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Much fanfare has been made over Bahrain’s first IMAX theatre opening at Seef Mall Muharraq, and film fanatics will finally have a chance to savour a movie on the ‘bigger big screen’ as promoter Novo Cinemas prepares to host its first premiere event this month.
This coming Monday, The Transporter: Refueled will take its bow in the kingdom at a special screening at the venue.
The film, directed by Camille Delamarre and produced by the team behind the smash hit Taken trilogy and Lucy, sees Ed Skrein replace Jason Statham as Frank Martin. The former special-ops mercenary is now living a less perilous life, or so he believes, transporting classified packages for questionable people.
When Frank’s father (Ray Stevenson) pays him a visit in the south of France, their father-son bonding weekend takes a turn for the worse when Frank is engaged by a cunning femme-fatale, Anna (Loan Chabanol), and her three seductive sidekicks to orchestrate the bank heist of the century.
Frank must use his covert expertise and knowledge of fast cars, driving and how to beat up baddies as he attempts to outrun a sinister Russian kingpin in a series of high-octane set pieces.
Speaking exclusively to GulfWeekly, a Novo Cinemas spokesman explained that it was exciting times for the company as it gains its first foothold in the kingdom.
He said: “We’re very excited that The Transporter: Refueled will be our first IMAX movie premiere at Novo Cinemas. Our sister company Gulf Film is the movie’s distributor in the Middle East, and they’re thrilled to be able to offer it in IMAX to Bahraini cinemagoers. It’s a huge franchise, from the producers of the Taken trilogy, so it should be epic.
“Of course IMAX is an experience unto itself regardless of the film, from the moment the sizzle reel starts to play. You truly appreciate the awesome spectacle of the giant floor-to-ceiling screen, the incredible clarity, and the pin-drop quality of the sound system. It’s the ultimate cinema experience”
Although this will be the theatre’s first full premiere since IMAX opened, Novo Cinemas says that this is just the tip of a fun-packed iceberg. The spokesman said: “Movie premieres are always a good time. Bahrain moviegoers can look forward to a great line-up of premieres at Novo Cinemas, we’re just getting started!
“Our premieres are a lot of fun. They allow you to get together with other film fans for the movie’s first ever screening in your territory, and there are some special on-site activities for competition winners.”
“In addition to movie premieres, we have many competitions and raffles planned, in addition to festival specials and also tie-ups with Bahrain’s leading brands for exclusive prizes. As per our motto, we promise moviegoers ‘A Great Time Out’, and we plan to deliver.”
* Readers can earn the chance to win tickets to Monday’s premiere by entering the competition on this page, and can gain updates on other premiere tickets and prizes by following the Novo Cinemas Facebook page.
