Cinema Salem Showtimes for April 15-22 (Rio is nearly here!)

Beginning Friday, CinemaSalem will be showing:

Rio (G)

The Time That Remains (NR)

Arthur (PG13) 

Hanna (PG13)

Here's what CinemaSalem has to say about the films...  
 

"Rio is a joyful celebration of the great city and the glorious plumage of parrots. It is also the most enjoyable animated film since Toy Story 3D," writes the London Globe and Mail, and HitFix concurs: "With Rio, it feels like this filmmaker (who was born in Rio himself) has made something with that extra added bit of personal passion, and maybe that's why I found it to be one of the most enjoyable things the studio has made."

Rio opens Friday at (4:20), 6:45 and 9:00; Saturday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:20), 6:45 and 9:00; and Sunday-Thursday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:20), 6:45. 

Hanna won over the Denver Post: "Hanna plays out as a visceral fairy tale about a naif discovering a world both fascinating and dangerous," as well as New York Magazine: "What keeps us hooked is Ronan, a young actress of seemingly limitless abilities, and the tension she creates between Hanna's inhumanly agile body and quizzical eyes, which turn cold only when she pulls the trigger."

Hanna will screen on Friday at (5:10), 7:30 and 9:50; Saturday (12:15), (2:45), (5:10), 7:30 and 9:50; and Sunday-Thursday at (12:15), (2:45), (5:10) and 7:30. 

Mr. Katy Perry rules the box office this week as the voice of Hop and as the live-action star of Arthur, which has sparked something of a controversy among critics. Kurt Loder writes in Reason Online: "The most hysterical thing about the new Arthur is the instant wave of hatred it has drawn from the nation's 10 million movie reviewers," while Reeling Reviews dubs it "a perfect remake vehicle for British comic Russell Brand ...in his most winning cinematic performance to date." If all the critic vitriol stems from nostalgia for the original Arthur, we'll let Richard Roeper have the last word: "It would be impossible to top the original Arthur but this modern version is a consistently funny and sweet." 

Opening this week in the Screening Room is the extraordinary The Time That Remains, which has won critical raves from all over the world. If "Israeli-Palestinian conflict" and "slapstick humor" have never been mentioned in the same sentence before, the time has come. The Hollywood Reporter loves it: "Seven years after Divine Intervention, director Elia Suleiman returns with more humorous-sad stories from his native Palestine, couched in the ironic autobiographical language at which he is grandly adept", and the New York Post agrees: "Another Palestinian director dealing with the same events might rant and rave. Not Suleiman. He knows the power of well-conceived humor." 

Cinema Salem showtimes for this week

Cinema Salem has four great films to complement your holiday celebrations, so here goes!

SHERLOCK HOLMES opens on Christmas Day, and The New Yorker can't wait: "Downey and Law are terrific together. For me, watching them act is the movie's principal pleasure." CinemaBlend concurs: "Guy Ritchie combines his kinetic direction with the limitless charms of Downey Jr and Jude Law to come up with terrific entertainment that's equal parts brains and brawn."

SHERLOCK HOLMES opens Friday at (1:45), (4:30) and 7:15; Saturday at (11:00 AM), (1:45), (4:30), 7:15 and 9:50; and Sunday-Thursday at (11:00 AM), (1:45), (4:30) and 7:15.

Also new this week is Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in IT'S COMPLICATED, which AO Scott of "At the Movies" loves: "Streep and Baldwin are terrific, and if you like your romance bittersweet you won't want to miss this one." But how does Urban Cinefile feel? "Divorce has never been so much fun in this smart and funny romantic comedy about getting back together (or not) long after the happily ever after scenario has dried up." And Rex Reed pulls up the rear: "A silly but mostly delectable holiday confection guaranteed to put a smile on your face and keep it there."

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, which Roger Ebert loves with a vengeance: "This is what classic animation once was like! No 3-D! No glasses! No extra ticket charge! No frantic frenzies of meaningless action! And...good gravy! A story! Characters! A plot!"

TP&TF will screen on Friday at (2:00), (4:15) and 6:45; Saturday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:15), 6:45 and 9:00; and Sunday-Thursday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:15) and 6:45.

In the Screening Room is ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING, a startlingly beautiful martial arts film with exhilarating action. Sky Movies writes: "Some of the most exhilarating martial arts action to hit screens in recent years. Ong Bak: The Beginning is a showcase for Tony Jaa's abilities." The Stranger is mesmerized: "Head-thumping nirvana ... By the time a dude in a bird suit starts fighting on top of a moving elephant, it seems like a logical, completely awesome progression."

