Film 62 - Unlimited Secret Screening

Unlimited Secret Screening - 15/07/2014

Cineworld announced that a secret screening would be held to showcase a film before general release to the public to it's unlimited members, so I jumped at the chance.  After the success of the Pulp Fiction Anniversary showing and the Raid 2 Advanced Screening, I was looking forward to this.

We had our ideas of what it was going to be, but we were not sure...

1) Guardians of the Galaxy - due out at the end of the month, but Marvel only released 17 mins worth of footage to be shown at the upcoming San Diego Comicon, how could Cineworld get a full screening of this weeks before?

2) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - This one seemed the most likely, but with the secret screening on the 15th and general release on the 17th it hardly seemed like weeks in advance

3) Earth to Echo - I had a sneaking suspicion that this would be the showing to see how audiences reacted to it, the new ET or just another found footage film?

4) Hercules - A couple of weeks before the actual release date, this was a fine contender

5) Star Wars Episode 7 - I can dream!

When we (Dave, Rosh and I) arrived at the cinema we were given our free Coke Zero and a flyer detailing what was coming up.  The flyer highlighted that this was a sequel to a film released in 2011, no more guessing, we knew from then that we would be spending and evening with Caesar.

After a couple of trailers, Andy Serkis appeared on screen to introduce the film, The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Set ten years after the simian outbreak and ape uprising, Caesar and his gang have set up home in the San Fran Forest and believe humans to have died out.  When a small group of humans threaten that existence on the search for a power source things become a little fragile.

The Apes looks real, Koba is one of the best bad guys (apes) in a long while and the acting is superb.  Apes runs at a long 130 mins because it is not all out action and loud noises (like some other summer blockbusters) but seems to take the Nolan approach.  Characters you actually care for, good story points and a dark and more realistic environment.  

Most of the scenes involving Koba were absolutely terrifying, one including a dual machine gun wielding, horse back riding, fire jumping monkey with a real chip on his shoulder...AWESOME, and then the clip below (which was shown on TV so I am not spoiling anything - although the impact at the cinema of this clip was brilliant so if you plan to watch it on the silver screen, don't watch this clip)

There were a couple of things that made me laugh, like when the humans do get some electricity they turn on every single light including display cabinets and charge every device they have (including Gary Oldmans Ipad - that guy must really love Candy Crush).  I get told off if I leave the bathroom light on, and we aren't on limited power!

Also, Barry Exposition appeared at a couple of points just to explain to the slower viewer why things happen.  These always make me laugh

Cineworld decided that the Secret Screening should also be shown in 3D, but this was it's downfall.  Apes in 3D is pointless, you lose so much colour and contrast with the stupid glasses on and apart from a few scenes of depth, the main things in 3D are the subtitles.

This takes the Apes story to a darker place than Rise and I can only aniticipate how exciting the final chapter of this trilogy will be.

The opening and closing shots are haunting.

I also have to thank the staff at the Bolton Cineworld, they were excellent hosts and the free drink was a lovely touch.