Cinema entertainment in Middle East
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A
Galilee Experience
Jesus, Napolean and the Israeli General Moshe Dayan are all stars of the Galilee Experience, an hourly film in 12 languages, which recounts the historical, political and geographical story of the Galilee. The 'state-of-the-art slide show' is more high school projector job than Hollywood cineplex but it gets a constant stream of visitors to the marina complex which also includes an internet café (₪10 for 30 minutes) and a souvenir shop.
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Cinemas
There is no shortage of Cinemas along Sharia al-Baron and its northern extension Sharia Yousef al-Azmeh. Most of what they screen is martial arts, soft porn and trashy B-movies. More entertaining are the airbrushed posters outside advertising the movies. These slightly risqué posters, used to entice the almost exclusively male customers, generally depict the very scenes that have been removed by the censor.
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Cinemas
Considering its size, Kuwait has an overwhelming number of cinemas, which unfortunately show the same films (usually heavily edited to exclude kissing, nudity and sex - violence, however, is left uncensored). The more popular and modern of the cinemas are at Sharq Souq and in the Al-Fanar Shopping Complex. Admission to all films costs around KD3. Call 80 3456 for What's On and Where.
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B
Reel Cinemas
Pre-assigned seats, THX sound and a staggering 22 screens make Reel one of the top flick magnets in town. The fare is mostly Hollywood blockbusters, except in the Picturehouse, purportedly the UAE’s first dedicated art-house cinema. If you don’t want to sit with the hoi polloi, shell out Dh110 for a reclining leather chair in a 32-seat Platinum Movie Suite.
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C
Cinestar Mall of the Emirates
Cinestar would be just another multiplex were it not for its Gold Class screening rooms, where seats are enormous recliners and servers bring you blankets, popcorn in silver bowls and drinks in glass goblets. This is adult movie watching: no one under 18 years old is allowed and everyone actually pays attention to the film. Reservations essential.
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D
Gold Class
The ultimate way to see a movie, Gold Class is more of a small screening room than a cinema, but you’ll hardly care. The seats are enormous recliners and waiters bring you blankets, popcorn in silver bowls and drinks in glass goblets. Best of all, everyone pays attention to the film. Reservations essential.
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E
Cinema de Cham
Home to the Damascus International Film Festival, this excellent cinema screens everything from European art house to Hollywood blockbusters and the occasional Middle East film subtitled in English. Check What's On Syria to find out what's showing or just drop by the cinema.
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F
Lamcy
The two-screen complex is one of the few remaining theatres showing Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil films. If you’ve never seen a Bollywood movie on the big screen, do it in Dubai on a Friday, the only day off for most Asian expatriates. You’re in for a memorable experience.
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G
Cinematheque
This is the flagship in a chain of Israeli cinemas that feature classic, retro, foreign, avant-garde, new wave, and off-beat films. It often hosts film festivals. Alternatively, choose a film from the video library and pay ₪20 for a private screening.
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Hammam al-Pasha Multimedia Show
The Hammam contains a worthwhile 30-minute Hammam al-Pasha multimedia show called 'The Story of the Last Bath Attendant.' The creatively designed exhibit leads you from the dressing room through the steamy rooms, all brilliantly lit with coloured glass.
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H
Al-Wafi Plaza
You can't miss the Al-Wafi Plaza cinema complex, next to the Friday market, as it is a tall, new building decorated with lights. It screens some films in English (though most are in Hindi) and is a nonsmoking establishment.
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I
Movies Under the Stars
Settle into a beanbag on a balmy winter’s night with a bucket of beers and watch a themed double feature of vintage-modern films. Even if you don’t appreciate, say, Tom Cruise night, it’s hard to argue when admission is free.
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J
Raghadan
A few cinemas show kung fu flicks and B-grade movies but these are often dubbed into Arabic and, apart from the violence, are heavily censored. In Downtown, the better ones are Al-Hussein Cinema and the Raghadan.
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Cine-Splash!
Weekly outdoor movie screenings at the club’s pool bar where you can watch the flick floating in an inflatable pool chair. A kiddie movie is followed by more grown-up fare. Snacks and drinks are available.
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Mall
The best cinemas are located in City Center-Doha, the Mall and the Landmark Shopping Mall shopping complexes. They show the latest Hollywood blockbusters and the occasional film from Iran or Europe.
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K
Cinematheque
Shows avant-garde, off-beat and foreign films. The phone number is just a recording in Hebrew asking you to leave a call back number (an English-speaking staff member should get back to you soon).
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L
Century Cinemas
In the Zara Centre behind the Grand Hyatt, with several fast-food outlets. The quality of sound, vision and chairs is high. Programmes are advertised in the English-language newspapers.
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Grand Theaters
Far from the centre unless you are shopping. The quality of sound, vision and chairs is high. Programmes are advertised in the English-language newspapers.
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M
Star Cinema
The Star Cinema screens both Western and Indian films. It occupies the unmistakable round building with flashing lights near the telephone office in Ruwi.
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N
Cinestar
Catch the latest Hollywood blockbusters, American indie flicks and the occasional European film at this popular, state-of-the-art, 11-screen cinecomplex.
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O
Cinematheque
The newly renovated Cinematheque features quality foreign films and classics. This is also the home of the respectable Jerusalem Film Festival.
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P
Art Sawa
In the absence of quality programming at the multiplexes, art galleries such as Art Sawa occasionally hold film screenings.
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Al-Seef Cineplex
Regularly screens recent Western films, and tickets cost around BD2. Programmes are advertised in the local English-language newspapers.
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Q
Delmon Cinemas
Regularly screens recent Western films, and tickets cost around BD2. Programmes are advertised in the local English-language newspapers.
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R
IMAX Theatre
For a family-friendly activity, or if the temperatures reach unbearable heights, take cool respite in the pyramid-shaped IMAX theatre.
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