Shoot ’Em Up Controversy Should Make Filmgoers Leery
Jill Porter’s screeching beratement of Fox’s Good Morning Philadelphia over a movie promo stunt has suddenly become a national news story, which proves that she (surprisingly) did have a point about the evils of violent movie marketing in a city during a murder epidemic.
There are currently four theaters in the Philadelphia area scheduled to start running the flick tomorrow. Given that Shoot ‘Em Up is billed as a gun-happy violence-fest — Clive Owen plays a brooding leather-jacketed bloke who likes to keep his body counts high — you might want to steer clear of the following locations, lest the ultraviolent imagery stoke up gun-toting fellow moviegoers:
AMC Franklin Mills Mall 14, 3 p.m. showing: Granted, most of the audience at this Northeast Philly theater will be too conked out on Robitussin to reach their weapons, but there are some gritty Irish kids from Cheltenham who are still quick draws even when dulled by enormous amounts of cough medicine. At that time of the afternoon, beware especially the Father Judge/Bishop Carroll crews, who could be ready to release some pent-up aggression. And, you, unsuspecting filmgoer, could be the victim of a seriously violent beat-down for making eye contact with one of their gold-chain crucifixes.
The Bridge, 12:30 a.m. showing: This 40th and Walnut theater is close to Penn’s campus, making it a very strong candidate for Shoot ‘Em Up-inspired violence. First, you’ll have to worry about both the lonely, diabolical Ivy Leaguer, emotionally distressed on a Friday night due to his lack of friends/hatred of the world/sociopathic tendencies. After the movie, you’ll be greeted by Philadelphia’s shadiest homeless people, all decked out in their own hole-covered clothing, angrily looking for change or any reason to stop yelling at the trash can. Try not to stare, or one of them is bound to go all Dawn of the Dead on the first person that looks at ‘em funny.
UA Riverview Stadium, any time: This Delaware Avenue death trap gives all the appearances of being a family-friendly movie theater, but once inside, you’ll realize you’ve been duped by the teal-colored, strip-mall façade and have entered into a Live! at the Apollo taping. Even if there’s a Disney/Pixar film Sunday matinee showing, you’ll still encounter one audience member intermittently yelling at the screen throughout. Just think of the riffraff that’ll be at this movie; I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t selling flak-jackets at the concession stands.
PHOTO: IMDB
Local Anchors Apologize for Movie Promo [AP]
