Friday, June 15, 2012

"X" Marks The Spot For Super-Powered Pride Excitement



7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12th at the Cinema Theatre
Tickets: $7 in advance / $8 at the door

Even before DC Comics rebooted Alan Scott (aka the original Green Lantern) as a younger, more handsome, and gay version of his Golden Age counterpart, the superhero universe already had a queen in residence. And she hails all the way from Indonesia! This summer, ImageOut celebrates Pride by introducing an unusual, yet perfect, blend of “charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent” to Rochester.

Welcome to the world of Madame X: a pre-op transsexual gifted with magical powers which she uses to combat the forces of hatred and intolerance in this candy-colored, fast-paced action-comedy. An over-the-top cross between comic book superhero and James Bond adventure, Madame X is just as irreverent, hilarious and crazy fun as it sounds.

All Adam wants to do is to celebrate his birthday with his friends. But the violent goons of the National Morality Front have other plans, ambushing the gay disco where Adam and his friends are partying. When all the commotion and glittery dust have settled, Adam’s best friend has been thrown off a truck and killed, while he himself is left for dead. True to most superhero origin stories, a kind, elderly couple find him and nurse him back to health in their dance studio (ok, maybe not most superhero origin stories) deep in the rural countryside. Soon enough, he is being trained in the ancient, mystical dance art of Lenggok and slowly being transformed into Madame X, a fabulous trans superhero clad in a dominatrix-inspired outfit and armed with awesome gadgets to aid in her fight against bigotry.

A fun, vibrant and action-packed entertainment, Madame X is full of eccentric characters, political incorrectness, and camp galore. But behind all the absurdity, Madame X offers a sharp sociopolitical commentary of contemporary society, which is all the more impressive knowing that this film comes from a very conservative and predominantly Muslim country.

Advance sale tickets can be purchased beginning on Friday, June 22 at Equal=Grounds, 750 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 and OUTlandish Video and Gifts, 274 N Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14607