Advanced movie screenings are usually an A-list celebrity event, but this type of program was flipped on its head here in the 757 with an advanced screening of director Bong Joon Ho and actor Robert Pattinson’s latest film, “Mickey 17.” Offered completely free to local college students from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg, this experience was wholly unique and exciting.
Hosted at the AMC Hampton Towne Center on Feb. 27, college students filed into an IMAX theater. With no previews, the audience jumped right into a movie that can absolutely be described as bizarre. Set in 2054 AD, “Mickey 17” centers around Mickey Barnes, who signs up to be an “expendable” on the next spaceship traversing the sky. Played by “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, Mickey dies for a living, being used as a test dummy for those on the ship finding new technology to survive—don’t worry, Mickey is reprinted with a bio-printer every time he dies. After 16 copies of Mickey meet their demise comes Mickey 17. Due to various complications, Mickey must find a way to create peace in his new world, to save himself and everyone else.
In planning events like this, Antonio Jones from Allied Advertising curates experiences made for communities. This particular showing was for college students, but others are geared towards localities or other organized groups. Jones and his team work to make these screenings open and inviting to everyone in the audience, “I used to say, back in the day, this is one time where you can pretend that you’re in your living room,” Jones said.
Jones spoke to how much he values these advanced screening experiences: “It’s really easy for us to get kind of like, you know, our little world of streaming, our TVs are getting bigger…However, though, there’s still something about that experience of seeing a movie together,” Jones said. “When I can see people coming out, and they’re laughing, or people having a good time I just tell that they probably are laughing way more because the people around them are laughing, or there’s a sad moment and they’re getting even more emotional.” Jones said he appreciated the sense of community.
After the screening, several college students gave their opinions on the experience and the movie. College of William & Mary senior Madeline Burdge said, “It kind of felt like an anarchist ‘Star Wars.’” Burdge and other William & Mary film club students buzzed about how neat it was to see a Bong Joon Ho film prior to its release, and about how much they enjoyed the movie experience. “This was a unique opportunity. I really, really enjoyed it. I had been waiting for this movie to come out, and it did not disappoint. I thought it was really bizarre, but pretty awesome,” Burdge said.
While this film is comedic and adventurous, it also holds deeper messages about societal structures, specifically anti-colonial narratives. “I feel like Koreans, especially Korean Americans, tend to forget about the Japanese occupation and the fact that this [film] is a parable for any colonial narrative, [written and directed] by a Korean, I think, is really powerful. And hopefully reminds people of things going on in the world and that colonialism still exists today,” William & Mary junior TJ Manfuso said.
When asked who he hoped would see this film, Manfuso encouraged Korean Americans and anyone exploring their heritage to take part and reevaluate their histories.
“I hope Korean Americans see this movie … it’s still, I think, a narrative that is important to us. It speaks to our history. Otherwise, I do hope anybody whose family or family heritage has been under colonial occupation sees this. I think it’s a very empowering narrative,” Manfuso said. “Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re not human or worthy of existence… you are always trying to be made lesser by the oppressor, but you are, in fact, equal in more ways than one.”
Special thanks to Max Berkey for making this experience possible.
By MJ Matthews
mjmatthews@vwu.edu