ONG BAK 2 will screen Friday at (2:10), (5:15) and 7:40; Saturday at (12:00), (2:10), (5:15), 7:40 and 9:45; Sunday and Monday at (12:00), (2:10), (5:15) and 7:40; Tuesday at (12:00), (2:10) and 7:40; and Wednesday and Thursday at (12:00), (2:10), (5:15) and 7:40.

If you need one more holiday gift, don't forget about CinemaSalem Movie Cards, which can be purchased at our Box Office today from 4-8pm and tomorrow from 11 am-4 pm

Cinema Salem showtimes for this week

Here's a quick summary of this week's movies and showtimes at Cinema Salem so that you can plan to enjoy a great film over the weekend.

NEW MOON (PG-13) will screen today and Thanksgiving at (4:30) and 7:15; Friday and Saturday at (11:00 AM), (1:45), (4:30), 7:15 and 10:00; Sunday at (11:00 AM), (1:45), (4:30) and 7:15; and Monday-Thursday at (4:30) and 7:15.

Opening today is Disney's OLD DOGS (PG) starring John Travolta and Robin Williams, which will screen today and tomorrow at (4:15) and 7:30l Friday at (12:15), (2:45), (5:00), 7:30 and 9:40; Sunday at (12:15), (2:45), (5:00) and 7:30; and Monday-Thursday at (5:00) and 7:30.

PLANET 51 will screen today and tomorrow at (4:45) and 7:00; Friday and Saturday at (12:00), (2:15), (4:45), 7:00 and 9:00; Sunday at (12:00), (2:15), (4:45) and 7:00; and Monday- Thursday at (4:45) and 7:00.

Opening Friday is WORLD'S GREATEST DAD which 95% of the world's top critics rated positively, using words like "tasteless", "sweet", and "black comedy with heart" in many of their reviews. WGD will play Friday and Saturday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:15), 7:20 and 9:30; Sunday at (11:45 AM), (2:00), (4:15) and 7:20; and Monday-Thursday at (4:15) and 7:20.

THE DRUMMER will screen today and tomorrow at (5:00) and 7:20.

And don't forget that you can watch GLEE tonight at 8:30 on the high definition, giant screens of CinemaSalem. We normally also show FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS at the same time, but we don't think there's a new episode this week. Are we right?

There's a little over a week until the BEAD FOR LIFE party arrives at the CinemaSalem Café on December 5, where you can find beautiful bracelets and necklaces handmade by Ugandan women. If you decide to purchase some, you'll find the prices are amazingly reasonable!

Parking for Cinema Salem this weekend...

This just in from our friends at Cinema Salem:

With the opening of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE today, several people are inquiring about how to park for the movie theater over the next three weekends without getting stuck with a $20 fee. Here's how. >1. Go to the Church Street parking lot (the one across from our marquee and near the Lyceum).

2. If the weather is bad, there will be no $20 prepay fee, so just grab a ticket and pay the relatively reasonable rate.

3. If the weather is good, you'll need to pay the $20 prepayment, so go ahead -- but you'll get it back!

4. Come to CinemaSalem and purchase your ticket, and KEEP YOUR STUB. Enjoy the movie of your choice.

5. Go back to the Church Street lot and show your CinemaSalem ticket stub to the attendant, and you will receive a full refund on the $20 prepayment.

6. Thanks to the City of Salem for arranging this free parking for our patrons.

7. A review of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE: "Profoundly beautiful and affecting, Where the Wild Things Are is a breath-
taking act of artistic transubstantiation." Time Magazine

8. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (PG) will screen Friday at (4:30), 6:45 and 8:50; Saturday at (12:00), (2:15), (4:30), 6:45 and 8:50; Sunday at (12:00), (2:15), (4:30) and 6:45; and Monday-Thursday at (4:30) and 6:45.

9. Another review: "I can't speak for the kids, but I would rate Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's 40-page children's picture book up there with Up and Wall·E as topping the recent renaissance in children's movies." Boston Phoenix

10. Thanks for supporting CinemaSalem!

Now Playing: Away We Go (R); Bruno (R); Outrage (NR): and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!

I love the CinemaSalem e-news updates. The weather has some rain in it (again), so plan your escape to CinemaSalem and it's fresh popcorn with real butter. (And then make it a real date by adding dinner and/or drinks at one of the nearby restaurants!)

Tidbit #1: If you come to see Big Man Japan today or tomorrow, for goodness sake, stay through the final credits!

Tidbit #2: Last week's Harry Potter 6 midnight premiere completely sold out two theaters by 10:30 pm. For the several hundred whom we had to turn away, we're working on a three-screen interlock for next year's HP7a.

