greet: around 6:30 at the tables by the arcade. Look for the guy in glasses and an orange ball cap. We'll head in to grab seats at 6:30. If you're a bit late, I'll wear the ball cap until the end of previews.
• Showtime: 6:50 p.m.
• Finish: ~8:50 p.m.
• Post-movie coffee: Second Cup at the corner of Queen and Spring Garden. This is your chance to get to know the other moviegoers and write a review for the blog.
• Cost: $9.99 [not $11.50 as previously posted] and can be purchased online.

Remember: to help Out @ the Movies grow and flourish, we all need to spread the word. Why not bring a friend or invite them to the facebook event?
If this is your first time coming, don't be worried: it's a friendly group!

See you at the cinema!

Kirk

Boy of Nature: Stone Red Jackass

It's time once again for another vote. We've got an October movie outing to plan, after all!
Big change this month: we're going to a movie on a Monday night; October 18th.
Why? As the sole organizer, I can no longer do early shows on Tuesday nights. Last month we tried a later show and that didn't work out - not enough time to socialize. So we'll give Monday a try.

But what you really care about are the contenders, right? We've got quite a few:

• Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie
• Jackass 3
• Nowhere Boy
• RED
• Stone

So what's the story with each one? Read on to find out more and then cast your vote below. Voting will remain open until next Tuesday night.

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie

Cast: David Suzuki
Plot: David Suzuki, Canadian scientist, activist, environmentalist and educator, delivers a 'last lecture' -- what he describes as "a distillation of my life and thoughts, my legacy, what I want to say before I die". Filmed before a live audience, accompanied by a memory box of moving, distilled images, he articulates a core, urgent message: we have exhausted the limits of the biosphere and it is imperative that we re-think our relationship with the natural world. Suzuki looks unflinchingly at the strains on our interconnected web of life.
Web site: http://legacy.davidsuzuki.org/
Trailer:

Jackass 3

Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Jason Acuña, Preston Lacy, Ehren McGhehey, Dave England, John Taylor
Plot: Johnny Knoxville and his buddies are up to their daredevil comic antics again.

Web site: http://www.jackassmovie.com/
Trailer:

Nowhere Boy

Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Aaron Johnson, Thomas Sangster, Anne-Marie Duff, David Threlfall, Ophelia Lovibond, Sam Bell, Jack McElhone, Ellie Jeffreys, Calum O'Toole
Plot: John Lennon's childhood. Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled 15-year-old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John: Mimi, the buttoned-up aunt who raised him, and Julia, the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock 'n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But, a resilient young man finds his voice -- and an icon explodes into the world.
Web site: http://nowhere-boy.com/
Trailer:

RED

Cast: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Cox, Julian McMahon, Richard Dreyfuss
Plot: Frank, Joe, Marvin and Victoria used to be the CIA's top agents, but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.
Web site: http://red-themovie.com/
Trailer:

Stone

Cast: Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich, Frances Conroy, Enver Gjokaj, Liam Ferguson, Pepper Binkley, Sarab Kamoo, Jonathan Stanley, Tevis R. Marcum
Plot: As parole officer Jack Mabry counts the days toward a quiet retirement, he is asked to review the case of Gerald "Stone" Creeson, in prison for covering up the murder of his grandparents with a fire. Now eligible for early release, Stone needs to convince Jack he has reformed, but his attempts to influence the older man's decision have profound and unexpected effects on them both.
Web site: http://www.stonemovie.com/
Trailer:

Got your favourite all picked out? Looking for some good doc action with Force of Nature? Maybe the outrageous humor of Jackass? Fans of the Beatles are probably going for Nowhere Boy. Action fans may favour RED. And if you're looking for a drama, you're probably picking Stone. So let's see what you think and what everyone else thinks. Vote below:

(Can't see the poll? Go to http://poll.fm/2b3el)

Out @ Easy A

It's September 30th so it's long past time to post our reviews of Easy A!

