Majestic Bay Theater

Beneath CGI-drenched action, Iron Man 3 offers acting charm

Guest — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:48:12 +0000

Guest (not verified) Fri, 05/03/2013 - 10:48am

When the special effects subside, Robert Downey Jr., who plays Tony Stark AKA Iron Man, is able to charm audiences as an actor.

By Dan Howes

There are two important facts about Iron Man 3. One is that, unlike its predecessors, the latest film in the hugely popular Marvel franchise is written and directed by the very talented Shane Black, who made a writing career for himself in Hollywood with the screenplay that became Lethal Weapon before getting behind the camera on 2005’s Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Black’s comedic chops as a writer and Howard Hawks-like direction of actors is a perfect and welcomed fit for a comic book series that has been threatening to collapse under it’s own weight, especially after the passable but bloated Iron Man 2. The other important fact about Iron Man 3 is that it cost an enormous $200 million to produce. This astronomical sum of money is definitely made apparent on screen, especially in the digitally explosive and perhaps inevitably bombastic final set piece.

I say these two facts are important because they spend much of the film at odds with each other, battling for screen-time and the audience's attention. One scene will offers us expensive computer enhanced destruction, so similar to that which we’ve seen before that it almost comes across as white noise. Then, the next scene strips everything down to allow two or three talented actors to just play and do what they’re best at. Of particular note is a hilarious collection of scenes between Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and a kid named Harley in small-town Tennessee. Their tet-a-tet is wickedly smart, and young actor Ty Simpkins is able to hold his own against the veteran star of the picture in a believable and charming fashion that avoids any of the precocious child pitfalls which typically plague franchise movies. These simple and funny scenes are the most entertaining and enjoyable in the film.

While the title is Iron Man 3, this latest Marvel picture is also partially a sequel to last year’s comic book supergroup film The Avengers, mostly in the form of Tony Stark’s insomnia and reoccurring panic attacks as a result of his experiences in that previous screen adventure. Luckily, unlike Iron Man 2, this movie is not shackled too tightly to the larger Marvel universe and manages to tell its own self-contained story, albeit a somewhat recycled and predictable one.

The villain this time around is The Mandarin, a classic in the Iron Man canon, rendered here as a pan-ethnic international terrorist carrying out mysterious bombings around the U.S. while making unspecific demands. Sir Ben Kingsley is of course a great choice for this antagonist and shows admirable restraint in a role that could easily give an actor an insatiable appetite for scenery. Don Cheadle returns as Stark’s sidekick, Jim Rhodes AKA Warhammer (or Iron Patriot as the Pentagon rebrands him), but he doesn’t have a whole lot going on, and only shows up when the plot needs him to. Gwyneth Paltrow is also still around as Tony’s girlfriend/business partner Pepper Potts, and as usual her only reason for existing is to give Iron Man something to rescue at the climax. There are a couple half-hearted attempts to give her a little more agency and self-determination, but those are tossed aside quickly, as if the filmmakers feared that any hint of feminism would instantly chase the coveted 18 to 35-year-old male demographic right out of the theater. There is even a scene late in the film when both Tony Stark and Pepper Potts are separately held captive, but Tony is able to escape while Pepper just hangs in her shackles helplessly like a wet noodle.

Despite it’s CGI-drenched action sequences and familiar plot, Iron Man 3 makes for a fun time at the movies, especially when the explosions subside for a few minutes and the actors are allowed to do their work.

Iron Man 3 is rated PG-13, runs 130 minutes, and is playing at Ballard’s Majestic Bay. For more info and showtimes, visit www.majesticbay.com

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At the Majestic: 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a unique cinematic treat

Guest — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:18:10 +0000

Guest (not verified) Wed, 02/11/2009 - 1:18pm

Slumdog Millionaire
Dir. Danny Boyle
120 min., R

"Slumdog Millionaire," directed by Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "28 Days Later"), is your typical love story - boy meets girl, boy looses girl, boy must get girl back. But, because this is Danny Boyle, it's more like boy meets girl, boy narrowly avoids intentional blinding, boy swindles fat tourists, boy gets mixed up with local gangsters, boy is tortured by police, then boy must get girl back. And, it is those detours that make "Slumdog Millionaire" an incredible film experience.

Jamal Malik, a child of an Indian slum, is a contestant on the Indian "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." When he finds himself one question way from the big jackpot, to the chagrin of the game's host and the delight of the nation, he is nabbed by the police.