Tidbit #3: We had a ton of people coming to our weekly LOST parties last winter and spring, where we projected the mythic TV show for free on our big screen. Theories were discussed, friendships formed, community built, and popcorn sold. We'll be doing the same thing this coming winter when the final season unfolds, but we had a question for you: what other shows would you shuffle out of the comfort of your home to see on the big screen with a bunch of like-minded geniuses such as yourself? Glee? Friday Night Lights (on DirecTV before they go to NBC)? The Office/30 Rock? Desperate Housewives? The only technical requirement is that they be on weekday evenings and start at 9pm or later. Indicate your preference by replying to this email, and we'll count up the results and report back soon.

Tidbit #4: Last week's Discount Variety was one of the best yet, with a totally improvised, hilarious monologue about intercultural relationships by the comedienne and an awesome, courageous set of extraordinary music by someone who will soon be compared to Kate Bush. We hope to put some of it up online so you can catch it. In the meantime, mark August 20 on your calendars for the next Discount Variety show in the Café.

Tidbit #5: Away We Go (R) has been called " one of the best films about love I've ever seen" by the film critic at the Kansas City Star, who must have seen loads of movies. The Oregonian writes: "Away We Go is offbeat enough to feel like a breakthrough indie but familiar and warm enough to serve as a thinking person's romantic comedy."

Away We Go will screen Friday and Saturday at (12:00), (2:10), (4:20), 7:10 and 9:20; and Sunday-Thursday at (12:00), (2:10), (4:20) and 7:10.

Tidbit #6: Bruno (R) arrives at CinemaSalem with Sasha Baron Cohen's typical understated subtlety and a 69% positive rating at RottenTomatoes.com. This is London loves it and also finds it important: "Brüno is a brave and necessary comedy. The film will appear to be a succès de scandale, and will outrage many people, but it is actually just a success, a film with an instinct for naming and shaming a host of overprotected wrongs. Go and see it."

Bruno will screen on Friday and Saturday at (12:30), (2:30), (5:00), 7:30 and 9:40; and Sunday-Thursday at (12:30), (2:30), (5:00) and 7:30.

Tidbit #7: In the Screening Room this week is Outrage (NR), which the New York Times calls an "indignant and methodical documentary which offers a lot of insight into the ideology and psychology of present-day political homophobia." The Philadelphia Inquirer was similarly impressed: "Despite its title, Outrage is calm, riveting, and provocative, taking pride in officials who come out and and taking aim at those who remain closeted," while the Hollywood Reporter submits "Audiences, regardless of their politics, will find Kirby Dick's film entertaining, brisk, visually interesting and perhaps even thrilling."

Outrage will play on Friday and Saturday at (11:45 AM), (1:45), (4:00), 7:00 and 9:00; and Sunday-Thursday at (11:45 AM), (1:45), (4:00) and 7:00.

Tidbit #8: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the best movie of the series, in the humble opinion of this scribe, yet remains accessible and engaging for people who haven't experienced the books or movies. The Los Angeles Times writes, "The Potter pictures have become the modern exemplars of establishment moviemaking," while across the pond, the Globe and Mail pens: "The experienced team behind the Harry Potter movie series is comfortably in the groove with the sixth film, which plays down the fantastic elements and introduces contrasting playful teenaged romance and a new tone of adult gloominess."

HP6 will play Friday and Saturday at (11:30 AM), (3:00), 6:45; and 10:00; and then Sunday-Thursday at (11:30 AM), (3:00) and 6:45.

Tidbit #9: One of the most exciting days of the year in Salem will occur on August 12. Why? Because that's the day of the Witches Cup Bike Race around the Salem Common. If you haven't seen this sort of race, it's truly exhilarating. The Witches Cup is a criterium -- a short fast bicycle race requiring a mix of power, speed and technical skills. Those skills include the ability to corner rapidly and sharply, all while riding safely with a large group on a short circuit, requiring exceptional fitness to outflank other riders and repeatedly accelerate around corners. These races are 45-60 minutes of very fast cycling, with racers averaging 25-35 mph and reaching speeds of up to 45 mph during sprints and attacks.

There will be less-intense, but just as fun racing starting at 4 pm, with the professional Witches Cup commencing at 6:45.

In conjunction with this great event, SunlightSolar is sponsoring a FREE showing of the cycling classic film, Breaking Away, on the big screens of CinemaSalem on August 12 at 10 am. Watching this great movie about youth, dreams, and cycling will get you in the mood for the races later in the afternoon.

So mark your calendars for a great day of racing on August 12.

Tidbit #10: Thanks for supporting CinemaSalem!

