Arnold Schwarzenegger’s, End of Days (“El Dia Final“) made it to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo just in time for the millennium and for better or worse came here to stay. If you didn’t catch it in its seemingly month long run at the area theaters—whoa—better run out and rent it. Got to be one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen in my life and boy do we get some bad ones down here.
I was really hoping Hollywood would exploit the whole end of the world concept and come up with some spectacular plays on mass hysteria, religious fanaticism and parties of the millennium. But for some reason or another no one really jumped on it and all we got were a few very silly global destruction films a few years back and one or two odd religious mumbo jumbo messes. The only thing I’ve seen that even remotely exploited the potential of the theme was that cool Nike commercial about the jogger who goes on his with morning run while the world self-destructs, “Just do it.” Nobody did, what a shame.
What a shame they couldn’t have come up with something a little more clever with this film. What a shame the writing was sneeringly poor and the acting all around uninspired. What a shame my man, Gabriel Byrne, had to sign on to this one. C’mon Arnold, what were you thinking, going for the Christ figure?
Ok, so there were one or two cool explosions and the occasional, interesting shimmering effect. But overall just a big groan and shake your head and wish they’d invested those millions into something a little more tangible. (Like a silly little newsletter in Southern Mexico.) The type of movie that makes you feel stupid and hate yourself for spending 17 perfectly good pesos on, when you really should’ve put them to better use on tacos and beer.
There’s a reason we stopped reviewing the movies’ at the theaters: Jan-Claude, Sylvester, Arnold and a whole legion of big scary monsters. But what can you do, some movies you just gotta see on the big screen. You can’t beat the price, they have A/C and popcorn, and really, everyone needs explosions and big scary monsters sometimes. Just do it.
There are two movie theaters in Downtown Zihautanejo.CINE PARAISO, on the pedestrian walk at the corner of Nicolas Bravo and Cuauhtemoc and CINEMAS VICENTE GUERRERO, at the end of Benito Juarez, next to the Casa de Cultura. Movies change weekly, usually on Thursdays or Fridays, show times are roughly 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30. The cost is 17 pesos.
A new movie theater just opened in Ixtapa, located in the shopping area behind Señor Frogs, next to Nueva Zelandia. It airs first run films for 35 pesos. There are also several video rental stores in the Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo area that usually get movies before they even make it to the big screen here.. With the exceptions of National Productions and animations, almost all of the films here are in English with Spanish subtitles.
(Editor’s note: There is only one movie theater in Downtown Zihuatanejo, CINE PARAISO, and ticket prices at both theaters have changed.)
-January 2000
