I WENT to a conference last week and discovered how the data (via websites and loyalty schemes) we give over can be manipulated to provide greater sales.

I fear, although it may be reassuring to most, we couldn’t afford to exploit the data we have.

There was also some discussion of matters technical with even higher definition pictures and immersive sound. I think I must have been in a bad position because while I enjoyed the immersive sound demonstration, I wondered just how much difference it made, and it was really just so incredibly jolly loud.

I took the time to watch Viceroy’s House and Logan on the IMAX screen in London as I was in Leicester Square.

The first thing I would say is that Logan is quite deservedly a 15 certificate as there is a great deal of violence which, in fairness, is within the context of the story, but very gory.

Logan has the ageing characters coming to the end of their stories and what seems to be new characters coming along. There are the usual bad guys and confusing stories going on.

Logan is really bloody, in the way that realism has crept into films, and has people turning away from the screen (more than just me) at times. There are some really touching scenes throughout the film and it hangs together as a story. So to those who say to us that their 12 year old could watch it in America, or that he’s seen all of the others, this is not like the others.

Viceroy’s House, however, is a complete change of scene, which portrays historical events, with the real violence and effect on real people as we find out at the end of the whole film.

The handover of India to its native people after 300 years is the focus of the story and the way that the British Government handled the handover of power and the political will behind the handover.

The Viceroy and his wife come across really well out of this story as you would expect of two devoted royals. Hugh Bonneville plays Lord Louis Mountbatten – The Viceroy in a sympathetic way and Gillian Anderson portrays Lady Edwina in her usual microscopic way.

Viceroy’s House is another of those stories from history which points out the difficulties of the task as well as the additional political difficulties added to the burden.

Films showing from Friday, March 10

Viceroy’s House (12A and number three in the top 10) a sensitive portrayal of the historical British handover of India.

Logan (15 and number one in the top 10) gory, but brilliant end to this chapter of the X-Men.

Kong: Skull Island (12A) on its release date – looks really good and certainly had some real excitement among the people at the conference last week.

The Lego Batman Movie (U and number two in the top 10) still working its magic, but for weekends only along with Sing (U and number four in the top 10) the charming story of animals getting along with a common goal to put on a show and get out of their run of the mill lives.

Fifty Shades Darker is still hanging on for one show a day in screen three except for the weekends.

Coming soon

Beauty and the Beast (PG) joins us on its release date of March 17 with much excitement for this live action retelling of the animation story.

The Time of Their Lives (12A) arrives on March 17 for one week, which is the comical story of two friends who meet up late in life – one a Hollywood star - Helen (Joan Collins) and a down at heel wife – Priscilla (Pauline Collins) who get into some scrapes abroad.

Stage shows

Hedda Gabler is our next stage show on March 9 at 6.45pm. There are strangely three fairly good seats still available for this production.

There is an encore performance of Amadeus on Sunday, at 4pm, and some good seats still available.

The Palace Cinema Schedule for the week beginning Friday, March 10.

Screen one and two - Kong. Skull Island (12A) 2D 1.45pm and 7.45pm Friday, Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday; 1.30pm Sunday; 1.45pm and 5pm Monday and Tuesday. 3D - 5pm Friday, Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8pm Sunday; 7.45pm Monday and Tuesday. Logan (15) 2pm and 7.30pm Friday, Monday to Thursday; 4.45pm Friday, Saturday and Monday to Thursday; 7.30pm Saturday; 4.30pm and 7.30pm Sunday. Sing (U) 11am Saturday. The LEGO Batman Movie (U) 2D - 1.30pm Saturday and Sunday.

Screen three - Fifty Shades Darker (18) 8.10pm Friday, Wednesday and Thursday; 6pm Monday and Tuesday (Tuesday 6pm is subtitled). Kong. Skull Island (12A) - 2D 6.05pm Sunday. Logan (15) 5.40pm Saturday; 3.25pm Sunday. Viceroy’s House (12A) 1.30pm, 3.45pm and 6pm Friday, Wednesday and Thursday; 1.15pm, 3.30pm and 8.20pm Saturday; 1.15pm and 8.20pm Sunday; 1.30pm, 3.45pm and 8.20pm Monday and Tuesday.