CinemaSalem Showtimes for this week

We have a great theater in Salem - it's right downtown, so it's perfect for pairing a movie with a meal (Essex NY Pizza and Asahi Japanese are right there in Museum Place Mall). The weather's been a bit April-showery lately, so movies are a good escape.

The best part is that CinemaSalem gives back to the community - providing grants to arts and cultural organizations in Salem.

Now Playing:
Hannah Montana (G);
I Love You, Man (R);
The Pope's Toilet (NR);
Monsters vs. Aliens (PG)!

Visit CinemaSalem.com for complete info, descriptions and times.

Salem Film Fest Opens on Friday

The email from CinemaSalem today was so great, I'm posting it here. If you want to sign up for the CinemaSalem mailing list, you can do so at cinemasalem.com.

Now Showing: the Salem Film Fest! Academy Award Winner Slumdog Millionaire (R); He's Just Not That Into You (PG-13).

Now would be a great day to move into one of Salem's marvelous hotels, like the Hawthorne or the Waterfront, so you don't miss a moment of the next ten days at CinemaSalem. To warm up, there's the LOST Party tonight and the "A Quest for the Best" Talent Show on Thursday, and then the Salem Film Fest starts screening an awesome slate of the world's best documentary films on Friday.

Rather than give you a rundown here, we'll send you over to SalemFilmFest.com for everything you need to know. Or you can just pick up The Salem News, the Boston Globe North section, or The Salem Gazette, all of whom are providing excellent coverage.

Here's my take on this great festival: Because of the way it's organized (with local sponsors directly underwriting the filmmakers) and because of Salem's reputation around the world, and because of the Fest's focus on filmmakers and the high caliber and sophistication of both the films and the audiences, and because of a yawning hole in the worldwide documentary festival circuit at this time of year, I foresee this event becoming a major national cultural event over the next several years. My confidence in this vision is strengthened by the particular global moment, when our shared challenges make us more and more curious about each other, and hungry for experiences that helps us truly glimpse each other's lives - such as engrossing and brilliant documentary films.

But that's enough prognosticating. I CAN predict with uncanny accuracy that Academy Award tidal wave SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, will play with astonishing regularity in the two other movie theaters at CinemaSalem not devoted to the Fest. You can find their showtimes by visiting CinemaSalem.com.

We hope you will enjoy the Salem Film Fest and our other features over the next week, and thanks for supporting CinemaSalem!

Paul Van Ness, CinemaSalem

CinemaSalem opens vault for Harry Potter Film Fest

There are four more HARRY POTTER films to view this October at Cinema Salem! For only $6 a show, CinemaSalem is offering Harry Potter fans a chance to view all 35mm Harry Potter films, straight from the Warner Bros. vault, during the Harry Potter Film Festival.

The Festival takes place each weekend, with show times at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Last weekend the Harry Potter Film Festival began with a showing of the first of the popular film series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Harry Potter, a seemingly ordinary 11-year-old boy, lives with his negligent relatives, the Dursleys. That is, until he learns the truth about his wizardry – and how he received the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, at the hands of the evil dark Lord Voldemort. A visit from a mysterious stranger named Hagrid opens Potter's past and leads him through five stories that revolve around his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The films star Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The adult cast features Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Ian Hart, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Jason Issacs, Gary Oldman, Fiona Shaw, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson and Julie Walters.

Oct. 11 & 12, look forward to the 35mm film, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," released in 2002. When Potter ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, he discovers the school is plagued by a series of mysterious attacks – and a strange voice haunting him.

Oct. 18 & 19, enjoy the 2004 release, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," when the 35mm film revisits the big screen. It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Potter.

Oct. 25 & 26, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," released in 2005, will be shown at CinemaSalem. In this film, Potter finds himself selected as an under aged competitor in a dangerous multi-wizardry school competition.

To finish the series, Nov. 1 & 2, the 2007 release of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will be shown. In his fifth year at Hogwarts, with warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Potter and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

All five films will be shown in 35mm film on the big screen, just as they were when originally released. The Harry Potter Film Festival coincides with CinemaSalem's opening of the renovated Cinema Café, Salem's newest espresso café to visit before or after the show, or even when you're not going to the movies! The Café serves great coffee drinks by Atomic Café roasts, offers free WIFI, and is a great place to relax with friends. Café goers can enjoy a host of delicious menu items including fruit smoothies, alternative concessions like granola snacks, baked cookies and brownies and yogurt parfait. Cinema Café is open Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.

CinemaSalem is located at One East India Square. Visit http://www.cinemasalem.com/ to buy tickets or call 978.744.1400 for more information on CinemaSalem's midnight shows, FLATLINE FILM FEST, to be offered each weekend throughout October with screenings of films such as THE BLOB and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!