Last week I went to one of my favorite cinemas in Rotterdam, Cinerama, to see Martha Marcy May Marlene (great movie btw). It’s the only “older” cinema in town as all the other ones have closed down (which of course you can read more about in my weekly “The Lost Cinemas of Rotterdam” series. Which got me thinking why I like this cinema so much and thought it was a good Monday question:
What’s your favorite cinema in your town and why do you love it so much?
The reason I really like this cinema is because it’s an older cinema and doesn’t look like something that was made to get as many people in as possible. The big multiplexes don’t have any charm, they feel cold and this cinema doesn’t. I love the fact that they always have a box standing near the concession stand with movie posters you can just go through and take posters with you if there is something you like. I also like the fact that they sell those small liquor bottles you normally find in hotels (not that I drink, but it makes that cinema unique). Another thing which I noticed when I watched Martha Marcy May Marlene was that the screen I saw it on had rounded edges, which I must admit looks a bit weird when watching a movie there, but I’ve come to appreciate it.
What’s your favorite cinema in your town and why do you love it so much?
Personally, I like my big multiplex. It’s convenient, modern, fairly clean and well equipped. Sure, it’s not your mom and pop’s movie theater but I will take that over crummy seats that make tons of noise if you ever dare adjust your seating position, or the archaic sound and projection system. Yea, I will take my AMC multiplex 😉
Can understand it, in the end it’s all about the movie of course. Personally though I also would like the place to feel nice while I’m not yet in the screening room….
My favorite in town in the ICON cinema which is fairly new. I like it because it’s clean and well-maintained, PLUS we can reserve seats so we don’t have to wait in line to see popular movies like Avengers, etc. In fact, I may see The Dark Knight Rises here.
@Castor, you should check this out. Way better than AMC!
As you know Nostra, I have the Duke of York’s cinema in Brighton which is the oldest working cinema in UK. It is full of charm and grace with a great projectionist. I love it there.
Haha Scott, I was expecting you to mention it. Remember your great post on it a while ago. If I ever head over to the UK I’m going to make sure to meet up with you and pay it a visit!
I love the Gusman Theatre. It’s an old movie palace. Unfortunately, I only get to enjoy it during the Miami International Film Festival. I re-blogged a post showing the inside on my blog if you want to take a look.
Wow, just checked it out and it looks absolutely stunning. Even if there wasn’t a movie there you wouldn’t be bored looking at it.
Cinerama Westblaak, same reasons as you.
Nice to see someone else who has the same feeling about it!
Hi, Nostra and company:
Mine was the Old Langley Theater in Adelphi, MD. An elegant, old school, deep welled structure with a mezzanine, balcony, heavy doors, plush, high backed seats whose heydays were long before nachos, cup holders and the ability to rock.
Saw many of my favorite films at Saturday matinees as a kid there in the 1960s. The last film I saw there was ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and the theater had been split in two with poor acoustics and sound abatement. The balcony was gone and the experience overall was a large letdown. Sometimes, I despise progress.
Sounds like a great theatre. The good old days…I even miss the ones I went to in the nineties….more on those in future posts 🙂
I like my nearby multiplex best. Great seats, big screens and top-edge sound and digital projection. Also, at 20 screens, they end up adding in some arthouse films. It’s to the point where my city’s indie theatre feels extraneous, rarely showing things that aren’t at my multiplex. Further, if I go to the first showing of the day it’s only $6.50 which is about as cheap as it gets without going to a second run theatre around here.
Sounds good Bondo! Especially with the arthouse films also showing.
My favorite is the Music Box — an old arthouse theater that originally opened in 1929. It still has an organ, and they play a silent film once a month with the live music accompaniment. It’s also a great source for cult classics and midnight movies.
http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/
Wow, I would love to experience that. I’ve been reading a lot about the old cinemas in my own town and the silent era and it must have been amazing to experience that.
I’m another big ol’ multiplex fan. There’s one in Shepherd’s Bush which is relatively new. The tiered seating makes this short person very happy. I’ve never had to struggle to see the screen! Also, the seats and leg room are big.
I’d love to have a charming local little cinema near me, but there just isn’t one. They’re a bit of a dying breed in the suburbs of London.
I’ve not been to that one when I was over in London, but I do like that shopping mall that’s there 🙂
Next time I’m over I’ll try to see a movie there!
My favorite cinema in the city is in a building called Setiabudi, it’s in the center of the town. Not too big and not too small. Plenty of restaurants, but have some other shops. I like it there because it’s not too crowded on weekends, convenient and nice atmosphere. Have a little park too, which is nice.
So it’s a completely package then of a nice cinema and great surroundings 🙂