From the apollonian to the dionysian... (Apollo)

Member Name: Morgenhund

Product:	Apollo
Date:	01/09/01 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: extensive programme, online booking, various reductions

Disadvantages: leg room not good in some seats

The Apollokino has to be one of Vienna’s largest cinemas, and unlike the cinema’s that I have reviewed to date in Vienna, it does not show films in English, or films in their original version with subtitles in German, as is the case with the Haydn or the Artis amongst others, apart from a première in the original version every Tuesday (most of the time the film will be in English but this is not to be taken as gospel!) and an arthouse premiére every first Thursday in the month. Should you want to get tickets to the premières, which are often full, you would be well advised to book, which can be done up to two weeks in advance, although as the cinema does not accept credit cards itself, you must turn up in person to make your reservation or visit the cineplexx group website (www.cineplexx.at) to reserve tickets to the cinema. The site www.film.at also carries the film schedules for the Apollokino, so you can find out when to go and at what time.

To get there, your best bets are either the 13a, 14a or 57a buses, or it is a couple of minutes walk from Neubaugasse U-Bahn (on the U3) on the Mariahilferstrasse, and it is just round the corner from Haus des Meeres – an aquarium based in a former Flakturm (a remnant of the Nazi occupation of Vienna – and whose 30 foot concrete walls are about the only thing guaranteed to survive 1000 years from the Third Reich!) and the Foltermuseum – torture museum.

You would be forgiven for thinking that a 12 screen cinema complex would have to be a contemporary carbuncle, but the Apollo pre-dates the multiplexes that we have all become so familiar with, although admittedly it is now run by the Cineplexx group, who do various vouchers which can make good presents for friends. The façade, which dates from the 1930s actually looks quite impressive by night and inside the cinema is fully modernised, and the auditoria (12) are all well equipped. I was in one of the bigger screens, which held a
bout 500 people, some of the smaller ones only hold about 120 or so maximum.

I went to see Bridget Jones’ diary with friends last night, it having only just come out in Austria, and was a bit disappointed by the comfort of our seats (although we were only there 15 mins in advance). We paid ATS 85 (ca. £4) a head for seats on the right hand side with a slightly uncomfortable view of the screen in the third row and the legroom was not particularly ample, especially if you are over 5’8” tall.

So the title is a bit random - but the range of films probably does cover the above spectrum! Waffle over...

Ticket prices vary between ATS70 and ATS110 with a wide range of discounts available (check the cineplexx website for details – there are so many and they are unlikely to be of any particular relevance to anyone other than people domiciled in Vienna.).

There is a kiosk selling popcorn as well as nachos – which come recommended and neither are too expensive, and there are also a wide range of drinks available from vending machines. As with as all Austrian cinemas, you might be a bit disturbed during the film by people not having turned off their mobile phones, and unlike other cinemas there was nothing in the trailers asking people to turn off their phones.

Overall the Apollo is a great cinema to go to if you understand German, or if you book in advance for one of the premières although it is well worth making sure you get there early unless you want a poorish and not too comfortable view if the film is a popular one.

Summary: