Another second run theater has switched to first run movies.

At one time, several years ago, Portland had over a dozen local theaters that showed second run and classic films.  Now, we're down to two, as the Academy Theater (where I saw The Dark Crystal and THEM! on the big screen, among others) has announced it will start showing first run movies this week.

It's no surprise this happened.  Film studios have shortened the time between when a movie opens in a theater to when it's available through streaming service, reducing the audience for a second run feature.  And while it's fun to watch a classic film like Jaws on the big screen, many people are opting to stay home and watch such films on their big screen TVs, as it's easier and cheaper to rent or buy the film online. 

 Oh joy, another superhero flick.  

Can't this multiplex spare one screen to show Army of Darkness?

But your support of theaters like the Academy is still important.  One reason is that, like most other locally owned businesses, these theaters put more money into the local economy than a national chain.  Also, let's be honest, you'll often get better food and drinks at a local theater.  

And ticket prices are often a few dollars less than a giant multiplex, which could become the most important reason for supporting locally owned theaters.  Earlier this week, AMC Theaters announced tickets for The Batman will be $1.50 higher than normal.  It appears the surcharge for blockbuster events predicted by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg has come true.  The only thing that might keep other national theater chains from following suit is if moviegoers vote with their wallets, stay out of the multiplex and go see The Batman at a locally owned theater.  It's not going to hurt the film if you pay two dollars less to see it, but the multiplexes will pay attention to a decrease in their audience size.

Well, time to get off the soapbox and on to the Weekly Update, full of movies, stage events and, yes Batman.  You can also check out the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, for events taking place during the rest of March and BEYOND!  Don't forget, I update that page every few days, so be sure to keep coming back.

If you'd like to support the site, please consider visiting my Ko-fi page.  Thanks!

 Stay healthy, be safe, and I'll be back next week!

Playing This Week   

  

The Sci Fi drama After Yang opens tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  It is scheduled to run through Thursday, March 10, with March 9's screening with open captions.

The new version of Dune returns to the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway NE in Salem, OR) through Tuesday, May 8.

Guillermo del Toro's latest film, Nightmare Alley, returns to the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway NE in Salem, OR) through Wednesday, May 9.

 

Get ready to Scream as the fifth film in the series comes to McMenimans Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR).

Alright, you primitive screwheads, listen up!  Central Cinema (1411 21St Ave in Seattle, WA) is showing Army of Darkness through Thursday, March 10.  Groovy! 

 

The Eastside Theater (3445 SE Hilyard Rd in Gresham, OR) presents Law and Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit, and tongue-in-cheek play for young children, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 4-6 and 11-13.

 

If you plan on seeing The Batman, why not skip the big multiplexes and spend your money at a small, local theater like The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR), Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR), the Liberty Theatre (312 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA), CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR), the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific Ave in Kelso, WA), the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR), the Cameo Theatre (304 E 1st St in Newberg, OR), the Academy Theater (78818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR), and the following McMenimans theaters: Anderson School Theater (18607 Bothell Way NE in Bothell, WA), the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR), Old St. Francis Theater (700 NW Bond St in Bend, OR), the Olympic Club Theater (112 N Tower Ave in Centrailia, WA) and the St Johns Theater (8023 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR).

 

The Crypticon Seattle Horror Film Festival is taking submissions until March 8, 2022.  Northwest filmmakers can contact the con for a submissions waiver to avoid the fee.  Visit the link for all the details.

March, 2022

Saturday, March 5

The Northwest Film Center brings the Oscar nominated animated sci fi/comedy film The Mitchells Vs. The Machines to the Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) today at noon.

The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen New York Ninja in GLORIOUS 35mm through Wednesday, March 9.  Directed and starring martial arts actor John Liu, the film was abandoned during production, resulting in all original sound materials become lost.  35 years later, Vinegar Syndrom found the negatives and completed the film.  The voice talents include Don "The Draagon" Wilson, Linnea Quigley, Michael Berryman,Vince Murdocco, Matt Mitler, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ginger Lynn Allen and Cynthia Rathrock. Check it out if you can!!

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will show Peter Jackson's true crime drama Heavenly  Creatures tonight at 7:30 pm, and on Monday, March 7, at 7 pm.

