The London Movieum opened today, and by a co-incidence I happened to be going to london myself. So what is the London Movieum you ask? It's a museum of film, with props and sets from various films along with information and a variety of posters. Entry would have usually 8 pounds, or 5 pounds for children. But because the museum is not quite finished yet, you could enter for half the price. 4 pounds! bargain. (2.50 for children)

I found it worthwhile for the price, with many interesting sets and props, ranging from a giant gong on loan from pinewoood studios, to a star wars corridor from the start of episode 4.

So if you happen to be in london sometime this weekend and find yourself with nothing to do, try it out, you might enjoy it. It's by the london aquarium and the london eye, opposite the houses of parliament.

website

Thanks for readng,
Tim

I might give that at try on Wednesday, cheers Tim

When I saw this topic I thought it was that new "cinema" that they were opening where you can go in, sit in a chair and watch a film from a massive selection of films going back decades on your own private screen. Saw it being discussed on a program about 6 months ago and not seen anything of it since.

Your Welecome pdrg,

Nutbar-No, but I saw a setup like that in the BFI, you just go in and choose from about 80 films, completely free. Didn't have time for that myself, but I did get a great book.

Oh no..... I sound like a tourist.

An ashamed Tim.

oh man i walked RIGHT PAST IT said "hmmm wonder what that is" and kept on going. if i would have known what it was i TOTALLY would have gone in. i was only in the area for a week and now im back in niagara falls. grrrrrr

Well, I did go in, made a special effort to get down there for 10am (as on their website), in fact, to be kept waiting until 10:45 - started me off grumpy as I had way better ways to use that time on a day full of meetings.

And I was disappointed - it's largely a museum of props, and as such, has some interest. But then why not go further with demos of propmaking techniques? How about a few cartoon-style 10-ton weights you can pick up, soft bladed scimitars, etc? The one exhibit that wasn't walled off was a greenscreen demo which just felt cheap. The cinema was british 'classics' Up Pompeii, Are You Being Served, etc trailers, the 'sound stages' just static sets out of reach, many rooms were just poorly presented.

Clearly it's brand new, and not finished, so why not finish it before presenting it looking so rough? You don't see cinemas offering people in for half-price to watch the ungraded rushes of a film, why do it here? We are in the entertainment business, film in particular is all about image and slickness. We sell sizzle, not steaks. Perhaps it'll grow into itself, I hope it does. I want it to work, but at the moment it suggests a shambolic past glory day of British film, which saddened me. Especially when that glory day was Up Pompeii. Probably a legal releases issue, but still.

If you do visit, the one must-see for me is the severed head in the 'horror room' - so lifelike. The best room by far, although still completely lacking in atmosphere.

FE Filmmaker-

Sums it up really.

pdrg-

I think that it's one of those spur of the moment type-things, as you
made a special effort for it you expect it to be worth you going to your trouble (obviously). When I went in they didn't have the greenscreen room set up, and the horror room only had the severed head in the corner and the entire left wing (before the main prop hall) wasn't open either. I think it was mostly aimed at families going for days out (I think there was even an item on the BBC London news about it) and was perhaps different to what you might expect, but It amused me for a hour or so.

So basically because I was only passing by as it were, so didn't hype it up (which I may have done). And obviously It would have to be quite amazing to get rid of your first impression.



Retracting that statement then?

Tim