To celebrate the opening of the film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are at the Clapham Picture House, the cinema has given us some fantastic prizes to give away. We’ve got two sets of prizes for you to win, both containing a fantastic Where the Wild Things Are t-shirt and kite (we’ll see you flying it on Clapham Common!) All you have to do is email with the answer to this question: who was the author of the original Where the Wild Things Are book?

Forget the “summer blockbuster”, this year it’s all about the Autumn blockbuster with the Fantastic Mr Fox, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnasuss and the absolutely brilliant “UP” by Pixar. On top of that, the Clapham Picture House is showing the Michael Jackson This Is It tour rehearsal documentary and a one off MET Opera Live event in HD on Saturday 23rd October. There’s tonnes to watch, so get watching!

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS 23rd October – 29th October

THE MET OPERA LIVE IN HD:
AIDA
Sat only: 6.00

FANTASTIC MR FOX (PG) + Q & A with Model Supervisor Andy Gent
Sun only: 3.00

MICHAEL JACKSONS’ THIS IS IT (PG)
Wed only: 12.20 2.30 4.40 6.50 9.00
Thu only: 4.40 6.50 9.00

FANTASTIC MR FOX (PG)
Fri, Sat, Mon: 12.00 2.10 4.30 6.40 8.50
Sun only: 12.40 5.40 7.50
Tues only: 1.50 4.30 6.40 8.50
Wed only: 1.50 6.40 8.50
Thu only: 2.20 4.30 6.40 8.50

UP (U)
Fri, Mon, Tue: 1.40 4.00 6.20 8.40
Sat only: 1.15 3.30 6.45
Sun only: 1.10 3.30 5.50 8.20
Wed only: 1.15 4.00 6.45 9.00
Thu only: 12.00 4.20 6.30 9.10

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASUSS (12A)
Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue: 12.50 3.30 6.10 9.00
Sun only: 11.50 2.30 5.10 8.00
Wed only: 3.30 6.10
Thu only: 12.50 3.30 9.00

COUPLES RETREAT (12A)
Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue: 1.45 4.15 6.45 (not Sat) 9.10
Sun only: 12.45 3.15 5.45 8.10
Wed only: 1.45 4.15 9.10
Thu only: 1.45 6.45

KIDS CLUB: HOME ON THE RANGE (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: FANTASTIC MR FOX (PG) & MICHAEL JACKSONS’ THIS IS IT (PG) 10.30 (Thu only)

Ooh, I do love a good zombie movie and this cheesefest joins a number of quite cool films at Clapham Picture House this week. Full listings after the break.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
9th October – 15th October

THE MET OPERA LIVE IN HD:
TOSCA
Sat only: 6.00

PICTUREHOUSE DOCS:
THE VANISHING OF THE BEES (12A)
Tue only: 8.30

UP (U)
Daily except Sat & Sun: 2.00 4.20 6.40 9.00
Sat & Sun: 1.00 3.20 5.40 8.00

ZOMBIELAND (15)
Daily except Sat & Sun: 12.30 (not thu) 2.40 4.50 7.00 9.10
Sat only: 12.30 2.40 4.50 6.50 10.00
Sun only: 1.40 3.50 6.00 8.10

THE INVENTION OF LYING (12A)
Daily except Sun & Tue: 1.40 4.00 6.20 8.40
Sun only: 12.40 3.00 5.20 7.40
Tue only: 1.40 4.00 6.20 9.00

DISTRICT 9 (15)
Fri, Mon, Wed & Thu: 3.50 8.50
Sat only: 8.50
Sun only: 12.20 7.50
Tue only: 1.30 6.35

500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A)
Fri, Mon, Wed & Thu: 6.30
Sat only: 2.30
Sun only: 5.30
Tue only: 4.15

THE SOLOIST (12A)
Fri, Mon, Wed & Thu: 1.20
Sun only: 2.50

KIDS CLUB: HANNAH MONTANA (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: UP (U) & ZOMBIELAND (15) 10.30 (Thu only)

