Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

UP's Cineplex reopens March 9; Black Panther to be shown!

UP's Cineplex will be re-reopened on March 9, 2018 and Black Panther will be one of the movies shown. Photo: Facebook
50 Shades of Grey will also be shown when UP's Cineplex reopens on March 9, 2018. Photo: Facebook
50 Shades of Grey will also be shown when UP's Cineplex reopens on March 9, 2018. Photo: Facebook
According to proprietor of UP's Cineplex Mr Elton S. Leonard, hit movies previously released while the cinemas were down will be shown at a later date to be announced. Photo: Team of Reporters
According to proprietor of UP's Cineplex Mr Elton S. Leonard, hit movies previously released while the cinemas were down will be shown at a later date to be announced. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- After sustaining extensive damage, UP's Cineplex will soon be up and running next month and will feature the hit movie Black Panther and 50 Shades of Grey on it's reopening night, March 9, 2018.

Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online today, February 24, 2018, proprietor of UP's Cineplex Mr Elton S. Leonard said a few of the cinemas will be reopened while repairs continue on the others as well to other parts of the building.

Patrons to the movie Black Panther, which has caught the world by storm, and 50 Shades of Grey, will be greeted with "some wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres served,” stated Mr Leonard, who added that some popular movies already released, such as “Star Wars, Thor and a few others”, will be shown at dates to be announced.

The movie Black Panther has been a hit worldwide and, according to the CNBS news site in an article published yesterday February 23, 2018, the movie has “hauled in half a billion dollars at the global box office just one week after debuting in US theatres.”

Persons here in the Virgin Islands wanting to catch the hype of the movie had to travel overseas to do so but come March 9, 2018 that will no longer be the case.

UP's building was battered by hurricanes

Though the premiere date is set, works continue on the Cineplex. The passage of the two hurricanes in September 2017 did not spare the building, which suffered extensive damages.

Mr Leonard explained that the entire ballroom area on the top floor of the building was destroyed. The bowling alley and the club downstairs was flooded and received a lot of water damage. "All the levels of the Cinemas, all the lobbies were destroyed a bit. On the ground, first second and third lobbies, all were damaged. The ceilings and all the décor that we had in most of them get destroyed.”

He further added, “We are just going to be opening the Cinemas only for now, and then we have a few new things that we are going to be introducing a little later down before the summer, entertainment wise.”

The hype generated for the movie Black Panther and the many persons desiring to see it motivated Mr Leonard to put a system in place so that persons can have their 'Movie fix' while repairs continue. Patrons will have four days of theatre time while the other three will be used for repairs to the building.

The cinemas on floor Number 1 and some on floor Number 2 will be re-opened. "We have to shut off basically all the damage that we are working on. We are working on repairs but, due to the fact that most people want to see this movie, we are going to be showing the movies from Thursday to Sunday for now until we finish all the repairs throughout the building. So the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday basically we will be doing a lot of repairs and then on weekends we are going to show movies."

Many persons no doubt will welcome the reopening of the cinemas as a safe and positive form of entertainment in the community and the coinvenience of not having to travel overseas to find out what the hype with Black Panther is all about.

And with cable TV still down and internet speeds painfully slow, the reopening of UP's Cineplex will be a major relief for residents and even visitors.

31 Responses to “UP's Cineplex reopens March 9; Black Panther to be shown!”

  • BVI STRONG (24/02/2018, 12:14) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is certainly good news
  • 1 (24/02/2018, 12:18) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hurry come back
    • Hmmmm (26/02/2018, 08:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Its not about hurry come back, its about come back n staying alive n staying ahead the game. Keep it coning. No big bang n then flop. Happens to often in bvi
  • raising standards (24/02/2018, 13:15) Like (16) Dislike (61) Reply
    Really? and neither of these movies are appropriate for younger children. Neither contribute to spiritual uplifting,
    morality, positive messages. How about some good movies that make people think about bigger life other than sex and violence?
    • VI Maryland (24/02/2018, 14:55) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
      Did you see the trailer? Kids can see the movie. The movie is not about sex and violence. I saw the movie. I am not going to give the movie away. People have been through a lot after the hurricane, let them enjoy 2 hours stress free watching a good movie Raising Standards. Please don't talk about morals. If you are not pleased about the showing of the movie, you don't have to see it.
      • parent (24/02/2018, 16:46) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
        I took my kids to see Black Panther and would do it again. It's one of the BEST movies in decades (to me)!
        • State Side, BVI (24/02/2018, 20:18) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
          Yes, I took my kids to see the movie. The kids had a blast. We had to buy the tickets in advance to see a later show Friday night but waiting in line to buy the tickets was worth it. I have to agree, one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
    • Dude?! (24/02/2018, 18:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      You seen black panther? What more inspirational than that.
    • Wendy (24/02/2018, 22:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You have two choices....go to the movies or stay home. He did not say the movie was for children.
    • Belonger With A Broder Perspective (24/02/2018, 22:47) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      @raising standards Blank Panter is a movie everyone should see including children especially black children. You should watch the movie because it is uplifiting, teaches moral and has a positive message. There is no sex in Black Panther. How about you do some research before you type! Typical of people like you to talk about what they don't know. Keep that up and see where it gets you. I award you Donkey of the day
    • Hmmmmm (26/02/2018, 08:31) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply

      U must be wh**e n mad lol

    • You’re wrong (26/02/2018, 21:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      That is EXACTLY what Black Panther entails (believe it or not). Don’t be too quick to judge. Watch it for yourself.
  • NezRez (24/02/2018, 13:17) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    So very happy the owners were able to bring back the theater. Black Panther will be sold out in no time. The hurricanes really did a number on all of us and happy the Leonard family can persevere and move forward with everyone supporting them. I will be there with bells on...lol
  • BvIslander, NYC (24/02/2018, 13:21) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Black Panther is AWESOMMMM. Saw it last weekend. I'm telling you, you have to see this movie. Second week, and all the theathers is sold out. Wow, what a good movie.
    • raising standards (24/02/2018, 13:35) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
      for some, but what about the rest of the population with little choice for a nice story?
      • @"raising standards" (24/02/2018, 18:26) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
        oh well guess you will have to stay at home and make ur own fun then.
  • great news (24/02/2018, 15:53) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
    I need somewhere to carry my side thing dem and say look baby see we in public while hug up in the dark. Black Panther is a good movie, just filled with women acting like men and the usual black people fighting amongst their own and going to the caucasian to undermine their own....you know... the usual subliminal messages. Wakanda is supposed to be futuristic yet people still acting tribal and wearing lip plates..... uhg....
    • bad news (24/02/2018, 20:23) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      @great news, you are sick.I don't think you would understand and appreciate the movie so it is best that you stay home.
  • mm (24/02/2018, 15:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    God bless up
  • good (24/02/2018, 16:03) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope it will be a safe environment.
  • VI in UK (24/02/2018, 18:23) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Saw BLACK PANTHER.Very good movie . lots to think about. No sexual content etc but the rating is 12A so I personally wont let a child under 11 see the movie unless they are mature.
  • Mr. Hodge (24/02/2018, 20:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ raising standards... are YOU for real?? You need to confirm what “appropriate” is and also clarify what the age of “younger children” is. As a parent you decide what you want your child to see. The movie theater doesn’t dictate that. That’s why there are things like parental controls on your smart tv and movie ratings (g, pg, pg13, r, nc17) to let you know what is appropriate if you can’t figure it out on your own. Responsible theaters won’t allow underaged children to view certain films. Black Panther is a great family movie but why even mention 50 shades?? That is an adult movie. I think what you should do is suggest to Mr. Leonard to keep children’s movies in the line up as they make up a large number of our population and would be beneficial for their entertainment and also increase his revenue
  • miami (24/02/2018, 21:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every where you go to see the movie is sold out. I had to drive 39 minutes from Miami to Fort Lauderdale to see the movie.
    • Yes (24/02/2018, 21:48) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Lol hushyo lying local self the distance between both is longer than that
      • fool (24/02/2018, 23:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Not necessarily. It depends on which part of MIA they left from, which part of FTL they went, traffic and how fast they drove. Its possible to drive from MIA to FTL in 40 mins as I have done it before.
  • I wonder (24/02/2018, 21:41) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    if he has current?
  • AJ (25/02/2018, 05:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ Lol I guess you've lived in America for 23 hours because your do damn wrong cause (miami ) should have been there in about 30 minutes give it take its about 28 miles in distance between the two cities and on average you cover one mile in one minute while driving on the high way and more than likely he would be on I 95 and I don't know if you know what that means since you've been living there for under 24 hours so you need to be quiet and leave Miami alone your wrong
  • Umm (25/02/2018, 09:20) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    When where how to buy advance tickets Elton????!!
  • for crying out loud (25/02/2018, 15:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Here they go again trying to put people into their mold. If we would stop dictating for people and trying to take away people happiness the world would be a better place. I have not seen Black Panther but my son saw it last night and he said to me " I had to shed a tear." Very few things move my son, but this movie did. So I would say it was a good thing.
  • hot topic (26/02/2018, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Boy Deshawn your advertising skills on point boy!!!! You ah wuk!!!
  • questionable (26/02/2018, 11:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    UPs is currently a mouldy wreck. It's likely to be a health hazard but I hope Elton can clean it up properly.

    Black mould leads to serious health issues.

    Can he team up with pier park or somewhere to get a larger audience and make a great event out of Black Panther?

    I am sure all of the community is interested but not everyone is ready to go back to UPs building, particularly with the violence going on outside it and prior problems.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.