Battle of the screens by MATTHEW HAYS Publicists were busy trying to make the loudest noises this week, what with so much competition for space in various film sections. There's the wrap on Cannes, and then the fact that two new cinema complexes are about to unleash themselves on Montreal filmgoers. Last Tuesday turned out to be a lively one for poor, overworked film critics. First there was the spectacle over at the still-under-construction Paramount Cinema, Famous Players 12-screen megaplex located in the old Simpson Building. In addition to the 12 screens (which will open June 18), the building will also host Montreal's first downtown Imax screen; the publicity stunt involved numerous hunky construction workers hoisting into place an eight-story Imax screen. Soon enough, people won't have to venture too far to behold an Imax film. And hopefully, they won't all be boring travelogues or kiddie fare, like so many Imax films seem to be. As soon as that tour was over, I dashed over to Ex-Centris on St-Laurent, Softimage founder and multimillionaire Daniel Langlois's spanking new three-screen complex, which will cater to the arthouse crowd. Ex-Centris is, without a doubt, a beautiful piece of architecture, with a garden around back of the building where outdoor screenings will also take place. The new Cafè Méliès, as well, looks pretty damn cool--no doubt Langlois will be hosting some serious parties there. Ex-Centris will open for the Magnifico Film Fest, which runs June 2­6. A helluva lot of money has clearly been sunk into both the Paramount and Ex-Centris. The real magic act comes when these cinemas are packed with audiences. Montrealers love moviegoing, without a doubt. But can they sustain this rampant growth? I was a bit horrified at the screening of Lovers of the Arctic Circle earlier this week. Snotty film critics are supposed to cheer on greater numbers of subtitled films in our cinemas. But at the risk of sounding philistine, this film--about the romantic relationship which develops between two step-siblings--is the kind of movie that thinks it's special just because it's got subtitles. Outrageously ostentatious, Lovers expects us to get seriously hot and bothered about two nubile young types who are drawn to each other from childhood and whose love simply won't die. An irritatingly dreary movie. A big pass on this Euro-trash. A big surprise awaited me when I ventured to see Trekkies. The feature-length doc on the Star Trek fan phenom was clearly released to cash in on the space craze generated by The Phantom Menace, but the film stands on its own. Oddly affecting, Trekkies makes you cringe as it focuses in on that ultra-maligned group of people who worship all things Trek. The verdict: it's actually worse than you think. Trekkies doesn't pull any punches, and the result is hilarious--though one can't help but feel sorry for these folks, as they are clearly made the butt of plenty of geek jokes (and they still don't get it). COMMENTS: matt_hays@babylon.montreal.qc.ca