Away We Go is out in Clapham’s Picture House this week and it’s received good reviews, a welcome return from director Sam Mendes. To celebrate, Clapham Picture House has given us more goodies for a competition and it’s another ace package: the film poster, soundtrack and screen play (see above). To win, please just email in the answer to this timely pop-culture question that bears no relevance to this film whatsoever: who was the very first person to leave the Sugababes? See all of the films on at Clapham’s cinema below. NEWS FLASH: Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, in Marianne Elliott’s ‘wonderfully rich and rewarding’ (Daily Telegraph) production, will be broadcast live from the National Theatre to Clapham Picturehouse on 1st October.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
25th September – 1stOctober

NT LIVE: William Shakespeare’s
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (12A)
Thu only: 6.45

CHARITY SCREENING in Aid of PCUK:
DIRTY DANCING (12A)
Sun only: 1.00

SPECIAL EVENT:
KEITH JAMES: THE MUSIC OF JOHN MARTYN
Sun only: 8.45

FAME (15)
Daily except Sun: 2.00 4.20 6.40 9.00
Sun only: 1.00 3.20 5.40 8.00

AWAY WE GO (15)
Daily except Sun: 4.45 9.10
Sun only: 3.45 8.10

JULIE & JULIA (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.10 6.00 (not thu)
Sun only: 2.50

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 2.35 7.00
Sun only: 1.35 6.00

DISTRICT 9 (15)
Daily except Sun/Thu: 3.50 6.20 8.50
Sun only: 3.10 5.50 8.20
Thu only: 3.50 8.50

500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A)
Daily except Sun/Thu: 1.30 3.40 8.40
Sun only: 12.40 5.30
Thu only: 1.30 3.40 6.30

KIDS CLUB: TREASUE PLANET (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: FAME (15) & JULIE & JULIA (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

This week the new Meryl Streep and Amy Adams film, Julie & Julia, comes out in Clapham Picture House and to celebrate they’ve given us four sets of aprons and books to go to four lucky winners! To enter into the prize draw, email we@loveclapham.com with the answer to this question: in which film did Meryl Streep star alongside Nicole Kidman? The closing date for entries is Friday 18th September. Clapham Picture House has two cool exclusives this week too; on Monday they’re showing Away We Go with an exclusive satelite Q&A with Sam Mendes, then next Thursday is their Argentinian film and wine evening. Full listings in the rest of this post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
11th September – 17th September

SPECIAL EVENT:
AWAY WE GO (15) + Satellite Q & A with SAM MENDES
Mon only: 6.30

AGENTINIAN FILM & WINE EVENT:
MOTORCYCLE DIARIES + THE WINES OF NICOLAS CATENA
Thu only: 6.45

JULIE & JULIA (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.00 3.40 6.10 (thu only) 6.20 (not thu) 9.00
Sun only: 12.00 2.40 5.20 8.00

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 8.45
Sun only: 7.45

DISTRICT 9 (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 (not mon) 9.10
Sun only: 12.30 3.00 5.30 8.10

500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.10 (not sat/thu) 2.20 4.30 6.40 8.50
Sun only: 1.20 3.30 5.40 7.50

BROKEN EMBRACES (15)
Daily except Sun: 12.25 3.15 6.05
Sun only: 2.15 5.05

KIDS CLUB: ARTHUR & THE INVISABLES (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

SECOND CHANCE CINEMA: ANTICHRIST (18) 12.00 (Sun only)

BIG SCREAM: JULIE & JULIA (12A) & THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

Last month we ran a competition to win some pretty cool Inglourious Basterds goodies including posters, limited edition t-shirts, caps and a bag. Well we’re proud to announce that the winners of the competition are Mark McDermott of Balham and Susan Macnamara of Clapham. We’ll be in touch with the winners about getting the goodies to you, and later today we’ll be starting another competition to win some ace Julie & Julia film merchandise. Stay tuned!

