Singapore Cinemas To Re-Open on July 13th, 2020
It's Saturday July 4th, 2020, as I type-up and publish this blogpost, with the distinct aim to see WHAT films will be offered up to eager Singaporeans, for when the cinemas islandwide open up again!
But first, let's take a quick look at what had transpired in the months prior, and what is to be expected for the reopening of cinemas, in the age of the current pandemic...
Cinema chains islandwide had been closed since March 27th - as part of the fight against COVID-19 here in our island state. The end-of-April was the initial targeted opening date, but timeline had lapsed since. It has been close to three months since folks have a legitimate big-screen viewing of films, having had the pleasure of home-based cable and tv networks to sate our need for short-form features. I certainly had an opportunity to revisit my personal DVD-collection...!
The re-opening of cinemas is apart of the "Phase 2" operations in Singapore, and come with a few guidelines (via consultation with cinema operators), as added safety precautions, among other safe distancing measures. Listed below are direct excerpts from the media release (found on imda.gov.sg), along with my own commentary ...
TOYSREVIL SAYS: Fab news for couples to want to meet up (It's okay if your mind is filled with naughtiness, as there will be less "public judgement" in near-darkness, is all ima saying ...), and for friends to get together ... I am not for "families" to attend, as there might have younger children present, but it also depends on the slate of movies being screened lah...
TOYSREVIL SAYS: Which might well mean there'll be less possibility of feeling someone's knees on the back of your seats!
TOYSREVIL SAYS: I think this would be a loop-hole that folks might attempt to avoid, until of course you hear someone else coughing, innit? The cinema isn't exactly going to have Safety Officers patrolling the seats with flashlights and "advising" seated viewers to "wear their masks", are they? ARE THEY?
So now that THAT's sorted, WHAT MOVIES CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO? As of this blogposts, these are what I had found on select cinema operator's main website + social media channels:
Featured above is screengrab of the main page on gv.com.sg of the films that will be screening in GOLDEN VILLAGE cinemas (Facebook / Instagram ... socials are lacking, IMHO).
Key films include TRAIN TO BUSAN: PENINSULA (premieres same day as in South Korean FTW) ... Thai rom-com LOW SEASON (starring Mario Maurer and Ploypailin Thangprapaporn), and two "horror" films (Singapore apparently LOVES HORROR) with Taiwan box office hit THE BRIDGE CURSE 《女鬼橋》, and Korean mystery thriller INTRUDER (stars Song Ji-hyo and Kim Moo-yul) will hit the big screens on 23rd July.
CATHAY CINEPLEXES has a slate of movies featured on cathaycineplexes.com.sg as "Coming Soon" but without a commitment (as yet). It would be no small surprise if ALL the movies to premiere are similar... Stay connected via their socials on Facebook + Instagram.
SHAW THEATRES also does not have a specific slate of movies listed for July 13th reopening on www.shaw.sg, save for a nifty video (posted above), and a decently robust social landscape on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / ... also, SHAW has IMAX, so it Christopher Nolan's TENET is all that it's said to be, well...
Of all the cinemas I regularly peruse, the above three are my most visited chains, while I've yet to experience the (select) cinemas listed below...
The main page of fgcineplex.com.sg for FILMGARDE currently still has the advisory for the "Temporary Closure of Singapore Cinemas" (seen up top), with no updates as yet (at time of this blogpost).... BUT their socials are keeping track! Facebook lists TRAIN TO BUSAN: PENINSULA with a "15 July" premiere date, with new stills of the highly anticipated Korean film posted on their Instagram, so they now have my follow...:)
THE PROJECTOR is best described as an "independant cinema operator" (versus the multiplexes), with a focus on the less beaten cinematic path, as well as offering archival opportunities ... basically somewhere where I'll hang out and stick to, if I were able to economically ... but alas, all I can do right now is feature them on a blog ... A trio of features are listed on theprojector.sg, with an active social scene on Facebook + Instagram.
And while I can understand the existing spread of movies available at the multiplexes - from past til now - I can also appreciate the line-up of Asian Cinema, no doubt due to the delays in the West (Otherwise we'd be knee-deep in BLACK WIDOW and MULAN now), but having PENINSULA is a strong opener, and I would really like to see more to have their chance on the big screen here soon, including #ALIVE (No I'm not "zombie-fatiqued" yet), and I am still waiting for Singapore's first kaiju-flick with CIRCLE LINE (initially scheduled for a CNY-release) ... although I can expect the influx of horror-themed films to be as persistent as the HAZE situation :p
Will I be lining up at the tickets counter for when the doors open? I haven't really decided yet though, but it is currently a low-key NO. I still have my KDramas to finish! LOL
Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL
FYI: I have zero affiliation with any of the cinema chains/brands mentioned, with all mentioned and links here of my own volition, so no, I'm not getting paid nor do I have free tickets to anything, thanks :p
But first, let's take a quick look at what had transpired in the months prior, and what is to be expected for the reopening of cinemas, in the age of the current pandemic...
