Vue Lancaster

I've done remarkably little cinema-going in recent times. Well it might not be so remarkable when you look at it. Most of the countries I was in last year didn't offer much in the way of films that I could understand while being back in deepest Cumbria again necessitates something of a trek to either Kendal, Morecambe, Lancaster or Ambleside for the silver screen.

The last weekend however was the turn of Lancaster. We had to head through that way anyway, and of the lack-lustre selection of films on offer from all of the local cinemas Lancaster's reasonably new 'Vue' cinema (the chain that was formerly Warner Bros cinemas) offered a passable film at a reasonable time.

The film in question was Hot Fuzz; a British police caper starring the same leading duo as Shaun of the Dead plus plenty of familiar native actors for good measure. Edwoodwoodwood and Jim Broadbent being two of the most familiar. I got the feeling the film couldn't quite decide how seriously to take itself though; the humour levels varied throughout, although on the whole it exacted plenty of laughs from the moderate audience that turned out on a Sunday afternoon.

The cinema itself was a very mixed bag. £6 a head and no senior discount much to my father's disgust. The screen, number three in our case, was a very good size, and sloping unlike in Morecambe and other multi-plexes ensuring a clear view for all. The familiar theme of Pearl and Dean welcomed in the adverts which did drag rather, as did the hit and miss selection of trailers offered.

The absolute low point was a 'Sims' (as in the computer game) short movie. It was essentially scenes from the Sims to which some students most likely had put together a piss poor dialogue and plot. Why oh why do we have to be subjected to this when going to see a film? If it's a reasonably crafted piece of work, fair enough it might do, although it's not always necessarily welcome. However to waste our time and degrade our mental functioning on such dross really is unacceptable. I'm considering writing to Vue to complain.

The feature presentation was good enough. No poorly adjusted camera positioning requiring a member of the audience to scuttle off and inform staff as has been so often the case in the Morecambe Apollo. The only problem was the sound level which was generally agreed to be a few decibels too loud.

If I was marking out of 10 it would get slightly over half marks. The seats were comfortable enough and no dead bums were reported, and it offers one of the largest screens around here. However the alley to the entrance is somewhat dirty, dark and unenticing, the automatic doors are out of order and there's a few areas to work on such as those mentioned. I'd probably go again if there was something I wanted to see. At least it's showing the much lauded Pan's Labyrinth, even if it is at 10.30pm!