You will rightly have guessed that we have an obsession with our local cinema, Clapham Picture House, but for good reason – it’s bloomin’ amazing! Love Clapham is so excited about this week’s showings with District 9, the film Peter Jackson helped push to an international release. If you haven’t heard of it yet, check out the trailer above. Then, most exciting for us is that on Sunday and Tuesday there’s a showing of Chess In Concert – oh yes! Keep reading for all of next week’s movies.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
4th September – 10th September

CHESS IN CONCERT (PG)
2.00 (sun) 8.45 (tues)

DISTRICT 9 (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Sun only: 12.30 3.00 5.30 8.00

500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A)
Daily except Sun & Tue: 12.10 2.20 4.30 6.40 8.50
Sun only: 12.00 5.10 7.20
Tue only: 12.10 2.20 4.30 6.40

BROKEN EMBRACES (15)
Times tbc

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (18)
Times tbc

KIDS CLUB: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG) 11.45 (Sat only)

SECOND CHANCE CINEMA: THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (15) Time tbc (Sun only)

BIG SCREAM: 500 DAYS OF SUMMER (12A) & DISTRICT 9 (15) 10.30 (Thu only)

This is the film that Love Clapham’s been waiting for, the movie adaptation of the best selling book, the Time Traveller’s Wife. There aren’t any reviews yet, so it could either be amazing or a stinker, but we’re still keen to see the story played out on the big screen. It opens at the Clapham Picture House next week along with Inglourious Basterds. Big films! Read on for next week’s full listings.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
14th August – 20th August

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (18)
Sat, Wed & Thu: 1.10 (not Sat) 5.20 8.30
Sun only: 4.20 7.30

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.20 3.50 6.20 8.50
Sun only: 12.20 2.50 5.20 7.50

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.10 6.05
Sun only: 1.40 5.05

COCO BEFORE CHANEL (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Sun only: 12.30 3.00 5.30 8.00

HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 2.50 8.40
Sun only: 1.50 7.40

BRUNO (18)
Fri, Mon & Tue: 2.10 4.30 6.50 9.10
Sat only: 1.40 3.30

KIDS CLUB: CHICKEN LITTLE (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

Courtesy of those awesome guys at Clapham Picture House, we’ve got our grubby Clapham mitts on some exclusive Inglourious Basterds merchandise. Inglourious Basterds is the new film by Quentin Tarantino starring Brad Pitt. Out on 19th August, Inglourious Basterds is a film set in France during World War 2 with the usual Tarantino gory humour and action. We’ve got the above poster, cap, t-shirts and bag for you to win by entering our competition. Read on to enter.

There are two sets of Inglourious Basterds goodies to win, one for a male and one for a female recruit:

• Girl prize: 1 poster, 1 cap, 1 female t-shirt
• Boy prize: 1 bag, 1 cap, 1 male t-shirt

For your chance to win, answer this simple question: on the set of which film did Brangelina first get it on? Email your answer with your name and postal address to we@loveclapham.com. We will then draw the winner out of the entries at random and notify them by email. Competition closes on 27th August and the editor’s decision is final. Sir!

While you’re here, why not take a ganders at the movie trailer:

Anyone else a little disappointed by Harry Potter? Love Clapham was. It was still great, but didn’t hit the mark like the other films for us. Nevermind! There are loads of films showing at Clapham Picture House at the moment including G.I. Joe, Coco Before Chanel, The Proposal and Bruno. Then, next Tuesday 11 August at 8.30pm is an exclusive showing of the feature documentary of The Yes Men Fix The World with a satellite Q & A (trailer above).  Read the week’s listings in the rest of this post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
7th August – 13th August

SPECIAL EVENT: THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD (12A) + satellite Q & A
Tue only: 8.30

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.00 3.40 6.15 8.50
Sun only: 12.00 2.40 5.15 7.50

COCO BEFORE CHANEL (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Sun only: 3.00 5.30 8.00

HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE (12A)
Daily except Sun: 2.05 5.15 8.30
Sun only: 1.05 4.15 7.30

BRUNO (18)
Daily except Sun & Tue: 2.00 9.10
Sun only: 1.15 8.10
Tue only: 12.00 6.20

THE PROPOSAL (12A)
Daily except Sun & Tue: 4.15 6.45
Sun only: 3.15 5.45
Tue only: 1.45 4.00

KIDS CLUB: MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

SECOND CHANCE CINEMA: BURMA VJ (12A) 1.00 (Sun only)

AUTISM FRIENDLY SCREENING: CHICKEN LITTLE (U) 11.00 (Wed only)