Saturday Secret Matinees return to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) with Daredevils of the Red Circle, featuring Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless) as the villain in this 1939 serial, with a new chapter shown each week in GLORIOUS 16mm!  Of course, what's a serial without a feature, and each week, the episode will be paired with a secret feature film.  Bi-weekly themes will provide clues, but you have to show up to find out what's being shown!  The fun starts at 1 pm. 

 

UPDATE: Passes are sold out.  A few individual tickets will be available each week. 

 

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will present The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the Clinton Street Cabaret performing, tonight with a pre-show starting at 11:30 pm.  Doors open at 11 pm.

Sunday, March 6

Church of Film presents When the Cat Comes, about a cat wearing sunglasses which, when removed, reveals the true colors of anyone the cat looks at.  The starts at 7 pm tonight at the Red Fox (5128 N Albina Ave in Portland, OR), and will take place outdoors, in a covered and heated area.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) show the "anti-fascist fairytale" The Wolf House, an animated horror film based on the events that took place at the Colonia Dignidad community in Chile during the 1960s and 70s.

Monday, May 7

Writer/director Sean Ellis' horror film The Cursed plays at 6:15 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).

The new version of Dune plays at 8:45 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).

Tuesday, March 8

 

The March edition of Burlynomicon celebrates the birthday of Poison front man Bret Michael with a star studded showcase, trivia prizes and a raffle to benefit one of Bret's favorite charities.  The doors at The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) at 7 pm, with the show starting at 8 pm.  Advance tickets are recommended. 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will screen Raiders!  The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made tonight at 7 pm.

 

Thursday, March 10

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will screen Joe Dante's horror/comedy classic Piranha tonight at 9 pm.

 

Radial Theater Project's production of George Orwell's 1984 returns to 18th and Union (1406 18th Ave in Seattle, WA) two years after the theater closed due to COVID.

 

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen New York Ninja tonight at 7:30 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Directed and starring martial arts actor John Liu, the film was abandoned during production, resulting in all original sound materials become lost.  35 years later, Vinegar Syndrom found the negatives and completed the film.  The voice talents include Don "The Draagon" Wilson, Linnea Quigley, Michael Berryman,Vince Murdocco, Matt Mitler, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ginger Lynn Allen and Cynthia Rathrock. Check it out if you can!! 

 

Friday, March 11

 

Central Cinema (1411 21St Ave in Seattle, WA) will show the Hayao Miyazaki film Porco Rosso, in both English dubbed and Japanese with English Subtitle versions, through Thursday, March 17.

Central Cinema (1411 21St Ave in Seattle, WA) celebrates 30 years of Twin Peaks with screenings of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me through Tuesday, March 15.

 

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will screen director Lam Ngai Choi's (Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky) sci fi film The Cat tonight at 8:30 pm.  Coming from the man behind Riki-Oh, you know it should be mind-melting fun!

 

The 5th Avenue Cinema (501 SW Hall St in Portland, OR) will show the original Godzilla (I assume, as the cast list doesn't include Raymond Burr) at 7 and 9:30 pm tonight and Saturday, March 12, and on Sunday, March 13, at 3 pm.

Saturday, March 12

A new restoration of John Carpenter's sci fi/horror classic The Thing plays tonight and tomorrow night at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).

Saturday Secret Matinees return to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) with Daredevils of the Red Circle, featuring Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless) as the villain in this 1939 serial, with a new chapter shown each week in GLORIOUS 16mm!  Of course, what's a serial without a feature, and each week, the episode will be paired with a secret feature film.  Bi-weekly themes will provide clues, but you have to show up to find out what's being shown!  The fun starts at 1 pm. 

 

UPDATE: Passes are sold out.  A few individual tickets will be available each week.  

 

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will present the sci fi thriller Ultrasound through Thursday, March 17. 

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will present the "Be It Yourself" edition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, tonight with a pre-show starting at 11:30 pm.  Doors open at 11 pm. 

Sunday, March 13

Kaiju Comic Show 3 - The Kaiju Strike Again takes place today from 10 am to 5 pm at the site of the former TFAW comic shop on Broadway (2916 NE Broadway in Portland, OR).  Admission to Preview Hour (10 to 11 am) is $5, with admission at $2 from 11 am on.