Cinema entertainment in Asia
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Golden Village
For the ultimate pampered cinematic experience, $25 gets you a ticket to this ‘gold class’ cinema on the 3rd floor of the Great World City mall. There are seats that can be reclined and adjusted with little levers, little tables for your food and drinks, and waiters who take your order. It also has regular theatres (some with huge screens) with normal-priced tickets.
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A
Sathyam Cinema
Chennai has more than 100 cinemas, a reflection of the vibrant film industry here. Most screen Tamil films, but Sathyam Cinema often shows English-language films alongside local fare.
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B
Kalpana Cinema Hall
The Kalpana Cinema Hall screens Nepali films and Bollywood imports, plus the occasional Western blockbuster.
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C
Cine Nacional
If you’re feeling up for a bit of grim local grime, you’ve found the place at the Nacional. It’s dismal, dark and dank, but with unique appeal if you’re looking for an unforgettable dose of Bollywood. Just make sure you don’t have too much soft drink, as the only filmic quality the toilets possess is their likeness to a certain scene in Trainspotting. Films are shown about four times daily; check at the box office for current screenings.
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D
Raj Mandir Cinema
The number-one Hindi cinema in India, Raj Mandir is an icon of Jaipur. Opened in 1976, this creamy meringue construction looks good enough to eat. It’s usually full, despite its immense size, but bookings can be made one hour to seven days in advance at Windows 7 and 8. Alternatively, sharpen your elbows and join the queue when the current booking office opens 45 minutes before the curtain goes up.
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E
Capri Cinema
Because of the utter absence of bars in Karachi and the need to obtain a permit from the excise department to purchase alcohol, you may be struggling for entertainment after dark. A movie is one option; check newspapers for session details. The Capri often shows English-language films, and a few other cinemas are also scattered along the same stretch.
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F
Star Cinema City
This six-screen cinema is centrally located and plush (with leather reclining sofa chairs).
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GV Grand
If you're really mad for a movie and primed for a pampering, head for the 3rd floor of Great World City shopping mall. The swanky 'gold class' cinemas at this multiplex feature plush carpeting and single and double reclining seats complete with footrests, table service and a reasonable menu.
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DVD Cinema
There are no cinemas in the city since Niyazov declared motion pictures 'un-Turkmen'. However, there is a DVD Cinema in the Yimpaş department store. All the films are in Russian, but if you are the only customer you may be able to get them to put on the undubbed English version.
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G
Yebisu Garden Cinema
This small, comfortable movie house is at the far end of Yebisu Garden Place and screens foreign independent films, many in English. Tickets are numbered as they are sold and theatre-goers are called to screenings as their numbers come up, preventing competition for seats.
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H
Cinema Mediage
This enormous 3000-seat multiplex shows Japanese and foreign films, many of which are subtitled and some of which are dubbed into Japanese. Check the Japan Times or Metropolis for current listings. Mediage is located inside the Aqua City shopping centre.
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I
Cine Amuse East/West
This well-known arthouse standby screens Japanese and foreign classics, as well as new independent releases. Coffee, beer and snacks are available at the small café in the lobby. This is a great place to take a break from Shibuya's hectic pace while taking in a matinée.
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J
Cherry Lane
Screens contemporary Chinese movies and documentaries with subtitles, many of which never made it to the local cinemas because the censors didn’t like them. Films show twice a month (Y50) at Yúgōng Yíshān and often the directors are present to take questions afterwards.
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K
Kyoto Cinema
This new art-house theatre right downtown is a tremendously welcome addition to the Kyoto cultural scene. It rivals Kyoto Minami Kaikan as Kyoto’s best place for arty films. It’s directly connected to Shijō Station; take exit 2.
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L
Tengis Cinema
Three air-conditioned halls, comfortable seats (with cup holders!) and a modern projection system make this theatre a very worthwhile experience. It usually has one or two Hollywood blockbusters (in English, subtitled with Mongolian) and a Korean or Mongolian film.
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M
Tōhō Cinemas Roppongi Hills
Nine-screen mainstream multiplex with luxurious reclining seats and all-night weekend screenings.
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N
Eurospace
The focus at this fine theatre remains unwaveringly on small European and Asian films. Eurospace also occasionally hosts documentary or feature-film festivals, which will be listed in the major English-language weeklies, and sometimes screens late shows.
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O
Cinema Rise
Cinema Rise screens independent international cinema, but very few indie Japanese films. Just around the corner is an even more avant-garde space called Rise X (03 3464 8555), a tiny offshoot of Cinema Rise that screens mostly Japanese digital films.
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P
Kaeson Cinema
Cinema, theatre and opera trips are possible (although rare), and while films, operas or plays aren't likely to be of a particularly gripping order, again, it's the experience that is interesting. Kaeson Cinema is near the Triumphal Arch.
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Q
AMC Festival Walk
This complex with 11 screens at Hong Kong’s poshest mall is the largest cinema in the territory. The films are a mix of Chinese and Western. Check ahead as the latter are sometimes dubbed, rather than subtitled in Cantonese.
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R
Cine Cube
This well-respected art cinema near Deoksugung screens international festival films, which are usually shown in their original language with Korean subtitles. Interest in world cinema is growing, especially amongst young Seoulites.
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S
Waseda Shochiku
Waseda Shochiku softens the blow by screening two films for the price you'd normally pay to see one. A favourite among students and cash-strapped expats, the bills normally feature second-run double features, some of an artsy bent.
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T
Chiang Mai University film screenings
The University of Chiang Mai lies west of the city centre. Here, at the Art & Culture Center (main auditorium) shows many different foreign films - usually art films of the Bergman and Buñuel variety. Admission is free.
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U
Alliance Française
To the southwest of town, the Alliance hosts film nights (though in French, the films often have English subtitles), and has books and periodicals. Good coffee is available. Nonmembers are welcome to browse in the library.
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Broadway Cinematheque
This is an unlikely place for an alternative cinema, but it’s worth coming up for new art-house releases and rerun screenings. The Kubrick Bookshop Café next door serves good coffee and decent pre-flick food.
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