Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Rami Malek as rock icon Freddie Mercury is seen in the film 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' /Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox |
By Kang Aa-young
The legendary British rock band Queen's biopic movie "Bohemian Rhapsody" has enjoyed rare success in Korea, propelling local theaters to extend their screening schedules.
The sing-along theaters where audiences are allowed to sing together during the screening of the film helped boost the ticket sales of the movie.
"Bohemian Rhapsody," which traces the rock band Queen and its leader Freddie Mercury (played by Rami Malek), has attracted an audience of over 1 million, 10 days after the film opened.
The movie highlights the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs as well as their crises as Mercury's own lifestyle spiraled out of control, as well as their successful reunion on the eve of Live Aid, which became one of the most legendary performances in rock music history.
The new movie was initially scheduled to screen for four days from last Tuesday, but local theaters decided to extend the screenings four more days as sing-along theaters became a hit among film and music lovers.
Nearly all seats were sold out during the original four days of screenings.
The experimental format of the movie came as a sensation as it enabled audiences to interact with the film, rather than merely watching passively.
Park Seung-yup and two friends, all in their early 30s, looked hooked when they came out after watching a sing-along screening at Lotte Cinema World Tower in eastern Seoul, Thursday. The three friends came to the cinema after work.
"We booked Bohemian Rhapsody here because we can sing Queen's songs featured in the movie and felt like we are in a concert hall. Among other things, as Queen fans, if we had the choice, we definitely will choose the sing-along version," Park told The Korea Times.
The sing-along version of the theater provides lyrics and allows audiences to sing the songs played during the movie, giving them an emotional experience as if they are in a live concert of the legendary rock band, according to Park.
Another moviegoer, an office worker surnamed Lee, 29, went to the same theater with her colleague. They chose to watch the sing-along version of the movie since they wanted to experience something different as lovers of music-themed films.
"I love to watch music movies at theaters because they are obviously equipped with better sound systems. It relieves my stress from work. This is the second time I've watched this film," Lee said.
Though she didn't consider herself a fan of Queen, she said she recognized most of the songs from "Bohemian Rhapsody."
These viewers represent a changing trend for movie theaters, which encourage viewers to truly interact with the movie, amplifying their film-watching experience.
CJ CGV, Megabox and Lotte Cinema, the country's three major cinema chain operators, are reinventing themselves to amplify the experience of movie fans by giving them more watching options amid toughening competition.
It is not the first time the theaters have conducted such an experiment with movie screenings.
In 2014, Disney's smash-hit animated movie "Frozen" was released as a sing-along version to meet popular demand, allowing viewers to sing popular songs from the film, including megahit "Let It Go" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman."
Back then, the theaters were more like a karaoke, but the new type of screening succeeded in encouraging repeat visits.
"It adds a whole new aspect to moviegoers by giving them an empathy tool to truly interact with the movie," movie critic Park Ho-seon said. "The popularity of Bohemian Rhapsody comes largely from the nation's sing-along culture ― often dubbed ddechang."
Some overseas critics heavily criticized the new format of the movie showcasing, saying it "ruins" the genuine movie-watching experience. But Park pointed out it is just one of the viewing options and it will give audiences a fresh experience. He also said the new option can also invigorate the current lackluster movie industry.
"A sing-along version of a music film can be an empowering way to amplify the voice of the movie," he said.
