Definitely a weird advanced screening experience! Turns out the contest was for a screening for a straight-to-dvd animated film from DC Comics. I guess it's part of the promotional stuff leading up to the release of the Green Lantern film (starring Ryan Reynolds) which debuts on Friday, June 17th. The screenings for that film will be taking place around June 15th (per additional contest links I've seen of late). This one wasn't marked clearly, so I assumed (when entering) it was for the film itself, but I was in the wrong.
Got there to the venue and usually the screenings are nearly packed (this venue had 400 - 500 seats). Only about 30 people showed up. True ... it was Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals taking place in Vancouver on Wednesday evening, but something seemed awry. Then about 10 mins before the film started the projectionist called up something on the screen and it looked like they were loading the film from their laptop. Calling it up on the FILE/MENU bar atop their machine, etc. Then it noted on-screen Green Lantern - Emerald Knights (coming June 7th on Blu-Ray and DVD). I found that odd ... and then once 7pm rolled around a trailer for the Green Lantern movie came on, followed by trailer ads for the release of Sucker Punch (which came out in March 2011) and the series Supernatural (in animated format). Followed by a 10-minute "sneak peek" look at another DC Comics animated film, Batman - Year One (with footage from the dvd coming in October, as well as interview clips with the people who worked on the film and some of the cast). Then finally around 7:22 - 7:25pm the film started (without any opening credits) and ran for just under 1 hour, 20 mins or so ... it appeared as though others who had won the contest were a bit caught off-guard as well. Some 6 people left about midway through the film ... and others hung around and seemed to enjoy it. It was a pretty weak film on the whole, and once it started I thought to myself - "Ah, this makes sense. The actual screening for the film is coming in 2 weeks as the movie is still 2.5 weeks away." * Just wish the contest was more clear when it was posted, and that I had paid better attention - also, on a funny side note ... the picture wasn't that crisp/clear either. The trailer (which I've linked below from Youtube) is MUCH clearer than it appeared on the big screen, lol.
Congrats! You've won a pass for two to see the animated feature Green Lantern: Emerald Knights on June 1 at 7 p.m. at the Silvercity Metropolis courtesy Criticize This! and Warner Home Entertainment. Please pick your pass up at the theatre box office anytime on June 1 before 6:30 p.m. NOTE: Your name will be on the Warner Bros. guest list and you'll need to show photo ID to pick the pass up.
Guppy - Yes ... it was strange. Almost seemed like they (projectionist) just loaded it up from their laptop in the back. The picture crispness/clarity was slightly "off", and the animated film finally started some 22 - 25 mins after 7pm. Basically they ran all the menu features/trailers from the dvd itself (which comes out next Tuesday). * I suppose it's part of the hype train for the movie coming out in mid-June? With all the superhero/action movies ... Green Lantern, Transformers III, and Captain America are all expected to do big numbers. I can't quite recall how well The Green Hornet did earlier this year when it was released in the first 1/4 of 2011.
Too bad there was a poor turn out, but Guppy was right, the promoters got a good message because of that turn out. But I for one am waiting for the release of Green Latern with Ryan Reynolds. I was a big comic book fan when I was a kid, and I hope the movie stays true to the comics.
51 - Yeah - there are soooooo many Green Lantern contests of late. I can name about 6 - 7 off the top of my head right now. I jumped the gun and thought they were for the real screening. Didn't realize they were for the animated DVD/Blu-Ray release (which in fact came out in stores today). * Also - Archy, and I believe Stepsrw won tickets to the screenings in their regions as well (for the animated one) and Archy just noted yesterday or today that he got word that he won for the REAL screening now. Props to Archy =) - nice follow-up ^
I did win tickets to the animated showing of the Green Lantern. When we arrived at the theatre the picture Bridesmaids was showing at the screen right next to the Green Lantern. Bottom line is that we both wanted to see Bridesmaids so we went here instead and enjoyed that movie. Given that the Green Lantern animated movie apparently will not see wide theatre distribution, I think wevmadevthevright choice.
Stepsrw - I was in the completely same boat. I hadn't realized it was the animated screening and by the time all the previews/promo stuff ran it was already nearly 7:25pm ... and Bridesmaids had already started (and there were some staff members in the hallway outside, and I didn't want to get in trouble as I ventured to the nearby screen showing the other movie) =), lol ... so we stuckit out in the animated screening. The Blu-Ray / dvd came out yesterday for Green Lantern - Emerald Knights.
So many contests for Green Lantern of late. It's really hard keeping up for all the markets. Should be interesting to see what type of feedback and reviews the movie gets from advanced screening winners, regular run-of-engagement movie-goers and critics/reviewers, etc. Also the box office number$, etc.
dudefreedvds.com — Contest commences October 25th and runs through November 8th, 2011. You may enter up to once every 6 hours during designated time period. From Warner Bros - Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins » Go to contest
thehdroom.com — Green Lantern has found new energy on home video after its release to Blu-ray and DVD late last week. Thanks to the kind folks at Warner Bros, I have three copies of the Blu-ray and DVD combo pack for Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively that are up for grabs in this contest. Simply complete and submit the entry form below to us with your full name and e-mail address where we can send the prize should you win. » Go to contest
Green Lantern - Emerald Knights - animated film coming to DVD / Blu-Ray on June 7th, 2011
- also, on a funny side note ... the picture wasn't that crisp/clear either. The trailer (which I've linked below from Youtube) is MUCH clearer than it appeared on the big screen, lol. 
