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Franchises: the universe keeps on expanding Will audiences ever tire of “action hero, parts 1, 2 and 3…”? No chance, says Alastair Balmain, when the likes of Stan Lee can captivate audiences with such entertaining adventures.
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Netflix & cinema
Could the streaming giant and exhibitors be the best of friends?
Studio moves
CT interviews Andrew Cripps, 20th Century Fox's advocate for change
Planning for victory
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How today's cinema developers are helping to save the high street
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superpower in the cinema world
latest superhero franchises such as Batman exploiting the
passed away last month — the death of
full potential of deeper blacks in HDR, there’s no question
Stan Lee has left a substantial void in the
that superpowers make technology work at the box office.
creative firmament of modern popular
If franchise movies lift the box office, then, as David
culture. His contribution to the artform of
Wallace examines on page 19, cinema itself can lift the high
film in the shape of Marvel’s cinematic universe is, as David
street. As we head into what many retail analysts suggest
Hancock examines on page 25, entirely quantifiable. But as
will be the most “online” Christmas ever, there’s no doubt
someone involved in the cinema business, you don’t need
that (re)development of cinemas in the heart of our town
me to tell you the signficance of the impact his characters
centres has a major role to play in energising the high street.
and the storylines of his numerous comic book creations have had on the industry in recent decades.
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There are some impressive new developments either recently constructed or scheduled to open soon — not least
Admittedly the likes of Spiderman, Hulk, Black Panther,
of which is Odeon’s multi-million pound refurbishment of
the Avengers and the Fantastic Four have never genuinely
the famous Leicester Square landmark. These projects
troubled the juries at cinema’s more highbrow film festivals,
illustrate quite the extent to which cinema has a role to play
but, my goodness, they are fun — and audiences flock to see
in regeneration and creation of vibrant town centres, a
these heroes in action. As the father to two small boys, I
subject covered in this magazine often, but one that can’t
know very well how the comic book characters from Marvel
be understated. Frequently, these developments are
and others transfer off of the page and onto the big screen.
undertaken hand-in-hand with the local authorities. What
In just one word: successfully.
better indicator do you need of cinema as a force for good?
The premise of David’s article on page 25 is clear: the
I started out in praise of Stan Lee’s creativity, but thanks
franchise movie drives the modern box office — and that in
to the creativity of developers, cinema operators and town
turn drives the technology that thrills the audience. Whether
planners, life is also being brought to our local communities.
it’s “Avatar” acting as a catalyst to digital transition or the
Clearly cinema itself has superpowers. Enjoy this issue!
Writing in this issue of CT
NO.4 > 12/18
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1 Martin Dew
2 David Hancock
3 Bryan Cook
Formerly at Lucasfilm THX, on p.60, Martin ponders whether new technology is a big draw to audiences
Research director at IHS Markit, on p.25 David takes a close look at the power of the franchise movie
Editor of Celluloid Junkie, on p.30, Patrick wonders whether cinema and Netflix will ever learn to play nicely.
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