[KineJapan] 109 Cinemas Premium

Sun Dec 17 08:28:48 EST 2023

They are currently showing the new Godzilla film. Thanks to projects like
this building, a couple of new hotels catering to tourists, and the Toho
building/theater next-door, Shinjuku is starting to feel like a shiny
Shibuya wrapped around a seedy Kabukicho. So at least one or two screenings
a day are showing in Godzilla with English subtitles. I was struck out how
many foreigners were at the theater. One other guy and I were there for
Scorsese, and everyone else was there for Godzilla.

Markus

---

*Markus Nornes*
*Professor of Asian Cinema*

Department of Film, Television and Media, Department of Asian Languages and
Cultures, Penny Stamps School of Art & Design

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On Sun, Dec 17, 2023 at 10:18 PM Earl Jackson via KineJapan <
kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu> wrote:

> Dear Markus,
> Thank you for the report on this cinema. Sounds like a great way to see
> Godzilla Minus One.
> Best wishes,
> ej
> Earl Jackson
> Chair Professor
> Foreign Languages and Literatures
> Asia University
> Professor Emeritus
> National Chiao Tung University
> Associate Professor Emeritus
> University of California, Santa Cruz
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 17, 2023 at 7:08 PM Markus Nornes via KineJapan <
> kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu> wrote:
>
>> Yesterday, I went out to catch Killers of the Flower Moon before it
>> disappeared from theaters. A quick search revealed a well-timed show at the
>> new 109 Cinemas Premium. This is in the new Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the odd
>> new sky scraper in the heart of Kabukicho that looks like it has frosty
>> spikes midway and up tip top.
>>
>> This sits on the footprint of the old Milano Theater. This was one of the
>> grand theaters of postwar Tokyo. With 1,500 seats, it was a great place to
>> watch films. People still talk about their swan song in 2014, when they
>> showed all their biggest hits over the years on 35mm. The building went
>> down shortly after that.
>>
>> The new theaters are on the 9th and 10th floors. I worried upon arrival,
>> as the first few floors are a very strange restaurant with a DJ playing
>> anime tunes, and a very noisy game center. Thankfully, the chaos recedes
>> when you go upward. The surprisingly small lobby has  stunning views of
>> West Shinjuku, a staff desk and kiosks. Huh.
>>
>> I pull up to a kiosk, select the film, then my seat, and then the bill
>> comes up: ¥4,500! I actually asked the desk attendant if that was for real.
>> He smiled and affirmed the price. This was probably my last chance to see
>> the Scorsese on a decent screen, and I was curious what this pricepoint was
>> all about. So I hit the buy button and entered.
>>
>> It was interesting.
>>
>> Low lighting. High end seating. Stunning views of Kabukicho, the Toho
>> Godzilla down below. It's an attempt at making the architectural space a
>> big part of the movie-going experience, not unlike the strategy behind the
>> silent era movie palaces. In interior corners of both floors, there are
>> spaces with completely different interior designs that evoke different
>> eras.
>>
>> The million dollar view isn't worth the price of the ticket, but then I
>> discovered another part of the strategy. Popcorn and non-alcoholic drinks
>> are free and tabehodai. There's also a bar with beer, wine, whiskeys and
>> some mixed drinks, but those cost.
>>
>> Over at one of the entrances, I noticed they were playing Merry Christmas
>> Mr. Lawrence. As I approached, I saw that it's a 35mm screening room, and
>> they'll be showing films on 35 into the future. (A sign outside warns
>> people that analog prints sometimes have scratches.)
>>
>> The theater itself has steep seating and wide reclining seats, each with
>> a little table space next to the arm rest. There's a special trailer on the
>> sound system, which they claim is the best set-up in Japan. It was
>> "installed and checked" by Sakamoto Ryuichi, who gives a speech in the
>> sound system trailer. They are selling a lot of Sakamoto goods in the gift
>> shop, including LPs and programs from all the films he scored. The sound
>> was, indeed, good.
>>
>> All in all, a wonderful, overpriced theater. Not sure I'll go again,
>> unless I really feel like gorging out on the popcorn.
>>
>> The theater also had a strip of seats that were even wider, with wood
>> cube-like enclosures to separate you from the people next to you. I asked
>> about these on my way out. They're ¥6,500 (!). But after the film, you can
>> move to an incredibly cush lounge with city views. The first drink is free
>> and the lounge is open until 3:00am.
>>
>> I wonder if this will work?
>>
>> BTW, the film was great. But I was annoyed at the subtitles. They pulled
>> punches around issues of race. For example, Scorsese's references to
>> anti-Semitism were all erased by substituting 奴 for "Jew."
>> Considering what's going on in the world today, I thought this was really
>> unfortunate and obnoxious.
>>
>> Markus
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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