News ... May 2001
Using The Net To Catch Movies
by Wolf BraunPeople who don't use the Internet are always asking, "So what good is it? Is it just for people who have no life or is there more?"
I always answer, "For me it's about friends and family." I love keeping in touch by sending emails and photographs. In the not so distant future we'll be able to view home-videos and partake in interactive video conferencing.
We can't ignore the fact that the Internet is a mega-source of information. For film lovers this is especially true. Hollywood grew around film, one of the earliest multimedia technologies. Let's face it, the net is full of pictures of film stars gleaned from a multitude of sources: movies, TV, video, magazines etc. etc. Scanner manufacturers must be rubbing their hands. With just a click you can see all your favourites from Julia Roberts to John Malkovich.
But this article isn't about how to surf the net or explore the World Wide Web. I simply want to share with you some of the best film websites where movies abound, old and new, Hollywood blockbusters and Indies, foreign and Canadian. You can see where and when a particular movie is playing, read intelligent and thought provoking reviews or hang out with other film buffs and participate in on-line discussions. There are local websites that do this well and others that cover a much broader geographic area. But first a brief word about new films and the Internet.
Internet film viewing is gaining a huge following. Hundreds, if not thousands of films are posted each year and several sites created specifically for made-for-internet movies, such as www.thebitscreen.com have popped up. This is no joke. Steven Spielberg and fellow director Ron Howard have turned their dreams into Flash animation at www.countingdown.com. and the much talked about Preludes from the Toronto International Film Festival can be viewed at www.bell.ca/filmfest/preludes. This trend is sure to impact change in the film industry.
OK, OK back to the list. By the way the QFA Programming Committee finds these sites invaluable in helping to select the great films they bring us every other Wednesday.
#1 The Internet Movie Database. They call themselves the biggest, best and most award-winning movie site on the planet. It's a bit of a stretch to claim the planet but it is good. Find them at www.imdb.com.
#2 The Movie Review Query Engine. This site at www.mrqe.com allows fans to search the Web for major film critics' reviews of more than 21,000 titles.
#3 The ShowBiz Media Forum powered by Compuserve. You can find it at http://forums.compuserve.com/vlforums/default.asp?SRV=ShowBiz. Exchange messages with like-minded people or just lurk (that's net-speak for not participating).
#4 The Jam ShowBiz Movie Listings powered by Canoe are at www.canoe.ca/JamMovieListings/home.html. Check here to see what is playing locally or in any other city across Canada.
#5 Cinéma Montreal. If you are planning a trip to Montreal visit here first. There are reviews by movie-goers as well as QuickTime clips from actual films. You can find it at www.cinemamontreal.com/eng. The site is fully bilingual and invites you to submit your own reviews of movies listed.
#6 Rotten Tomatoes located at www.rottentomatoes.com has excellent reviews using tomatoes in lieu of the star rating system. It's different but definitely worth checking out.
#7 The Cranky Critic at www.crankycritic.com. What's neat about this site is the poster gallery, a great collection from A to Z. It also has a message board where everyone can swap opinions, have discussions with Cranky (yes, that's his name) and just have a great time talking about movies.
#8 Yahoo! Movies is located at www.movies.yahoo.com and since Yahoo! is the "mother" of all search engines I just had to include this one. It's packed with reviews both by professional critics as well as film aficionados. Some pretty strong opinions exist here.
#9 www.moviesinkingston.com is where you'll find The Screening Room in Kingston. Take in dinner and a film just an hour down the 401.
#10 Our friends in The County have an excellent website at www.theregenttheatre.org. Once there click on the link to Cinefest and see what's playing in Picton every other Monday.
Of course we've saved the best for last ... our very own QFA website can be found at www.quinte.net/qfa. See what great films are playing every other Wednesday, read Tom Murray's video picks, use the direct links to many of the above-mentioned sites and much more. You can even write back to complain. Just address your comments to Cecil B. Demented. <vbg> (That's "very big grin" in computereze). Oops! Did I mention that you will have to learn an entire new vocabulary?
Party News!
We're wrapping our movie season in grand style again this year with our 4th Annual Members' Film and Party. The date is June 6th and following the 7 p.m. free screening at Famous Players Eight Cinemas we'll progress to the beautiful River Inn in Corbyville (formerly the Corby Executive Reception Centre). With its river view, outdoor patios and 20 foot polished old Irish bar this is sure to be the ideal spot to gather, mingle and enjoy a sumptuous buffet and full cash bar. There may even be a celebrity guest appearance or two, schedules permitting, of course.The feature film for the evening has yet to be confirmed but we are presenting Susan Shipton's short film Hindsight. Susan, formerly of Belleville, made her directorial debut with this short film shown at the Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal 2000 film festivals. It's a dark comedy about a woman who takes matters into her own hands when she is no longer able to bear the voyeuristic gaze of a male co-worker. It puts a playful spin on the politics of "looking." Susan won the Genie Award for Editing in 1997 for her work on Atom Egoyan's acclaimed The Sweet Hereafter.
Please let us know if you will be attending. RSVP by calling the QFA Hotline at 391-4310 or email info@quintefilmalternative.ca. You may also contact us to become a member.
What to Watch in May
Watch the mist rise on a mid-19th century island off the coast of Newfoundland. Plunge into the gothic atmosphere of a 1922 horror movie set. Breathe the rarified air of turn-of-the-century upper New York society.The Quinte Film Alternative presents three superbly-crafted, memorable movies in the month of May. Adding an additional film to its regular line-up, the QFA presents the best offerings of the 2001 cinematic season.
May's first film, The Widow of Saint-Pierre (May 2nd), a joint France-Canada production (sub-titled), features Chocolat star Juliette Binoche in a lushly-filmed account of a condemned prisoner awaiting the arrival of an ocean-borne guillotine.
In the second presentation, Shadow of the Vampire (May 16th), John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe headline a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the famous silent film Nosferatu. Smart, witty and visually stunning, the plot reveals a shocking link between the main actor and his character.
The month's final offering is the screen adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1907 novel, House of Mirth (May 30th). Amidst a sumptuous backdrop of high fashion and finely-polished surfaces, New York socialite Lily Bart (Gillian Anderson) tries desperately to avoid financial ruin.
All screenings at the Famous Players 8, Bell Boulevard, Belleville. General Admission, $7.50, Seniors/Students, $6.00, Members, $5.00.
PAST NEWSLETTERS ON-LINE
March 2001 -- Something in Common
January 2001 -- Film Circuit Wins Drucker Award for Innovation
Plus: Review of the 25th Toronto International Film Festival Preludes
November 2000 -- QFA Goes to the Festivals
August 2000 -- QFA Supports Canadian Filmmakers
April 2000 -- Small is Beautiful
March 2000 -- Film Festival Get-Away: Cinéfest Sudbury Tour
February 2000 -- Cinéfest Bus Trip
January 2000 -- The Malkovich Effect
November 1999 -- Coming to Earth: Director Deepa Mehta Survives an Indian Fire-Storm
September 1999 -- Welcome to our Fifth Season
May 1999 -- It's Your Turn, Laura / C'est à ton tour, Laura Cadieux
March 1999 -- The Cinematic Tourist: Lessons of Foreign Films