This was also our first attempt to do a late-night movie. The turn-out was not great; which pretty much guarantees that we won't be doing that again any time soon.
On a positive note: everyone who came loved the movie!
Here are some of our reviews:

• If I have to give 'Easy A' a grade, I can safely say that it definitely lived up to its title (+ extra credit). Ordinarily I don't go for comedies but this one really delivered. The homage to 80's movies was a very nice touch. Easily the best comedy I've seen in a very long time. - Laurie M
• "Easy A" was easy peasy-ly the hit of september. Exploring the spread of rumors in modern high schools while one girl (and a whole lot of loser guys) tries to turn that to their advantage. It managed not to fall into the cliche of the heroine making a heartfelt speech in front of a hissing crowd only to make them start clapping for her moxy whilst screaming "praise her for showing the truth about ourselves!" for which I am greatful. It's resolution doesn't guarantee a happy ending for all, but seems to be more genuine that way. There were some great moments of witty dialogue thrown into the mix, some of them done with peas! Accept the challenge and go see it for yourself. - Curtis L
• Easy A = A+, Awesome, Astounding, Amusing, Affable, Affable and Astute. It exceeded my (rather high) expectations and delivered a solid comedy. It made me think about my own experiences in high school and made me question some of the "facts" I took for granted. It's easy to forget how quickly rumours spread at that age. The movie manages to balance comedy with insight - no easy task. A really is for Awesome. - Kirk F

That's it for September! Pictures have been posted on the facebook page. Look for the poll for our October outing Tuesday the 5th.

Out @ Easy A

How will you celebrate the last day of summer? Will you take that one last swim? Maybe enjoy a patio somewhere? Or perhaps see a teen sex comedy with Out @ The Movies?

That's right! With 36.36% of the votes cast, our winner is EASY A!

Our other contenders: Jack Goes Boating tied with Alpha & Omega for last with 9.09% of the vote each. In our runner-up position, it was The Town and Devil; each with 22.73% of the vote.

As the seasons change, so do our lives. For the foreseeable future, there will be a significant format change for our outings. In the past, we've always gone to the earlier of the two evening shows. Which mean we did our socializing after the movie. Things will be a little bit different this time around. So...

THE PLAN

• Date: Tuesday, September 21st
• Location: Empire Theatres Park Lane
• Showtime: 8:50 p.m.
• Finish: approximately 10:40 p.m. (I'm just guessing here)
• Cost: $5.99
• Meeting Time: 8:30 p.m. @ theatre by the arcade; we'll purchase our tickets and head in to see the movie. [NOTE: No longer meeting beforehand at Daily Grind.]
• Who to look for: the guy in the orange ballcap and glasses.
• After the movie: Send your reviews in (either by posting on the facebook Wall or by sending an e-mail to halifax.out.movies@gmail.com) to get published on the blog!

If this is your first time coming, don't worry; it's a friendly bunch and it's an easy way to make some new friends in Halifax. If you've got a friend, why not invite them via the facebook event?

See you at the cinema!

Kirk

P.S. Just a reminder why so many wanted to see Easy A:

EASY A

Cast: Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Amanda Bynes, Malcolm McDowell, Lisa Kudrow, Penn Badgley, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church, Alyson Michalka
Plot: After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne's in "The Scarlet Letter," which she is currently studying in school - until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
Web site: http://www.letsnotandsaywedid.com
Trailer:

Easy Devil Goes Boating in Alpha Town

Summer is coming to an end. It's sad but true. Specifically, the last day of summer is Tuesday, September 21st. Celebrate the end of summer and the start of autumn by coming out to a movie with us!

We have five possible options (all scheduled to open on Friday, September 17th):

• Alpha and Omega
• Devil
• Easy A
• Jack Goes Boating
• The Town

Read about each and vote below. Voting will close on Tuesday, September 14th.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Cast: Dennis Hopper, Chris Carmack, Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci
Plot: What makes for the ultimate road trip? Hitchhiking, truck stops, angry bears, prickly porcupines and a golfing goose with a duck caddy. Just ask Kate and Humphrey, two wolves who are trying to get home after being taken by park rangers and shipped halfway across the country. Humphrey is an Omega wolf, whose days are about quick wit, snappy one-liners and hanging with his motley crew of fun-loving wolves and video-gaming squirrels. Kate is an Alpha: duty, discipline and sleek Lara Croft eye-popping moves fuel her fire. Humphrey's motto -- make 'em laugh. Kate's motto -- I'm the boss. Back home rival wolf packs are on the march and conflict is brewing. Only Kate and Humphrey can restore the peace. But first, they have to survive each other.
Web site: http://alphaandomega3d.com
Trailer:

DEVIL

Cast: Chris Messina, Bojana Novakovic, Geoffrey Arend, Logan Marshall-Green, Bokeem Woodbine
Plot: Devil is a supernatural thriller with M. Night Shyamalan's signature touch. A group of people are trapped in an elevator, and one of them is the devil.
Web site: http://www.thenightchronicles.com/devil
Trailer:

EASY A

Cast: Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Amanda Bynes, Malcolm McDowell, Lisa Kudrow, Penn Badgley, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church, Alyson Michalka
Plot: After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne's in "The Scarlet Letter," which she is currently studying in school - until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
Web site: http://www.letsnotandsaywedid.com
Trailer:

JACK GOES BOATING

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tom McCarthy
Plot: "Jack Goes Boating" is the story of four New Yorkers. Jack and Connie are two single people who on their own might continue to recede into the anonymous background of the city, but in each other they begin to find the courage and desire to pursue their budding relationship. In contrast, the couple that introduced them, Clyde and Lucy, have been together a long time and are confronting unresolved issues in their marriage.
Web site: http://www.jackgoesboatingmovie.com
Trailer:

THE TOWN

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper
Plot: Doug MacRay is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean. With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But, that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage -- bank manager, Claire Keesey. They let her go unharmed, but sometime later she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug... not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her. The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Web site: http://www.thetownmovie.com
Trailer:

Vote now:

(Can't see the poll? Go to http://poll.fm/27vmn)

Eat, Pray, Love Reviews

Wow.

Have you ever been to a movie that was sold out? On August 17th, our group found out! The 6:30 showing of Eat, Pray, Love at the Oxford was the most-well-attended screening they've had in two years. There were almost no empty seats (which unfortunately led to our group being split up) and the movie started late due to the long lines.

But what did our moviegoers think? While there were a range of reactions, the most common comment was "long." Understandable, given the two hours and 15 minutes run time.

• Excellent movie - you cannot go wrong with Julia - Rhonda W
• I didn't hate it. Could I, too, be a discontented WASP-y love-phobe? - John W
• Loved it. This movie touched a personal space in my heart; it came at the right time. Lesson learned. - Karen C
• Scenery was beautiful. Julia was beautiful. What else can I say? Bellisimo. - Dianna P
• Too long, I fell asleep! - Sue A
• Overall it was good but long. I liked Italy and India but not Bali. - Laurie M
• Liked her assertiveness but felt that there were too many stereotypes of certain countries (like the elephant). - Sara
• Good movie. Makes you really think. A little too long. - Mary
• I really enjoyed this movie so much! Tears, smiles and feel relaxed. Thank you. - Tammy P
• I love it! - Ken B
• Prophetic! - Martin T
• Balance. Watch. This. Movie. - Les C
• hot! Hot! Hot! - K. W.
• Scrumptious, romantic, sweet and funny, funny, funny. - Mary Kate A
• Some good messages almost lost in a long movie. - Richard S
• More Bali, less India. - Brad A
• Eat. Pray. Love. Sleep. - Doug B

Thanks to everyone who came out. See you in September!

Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog & Serenity

On Friday, August 13th, Hal-Con hosted an late-night screening of Joss Whedon's Serenity, preceded by a big-screen showing of the very popular Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Hal-Con was also nice enough to give us two free tickets to give away to the screening.

Doug B won our contest but generously gave his tickets to boyfriend Richard S. Here's Richard's review:

"Having seen both “Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog” and “Serenity” before, I went to the theatre, roommate in tow, prepared to be delighted and entertained by the double feature. When I arrived at the theatre, there was already a sizable line of expectant movie-goers waiting for admittance. Rather than being an off-putting experience, it added to the anticipation. Most people attending were talking amongst themselves and had obviously seen at least one, if not both, of the movies before. Die-hard fans could be spotted by their Jayne Hats – garish knit toques with ear-flaps made to look like the hat a character in “Serenity” received from his mother in one episode of the TV series “Firefly”- or dressed as their favourite character.

The event was well attended, with few empty spots in the upper tier of seating. The organizers were good natured and provided pre-show entertainment, singing “The Ballad of Jayne Cobb” accompanied by the ukelele. Free t-shirts were also lobbed at the crowd, which resulted in a particularly athletic display as one patron vaulted over the railing for the stairs in order to secure some swag for himself.

The first movie, Dr. Horrible, began with a cheer from the crowd, many of whom chanted “Play!” as the DVD menu was projected on the screen. A goodly proportion of the audience also sang along as Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion once more surprised me with their singing abilities. If you've seen Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog before, you can take it from me that seeing it on big screen makes it that much better. If you haven't, then I totally suggest that you go out and watch it so you can realize how much you missed out.