BIG SCREAM: COCO BEFORE CHANEL (12A) & G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (12A)10.30 (Thu only)

Sacha Baron Cohen’s at it again, BIG TIME! His latest film Bruno looks set to push the boundaries of offensiveness even further than before. It opens this Friday in Clapham, just days before the little boy wizard finally arrives next week… Importantly, don’t forget the Burma VJ and satellite Q&A with the director afterwards, only at Clapham Picture House on Tuesday. Keep reading for the upcoming week’s full Clapham cinema listings.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS 10th July – 16th July

SPECIAL EVENT: BURMA VJ + SATELITE Q & A
Tue: 8.30

HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE (12A)
From Wed 15th: 11.00 2.05 5.15 8.30

BRUNO (18)
Fri & Sat: 12.00 (not sat) 2.05 4.15 6.25 8.35 10.45
Sun – Thu: 12.30 2.40 4.50 7.00 9.10

PUBLIC ENEMIES (15)
Fri & Sat: 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00
Sun: 2.00 5.00 8.00
Mon – Thu: 2.30 5.30 8.30

THE HANGOVER (15)
Fri & Sat: 1.40 4.10 6.40 9.10
Sun only: 3.35 6.00 8.20
Mon & Tue: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Wed & Thu: 1.20

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.20 (not wed or thu) 6.15 8.45 (not tue)
Sun only: 12.20 5.15 7.45

LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue: 3.50
Sun only: 2.50

KIDS CLUB: THE LITTLE POLAR BEAR 2 (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

SECOND CHANCE CINEMA: MARK OF AN ANGEL (12A) 1.10 (Sun only

BIG SCREAM: BRUNO (18) 10.30 (Thu only)

On Tuesday Clapham Picture House is showing a one-off screening of Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country, a compilation of real-life camera footage by under cover video journalists in Burma which Empire calls “Captivating and essential viewing.” It’s been compiled and produced by Anders Ostergaard and is said to play out like a thriller, made all the more impactful by its harsh reality. Following the screening is a live satellite Q&A session with the director, a member of the Democratic Voice of Burma and a representative of the Burma Campaign UK. There are only limited tickets left, so book now.

Johnny Depp is back, with what looks to be his most serious role in a film yet with Public Enemies opening in Clapham this Friday. It’ll be interesting to see if he pulls it off. Empire gave 5/5, so it must be decent. Christian Bale, who seems to be in every film made these days, also stars in it. Love Clapham went to see Transformers 2 last night… Michael Bay is a terrible director. Clapham Picture House listings for this Friday and next week are in the rest of the post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS 3rd July – 9th July

PUBLIC ENEMIES (15)
Fri & Sat: 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00
Sun: 2.00 5.00 8.00
Mon – Thu: 2.30 5.30 8.30

TRANSFORMERS REVENGE OF FALLEN (12A)
Fri & Sat: 2.00 5.15 8.30
Sun: 1.00 4.15 7.30
Mon – Thu: 2.00 5.15 8.40

LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Daily not Sun & Wed: 8.50
Sun: 7.50

THE HANGOVER (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.40 4.10 6.40 9.10
Sun only: 3.10 5.40 8.10

MY SISTERS KEEPER (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.20 (not tue) 3.50 6.20
Sun only: 12.20 2.50 5.20

SLEEP FURIOUSLY (U)
Sun: 12.45

SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT (12A)
Sun: 12.00

THE BIG SMOKE: Films from a Lost London (1896-1945)
Tues: 1.00

KIDS CLUB: BOLT (PG) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: PUBLIC ENEMIES (15) & SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

The big news for Clapham Picture House this week is that tickets for the summer blockbusters Bruno and Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince have gone on sale already. Get in early by going to their website. Like opera or simply fancy pretending to be cultured? This week’s event is a live broadcast from the Royal Opera House showing La Traviata on Tuesday at 6.40pm. If you haven’t already, check out our interview with the cinema’s manager Mike Matthews to see pictures from the projector room and to learn more about the cinema’s future. Full cinema listings for next week are after the break.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
26th June – 2nd July

Royal Opera House LIVE: LA TRAVIATA
Tue only: 6.40

SUNDAYS WITH BOND: ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (PG)
Sun only: 3.00

