New Beverly Cinema ““ the right way to watch movies
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 5, 2002 9:00 p.m.
David Burke [email protected]
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Imagine that you’ve traveled back in time to the year
1960. You, your best friend and two charming and beautiful dates
decide to go see a movie on a cool spring evening. As soon as the
box office opens, you purchase four tickets that only cost you the
2002 equivalent of $20.
From the outside of the theater, you quickly notice that
it’s not like the theaters where you usually watch the latest
blockbuster. This theater is not a multiplex. It only has one
screen and the screen is neither brand new nor enormous. On most
nights, the theater shows two different movies that have something
in common. The films might have the same director, the same star or
a similar theme.
The theater is also different than most modern theaters on the
inside. There is only one concession stand with a modest assortment
of goodies because it was built to serve a few hundred people, not
a few thousand. If you see enough movies, the employees may begin
to recognize you as, “large popcorn and a regular Coke”
or, “Junior Mints and Red Vines.” While you wait in
line, fellow moviegoers might strike up a pleasant conversation
with you and say things like, “Have a nice night”
before you depart for your seats. If all of the things I’ve
mentioned sound too good to be true, it’s because, like most
people, you are a victim of the AMC/THX/HDTV/DVD corporate
movie-going experience ““ and because you’ve never
visited the New Beverly Cinema.
The New Beverly Cinema sits within driving distance of UCLA at
7165 Beverly Boulevard. But in the league of modern movie theaters,
it’s in another dimension. The biggest difference between the
New Beverly and the corporate movie experience is simple ““
it’s the movies. The New Beverly is a revival theater that
shows movies ranging from the 1950s to today. It shows timeless
classics as well as cult favorites that you just can’t see in
any other nearby theaters. Last month the movies that played there
included, “The Apartment” starring Jack Lemmon,
“L.A. Confidential,” Alfred Hitchcock’s
“Rear Window,” “Monty Python and the Holy
Grail” and “The Big Lebowski.”
Watching a movie at the New Beverly is a rewarding experience
for many reasons. It offers the public a great opportunity to see
older movies in their intended environment. Say whatever you want
about all the bells and whistles of DVDs. Lame deleted scenes and
half-hearted director and actor commentaries have nothing on seeing
a movie in an actual theater. When I watched “The
Apartment” last month, I was immersed in the movie much more
than I would have been if I was sitting at home.
Another good reason to visit the New Beverly is because of its
respectful and well-mannered audience. The movie aficionados who
frequent the New Beverly are actually there to watch the movies
instead of being there to talk on their cell phones or converse at
an annoyingly loud volume. Last time I saw a movie there, not one
cell phone rang. When the credits are shown at the beginning of the
movie, people politely applaud for the actors, producers, or
directors just like they do when the movie is finished.
So if you’ve never been to the New Beverly Cinema, grab $5
for the price of a student admission and go check it out.
You’ll get a chance to see some good movies in a great
environment. If you don’t decide to visit the New Beverly,
well that’s fine too. Just make sure and let me know how your
night goes at the local google-plex watching Ben Affleck’s
latest film.
