Cinemas: Big guys vs Little guys

Morrigan

It seems that cinemas in this country can be classed into two types - The big guys (multiplexes - Cineworld, UCI etc) and the little guys (Savoy, Screen, Kino etc.). Which do you go for?
Personally I have been going to exclusively to Cineworld (formally UGC) for the last year, and I always get slight twinge of concience. I chose it for it's broader range of films, comfortable seating, bar, and location (a little nearer to my house).
But I've found the soundproofing of the theatres is dreadful (We had muffled Crowded House leaking in while watching Caché), the charge ridiculous amounts for popcorn etc., They closed the bar for what seemed like ages and when they reopened it, it looked exactly the same, with a few extra lamps, and the service there has really gone downhill.
But recently I went to the Savoy for the first time in ages and I realised that the seating was just as comfortable as Cineworld, and not having an inhouse bar to waste money in was a good thing. Much shorter cues, and beautiful decor. Didn't try the food, but maybe next time.
It convinced me that I should give the little guy a chance again.
What about the rest of ye cinema devotees?

Kingp35

For me it depends purely on the movie I want to see and if its been shown in the smaller cinema. Tbh it probably just depends where I am at the time. In the last month I have gone to the cinema in Dun Laoghaire (closest one to me), Cineworld, Savoy, Athlone and Sligo. I dont have a set cinema that I go to but if I was forced to make a choice I would go to Cineworld.

segadreamcast

Kingp35 wrote:

For me it depends purely on the movie I want to see and if its been shown in the smaller cinema. Tbh it probably just depends where I am at the time. In the last month I have gone to the cinema in Dun Laoghaire (closest one to me), Cineworld, Savoy, Athlone and Sligo. I dont have a set cinema that I go to but if I was forced to make a choice I would go to Cineworld.

Love the way Savoy is portrayed as little guy here when, in all reality, it belongs to Ward Anderson group, which controls more cinemas in Ireland than any other group. There aren't many little guys any more at all... there are two in Dublin that I can think of, but the names of both escape me.

Rhyme

Id go to 'The Screen' if it didnt smell so old... but the last time i was there it was quite nice. The Savoy isnt bad and really feels like a cinema... but i prefer the UGC over all... comfy place, minstrels on hand and good film times.

Morrigan

NoelRock wrote:

Love the way Savoy is portrayed as little guy here when, in all reality, it belongs to Ward Anderson group, which controls more cinemas in Ireland than any other group. There aren't many little guys any more at all... there are two in Dublin that I can think of, but the names of both escape me.

Compared to a multinational like UGC, the Ward Anderson group is a dwarf...
The more I think about it the more I feel guilty about spending so much money in UGC/cineworld and UCI. The Classic in Harold's Cross in Dublin was the first cinema I went to without the parents and was my haunt as a young teenager (before the nasty UCI opened in Tallaght). But it closed down a couple of years ago, bringing with it the only regular showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Ireland

Running Bing

Morrigan wrote:

The Classic in Harold's Cross in Dublin was the first cinema I went to without the parents and was my haunt as a young teenager (before the nasty UCI opened in Tallaght). But it closed down a couple of years ago, bringing with it the only regular showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Ireland

Same with myself morrigan, first cine I went to sans parents and plenty of good times:D Talk about value as well, Youd get two films, popcorn, a coke, a box of bullseyes, a haircomb and a steak and kidney pie for a ha'penny.:D

Pigman II

I guess I'm for the 'little guy'.

I hate UGC/Cineworld. The place is like 'McMovies'.

monkeyfudge

I go to Cineworld a lot as they show a lot of films that would traditionly only be shown in the IFI.

I'm a member of the IFI, but I can't stand some of the snobbery that goes on there.

The Screen would be a favourite of mine if the film I want to see is showing there, as it just tends to have a nice relaxed atmosphere and it isn't full of noisey f*ckwits like you get in the Cineworld. Popcorn is super salty in the screen though.

The Savoy Screen 1 is great for your big hollywood blockbusters though.

And I've started using my local UCI again recently, as it's not too bad anymore... crap selection of films but it's nice ane quiet on week nights and it has Ben and Jerrys icecream.

SoupyNorman

Im stuck with the IMC in Athlone......A terrible cinema as any film i'd have the slightest interest in they dont show. They only show popcorn movies, brainless comedies, any film with even a hint of brain power needed is not even given a look in. I wouldnt mind but they advertised Syriana on posters but then didnt show it!!!!!!

projectmayhem

i couldn't give a toss tbh.

if it shows the movie i want, then i'll go. i get student discount on tickets so i'm grand there. popcorn etc. is decent price (if you don't like the price, buy from spar and take it in with you)... it's the same everywhere.

though i will agree cineworld needs to sort out the soundproofing on some of the smaller screens

Kingp35

bravestarr082 wrote:

Im stuck with the IMC in Athlone......A terrible cinema as any film i'd have the slightest interest in they dont show. They only show popcorn movies, brainless comedies, any film with even a hint of brain power needed is not even given a look in. I wouldnt mind but they advertised Syriana on posters but then didnt show it!!!!!!

Yeah its an awful cinema. My girlfriend is from Athlone so im down there quite a bit and we go to the cinema loads but the choice of movies down there is just crap. Plus the positioning of the screen is a real pain in the ass as its really high up so if your anywhere closer than the middle your gonna have one hell of a creak in your neck when your leaving.

I have never been to the Screen, whats it like for sound quality etc.?

The Clown Man

Dundalk IMC used to be OK. Would have pretty much all films bar the smaller ones released.

Lately though it hardly has any. It hasn't had Brokeback, Capote, Slevin, Munich, Memoirs of a Geisha or bloody Syriana. Those are about all the movies at all worth seeing in the past 2 months. Like WTF?