The police, certain that Jamal is somehow cheating, interrogate him to discover how he knew each of his answers. This interrogation serves as a device for Jamal to tell of his life experiences, in which he improbably finds the answer to every question, and to ruminate on his lost love, Latika.

It is in these flashbacks, especially to Jamal as a young boy in the slums, that the film truly comes alive. Thanks to Boyle's frenetic direction - changing hues, distorting images - and a pounding score by Indian producer A.R. Rahman, these scenes become a totally immersive experience.

At one point in the film, a young Jamal bitterly says to a tourist, "You wanted to see a little of the real India, well here it is." Boyle and company do the same to the audience.

The cast deserves its share of the credit as well. And, while all the actors play their parts admirably, it is Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as the youngest Jamal who brings heart and humanity to some of the most tragic moments in Jamal's life. How good is Khedekar? He has the distinction of being the center of the only adorable scene involving large amounts of human excrement ever committed to film.

"Slumdog Millionaire" has received 10 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director. And, like its underdog hero, it just might be able to pull off the big win in the end.

Also, remember to stick around for the credits. The colorful, wild dance number that closes the film is an added treat.

'Memphis' at 5th Ave. Theatre

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

admin Fri, 01/30/2009 - 12:00am

"Memphis," produced by Majestic Bay Theater owner and local entrepreneur Ken Alhadeff, a play about the "birth of rock 'n' roll," is playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre now through Feb. 15.

A description of the plot on the theater's Web site reads: "We’re talkin’ downtown, down-home Memphis of the 1950s. Rock 'n' roll is taking over the airways, Elvis is a wannabe, and a downright demented deejay named Huey is spinning the music of black and white America together for the first time. From the author of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and Over the River and Through the Woods, and the composer-keyboardist of Bon Jovi, comes a rafter-rattling musical that immortalizes the man who gave rock its original roll.

The show stars West Seattle native Chad Kimball, who plays as Huey Calhoun, a young Memphis radio jock who is depicted as integral to the dawn of a new musical genre. Kimball has also starred on Broadway in "Lennon," "Into the Woods," "Civil War" and "Good Vibrations."

The original musical score was developed by Bon Jovi rockstar David Bryan, and includes gospel, rhythm and blues and early rock 'n'roll.

Tickets to "Memphis" are priced from $22 to $81 and are available over the phone by calling 206-625-1900 / toll-free 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849), online at 5thavenue.org or in person at the box office at 1308 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.

There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.

Majestic Bay Theater

West Seattle

Robinson Papers

Bad weather contributes to holiday season flop

Guest — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Thu, 01/08/2009 - 12:00am

Snow and bad weather may have hurt the Majestic Bay Theater more than the economy this holiday season.

General manager Brent Siewert says the "media hype" over the snow made people fear going out and "the length of time that it was difficult [for people] to get around" contributed to a deflated holiday season.

"We had days where it wasn't in our best interest to be open," said Siewert.

Siewert also blames Hollywood for a less than stellar holiday movie season. The movie theater industry is largely affected by what movies are out. This season, people were not too excited about most of them, he said.

"We didn't have that one movie that everyone was trying to see this year," said Siewart.

Overall business has not been too terrible for the Majestic Bay.

"We keep plugging along," said Siewert, who is optimistic about the new Clint Eastwood film, "Gran Torino," which will be coming to the theater soon.

Contact Liz Sternberg at liz.sternberg@yahoo.com.

NEW Bad weather contributes to holiday season flop

Guest — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Tue, 01/06/2009 - 12:00am

Snow and bad weather may have hurt the Majestic Bay Theater more than the economy this holiday season.

"We had days where it wasn't in our best interest to be open," said Siewert.

"We didn't have that one movie that everyone was trying to see this year," said Siewart.

Overall business has not been too terrible for the Majestic Bay.

"We keep plugging along," said Siewert, who is optimistic about the new Clint Eastwood film, "Gran Torino," which will be coming to the theater soon.

Contact Liz Sternberg at liz.sternberg@yahoo.com.

Apartments, grocery may open in 2009

Guest — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:00:00 +0000

Guest (not verified) Tue, 12/11/2007 - 12:00am

The QFC on 24th Avenue Northwest closed Dec. 3 for what is expected to be about two years and demolition of the building is set to begin this month to make way for an eight-story mixed-use apartment building, Ballard on the Park.

The project was originally scheduled to break ground this past March, but the developers, Seattle-based Security Properties Inc., couldn't reach an agreement with investors ING, said Jeanne Muir, a spokesperson for the developer.

