The glamour of Hollywood
used to extend to the actual experience
of attending the movies, but as movie
ticket prices have soared to $10 at most
New York theaters, the theaters
themselves have gotten smaller and, well,
more ordinary. It's enough to make video
rentals look more appealing than ever!
But before you cozy down on the couch and
push "Play," check out these
theater hints to help your movie-going
experience become less expensive and more
entertaining.
Angelika Film
Center (owned by City
Cinemas)
18 West Houston Street (at
Mercer)
212-995-2000
For a cross between independent
film viewing and Hollywood
features, try the Angelika Film
Center. But buyer beware: weekend
evening shows have become more
movie mobs than sporting film
chaps. If you insist on seeing a
feature on a weekend night, stop
by the center earlier that same
day and pick up tickets (they're
not sold via telephone). Daily
matinees and Sunday through
Wednesday nights are the best
times to see a movie here. All 6
screening rooms are small and
some rumble from the nearby F and
6 subway lines -- all part of the
charm. Generally, the independent
films are excellent, but a scant
number of Hollywood flicks have
trickled in the roster since City
Cinemas took ownership in 1996.
After the movie, don't bother
with the Angelika Film Center
Cafe fare -- it's best before the
film. Skip over to M&R Bar
(264 Elizabeth Street) for a
cocktail and movie dissection
(note: the same best-time rule
applies to M&R).
Film In vOID 16 Mercer
Street (between Canal and Grand
Streets)
212-941-6492 http://www.voidltd.com
Privately owned bar turned
independent film/cult classic
screening room; 21 and over
admitted, price $0. Yes, you read
the price correctly: zero. On
Wednesday nights, the swanky
downtown lounge vOID, becomes
Film In vOID. Booths line the
walls, and red vinyl stools
surround Pac-Manlike tables with
screens that display film clips
before the main event. At most
bar/movie screenings you can
barely hear the dialogue, but
here, people are generally
respectful. Although this viewing
area is a big plus for smokers,
we have never found it overly
smoky for the nonsmokers among
us. The major drawback to vOID:
there's not a great seat in the
house. The benches are thinly
cushioned, red stools are a
nightmare for backs, and the
plastic seating is, well,
plastic. Also, the screen
projection is from a videotape
and not a reel-to-reel system so
the screen is grainy. But despite
these complaints, the mood is
hip, the drinks are firm, the
films are solid, and the price is
right.
Film Forum
(owned by a nonprofit
organization)
209 West Houston Street (west of
6th Avenue)
212-727-8110 www.filmforum.com
Film Forum selects its pictures
for an in-the-know film buff.
This 3-screen venue has a rustic
high school auditorium feel and
is known for its independent
American and foreign art features
as well as its revival series.
Although a two-hour Felix the Cat
nostalgia sounds intriguing, it
goes a long, long way; we
recommend that you consider the
content and weigh the amount of
time spent in mostly
uncomfortable seats. The Forum
has a more SoHo/laid-back crowd
than the Angelika.
Ziegfeld Theater (owned
by Sony Theaters)
141 West 54th Street (between 6th
and 7th Avenues)
212-765-7600
There's nothing puny about the
Ziegfeld Theater with a 20-foot
screen, and a 1, 200 seating
arena. This theater projects
action movies the way
they’re best viewed: BIG and
LOUD. The theater was originally
part of Ziegfeld Follies
Vaudeville stage act and was
refurbished last year with new
seats and carpeting. Show up a
few minutes before the movie
begins to browse the stairwell
photos of the people who made
this theater the famed spectacle
it is. No matter what time you
arrive, there isn't a bad seat in
this double-decker movie house.
For the opening night of a big
movie, be sure to reserve tickets
in advance by Movie Phone
(777-FILM) or Movielink.com to make sure you'll
be among the crowd viewing the
movie for the first time -- the
pandemonium is thrilling.
None of these theaters
appeal to you? Here are a few more ideas
to help you see top-notch entertainment
without the usual cost:
Visit a
Library
The New York Public Libraries
offer frequent movie screenings
of documentaries, classics, and
last year's Hollywood hits. Pick
up a free events calendar at any
New York Public Library branch or
call (212) 869-8089 for details.
Check out a
Museum
Many museums, like the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, also show movies
on a regular basis. These
screenings are free with the
price of museum admission. To
learn more about the
Metropolitan's offerings of
art-related, classic and foreign
films, call (212) 570-3930.
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