Quote:
Originally Posted by silverbear
Mixed feelings about this. On one hand, going to the movies seems kind of quaint in the age of widescreen TVs and Netflix. Sure, I like to go out, but I prefer live events that require physical presence and face-to-face interaction (plays, concerts, etc.). With today's technology, movies can be as enjoyable in the home, if not more so, than in a theater.
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As a film major, I must protest!
Cinema is a social experience, or as one of my professors always said "film is a group hallucination." I find movies, especially comedies, infinitely more enjoyable with a good size crowd.
I agree about your criticism of Harkins. Being both a lover of film, an a lover of urban life in the Valley, I've often dreamt of ideas for urban theaters in the Valley.
For instance, with Phoenix's large Hispanic population, does anyone think there could be a market for a theater that showed Spanish language films? I'd think in an area like that around 16th St/Roosevelt (or wherever the densest population of Hispanics is), a small cineplex of perhaps 4 screens that specialized in Spanish films would do well.
I also wish Phoenix had something comparable to LA's "New Beverly Cinema" (
http://www.newbevcinema.com) which is a revival/grindhouse theater. The old Jewish Synagauge at 333 E Portland would be perfect for a usage like this. A single screen theater that did late night showings Thurs-Sun, and did double features of related revival films (i.e. show "Omega Man" and "Soilent Green" one week).
I'd also love to see a regular art theater in downtown Phoenix (there has been rumor of a "Sundance" theater in Jackson St). A place that showed films like "Juno," "The Savages," etc would be a welcome addition to the Central City. Its a bit of a joke that a metropolitan area of our size only has 2 art house theaters. It would be amazing if a theater like this could be housed in a rehabbed version of the old shell of a church on the NW Corner of Monroe and 3rd Ave (this would also help make Monroe a really cool corridor). The parking lot directly North of the church could perhaps house 2 additional screens (though I suppose that wouldn't leave any room for parking, unless a deal w/ a nearby garage could be worked out).
I would also like to see less super megaplexes (places with 16+ screens), and more 'neighborhood theaters' with 4-10 screens. I suppose thats been determined to be an unprofitable model, but I think more theaters with fewer screens that are integrated better into their neighborhoods (i.e. not set back into Tempe Marketplace like abortions) would be fantastic. Perhaps some of these could be 'dinner and a movie' style theaters, which Phoenix also seems to be lacking in (there is something like it in a strip center in Scottsdale, but they don't show first run films or old classics, they show the stuff thats at the $1 theaters).
When I was in St Louis there was a great neighborhood theater called the Hi Point Theater which also had an adjacent bar and music venue that was a great point of pride for the neighborhood and really gave its area a sense of place (something that most of the Valley lacks).
Anyway, enough of my derail...back to Tempe stuff. Feel free to steal my million dollar ideas (or just give me the money to make them happen
)
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