In the wake of uncertainty in the housing investment market, with millions of subprime mortgages falling into foreclosure, many investors have reevaluated their willingness to back residential developments. But Muir couldn't say why an agreement was never reached.

"I have no idea why they didn't sign on the dotted line, they just didn't," she said. "This is a good project that has been worked on behind the scenes the entire time."

Instead, the project will go forward with a partnership between PNC Realty Investors Inc. and Security Properties. Muir said the joint venture required securing union contractors to do the job, which led to further delay.

Also, the land is privately owned by the Dunn Family Foundation and leased to Security Properties long-term. Working through land lease agreements also took more time than anticipated, said Muir.

Bumgardener Architects designed the eight-story structure. The lead architect, Mark Simpson, is a 25-year Ballard resident.

The existing grocery store will be replaced at the ground floor level and be 45,000 square feet, twice its current size. The goal is to get QFC open again by the fall of 2009, said Muir.

"Everyone is going to work toward the store being open as soon as they can," she said.

The store's 60 employees were offered positions in neighboring QFC branches.

Six stories of apartments will be built above the store, 268 units in all; 69 studios (600 square feet), 139 one-bedrooms (750 square feet) and 60 two-bedroom units (1,100 square feet).

There will be 15 two-story, brick-clad town homes for rent; seven facing east along Ballard Commons Park and eight looking north on Northwest 58th Street. The apartments will be rented at market rate, said Muir.

According to the Seattle Office of Housing, the citywide average market rent for all existing apartment sizes and ages is around $1,055 a month. No data was available for new apartments because so few have been built here in the past decade since condominiums have ruled the development market.

The area is zoned Neighborhood Commercial 3 with a 65 foot height limit, but this development will be more like 74 feet high because of a height bonus designated in the Ballard Municipal Center Master Plan.

The new building sits in the middle of the Ballard Municipal Center, which extends from 20th Avenue Northwest to 24th Avenue Northwest and from Northwest 56th Street to Northwest 58th Street, including abutting properties. The community came together in the late 1990s at the same time neighborhood plans were being created to plan for open space in this area and to increase the supply of housing and spur economic development.

Some of the design guidelines for buildings built in this pocket include departures from development standards to meet goals that guide attractive mixed-use developments and maximize access to the park. One departure includes an additional level in building height in exchange for providing townhouse style units at street level abutting Ballard Commons Park.

It's meant to encourage developers to avoid blank walls and create an "all eyes on the park" feel, said Muir.

"They (the community) wanted that interaction," said Muir.

The plan also proposes that town homes, with retail behind and parking below grade, are the most appropriate development to directly front the park to the west.

The seven town homes facing east will be set back 10 feet from the park and go up two stories. Landscaping will cover the roofs and set back another 20 feet before climbing up eight stories.

"There's a much diminished sense of the building (looking from the park)," said Muir.

Simpson's design is based on examples from around Ballard like the Majestic Bay Theater, the Ballard Building and older, brick apartment complexes. It's supposed to reflect simple but modern Scandinavian design.

"Buildings should reflect the character of their surroundings," said John Marasco, managing director of development for Security Properties. "Bumgardener designed a very clean, simple building in keeping with the restrained design tradition of Ballard, the new Ballard Commons Park and the library. Our goal is to have this building play a vital role in the daily happenings of the Ballard neighborhood..."

The apartments will be lined in muted grey brick. The building splits into a U-shape at the second story along 57th, providing 9,000 square feet of open space for residents.

A public outdoor terrace is planned for the southwest corner of the new QFC. Inspired by Scandinavian woodwork and designed by Fremont artist Rodman Miller, a wing like, asymmetric exposed wood and glass canopy will hang over the terrace and seating area.

"It softens the border between private and public and makes it more welcoming," said Muir.

A large blown glass bowl will collect rainwater and deposited into a manmade creek that runs the length of the terrace.

A 16-foot change in elevation from the southwest to the northeast corner essentially creates two ground floor levels. QFC will be buried on the north and east sides of the property. Parking for about 450 vehicles will be located on two underground levels

The main pedestrian entry to the grocery store will be located on the northwest corner. Residential vehicles will enter on the southeast corner.

Trash compactors and all grocery related deliveries are to be underground. A small retail outlet is planned for the southeast corner of the lot facing Ballard Commons Park and skate bowl.

Rebekah Schilperoort may be reached at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com