After Dr. Horrible, there was a brief intermission where the audience was briefly decimated by the need for concession and bathroom breaks. The opening credits for “Serenity” were also met with a great cheer from the crowd. After seeing “Serenity” now for the third time in theatre and the umpteenth time in total, I'm still not certain what my favourite part is. Summer Glau's character, River, has got to be one the biggest highlights. She goes from an unusual and unsettled young girl whose only response to a high-speed chased culminating in a near-crash experience is to say that she swallowed a bug, to an unusual young girl who can totally kick some ass. The writing is also in contention for favourite part of the movie. The banter between the characters and the juxtaposition of that humour with a bleak situation makes for an entertaining movie. The cast also helps to maintain the suspension of disbelief necessary for science fiction. Their chemistry is such that you can easily let yourself believe in the story for that hour and a half."

Well said.

Thanks again to Hal-Con for giving us the tickets!

Find out more about the Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Comic Convention (starting October 29th at the Lord Nelson) via:

• Hal-Con's Web site
• Hal-Con's Twitter
• Hal-Con's facebook page

Our August 17th outing is...

Out @ Eat, Pray, Love

With 54%, Eat, Pray, Love is a clear winner. The competition still pulled in respectable numbers (Scott Pilgrim vs the World with 27% and The Expendables with 19%) but clearly the majority want to see Julia Roberts star in what is sure to be a blockbuster based on the best-selling novel.

Big change this month: We're going to the Oxford! While in the past, we've always gone to Park Lane, we can change things from time to time.


When: Tuesday, August 17th; movie starting at 6:30.
Where: Oxford Theatre (6408 Quinpool Road) . We'll meet outside - look for the guy in glasses and an orange ball cap. We'll head in to grab snacks and seats at 6. If you arrive a bit late: we'll be aiming for the balcony.
How much: Only $5.99 for tickets!
Who: You, me and our friends! Feel free to invite your friends! You can also RSVP to the facebook event.
What: Tim Hortons. That's where we'll head after the movie - it's just across the street. This is your chance to chat with your fellow moviegoers and write up reviews for the blog!

---

Eat, Pray, Love

Cast: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem, Tuva Novotny, Ali Khan, Lidia Biondi, Arlene Tur

Plot: Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having -- a husband, a house, a successful career -- yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/eatpraylove/

Trailer:

See you at the cinema!


Kirk

Win Two Tickets to Serenity!

Hey moviegoers and film fans!

What are your plans for the night of Friday, August 13th? How would you like two free tickets to see the movie Serenity at Park Lane at 11 pm? That can be done. Read on for details on the first-ever Out @ the Movies ticket giveaway!

First: who's giving away the tickets? Well, the fine folks at Hal-Con, of course! HAL-CON is a not-for-profit association that will be holding a Science Fiction/ Fantasy/ Comic/ Gaming convention in Halifax on October 29 to 31, 2010 at the Lord Nelson Hotel. They've been hosting a wide variety of screenings and other special events during the summer to build interest.

On Friday, they'll screen Serenity; the movie follow-up to the acclaimed (but short-lived) TV series Firefly. Does that mean you had to watch the TV show to understand the movie? Heck, no! The movie's accessible to all with a great cast and, oh, did I mention, written and directed by Joss Whedon?!

That's right: the guy behind Buffy and Angel! Which means you know you can expect sharp writing and biting dialogue.

Take a look at the trailer:

And here's a summary on the plot:
Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family--squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal. When Mal takes on two new passengers--a young doctor and his unstable sister--he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew that was once used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself.

Oh and there's some "internet sensation" thing called Dr Horrible's Sing-Along screening before the movie. It would appear that gay fave Neil Patrick-Harris is in that. Huh.

Okay, got your interest? Here's how the contest will work:

1. Guess a number between 1 and 200.
2. E-mail your name, phone number and guess to halifax.out.movies@gmail.com.
3. Only one entry per e-mail address. Entries must be received by 6 p.m. AST on Thursday, August 12th.
4. The person who comes closest to the number (without going over - just like The Price is Right) wins! In the event that two people submit the same guess, whoever submitted it first wins.
5. Winner* will be announced on Thursday evening.
6. The winner will be contacted to confirm if they are able to attend. If not, the person who was second closest wins.
7. Winner will pick up their tickets from the Hal-Con volunteers on the night of Friday, the 13th.

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to win, you can still attend! Tickets are only $6 and can be purchased in advance (cash only) at Strange Adventures, Quantum Frontier and the Last Game Store. You can also purchase them online or at the door.

To find out more about the screen and Hal-Con, check out:

• The official facebook event
• Hal-Con's Web site
• Hal-Con's Twitter
• Hal-Con's facebook page

So, get guessing!