PUBLIC ENEMIES (15)
Wed & Thu: 6.00 9.00

TRANSFORMERS REVENGE OF FALLEN (12A)
Daily except Sun: 2.00 5.15 8.30
Sun only: 1.00 4.15 7.30

LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Fri, Sat & Mon: 3.40 8.40
Sun only: 7.40
Tue only: 3.40
Wed & Thu only: 3.10

THE HANGOVER (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.40 4.10 6.40 9.10
Sun only: 12.40 3.10 5.40 8.10

MY SISTERS KEEPER (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.20 3.50 6.20 8.50
Sun only: 12.20 2.50 5.20 7.50

ANYTHING FOR HER (15)
Fri, Sat & Mon: 1.30 6.30
Sun only: 12.30 5.30
Tue only: 1.30
Wed & Thu only: 1.00

KIDS CLUB: CATS & DOGS (PG)
11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: MY SISTERS KEEPER (12A) & ANYTHING FOR HER (15)
10.30 (Thu only)

Two very exciting things happened to us at the same time this week. Before your imaginations run wild (they’re already running wild aren’t they?) the two things were: 1. going into a cinema projector room 2. meeting someone that has been on The Apprentice. This was accomplished by meeting Clapham Picture House manager and guest star of the 2008 Apprentice series, Mike Matthews, who took the time to speak to Love Clapham about the cinema’s history, its renaissance and its future moves into digital and 3D.

Clapham Picture House is a legend in its own right. Its trendy film-buff feel works well with the unashamed casual blockbuster showings to make it the ideal venue for any film lover. Throw in wine and beer to take in with you and we’re in movie heaven. As Mike goes on to say later, the cinema is as much shaped by the wants of the local Clapham community as anything else, and that’s what makes the cinema a Clapham icon.

A film reel being put together in the Clapham Picture House projector room. It may not look much, but there was something fantastic about it.

Clapham Picture House is one of Clapham’s best known living landmarks and business, but can you share some of the cinema’s history?

The history of the cinema goes way back. The building actually took up the whole of Venn Street and started at Londis. That used to be the front door of the cinema and it used to go right round, literally to the end. This was before the war, and as times changed it had all sorts of different purposes. Then fifteen years ago when Picture House took it over, it was a snooker hall.

We originally opened it as a three screened cinema, two screens downstairs, one upstairs and a small bar. Eight years ago, we bought the building next to us and expanded down, extending the bar, opening the restaurant next door and building the fourth screen above it. It gave us a lot more foot space and more seats. I arrived in Clapham as the general manager about five years ago, but I’ve been with the company for fourteen years at other cinemas around the country.

I jigged things up to get it going again because obviously after fifteen years it needed a push. At the end of 2007 we started the refurb of the entire site, taking twelve weeks, opening the bar up more, putting in new screens, soundproofing, new projectors. Big changes – which is what you can see now.

Cinema in general is performing really well at the moment, why do you think that is?

People have batted around terms like “recession proof” and to me that’s silly to say, we’re all working very hard at the moment to keep the cinema busy. As long as I’ve been a cinema manager there’s been something against cinema, if it hasn’t been videos it’s DVDs. One of the things I’ve done as manager over the years is to change the cinema from being a spur of the moment thing, to more of a night out.

People plan their evenings to go to the cinema now, and what we’ve tried to do as a company is cater for that, hence why we have bars and food. You can have your whole night at the cinema; sit down, have something to eat, drink, take the drink into the cinema while you watch the movie. It gives you the whole night out, which is what people look for, particularly in a recession when disposable income is shrinking, they’re looking for good value for money. I think cinema provides that good value for money.

It’s about escapism really. You can go for a meal out and it costs you £20 – 30 a head, you come to the cinema on a Monday and it costs you £6.50 a head. If you’re a member of the Picture House we give £2 off, so that’s only £4.50. People get two hours of pure escapism, a good film and you’re happy. We try to steady the ship, like every business we’re looking where we can tighten more budgets but we feel confident that we’ll ride the storm out which is great.

Mike Matthews, manager of Clapham Picture House (and star of The Apprentice!)

