Vampires dominate box office in Timaru

Fantasy is ruling the box office in Timaru this year with vampires, wizards, aliens, robot aliens and Michael Jackson featuring in a list of the town's top movies.

Timaru's movie-going audience flocked to vampire romance New Moon, the second in the Twilight franchise, making it the biggest movie in town so far this year.

New Moon opened in November, several weeks ahead of James Cameron's big budget, effects laden Avatar.

While New Moon is topping the list for now, Moviemax 5 manager Stu Johnston said Avatar, which is currently fourth, may overtake it.

Only two weeks into screening in Timaru, Avatar is already attracting repeat viewers, including some who have seen the movie in 3D and want to compare the experience with that of a conventional theatre.

The comparison was favourable, said Mr Johnston, who has also seen the film in both formats.

"Don't get me wrong: 3D is amazing, but I don't think you lose very much at all – maybe just the experience. As far as the film is and how well it comes across, there's not a huge difference."

Harry Potter, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen and This Is It, which follows Michael Jackson rehearsing for his comeback concerts, completed the top five.

One film which has not made it into the top 10 is The Lovely Bones - it has just opened.

TIMARU'S TOP TEN MOVIES

1) New Moon

2) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

3) Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen

4) Avatar

5) This Is It

6) Fast & Furious

7) Terminator Salvation

8) X-men: Origins

9) Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

10) Angels and Demons

*Moviemax 5 – December 29

- © Fairfax NZ News