Cinema chains islandwide had been closed since March 27th - as part of the fight against COVID-19 here in our island state. The end-of-April was the initial targeted opening date, but timeline had lapsed since. It has been close to three months since folks have a legitimate big-screen viewing of films, having had the pleasure of home-based cable and tv networks to sate our need for short-form features. I certainly had an opportunity to revisit my personal DVD-collection...!
The re-opening of cinemas is apart of the "Phase 2" operations in Singapore, and come with a few guidelines (via consultation with cinema operators), as added safety precautions, among other safe distancing measures. Listed below are direct excerpts from the media release (found on imda.gov.sg), along with my own commentary ...
01. Cinemas will introduce a “one metre safe distancing” seat configuration in cinema halls. Up to 5 patrons (friends and family) are allowed to buy tickets to sit together without the 1 metre distancing requirement.
However, different groups of patrons must comply with the 1 metre safe distancing requirement.
TOYSREVIL SAYS: Fab news for couples to want to meet up (It's okay if your mind is filled with naughtiness, as there will be less "public judgement" in near-darkness, is all ima saying ...), and for friends to get together ... I am not for "families" to attend, as there might have younger children present, but it also depends on the slate of movies being screened lah...
02. There will also be a maximum capacity of 50 patrons per cinema hall.
TOYSREVIL SAYS: Which might well mean there'll be less possibility of feeling someone's knees on the back of your seats!
03. All patrons must wear a mask at all times, even inside the cinema hall, except when consuming food and drink.
TOYSREVIL SAYS: I think this would be a loop-hole that folks might attempt to avoid, until of course you hear someone else coughing, innit? The cinema isn't exactly going to have Safety Officers patrolling the seats with flashlights and "advising" seated viewers to "wear their masks", are they? ARE THEY?
So now that THAT's sorted, WHAT MOVIES CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO? As of this blogposts, these are what I had found on select cinema operator's main website + social media channels:
Featured above is screengrab of the main page on gv.com.sg of the films that will be screening in GOLDEN VILLAGE cinemas (Facebook / Instagram ... socials are lacking, IMHO).
Key films include TRAIN TO BUSAN: PENINSULA (premieres same day as in South Korean FTW) ... Thai rom-com LOW SEASON (starring Mario Maurer and Ploypailin Thangprapaporn), and two "horror" films (Singapore apparently LOVES HORROR) with Taiwan box office hit THE BRIDGE CURSE 《女鬼橋》, and Korean mystery thriller INTRUDER (stars Song Ji-hyo and Kim Moo-yul) will hit the big screens on 23rd July.
CATHAY CINEPLEXES has a slate of movies featured on cathaycineplexes.com.sg as "Coming Soon" but without a commitment (as yet). It would be no small surprise if ALL the movies to premiere are similar... Stay connected via their socials on Facebook + Instagram.
Shaw Theatres is re-opening JULY 13! And we can't wait to welcome you back with the magic of movies on the big screen💛 !
— shawtheatres (@shawtheatres) July 3, 2020
Stay tuned to our social media for more updates.
Check out our newest 'virtual cinema' at https://t.co/61xtbCMAWr
Stay safe and we'll see you very soon! pic.twitter.com/cbagOyPuJb
SHAW THEATRES also does not have a specific slate of movies listed for July 13th reopening on www.shaw.sg, save for a nifty video (posted above), and a decently robust social landscape on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / ... also, SHAW has IMAX, so it Christopher Nolan's TENET is all that it's said to be, well...
Of all the cinemas I regularly peruse, the above three are my most visited chains, while I've yet to experience the (select) cinemas listed below...
The main page of fgcineplex.com.sg for FILMGARDE currently still has the advisory for the "Temporary Closure of Singapore Cinemas" (seen up top), with no updates as yet (at time of this blogpost).... BUT their socials are keeping track! Facebook lists TRAIN TO BUSAN: PENINSULA with a "15 July" premiere date, with new stills of the highly anticipated Korean film posted on their Instagram, so they now have my follow...:)
THE PROJECTOR is best described as an "independant cinema operator" (versus the multiplexes), with a focus on the less beaten cinematic path, as well as offering archival opportunities ... basically somewhere where I'll hang out and stick to, if I were able to economically ... but alas, all I can do right now is feature them on a blog ... A trio of features are listed on theprojector.sg, with an active social scene on Facebook + Instagram.
And while I can understand the existing spread of movies available at the multiplexes - from past til now - I can also appreciate the line-up of Asian Cinema, no doubt due to the delays in the West (Otherwise we'd be knee-deep in BLACK WIDOW and MULAN now), but having PENINSULA is a strong opener, and I would really like to see more to have their chance on the big screen here soon, including #ALIVE (No I'm not "zombie-fatiqued" yet), and I am still waiting for Singapore's first kaiju-flick with CIRCLE LINE (initially scheduled for a CNY-release) ... although I can expect the influx of horror-themed films to be as persistent as the HAZE situation :p
Will I be lining up at the tickets counter for when the doors open? I haven't really decided yet though, but it is currently a low-key NO. I still have my KDramas to finish! LOL
Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL
FYI: I have zero affiliation with any of the cinema chains/brands mentioned, with all mentioned and links here of my own volition, so no, I'm not getting paid nor do I have free tickets to anything, thanks :p
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