Friday night, I finally got around to visiting the Pacific Film Archive's new theater in downtown Berkeley. I've been busy. The theater is lovely, with the raised seats common in new multiplexes. The screen, I would guess, about the same size as in the previous theater. The acoustics sounded very good, but since the first … Continue reading Friday at the PFA
Category: Theaters
Catching The Hateful Eight in 70mm
I'm not one of those cinephiles who sees the digital transition as the end of cinema. Far from it. I respect the practical and even the aesthetic advantages of shooting digitally. And as a general rule (there are exceptions), I rather see a movie projected off a DCP than a 35mm print--and that includes classics … Continue reading Catching The Hateful Eight in 70mm
The Force Awakens at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission
Thursday afternoon--the last afternoon of 2015--my wife and I finally saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And we went out of our way to see it at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission. It was our first experience seeing a movie there. It was a lot of fun, but expensive. I've already written about the New Mission--the … Continue reading The Force Awakens at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission
A trip around the San Francisco’s newly-restored New Mission Theater, to be run by Alamo Drafthouse
I've heard a lot of good things lately about Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a small chain of movie theaters that screen independent and Hollywood fare, classics, and cult movies. The chain has a reputation for first-class projection, excellent food, a strictly enforced no-talking or texting policy, and (as the name Drafthouse suggests) good beer. I've been … Continue reading A trip around the San Francisco’s newly-restored New Mission Theater, to be run by Alamo Drafthouse
Raymond Griffith at Niles
Last Saturday night, I visited the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for a screening of the 1925 Raymond Griffith comedy, Hands Up! I had seen it once before--probably in 1977 or '78 at the Avenue Theater (of blessed memory). Then, and now, I totally enjoyed it. Sorry it took me so long to get to … Continue reading Raymond Griffith at Niles
Roxie gains beer & better projection; hopes to gain members
Late last year, when the major theater chains refused to screen The Interview for fear of North Korean terrorists, San Francisco's own Roxie offered to show the comedy. Sony turned them down for technical reasons: The Roxie could screen it in 35mm or Blu-ray, but Sonly would only send the movie out to theaters in … Continue reading Roxie gains beer & better projection; hopes to gain members
Coming in December: Day of Silents & Alamo Drafthouse
It's a little early to write about December, but here are two events I want to tell you about right away. In fact, I wanted to tell you about them weeks ago, but I was too busy. A Day of Silents The San Francisco Silent Film Festival will run a one-day festival at the Castro … Continue reading Coming in December: Day of Silents & Alamo Drafthouse
The Castro in July
The Castro's July calendar is up--at least in its details-free "Coming Soon" version is up. Here are some highlights: July 5: Jaws plays a lot in the theaters I cover, but this time it will play on a double bill with one of the first Jaws rip-offs, Roger Corman's Piranha. Not a great movie, but … Continue reading The Castro in July
Three Ways to See Three-Strip Technicolor at the PFA
They stopped making three-strip Technicolor movies about 60 years ago. The movies are still around, and they're still beautiful. This summer, the Pacific Film Archive will screen three different films shot in the still-loved format, and thanks to the way they're being screened, each one projected using a different technology. You can decide which is … Continue reading Three Ways to See Three-Strip Technicolor at the PFA
Summer Season at the Pacific Film Archive
You may have noticed that the Pacific Film Archive is currently closed. No big deal; it always closes for a few weeks in May and June. It will open again on June 11. But not for long. August 2 will be the last screening in the current PFA theater. When it reopens, hopefully early next … Continue reading Summer Season at the Pacific Film Archive
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