And take a look at what that asterisk next to "Winner" up above meant:
*Please note - Winner must agree to:

• Have their name and image published on this blog and related electronic media (e-mail, facebook, Twitter, etc).
• Write a short review of the movie-going experience; both the movie itself and the experience. Said review to be submitted by e-mail no later than Sunday the 15th.

Love the Expendable Pilgrim

The reign of summer blockbusters continues!

Our August movie night (Tuesday, August 17th) is fast approaching. So it's time to get to voting! This month we have three choices, all of which come out on Friday, August 13th:

• Eat, Pray, Love; a romantic "finding yourself" drama
• Scott Pilgrim vs the World; a comic-book influenced love story/action flick
• The Expendables; pure action

Take a moment to read a little bit about each and then cast your vote! Voting will close on Tuesday, August 10th.

Eat, Pray, Love

Cast: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem, Tuva Novotny, Ali Khan, Lidia Biondi, Arlene Tur

Plot: Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having -- a husband, a house, a successful career -- yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/eatpraylove/

Trailer:

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill, Jason Schwartzman, Ellen Wong, Satya Bhabha

Plot: Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It's getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who broke his heart-and now is back in town-to the teenage distraction he's trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn't been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

Web site: http://www.scottpilgrimthemovie.com/

Trailer:

The Expendables

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Giselle Itie, Eric Roberts, David Zayas, Steve Austi

Plot: "The Expendables" is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren't quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge - one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Web site: http://expendablesthemovie.com/

Trailer:

Cast your vote here:

(Can't see the poll? Go to http://poll.fm/24grm)

Despicable Me Reviews

An animated family movie about a supervillain? Not exactly what you'd expect from Out @ the Movies, right? And yet it got rave reviews from our moviegoers! We also had a great turn-out with almost 20 attendees, including lots of new faces and kids. Afterwards, some great conversation and treats at Dairy Queen. You can check out photos on our facebook album.

• Fabulously fun movie. Gru was great and enjoyed his character development. I wish I had a minion at my command; I could do way more in life. - Curtis C
• Great movie. There were more 'adult' jokes than I was expecting. I couldn't stop laughing. - Mary M
• Hilarious! Great fun and super-cute. - Mallory M
• Originally the trailer did not entice me to want to see the movie. I'm glad I went with Out @ the Movies because I had a great time. Great movie! - Leigh M
• I wish all kids were as cute as that little girl! - Kelly M
• Loved Gru - I want to be adopted by him. "Poop!" hehehe Loved the Minions too! - Mary J
• I liked the "butt photocopying" scene. - Sioux J
• I liked everything. - Stacy W
• New twist to an old theme. - Kim C
• It was good! - Wolf C
• Pleasantly surprised. I laughed. I cried. The whole gambit of emotions. I swear that same little girl was in Toy Story 3 though. - Laurie M
• Lightbulb! You should go see Despicable Me! Highly entertaining without beeing too huggy-kissy-nice-nice! This is one of those movies where you'll be cheering for the Bad Guy. "It's so fluffy I could die!" - Curtis L
• Despicable You if you don't see this movie. Don't pass up this movie. It's a total "lightbulb!" - Les C
• Great, great, great movie! Good choice! - Tammy P
• Great movie! Very funny and cute!! - Andrea F
• A cute movie that made me laugh a lot. - Robert A

What about August? Our August movie outing will be on Tuesday, July 17th. We have three potentials:

• Eat, Pray, Love - starring Julia Roberts
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - starring Michael Cera
• The Expendables - starring ... lots and lots of action heroes.

Our July 13th outing is...

Out @ Despicable Me!

...Even though it didn't win the poll. It came in second place with a respectable 34.62%.

Our winner, The Kids Are All Right, had a whopping 53.85% of the vote. Unfortunately, it has a limited initial release. I found out from Empire Theatres it probably won't hit Halifax until late July (and that could change).

In these rare instances where the winning movie is not available (not released in Halifax on expected date or not showing at Park Lane) we move down the list to our number 2 flick. And what a fine second choice it is!

Despicable Me is an animated film about an evil genius (voiced by the always enjoyable Steve Carell), his arch-nemesis (Jason Segel AKA Marshall from How I Met Your Mother) while taking care of three little girls.

You can read the full description below. Did I mention he owns a pink space suit? Kinda suspect!

When: Tuesday, July 13th; movie starts at 6:30.

