Which Bay Area theaters have the best projection and sound?
Dear Mick LaSalle: Which theaters have the best projection and sound?
Teresa Concepcion, Emeryville
Dear Teresa Concepcion: Well, in one sense of the word 'best,' I'd say the Roxie Theater, the Stanford Theatre, the Rafael Film Center and the theater inside the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive have the best projection, because they project the best movies. But in the sense that I think you mean it, the best sound and picture is at the private Dolby Theatre on Market Street. As for what's available to the public, I have no love for the Metreon, but its IMAX theater is very good.
Dear Mr. LaSalle: I was surprised to learn from your article that apparently lots of people spread out a movie over several nights. I thought I was one of the few lazybones who did that.
Michael Biehl, San Francisco
Dear Mr. Biehl: Everybody does it, but it doesn't mean they should. True, 95 times out of 100, it doesn't matter, because most movies are unremarkable. But with great and near-great movies, watching them over several nights on a small screen – that is, watching them in the wrong way – can bland out the experience and make real greatness seem merely good.
Cinema is an art form that assumes and needs a captive audience. Movies are made with the assumption that you're small and the screen is huge, and that you're staying in your seat, that the volume is turned up, and that you can't rewind anything, so you have to pay attention.
Even with all those conditions in place, movies face a hard climb, because they're trying to make you believe in an imaginary world and care about the people in it. But strip away those conditions, and their task becomes even more difficult.
The sad part of this is that some of the best films are subtle and most are in need of being met halfway. I mean, you can half-watch 'The Avengers' and get the idea. But a quiet masterpiece like 'Before Sunrise' requires that you actually watch, listen and take it in. Otherwise, it might seem like endless, pointless conversation. And no, checking your phone to read about the movie as it's playing doesn't count as watching the movie.
Still, we all do it, probably for the same reason that there's a certain resistance to being hypnotized, and in the same way that it requires an act of will to take a nap in the middle of the day, even if you're sleepy. There's an inertia that must be overcome in order to let go of the state we're in, even when we want to or need to.
Dear Mick: I just watched 'The Vanishing' (1988) and found the ending very disturbing. The kind of movie that stays with you but not in a good way. Have you watched any really creepy movies that you wished you had not watched?
Joyce Harvis, Stockton
Hi Joyce: Yes. I have one, and it's the same as yours – 'The Vanishing.' It's a seriously unsettling film, and while I can't say that I wish I never saw it, I can confirm that the movie's disturbing quality doesn't go away, ever.
I saw 'The Vanishing' when it was released in the United States in 1989, and a few months ago I made the mistake of thinking of the movie's ending right before bed, and I couldn't sleep. Talk about a lasting impact. Here was this movie keeping me up some 35 years after I saw it.
I won't reveal the nature of the ending here, because there may be hearty souls out there willing to risk it. Consider this a combination recommendation/warning. Also, readers should note that we're talking about the original 1988 'The Vanishing' from the Netherlands, and not the idiotic American remake from 1993.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Vibes Nation
22-05-2025
- Geek Vibes Nation
'ANDOR' Showrunner Tony Gilroy Does Not Think Much of Marvel's Playbook
Let's be real: Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are two of the biggest entertainment juggernauts out there, both sitting comfortably under Disney's massive umbrella. But beyond their shared corporate parent, they've got something else in common—a knack for kicking off production with half-baked scripts or shaky plans. Think of the MCU's Captain America: Brave New World, which reportedly scrambled to find its footing, or Star Wars, which hasn't graced theaters since the polarizing Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker back in 2019. Both franchises have stumbled, but one Star Wars series managed to rise above the chaos: Andor. The second season of Andor has fans and critics raving, but it wasn't always smooth sailing. In a candid Zoom chat with /Film's Ben Pearson, showrunner Tony Gilroy spilled the tea on how Andor dodged a bullet by avoiding the same storytelling traps that have tripped up Marvel. An Early Misstep Almost Derailed Andor Picture this: Andor was originally pitched as a buddy-cop romp featuring Diego Luna's Cassian Andor and Alan Tudyk's snarky droid K-2SO. Think Star Wars meets Bad Boys—all action, quips, and maybe a few explosions. It could've been a blast, but Gilroy wasn't sold. 'In the show, it's perfect. [K-2SO's late introduction was] something I always intended. The versions that they had of the show prior, they were slick and they were interesting. They were not bad, but they had a fatal flaw, it seemed to me, which is if that's your show, that we're going to storm the Citadel in the pilot, what are you going to do in episode 9? What do you do? You're just going to keep getting the disc?' Gilroy, who's penned gritty hits like Michael Clayton and the Bourne trilogy, knew better. He scrapped the buddy-cop vibe and turned Andor into a tense, character-driven spy thriller. K-2SO's big entrance got pushed back, letting Cassian's journey from petty crook to rebel hero take center stage. The result feels less like a popcorn flick and more like a novel you can't put down. Marvel's Tesseract Trouble Gilroy didn't just critique Andor's early drafts—he took a swing at the MCU's playbook, too. He zeroed in on what he calls 'Tesseract-chasing.' Remember 2012's The Avengers? The whole plot revolves around the Tesseract, a glowing cube everyone's fighting over. 'Trying to get the, what do they call it? I can't remember the name of the box. What the f*** is the name of the box in 'The Avengers'? What the f*** are they going for? […] The Tesseract! That's why all those Marvel movies are all — that's why they fail. You're just constantly … if that's all you're doing, then all you're doing is just trying to get the Tesseract.' He's got a point. The MCU built its empire on MacGuffins—those plot-driving objects like the Tesseract (later revealed as an Infinity Stone), the Orb in Guardians of the Galaxy, or the Time Stone in Doctor Strange. The formula was gold for a while: heroes chase the shiny thing, bad guys get in the way, cue the epic battle. But as the MCU ballooned, this rinse-and-repeat approach started to feel stale. Vanity Fair has pointed out how Marvel's obsession with interconnected plots and spectacle has left its stories feeling hollow. How Andor Got It Right Andor could've gone the same route, churning out forgettable heist-of-the-week episodes. Instead, Gilroy bet on substance over flash. He wove a story rich with political intrigue and moral gray areas, making Cassian's transformation feel real and earned. The show's been compared to The Wire for its depth, a far cry from the MCU's splashy CGI slugfests. Gilroy's no rookie when it comes to fixing messes. He helped turn Rogue One from a troubled production into a fan favorite, and Andor proves he's still got the magic touch. Meanwhile, Marvel's recent flops, like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Rotten Tomatoes), show what happens when you lean too hard on formula over heart. What Blockbusters Can Learn Gilroy's take boils down to a simple truth: MacGuffins like the Tesseract or the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark can kickstart a story, but they can't carry it. When franchises like the MCU—or Andor's early drafts—bank everything on chasing the next big plot device, they lose what makes stories stick: characters we root for and stakes that hit home. Andor proves you can tell bold, meaningful stories within a giant franchise. As Star Wars gears up for new films like James Mangold's project ( and the MCU aims to bounce back with Avengers: Secret Wars, they'd be smart to take notes from Gilroy. Forget the Tesseract. Tell a story that matters.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- New York Post
‘Doctor Who' star Michael McStay dead at 92
British actor Michael McStay, best known for his role in 'Doctor Who,' has died. He was 92. A representative for the actor shared the news of his death on Facebook Tuesday. 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael McStay, an actor of the highest standing, talented writer and family man,' the statement read. 6 Michael McStay. Sharry Clark Artists/Facebook 'Survived by his wife the actress Jenny Clulow and their two sons. It was privilege to have known Mike. RIP,' the rep added. According to the Daily Mail, McStay died of heart failure. He reportedly passed away in his sleep on Sunday after having lunch with his sons. 6 Michael McStay in 'Doctor Who.' BBC Early in his career, McStay played the role of Sergeant Perryman on the British detective series 'No Hiding Place.' The show ran from 1959 to 1967. McStay went on to appear in episodes of 'The Avengers,' 'Paul Temple,' 'Jason King,' 'The Passenger,' 'The Lotus Eaters,' 'The Black Arrow,' 'Park Ranger,' 'The Fourth Floor,' 'EastEnders' and 'Ted and Alice.' He also starred in the films 'Robbery' (1967) and 'The Stick Up' (1977). 6 Johnny Briggs and Michael McStay in 'No Hiding Place' in 1964. David Magnus/Shutterstock McStay notably played Derek Moberley in two episodes of 'Doctor Who' in 1976. He was on the season that starred Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. During a May 2024 interview on the 'Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke's Time Travels' podcast, McStay spoke about being embraced by the long-running sci-fi show's fanbase. 6 A photo of Michael McStay from 1966. ANL/Shutterstock 6 Michael McStay at his wedding to Jennifer Clulow in 1967. Crispian Woodgate/ANL/Shutterstock 'The sort of fans that you get on a show like 'Doctor Who' are your friends. They want to like you, they want to like the show. It's a great feeling,' he said. 'It's a great bunch of people to be a part of in a way.' McStay also recalled that he 'complained' when his character was killed off after only two episodes. 'Had I know nearly 50 years later they're still getting repeat fees and things like this, I thought, 'God, I only did one. If I had done the whole six, I could have retired forever.'' 6 Jean Fergusson, Michael McStay and Sam Aston in 'Coronation Street' in 2011. ITV/Shutterstock 'But yes,' he added, ''Doctor Who' has a fanbase which I enjoy being apart of. They're a wonderful bunch of people who only wish you well. The fans don't only wish you well.' Reflecting on his long career in the entertainment industry, McStay said, 'You have to want to do it. I've always wanted to do it. And I had some good friends along the way that helped me.' McStay's final acting appearance was as Alan Hoyle in the ITV soap series 'Coronation Street' in 2011.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
From $1 movies to free popcorn: The Bay Area's best movie deals
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to the summer movie season, and both chain multiplexes and indie arthouse theaters have reason to hope for their best summer since 2019. That's because the start of the pandemic is now five years in the past, practically a distant memory these days. And productions that were halted during the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023 have been completed, leading to a wealth of films in the release pipeline such as ' Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'Superman.' All systems are go, and Bay Area theaters aren't taking any chances. From $1 movies to free popcorn, they're doing anything to lure film fans back to the cinema. Many offer steep discounted tickets on Tuesdays. Elsewhere, a diverse programming slate has led San Francisco's arthouse treasure Roxie Theater to be on pace to exceed its 2019 ticket sales, the last prepandemic year. Hits have included the Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian documentary ' No Other Land ' and horror master David Cronenberg 's ' The Shrouds.' There's even a 40th-anniversary 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' that opens Friday, May 23. The California Film Institute 's Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley is offering $1 classics this weekend — audience favorites such as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), the French charmer ' Amelie ' (2001) and Wes Anderson's ' Moonrise Kingdom ' (2012) — to celebrate the one-year anniversary since it reopened after a renovation. The following are some of the best deals in the Bay Area. Pro tip: Most deals offered by multiplexes require monthly memberships. Independent theaters tend to have lower base ticket prices, and their perks can further reduce an already comparatively budget friendly night out. Multiplexes AMC Theatres: The world's largest theater chain, already slashing tickets by 50% on Tuesdays, will add Wednesdays beginning July 9. The deal is available to all AMC Stubs members, including the free Insider tier. The highest tier, A-List, is $27.99 for up to four movies every week and a host of other perks. Cinemark's Century Cinemas: The Bay Area's most prolific chain offers ticket discounts of up to 50%, even for nonmembers of its Movie Rewards program (though members get extra perks). Alamo Drafthouse: The dinner and a movie chain might have the best monthly membership in the country: For $29.99 a month, you can see a movie a day. It pays for itself after two movies. The chain's New Mission theater in San Francisco has been open for 10 years; new theaters in Mountain View and Santa Clara open next month. Independent theaters San Francisco Roxie Theater: The Mission District treasure offers steep discounts for students and EBT/SNAP card holders, and relaunches its Roxie Kids series this summer, with children getting in for $5. East Bay Grand Lake Theatre: The Oakland movie palace offers $6 tickets all day Tuesday and $7.50 daily matinees — and that includes 70mm and 3D presentations. Also: no commercials. 'I have always believed that it cheapens the experience of going to a theater,' owner Allen Michaan said. Alameda Theatre and Cineplex: In addition to $6 Tuesdays, the Art Deco venue built in 1932, which also has live events at its Cinema Grill, is bringing back its Kids Summer Series on Wednesdays beginning June 11. The Chabot: The 75-year-old Castro Valley gem is the only independent, single-screen theater offering first-run films within the East Bay. It has $6 Tuesdays and often offers a free popcorn or drink size upgrade for guests who come dressed in theme with the movie. For example, if ticket buyers wear floral prints to screenings of 'Lilo & Stitch' during its run beginning Thursday, May 22, a medium popcorn becomes a large, and the normal free refills for large popcorns apply. North Bay Lark Theater: The single-screen Larkspur Art Deco venue has among the most interesting programming in the Bay Area, with an eclectic mix of first-run and classic cinema. The first movie of each day as well as Friday and Saturday late-night classics are $7 per ticket and includes free popcorn. South Bay/Peninsula
