Review: PocketMovie PLUS

Posted by: weiganla on Sep 15 2007 - 774 views

When I started my other part-time gig as an amateur movie critic, I thought, “I have a PDA. I’ll be able to easily check theaters and showtimes on the go, because someone has to have written a program to do that. It’s such an obvious application!”

And … crickets. I couldn’t believe the pathetic paucity of useful movie programs. Unless you prefer to spend your free moments scrolling through lists of the AFI’s 100 Greatest Romances, you’re out in the cold.

But now e-Mobile Software has come to the rescue with PocketMovie PLUS. In addition to showtimes, it features a few other bells and whistles such as trailers and Hollywood news. Is it everything a movie program should be?

Installation is via a CAB file. I selected the program and installed it without ever using a desktop. Piece of cake. Installation also revealed one of my favorite features, the miniscule footprint of just 250 KB.

The attractive home screen features six sub-programs, a close button, and an aptly named “Setting” option. I’ll let the screenshot speak for itself.

None of the good stuff in PocketMovie PLUS works without an active Internet connection, which is the right choice for this type of application. Navigation within the program is idiot-proof, so without further ado, let’s start the tour!

Entering my zip code brings up a list of the closest theaters. I think I’ll see what’s playing tonight at the Regal Green Hills 16.

There is no date option, so there’s no way to check what’s playing next weekend when your old college buddy is in town — better hope your buddy is the spontaneous type. There’s no way to save favorite zip codes either, but seriously, it’s five digits. Any more options would kill the streamlined interaction I just had with the program.

Oh, no! Even though I go to the Regal Green Hills 16 all the time, I’ve forgotten where it is! If only I had a map…

Tapping a movie title under “Showtime” also brings up a map to the theater. Since “Map” is a clear softkey option at the bottom of the screen, I’d prefer that tapping a title bring up details about the movie.

Anyway, whew. I’ve got my map. But how do I get there?

Tapping “Path” brings up a route, oddly labeled B to A. I’m not exactly sure how point B is assigned; presumably each zip code has one. Even with the zoom capabilities, “Path” will never replace Google Maps or a GPS program for truly unfamiliar territory. But the thing with movie theaters is, they’re generally pretty easy to spot from the road. If all you need to know is which highways and major streets will get you close, the “Path” function has you covered.

I’ve decided I want to research the movies opening this week. From the home screen, “This week” brings up a list of every major and ultra-indie film premiering this week and next.

Tapping a movie brings up its details page.

Some creative highlighting lets me see the rest of the synopsis. In addition to rating, length, and genre, I wish opening date were included here, too, because it’s sometimes cut off in the “This week” page with no way to scroll horizontally. Integration with the trailer is a nice feature.

The list of movies on “This week” was pretty long. How about narrowing things down to hits? You got it. Go back to the home screen and tap “Box Office.”

This screen appears to be the only way you can access details and trailers for movies that have been out more than a week, like “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

The best way to get to trailers is through the movie details page, but the “Trailers” link from the home screen also has a truly random collection of videos.

Like the VMAs. See what I mean? There’s some neat stuff here, but I can’t count on it to have the trailer for the upcoming movie that I’m really excited about.

Selecting the trailer automatically opens Windows Media Player, and the clip loads. This is where the “Setting” from the home screen comes in. Even on “high speed” the video for “The Dark Knight,” while big enough on my gorgeous Axim x51v screen, does not fill the WMP window, and on “low speed” it’s positively miniscule.

The “News” link from the home screen gives you a frequently updated string of Hollywood news bites. Once a story gets pushed to the bottom of the list, it’s gone.

 

And when I say bites, I do mean bites. Count yourself lucky if there’s more than one sentence. While some stories have scroll bars, this one has just been cut off. A link to the full story somewhere would be nice. (Why is Peter Fonda selling his “Easy Rider” stuff, and how can I buy it?) Tapping “Zoom” gets you a full screen image of Peter, should you desire such a thing.

The final link from the home screen, “Hollywood,” brings up a list of all of the above — new releases, news, box office, “trailers” — along with a random collection of old releases and a selection of celebrity bios which I assume, based on the numbers listed beside each name, are birthday-related. (Is Oliver Stone turning 61?) This section could be better organized and made less redundant.

PocketMovie PLUS has a lot going for it. It’s easy to use, looks handsome, and has some very nice features built in. However, it also sports a few rough edges which prevent me from giving it the enthusiastic recommendation I’d like to at this time. If you too have been searching for a solid movies app, PocketMovie PLUS is a program to keep an eye on. A few minor revisions, and e-Mobile Software could have a blockbuster.

Vital Stats:

Minimum Requirements: Internet enabled Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5, 6.

Where to Buy: $24.95 at Handango. Save 25% with code HGONEW25.

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