And there’s a great line-up of films this summer to help…

Yeah, obviously this weekend it’s Transformers, then Public Enemies, Bruno, Harry Potter and at the end of the year from September onwards it’s the Cannes films, the high end, high brow films.

As a local cinema, you have more flexibility, what sets Clapham Picture House apart?

We do completely different things, we obviously show the blockbusters because that’s what the majority of people want to see but we mix it up with events like wine tasting, Q&A sessions, film quiz nights, kids clubs on Saturday mornings, silver screen for over 65’s on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and then we do mums and babies on a Thursday morning. We do lots of different events to try and keep the community involved in the cinema.

That monster of a machine is what powers one of Clapham Picture House's digital projectors. Forget your DVD player at home, this is the real deal.

Is digital projection making an impact at Clapham Picture House?

We’ve got four screens and three are digital already – screen 1, 2 and 4 – with plans to make screen 3 digital as well, going completely digital. This is great because for a hundred years or so film hasn’t changed. Sound has, with mono to digital surround sound but the actual film hasn’t really until this new digital generation arrived in late 2007.

Now, the quality is unbelievable; I’d never seen anything like it before. Film stock is great when it first comes – and I love film stock, it’s what I grew up with – but the problem is that the more times you show a film it runs through machinery and degrades resulting in black spots. With digital, it’s the same quality ten years later and people notice how crystal clear the colours are. It makes the experience different.

Are you looking into the new 3D phenomenon?

Yes, we’re trialling it in the Ritzy cinema in Brixton, starting with Monsters vs Aliens and soon Ice Age 3D. Plus we’re looking at putting it into screen 2 in Clapham Picture House. The film everyone’s looking for is Avatar at the end of the year, James Cameron’s new title. Kids’ films are great, but you can’t judge the appeal for the majority of people and whether they want to see films in 3D. Avatar is different and will allow us to judge, so hopefully we’ll have 3D in for that.

It’s interesting how 3D has taken off recently…

Have you seen anything in it?

Yes, we saw Monsters vs Aliens and it did add a lot to film

Well, it needed to because the film isn’t great! I’m still sitting on the fence because I haven’t seen anything that’s blown me away, but visually it does add the wow factor. I really want a film to match that, and a film like Star Trek would have leant itself to 3D, it would have been unreal. That’s why everyone’s looking forward to Avatar with its setting in space and it’s great use of 3D, that will be the one to watch out for. Then you’ll see more and more films for adults in 3D and that’s when more cinemas will take it on board.

You're looking at a piece of Clapham history right here, the last of Clapham Picture House's traditional film stock projectors. There's a film being shown on it in the picture and those massive reels on the left hold the film.

You mentioned events earlier, are there groups people can get involved in?

There’s a monthly film group that comes along, but it’s a lady who runs it off her own back, nothing to do with us. They come, watch a film and have a discussion afterwards which is really lovely. We have a lot of different groups, like the mums and babies on a Thursday – they don’t even know what we’re showing, they just come and enjoy the social event.

The same is true with the silver screen on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. Something we try hard to do is to be part of the local community and that is our main priority. If people ask me how we see the Clapham Picture House, I do see it as an integral part of the community because we service the community. Yes we’re a business, but we’re here to provide a service that the community wants and that’s why we always try to tailor what we offer to what people expect. A lot of cinemas don’t do that.

You can come to us and the majority of the staff want to be in the film industry, they’re actors and screenwriters who have a real interest in films. You can come in and hold a real conversation with them about your favourite film. That’s the way to stand out.

Upcoming events at Clapham Picture House

A massive thanks to Mike for taking the time to talk to Love Clapham and for the behind the scenes tour . Visit the Clapham Picture House website for more info and to book tickets.

