Cinema entertainment in Pacific
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Gecko Theatre
When the weather closes in, pull up an easy chair at this wee, independent theatre for interesting art-house flicks. Cheap tickets ($9) are available on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Embassy Theatre
Wellywood’s cinema mothership, built in the 1920s. Screens mainstream films; bar and cafe on-site.
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Mayfair Theatre
Resembling a pink liquorice allsorts, this seafront picture house screens almost-recent releases.
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Theatre Royal
In the evening, catch a live band or film at the historic Theatre Royal.
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Cinema Paradiso
Playing first-run and classic movies, Cinema Paradiso has got to be the coolest movie theatre around. Forget boring, stiff cinema seats, this theatre is filled with vintage couches to snuggle up on. Extra cushions are available to stretch out on the floor and there’s even an old Morris Minor to sit in for the true drive-in movie experience. At intermission they throw open the doors and the smell of freshly baked cookies wafts through the theatre and you just can’t help yourself. There is a great cafe that can prepare a meal to be ready at the break. Then sit back and watch the second half of the film with a plate of fantastic grub. Now that’s dinner and a movie! Try the h…
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Mount Vic Flicks
With its isolated, unadulterated village vibe, National Trust–classified Mt Victoria was once more influential than Katoomba. At 1043m, it’s the highest town in the mountains. Crisp air, solitude, towering foliage and historic buildings are what bring you here, but if you’d rather watch a movie, try Mount Vic Flicks. This is cinema ‘the way it used to be’, with ushers, a piano player and door prizes.
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Galatos
A converted theatre, Galatos hosts bands in the basement and DJs and club nights in the main room, the parquet floor of which has seen the gamut of dance styles from the cha-cha in its ballroom days to current hands-in-the-air DJ worship. The upstairs Lounge is home to the Moving Image Centre (www.mic.org.nz), which screens new-media (integrating performance with visual technologies).
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Hoyts EQ
This hefty movie complex in the Entertainment Quarter has more than a dozen cinemas, including an IMAX screen and La Premiere, the cinematic equivalent of a first-class cabin, with lounge chairs, bar access and popcorn included ($33). Art-house films and ethnic film festivals screen in Cinema Paris, just down Bent St.
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Dendy Opera Quays
When the harbour glare and squawking seagulls get too much, follow the buttery scent of popcorn into the dark folds of this plush cinema. Screening first-run, independent world films, it’s augmented by friendly attendants, a cafe and a bar. Its sister cinema is Dendy Newtown.
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Dorothy Browns
This is what a cinema should be. Ultra-comfortable seating with the option to cuddle with your neighbour. Fine wine and cheese boards are available to accompany the mostly art-house films on offer. Every screening has an intermission – a perfect opportunity to tuck into a tub of gourmet ice cream.
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Moonlight Cinema
Take a picnic and rug and enjoy a new-season release under the stars in magnificent Centennial Park. Enter via Woollahra Gate on Oxford St.
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Palace Academy Twin
The Academy Twin is a smaller cinema that's seen better days, but the choice of art-house and independent films certainly can't be faulted. Mondays are bargain days - adults and children alike can roll jaffas down the aisles for next to nix. It's home of the Mardi Gras and French film festivals.
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Sun Theatre
‘Boutique’ art deco gloriousness with the individual theatres named after old cinemas from around the western suburbs: Trocadero, Lyric, La Scala. Best choc-top ice-cream range in town, with lolly bags and alcohol (allowed in the cinemas) to boot. Great for a first date.
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Lido
Auckland's most adored cinema, Lido's well-padded seats in its two licensed theatres make it the people's choice for seeing a flick. Couples should book the back row with removable armrests. Lido screens art-house, foreign and the odd Hollywood film.
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Palace Verona
This urbane cinema has a cool cafe and bar, useful for discussing the artistic merits of the nonblockbuster flick you’ve just seen. Other Palace cinemas include Palace Academy Twin and Palace Norton Street.
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Chauvel Cinema
The revamped Chauvel Cinema, located inside the historic Paddington Town Hall, strives to offer distinct and alternative cinema experiences and to foster Sydney’s film culture. It also plays host to various quirky film festivals.
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Edge Cinema
A giant screen shows mainstream flicks plus a 40-minute Blue Mountains documentary (adult/child $15/10). Budget Tuesdays feature flicks for $8.50 per person.
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Govinda’s
The Hare Krishna Govinda’s is an all-you-can-gobble vegetarian smorgasbord, including admission to the movie room upstairs. Expect mainstream blockbusters, art-house classics, incense in the air and cushions on the floor.
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Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
Return to cinema’s golden age at this fab art-deco gem (1935). It still has its original Wurlitzer organ, which gets a workout at special events and monthly Wednesday Luncheons (movie, lunch and coffee $13).
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IMAX Cinema
It’s big bucks for a 45-minute movie, but everything about IMAX is big. The eight-storey screen shimmers with kid-friendly documentaries (sharks, Mars, haunted castles etc), many in 3-D. Size matters.
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Greater Union George St Cinemas
An orgy of popcorn-fuelled mainstream entertainment, this monster movie palace has 18 screens and plenty of eateries and teen-centric distractions. All tickets are $10 on Tight-arse Tuesday.
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Sun Pictures
Aside from watching a Cable Beach sunset, Broome’s other requisite experience is catching a film at historic Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest operating picture gardens.
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Palace Como
Glamorous cinema that hosts film festivals and has fab Fridays (half-price cocktails and tapas).
Outdoor cinemas are very popular in the summer; check the websites for seasonal opening dates and program details. Movies are often old-time faves, but new releases also get a showing. Tickets range from $15 to $20 and can sell out quickly.
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