Where: Empire 8 Park Lane; we'll meet at the tables by the arcade. (If this is your first time coming, look for the guy in glasses and an orange ball cap.) At 6:10 we'll head in and grab seats.

How much: Don't forget tickets on Tuesday nights are only $5.99

Who: You, me and anyone you want to invite! You can send them this link (http://bit.ly/out13july) to the blog or invite them to the facebook event.

What: Dairy Queen. That's what we'll do after the movie so you can get to know your fellow moviegoers better and have a tasty treat.

Why: Fun times with fun people and a funny film.

Despicable Me

What it's about: In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon! Gru delights in all things wicked; he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

Who's in it: Jason Segel, Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Danny R. McBride, Kristen Wiig, Jack McBrayer, Jemaine Clement

Web site: http://www.despicable.me

Trailer #1:

Trailer - Minions:

See you at the cinema!

Kirk

The Kids are Despicable Predators

Happy Pride, Halifax moviegoers and film fans!

We're having our movie outing a week early in July so you'll have time to enjoy Halifax Pride. Our next outing is Tuesday, July 13th.

We've got three potential movies:

• Despicable Me: a CGI family film
• Predators: a scary addition to the Predator series
• The Kids are All Right: a comedy/drama about lesbians moms and their donor dad

Read on and then cast your vote below!

Despicable Me

What it's about: In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon! Gru delights in all things wicked; he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

Who's in it: Jason Segel, Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Danny R. McBride, Kristen Wiig, Jack McBrayer, Jemaine Clement

Web site: http://www.despicable.me

Watch the trailer:

Predators

What it's about: Royce, a mercenary, reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they've been brought together on an alien planet... as prey. With the notable exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers -- mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members -- human "predators" that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators.

Who's in it: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo

Web site: http://www.predators-movie.com

Watch the trailer:

The Kids are All Right

What it's about: Two teenaged children get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers have built for them. Once the donor is found, the household will never be the same, as family ties are defined, re-defined, and re-re-defined.

Who's in it: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta, Kunal Sharma, Rebecca Lawrence, Amy Grabow, Eddie Hassell

Web site: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/the_kids_are_all_right

Watch the trailer:

Poll will close on Tuesday, July 6th. Vote now:

Can't see the poll? Go to http://poll.fm/20ump

Halifax Pride - Late Night Film Series

Hey moviegoers and film fans!

Want to support Pride while seeing some great LGBTQ flicks at a great price? Halifax Pride has the answer!

In the weeks leading up to Pride (July 18-26), the organizers of Halifax Pride have teamed up with Empire Theatres for a series fundraising film screenings. Tickets are only $6.99. Or, for only three dollars more, you get a ticket/popcorn/drink combo. Just $9.99! You can pre-purchase movie tickets online but not ticket/popcorn/drink combo. Net box office proceeds will be donated by Empire Theatres to the Halifax Pride 2010 Festival.

Each movie is being played at Empire 8 Park Lane at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday and Saturday night. So if you can't make it to one night, you can try the other! For more info, you can check out the facebook event.

A Single Man

IMDB entry

Friday, June 25 & Saturday, June 26 @ 11:30 p.m.

In Los Angeles 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis George Falconer, a 52 year old British college professor is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long time partner, Jim. George dwells on the past and cannot see his future as we follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters, ultimately lead him to decide if there is a meaning to life after Jim. George is consoled by his closest friend Charley, a 48 year old beauty who is wrestling with her own questions about the future. A young student of George's, Kenny, who is coming to terms with his true nature, stalks George as he feels in him a kindred spirit. A romantic tale of love interrupted the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.

Transamerica

IMDB entry

Friday, July 9 & Saturday, July 10 @ 11:30 p.m.

Bree is a highly educated, conservative transsexual woman who passes as a G.G., living in a poor section of Los Angeles and working two jobs to save money for her final sexual reassignment surgery. Her life takes an unexpected journey when she learns that when she was a he, she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. When she receives a phone call from Toby, who's looking for his father, she realizes she must confront her past. She flies to New York to bail Toby out of jail and offers him a ride cross-country, secretly plotting to abandon him with the stepfather he ran away from.

The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert

IMDB entry

Friday, July 16 & Saturday, July 17 @ 11:30 p.m.

Two down-at-heels transvestites and an older transsexual travel by bus from Sydney to a cabaret engagement in the Australian outback.

...Hm. Since that description doesn't do it justice, here's a trailer:

See you at the cinema!

Kirk