At the moment we have 1 film worth seeing in Dundalk IMC (Walk the Line.) And I have seen it. So I'm all out of choice.

Otherwise I could go and see:

Big Momma's House 2
Cheaper By The Dozen 2
Chicken Little
Date Movie
Fun with Dick and Jane
The Fog
Zathura
Last Holiday

Two very maybes (Only in this week) would be:
The Matador
The Weather Man

They might be worth a watch but there are a load I would like to see and these are not them.

The rest are either kids films or chewing-gum for the mind...

Total Bullsht.

[edit] I forgot Good Night and Good Luck - no sign of it anywhere either. [/edit]

shuushh

the Savoy dont show enough films and have a poor schedule although if i was planning a trip to the cinema in the evening i might be tempted by the Savoy just doesnt suit me though as usually id go to the cinema on a Friday afternoon and Cineworld just suits me alot better for that

IFI's choice of film has gone downhill for me for quite some time best thing they have done in a long long time though was recently with the Malick retrospective, I think they need to go back to these retrospectives instead of gushing over every independent American film that pops up

Pigman II

shuushh wrote:

IFI's choice of film has gone downhill for me for quite some time best thing they have done in a long long time though was recently with the Malick retrospective, I think they need to go back to these retrospectives instead of gushing over every independent American film that pops up

Yeah it certainly isn't as good as it used to be esp wrt to oldies. Half the reason I got a membership there was for seeing old classics on the big screen.

Tho in fairness they seem to be the only place showing Manderlay atm so that's one point in favour of their new indie policy.

Beats

Used to enjoy The Carlton when they showed cartoons, and short documentarys before Movie, and had kalediscopic effect on screen before lights went down.

My preferences would have to be the Screen, and the Savoy, but live closer to Dun Laoghaire now so don't go to cinema in city very often. Not that mad about IMC, cinemas small and a bit characterless, but I suppose that's the case with some smaller multiplexis. Have tried out Dundrum which is handy and comfortable. Went to Ormonde other day, small screen and you could hear noise from spool of film as it was being projected, which was rather nostalgic.

Dick Darlington

As bad as most cinemas are The Savoy shows a ton of ads (mostly vodafone and car ads) and maybe one or 2 trailers and then the curtains close for a few minutes, bugs the hell out of me.
Maybe the curtain closing thing is a traditional thing done before movies years ago, if it is then so be it, but the string of endless ads and only 1 or 2 trailers ?

Cineworld at least is a bit shorter on the ads and will show a good few trailers.

The bar in Cineworld was closed because the ciling fell in, bad infrastructure apparently, upstairs at the kiosk you can see where they've put in wooden supports to hold the ceiling there as well.

monkeyfudge

Can I also just say that Cineworld possibly has the worst toilets in the city.

They stink, they're filthy, they're in a state of disrepair and they're far too small for a cinema of that size.

There's no excuse for the state of them when you think of the money that place must take in.

passive

I used to think UGC/Cineworld was great and fancy but my last few experiences there have been pretty disappointing. I probably won't be going there again unless they have a film I can't see elsewhere (The IFI intimidates me slightly and i've yet to actually watch a film there.)

The last couple of times I went the screen was completely full, the seats were unassigned and there were no staff ushering or anything.. I had to ask people to move myself which i find slightly awkward. The only time i bought popcorn there in recent memory it was very stale and when i brought it back to (politely) explain and ask for better I was met with jaded contempt from the popcorn guy who pointed me at another box sitting on the counter which, as it turned out, was only slightly better.

Most often i go to Omni in Santry (partially because it's my local and partially because I get weekly free passes due to working there). I definitely prefer it to Cineworld anyway and think it's pretty satisfactory as cinemas go... And not just because of the lovely staff! but I quite like the Savoy and the Ormonde for their smallness if i happen to be in town/going to the cinema straight after college and have a 2for1 pass for the Ormonde (mmm.. e5 cinema)

And on that note... To work!

TOPDAWG

I miss the Capital Cineplex here in cork that closed recently. I loved the atmosphere in there on a busy saturday or sunday afternoon/evening. It did seem a bit run down-ish but i loved the intimate vibe in the place. Was gutted when they got rid of the double seats tho. They rocked!

kraggy

your're right monkeyfudge

toilets are are a disgrace. second only to the omniplex in galway.

no excuse. they make a feckin mint in that place and still there's urine on the floor in every toilet in the joint...

it's so annoyin though, cause they show more arthouse, independent and foreign films than any other cinema in the country but yet ya have to go into the crappiest toilets en route....

deedee lepoopoo

Ah you would miss The Classic - used to go there as a chistler. Spent my teenage years in The Stella in Rathmines - even though it was freezing cold and had mice running around the place - light up a silk cut purple and relax.

I prefer The Screen and the IFI to the big guns. Remember the cinema on Abbey Street where Arnotts carpark is now? The Lighthouse I think it was called.

I think local cinemas could make a comeback, it's a pity most of them have bee knocked though , they were architectural pleasures.

Pigman II

deedee lepoopoo wrote:

I prefer The Screen and the IFI to the big guns. Remember the cinema on Abbey Street where Arnotts carpark is now? The Lighthouse I think it was called.

Do you mean the Adelphi?

ObeyGiant

The Adelphi was where the Arnotts carpark is now. The Lighthouse was up by Chapters. I think.

simu

I use the large Gate cinema in Cork for Blockbuster-type films and the Kino for more arty/lesser known movies - a good mix imho.

Something very much like this happens in Galway.

Some of ye may know that there are 2 Omniplex's in Galway now (1 in town, and 1 in Oranmore). What ye may not know is that there is also an [somewhat] independently owned cinema called the Eye. This cinema has been doing alot better than the Omniplexs recently.