Beowulf posterIf you are at all interested in the future of cinema technology, the energetic retelling of dark age Norse Anglosaxon Anglo-Saxon legends or theme park rides then Beowulf 3D is the thing for you this weekend. The 3D version only screens at Readings and I understand from Roadshow, the distributor, that only two cinemas in New Zealand are equipped to screen it: Readings at Courtenay Central and Hoyts Sylvia Park in Auckland.

The digital equipment required to screen Beowulf in 3D cost upwards of $100k and is only in Cinema 5 (i.e. not one of the big ones). That cost puts it out of reach of all Wellington cinemas apart from Readings (and possibly Sky City at Queensgate) until the economic drivers to replace 35mm film become overwhelming. Check the listings carefully as the 3D version is definitely the one to see. The flat version can also be found at Regent-on-Manners and Sky City Queensgate.

The rest of this week’s new releases after the jump…

Also opening this week is Joshua , a supernatural thriller in the tradition of The Omen : that one is at Rialto only. For art-house fans French, the Penthouse has The Page Turner about a young woman who takes revenge on the concert pianist who (she believes) ruined her own career. It stars Deborah François from The Dardennes Brothers’ film The Child which we saw in Wellington last year.

Returning from the World Cinema Showcase is the Cuban/Spanish co-production Habana Blues, of which this reviewer said: “Boisterous, good natured but realistic. Do see it, because when Castro dies a lot about Cuba is going to change – both good and bad.” Paramount.

Also at the Paramount is the Show Me Shorts short film festival featuring many of the best indie short films from Australia and New Zealand produced in the last year. There are 39 films screening over 6 sessions, including Night of the Hell Hamsters co-written by Wellingtonista Hadyn.

Beowulf and Habana Blues have already been reviewed at Funerals & Snakes. The other features will appear at the site next week, and in the Capital Times next Wednesday.