What does “more than meets the eye” actually mean? I’m sure we’re about to find out because the Transformers are back with a sequel that appears to put the special into special effects. Transformers 2 opens this week at Clapham Picture House and Love Clapham is all set to relive childhood memories. If the above trailer is anything to go by, this is a more epic (and hopefully better written) film than the first. Let’s hope for less comedy and more destruction this time around. Full listings for Clapham Picture House in the rest of this post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
19th June – 25th June

NT LIVE: PHEDRE
Thu only: 6.45 (Thu)

ROBERT PATTISON DAY:
TWILIGHT (12A) 11.30 (Sat)
HOW TO BE (15) 2.10 (Sat)
LITTLE ASHES (15) 4.15 (Sat)

SUNDAYS WITH BOND: GOLDFINGER (PG)
Sun only: 3.00

TRANSFORMERS REVENGE OF FALLEN (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00
Sun only: 11.00 2.00 5.00 8.00

LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Daily except Sat & Sun: 1.00 3.30 8.50
Sat only: 8.50
Sun only: 12.00 8.20

THE HANGOVER (15)
Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed: 1.40 4.10 6.40 9.10
Sat only: 1.25 3.55 6.40 9.10
Sun only: 12.40 3.10 5.40 8.10
Thu only: 4.10 6.40 9.30

TERMINTOR SALVATION (12A)
Daily except Sun: 6.10 8.40
Sun only: 5.10 7.40

STAR TREK (12A)
Daily except Sun & Thu: 6.05
Sun only: 5.30
Thu only: 1.30

ANGELS & DEMONS (12A)
Daily Except Sat & Sun: 12.40 3.25
Sat only: 2.45
Sun only: 11.40 2.25

KIDS CLUB: BEDTIME STORIES (PG)
11.45 (Sat only)

Last week Love Clapham went to watch Terminator Salvation which, while we’re glad to have watched for its special effects, was cheesy beyond belief! It also felt, at least to us, like the story was pretty poorly put together. So, from a cheesefest let down to a film that looks hilariously funny from the trailers: The Hangover. The Hangover is a comedy with the three main characters waking up after the stag do from hell only to be so hungover that they are totally oblivious to the predicaments they find themselves in. Empire Online gave it 4/5 and while that is the same score they gave Terminator Salvation we remain optimistic. Full Clapham Picture House listings can be found in the rest of this post.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS 

12th June – 18th June

SUNDAYS WITH BOND: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (PG)
Sun only: 3.00

LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.00 (Not Sat) 3.30 6.10 8.50
Sun only: 12.00 2.30 5.10 7.50

THE HANGOVER (15)
Daily except Sun: 1.40 4.10 6.40 9.10
Sun only: 12.40 3.10 5.40 8.10

TERMINATOR SALVATION (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Sun only: 3.00 5.30 8.00

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)
Sat: 1.00
Sun: 12.30 

STAR TREK (12A)
Daily except Sun: 8.40
Sun only: 7.40

LAST CHANCE HARVEY (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.15 3.45 6.20
Sun only: 12.50 5.25

KIDS CLUB: PIGLETS BIG MOVIE (U)
11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: LOOKING FOR ERIC (15) & THE HANGOVER (15)
10.30 (Thu only)

Christian Bale is the lead in yet another movie franchise revival in Terminator Salvation, which opened fully at the Clapham Picture House this week. I’ve had mixed reports with Empire Online giving it 4/5 but my friends saying it’s a tragic cheesefest. Who to believe? None of ‘em! Either way, I’m well up for a bit of CGI Terminator shindiggery so cut me off a piece of that… robot… thing. Full listings after the break.

On top of Terminator, Clapham Picture House is showing loads of the summer blockbusters still from Star Trek and Drag Me To Hell through to something a bit more serious like Angels and Demons or the comedy, Night at the Museum 2. Plus, don’t forget Clapham Picture House is for film buffs too with exclusive showings of Bond: Dr No and the preview of Looking For Eric starring Eric Cantona. Filmalicious Clapham. Filmalicious. 

