Movie theatres take Manhattan (Stage / Screen in general)

Member Name: utero

Product:	Stage / Screen in general
Date:	08/07/01 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a wide choice

Disadvantages: pricey, poor seating

Nine weeks in Manhattan with eight weeks at film school, what's the main thing you're going to be doing in your spare time ?

Watching movies of course, it hepls that the USA gets most movies first as well which kind of makes us brits feel like we're attending a premiere. Manhattan caters for all kinds of tastes. There are of course the mainstream multiplexes that show all the latest releases but there are a lot of arthouse and smaller theatres around the city that show some great stuff.

A visit down to the lower west side and you can be watching 1950's horror film The House of Wax starring Vincent Price in a new print and in 3-D. Glasses covering eyes you sit in a small theatre and I mean small, almost like a shoe box but great fun. There are also theatres that have seasons of films from directors with showing of classics like Raging Bull, Mean Streets.

Mainstream movie theatres are all over the city. The main chains are Loews and United Artists. There are several Loews thatres with several screens in key ares such as Times Square while United Artists have a large multiplex right in Union Square. All are quite nice inside but there are a few problems. Because of some of the building designs theatres have seating that just goes in rows without any sloping. This means that if you don't get there early you could be craning your neck to see the film. Also I found New Yorkers aren't the most civilised movie goers. I saw Scary Movie and had a couple sitting next to me practically eating each other for long periods. People also talk and don't turn off mobile phones.

Some of the older theatres are also very hollow, one felt like we were sitting in a converted barn or somebodys garage. Still it all adds to the experience.

Ticket prices are around $9-$10 a showing with no reductions, it's pretty pricey but that's Manhattan for you. One theatre on the west side does show films that are coming to
the end of the theatre run for around $4 a throw. Normally movies on opening night (friday) get sold out quite quickly for primetime showings so it's best to but tickets early.

So next time you're in Manhattan if you get the chance, check out the independent scene.

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