By JAKE KRING-SCHREIFELS
STAFF WRITER
& DEVON SHERIDAN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Editor
Screening both classics and new movies, The Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center is part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. (Photo courtesy of Flickr)
The essential criterion for a theater is simple: a carved-out dark, quiet space to be illuminated by a large screen’s bright glow. But that which gives a theater its character goes beyond projections and dimmed lights. Far more crucial to the overall experience are things like the seats’ comfort, the theater’s architecture and the selection of tasty goodies at the concession stand. AMC’s Lincoln Center (perfectly located for Fordham students, Lincoln Center and Rose Hill alike) multiplex is good but there are others. Here is a sample of other theaters worth trying out:
Lincoln Plaza Cinemas
This is the lesser-known Lincoln Center movie theater, located in the basement of a large building complex. But, that is the wonderfully hidden appeal of it. NYC theater prices are generally all around $13-14, so don’t expect anything cheaper, but once you head down the escalator, you’ll find the perfect art-house vibe. The nice selection of treats includes coffees and teas as well as pastries and cakes. The screens are small and the average age of moviegoers hovers around 60. Still, if you like foreign films or niche genres, Lincoln Plaza will supply you with a unique environment and that snobby, art-flick attitude as you come back up to street level.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
At its best, this place is the king of the movie world, and at its worst, the Film Society of Lincoln Center is an overpriced ticket to see classics on the big screen again. The Film Society at Lincoln Center is the free-spirited and often elitist sister of Lincoln Plaza and AMC. It hosts the New York Film Festival every year, along with special screening series’ and director talks. It comprises the Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center and Walter Reade Theater, both running adjacent to W. 65th Street. Both are nice venues even though the seats are rather uncomfortable.
Tired of buttered popcorn? The Monroe theater has a few options, most notably the caramelized variety. If you’re in the mood for a date, Monroe is a one-stop shop. Check out the fancy restaurant that is attached to the theater after your screening. Look on its website for Q-and-A sessions with actors and directors, too, as its auditorium has a small intimate space to grab a photo.
The Ziegfeld Theater
Most of the time, the Ziegfeld Theater plays host to red carpet premieres and corporate screenings. The reason? Look at the old fashioned marquee, the beautifully ornate and antiquated lobby interior and the red carpeted, dimly lit walls of the theater. There is only one screen, but its auditorium can host 1,300 people at a time. It plays mostly new releases and is located on the corner of 6th Avenue and 54th Street, not too from Lincoln Center campus. Do not be fooled by the sketchy parking garage to the left of the theater; inside, the building is a crisply projected image and a grand space. Even when you decide on either popcorn or nachos, you’ll feel like royalty.
AMC Harlem Magic Johnson Theater
This movie theater is a gem for two reasons. The first reason is obvious—it is a movie theater dedicated to Magic Johnson. The combination of Magic Johnson and going to the movies sounds like a wonderful dream: enjoying 60 oz. Dr. Pepper and SnoCaps with Magic Johnson; falling victim to buttery popcorn fingers and fighting over napkins with Magic Johnson; discussing the pros and cons of the complexities of Hollywood’s 21st century economic system which aims to cash in on the new international audience and the effect it is having on modern cinema with Magic Johnson. All these images come to mind at the thought of AMC’s Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem, and even though none of that will happen, the name of the theater is not for nothing, because painted on the walls of the theater are two distinct murals of Magic Johnson with his arms around a diverse group of children. The wall art is, ahem, magical. So that is the first awesome thing.
The second plus about the theater is that it is only 30 minutes away from Rose Hill. The theater is two blocks from the D train stop at 125th Street. In all seriousness, though, go for the movie, but stay to bask in the glory of Magic Johnson’s caring gaze.
AMC Loews Orpheum 7
In a number of ways, this theater on 86th and 3rd Avenue is like every other AMC movie theater in Manhattan: ultra-commercialized, tickets sell out quickly and it costs at least $20 for a ticket, a soda and popcorn. Thank God large sodas and large popcorn are available for refills. At full price (never forget that Fordham offers major discounts on movie tickets), going on a movie date in Manhattan is equivalent in price range to a date at the Bronx Beer Hall. But, for the high prices, Loew’s Orpheum 7 offers a major bonus prize: reclining seats. And, the chairs recline all the way back.
Combined with the massive movie screen, the seats make for a very decadent way to watch movies. La-Z-Boys for theater seats? Yes, please; this is ‘Merica at the movies in pure excess.