CLAPHAM PICTURE HOUSE LISTINGS

5th June – 11th June

MEMBERS FREE PREVIEW: LOOKING FOR ERIC (15)
Sun only: 11am

SUNDAYS WITH BOND: DR NO (15)
Sun only: 3.00

ADVANCE SCREENING: THE HANGOVER (15)
Thu only: 8.50

TERMINATOR SALVATION (12A)
Daily except Sun: 1.30 4.00 6.30 9.00
Sun only: 12.30 3.00 5.30 8.00

DRAG ME TO HELL (15)
Daily except Sun: 9.10
Sun only: 8.10

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)
Sat: 12.40
Sun: 11.45 

ANGELS & DEMONS (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.10 (Not Sat) 3.10 6.10
Suin only: 2.10 5.10

STAR TREK (12A)
Daily except Sun & Thu: 12.45 3.15 8.50 (Not Thu)
Sun only: 2.15 7.50
Thu only: 12.45 3.15 6.00

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (15)
Daily except Sat & Thu: 6.00
Sun only: 5.00

LAST CHANCE HARVEY (12A)
Daily except Sun & Tue: 1.20 3.45 6.20 8.40
Sun only: 12.50 5.20 9.40
Tue only: 12.35 6.20 8.40

KIDS CLUB: HOTEL FOR DOGS (U) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: LAST CHANCE HARVEY (12A) 10.30 (Thu only)

Exciting week in film land Clappers, we have a new horror film called Drag Me To Hell from Sam Raimi of Xena: Warrior Princes, Evil Dead and Spiderman director fame. The trailer features an evil old woman with staples in her head and it’s had great reviews. What more could you ask for?! The new Terminator Salvation film staring Christian Bale (Machinist, Dark Knight) is previewing at the Clapham Picture House too. Full cinema listings below.

CLAPHAM PICTURE HOUSE LISTINGS

29th May – 4th June

LOOKING FOR ERIC + SATALITTE Q & A with Ken Loach & Eric Cantona
Thu 4th June: 8.00

THE ROYAL BALLET: ONDINE live from THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
Wed 3rd June: 7.10

TERMINATOR SALVATION (12A)
Wed & Thu only: 8.50

DRAG ME TO HELL (15)
Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue: 8.50
Sun: 7.50
Wed & Thu: 9.00

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)
Daily except Sun: 1.50 (not Fri) 4.10 6.30
Sun only: 12.50 3.10 5.30

ANGELS & DEMONS (12A)
Daily except Sun: 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00 (Not Wed & Thu)
Suin only: 11.00 2.00 5.00 8.00

STAR TREK (12A)
Fri & Sat: 3.35 6.20 9.10
Sun only: 2.35 5.20 8.10
Mon – Thu: 12.45 3.35 6.20 9.10

CORALINE (PG)
Fri & Sat: 1.00
Sun: 12.00

FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN (15)
Fri, Sat, Mon, Tue: 1.15 3.45 6.10 8.40
Sun: 12.15 2.45 5.10 7.40
Wed & Thu: 12.00 2.15 4.45

KIDS CLUB: HAPPY FEET (U)
11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM: FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN (15)
10.30 (Thu only)

Visit the Clapham Picture House website to book tickets.

Here’s a new feature for all of you Love Clapham readers. You can of course see all of the Clapham Picture House cinema listings on their website, but we’ll be posting them here each week for you to see too just in case you forget to take a look. We’ll offer a few thoughts on our pick of the films too.

This week Clapham Picture House has a special treat for football fans as it will be showing the Champions League Final on Wednesday at 7.30 on its biggest screen. If you like football, £7.50 for a cinema ticket probably never seemed like such a bargain before. If you haven’t seen Star Trek yet, make sure you do, even if you don’t like the TV series. Night in the Museum 2 looks pretty darn funny too.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE LISTINGS
22^nd May – 28^th May

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Wed only: 7.30

FUTURE SHORTS: PLEASE SAY SOMETHING
Mon only:  7.00

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)
Daily: 1.50 4.10 6.30 8.50

ANGELS & DEMONS (12A)
Daily Except Wed: 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00
Wed only: 1.00 4.00 9.00 

STAR TREK (12A)
Daily Except Mon & Wed:  12.45 3.35 6.20 8.40 9.10
Mon only:  1.25 4.05 8.40 9.10
Wed only: 12.45 3.35 6.00 6.20 9.10   

CORALINE (PG)
Daily:  11.30 1.45 4.00

IN THE LOOP (15)
Daily Except Wed: 6.10

KIDS CLUB:
INKHEART (PG) 11.45 (Sat only)

BIG SCREAM:
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)   10.30 (Thu only)

AUTISM FRIENDLY SCREENING:
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (PG)       11am (Tue only)