Hello Fellow Moviegoers!

Mergemovies.com is now closed.  Please visit the new website at www.worldcinemadetroit.com.  It is still chalked full of movie theater goodness from Michigan, the Midwest and around the world, but now filtered through the lens of cinema being created and screened in and around Detroit.

Four films, three amazing venues and shaking the hand of Javier Bardem.  Not bad for my first official day watching films at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). I had originally planned on going into detail about each TIFF venue, but after starting the day at 6:30 a.m. and having just arrived back to headquarters (the HI-Toronto Hostel) at 1:30 a.m. I am opting for something a little less extensive.  No worries though…a full write up of the festival, the theaters and the events is still forthcoming!  In the meantime, enjoy these shots from the premiere of director Alejanro Gonzalez Inarritu’s new film Biutiful. Beautifully shot in Mexico and Spain and carried almost entirely on the shoulders of actor Javiar Bardem, the film screened at probably the most unique venue at the festival–The Winter Garden Theatre on Yonge Street.

The Winter Garden Theatre

The Winter Garden Theatre (side view)

Javier Bardem and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Hello fellow cinephiles!  The passion project/attempt to explore the art form known as film, mergemovies.com, has officially returned.  What does this mean?  Well, for starters, it means (at the very least) one post per week, more frequent Twitter updates live from cinematheques and film venues around the Midwest AND live posts from the first four days of the Toronto International Film Festival.  Yes, that’s right, THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

A quick train-ride away from Detroit, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the largest film festival in North America and one of the most significant in the world (second only to le Festival de Cannes).  All the major Oscar players are here, along with a host of old classics, new indies, the best of Canadian cinema, short films and more—enough to make any cinema lover drool or pass out (possibly both) in excitement.

There are 10 different venues where films are screened and countless more where film-related events, exhibitions and parties are happening.  Expect a look into every nook, cranny and crevice of the festival, as well as a detailed examination of the most exciting part of the festival—the eclectic collection of cinema that comprises the bulk of the screenings.

As of now my screening schedule looks a little something like this:

How I Ended This Summer @ AMC Yonge Dundas 24

(Director: Popogrebsky; Country: Russia)

Legend of the First: The Return of Chen Zhen @ Ryerson Theatre

(Director: Andrew Lau; Country: Hong Kong)

Cirkus Columbia @ Ryerson Theatre

(Director: Danis Tanovic; Country: Bosnia, Herzegovina)

Wasted on the Young @ Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas

(Director: Ben C. Lucas; Country: Australia)

Fubar II @ Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas

(Director: Michael Dowse; Country: Canada)

The Legend of Beaver Dam @ Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas

(Director: Jerome Sable; Country: Canada)

Matariki @ AMC Yonge Dundas 24

(Director: Michael Bennett; Country: New Zealand)

Short Cuts Canada Programme 2 @ Jackman Hall/Art Gallery of Ontario

(Various shorts from multiple Canaidian directors)

There will most likely be a one-day delay for these festival posts, so stayed tuned tonight for a look at each of the actual theaters and tomorrow for more detailed information about the films themselves.  Check out tiff.net in the meantime for a run-down on all the cinematic epicness that is the Toronto International Film Festival.

Getting back to the roots of mergemovies!

Today is the beginning of a five-part series (more in this series will be spaced throughout the summer) exploring movie theaters (active and not) in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.  As the adage goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  So, instead of writing a ridiculous amount like I did for my recent Avatar post, this time I will let the pictures do the talking.

We begin with the 20th Century Theatre located on Madison Road just outside of downtown Cincinnati.  It opened in 1941 with the film Blood and Sand and closed its doors to cinema in 1983.  The first few times I visited Cincinnati, I was only to get a quick drive-by glance.  It wasn’t until this past January when I actually took the time to examine the  theater up close that I found it now regularly hosts concerts and special events.  Even through it no longer holds movie screenings, it great to see that it is still being used for entertainment purposes.  The theater was almost lost to demolition in the late 80s/early 90s and was saved thanks to a string of businesses and organizations that used the theater for a variety of reasons.

During the day, the marquee looks a bit worn, but in a good way.  It is a reminder that this theater, like many in the Midwest, has seen generations come and go, but still remains an important fixture in the community.  Birds perch on the “20th” lettering and fly in and out of the vertical “Century.”  At night the marquee partially lights up, illuminating the surrounding streets in an orange glow.  It gives the area an aura of electricity and excitement–even on a cold January night.

Check out the official website of the theater here: the20thcenturytheatre.com

Hello fellow moviegoers! After a long hiatus (for legitimate reasons, I promise!) the website will be back up and running this week.

Coming up: a tour of Cincinnati area movie theaters, a bit on Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” and my top three movies thus far in 2010!