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Pacific Cinematheque
Category: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Cinema [Edit]
1131 Howe StVancouver, BC V6Z 2L7
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 688-8202
- Good for Kids:
- No
16 reviews for Pacific Cinematheque
16 reviews in English
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Review from Ruby D.
Vancouver, BC
11/30/2011
If you love classic films like I do, or enjoy foreign films and documentaries, you will LOVE this place. You do have to buy an annual membership, but it's only a couple bucks. The popcorn and drinks are cheap, and admission to a movie is not bad either. I think it's around $9?
Every August they show classic film noir flicks the whole month - so many amazing movies. This is definitely my type of theatre. -
Review from Antonia U.
Burnaby, BC
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is probably the best place to go see independent and foreign films as well as classics. There is often something cool playing almost everyday! There is a $2 yearly membership, but that's not much, and it's to allow Pacific Cinematheque to play films that may not have been rated.
I've been here many times during VIFF as well as going to the occassional non-festival showing. The staff is friendly and the concession is great. It's not a fancy theatre, but it has an arty, yet welcoming, atmosphere. -
Review from patricia l.
Vancouver, BC
10/12/2011
After 7 VIFF films where most of them were at the Granville 7 cinema and one was at the Vogue, our lastest film selection which was showing at Pacific Cinematheque was like flying Business Class for the very first time in one's lifetime.
Needless to say, it was a most pleasant experience, especially since I was able to feel my legs and get out of my seat like a normal human being for the first time in 2 weeks of this year's film festival.
The theater isn't even that fancy, but who cares? Their seats are fantastic compared to that other outdated theater I've reviewed for this year's VIFF. (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...)
It might not be as fancy as some of the newer theaters in town, but at the very least the Pacific Cinematheque understands the importance of comfort - and I know I wasn't the only person who felt this way. I was talking to the people around me and for those of us who'd seen 5+ films, everyone agreed this cinema was absolute heaven.
I was so pleased with my experience here it actually made me want to return to see other films even after the VIFF comes to an end. And isn't this the point of every business that actually wants to survive in this city? -
Review from Kathleen L.
Vancouver, BC
1/27/2012
I agree with pretty much every other person who has written that PC is the best place to see independent cinema in Vancouver. There really is nothing to compare to it.
This is a place where you can go alone to a new or old flick pretty comfortably. I'm a fan of their affordable popcorn and their endless different kinds of film festivals. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I swear I'm not a hipster. Sure, I smoke cigarettes, wear thick plastic frames (they are legit prescription glasses - I'm blind as a bat), love wearing flannel (hey -- it's damned comfortable, OK?), watch the occasional indie flicks and go for PBRs afterwards... FUCK... okay, just shoot me the next time you see me.
I'm so cool to watch a movie (... which is so underground and abstract that you've never heard of it...so I won't mention it) at Pacific Cinémathèque ([snootily]... it's Français for small arthouse/classic cinemas... you've probably never heard of it)... now tell me you don't want to punch me in the face - I dare you.
A few points:
- you will need to buy a $3 annual membership to watch films here. It's not a scam or to be exclusive - under MPA provisions, it's required for these cinemas to show unrated films. Sign up is quick and easy - but needs to be done at the box - cash only.
- seats are pretty uncomfortable - they are really soft and are okay when if you sit like Tony Montana after a cocaine binge - but it's hard to sit like that for too long - bring a butt pillow if you have a Hank Hill Syndrome like me (one day, we'll find a cure...)
- Pop is $3.50 for a large... I'll just say that they don't seem to search purses/backpacks... just saying is all... And they have Schweppes Club Soda and Gingle Ale on the fountain... err... am I the only one putting two and two together?
- came to check out a "new 35mm print" of a film I'm very familiar with - first couple of reels seemed pretty banged up. And projectionist momentarily dropped the ball on the switchover from 1st to 2nd reel. Minor critique - but I'm sorry - little things like that really take me out of the escapist fantasy.
- double bills are only $2 on top of the $10.50 regular price
But these things are ultimately irrelevant - you come here to check out films they don't play anywhere else - independents, classics, arthouse and foreign films. Thanks to the internet I rarely go to theatres anymore - but will come here to check out celluloid masterpieces in their original format and presentation.
To the gentlemen that sat near me and then asked me what the hell happened midway through the film afterwards: I'm sorry I couldn't stay to discuss the film - I was in a hurry to ride my fixed-gear bicycle to Whole Foods to buy some organic tofu for my poetry reading. -
Review from Michael H.
Calgary, AB
10/11/2010
I would so love to give this place five stars. It has my favourite kind of cinema. But I cannot, and you are probably wondering why. Why Michael, why cannot you see fit to give the Cinematheque five stars? Is it a grudge?
Not as simple as a grudge. It is their damned seats. Their super crappy painfully uncomfortable seats. I can barely sit through one film on those things much less a double feature (and I have done that.) Within 30 minutes I'm shifting uncomfortably, and by the hour point it can be hard to really concentrate and enjoy a great film due to the pain in my buttocks. (Could some rich patron dig into their wallets to donate some comfortable seats to these wonderful folks.)
I have been here tonnes of times. For VIFF. VLAFF (which needs a new acronym, because it sounds more like a comedy festival than a Latin American Film Festival.) A Kon Ichikawa restrospective. A Jean-Luc Godard festival. Some Kurosawa. Plus many more one-off features.
Great great film here, should be a five star review but for the extremely lousy seats. -
Review from Christian M.
Vancouver, BC
A small theatre that regularly has to rely on fundraisers to stay afloat, Cinematheque has the best popcorn of any movie theatre in the city and gives you the option of topping your snack with hot sauce, nutritional yeast or spices. They also use real butter as a topping for their kernels and not some transfat substitute.
I agree with Michael's review regarding the seats, but it's a small operation and can't afford the luxury couch-style seating of Vancity Theatre.
I had the opportunity to volunteer here during VIFF this year and the community of people who run the venue is made up mostly of volunteers who spend their time keeping the place open year-round.
A great place to see arthouse and indie films when you're sick of the blockbusters that make their way to the large corporate multiplexes in the Vancouver area. Definitely worth supporting! -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
11/14/2009
* Where selection rules *
I love this theatre.
It isn't fancy - yes, it has much smaller seats than the big fancy multi-plexes.
It has traditional concessions - yes, popcorn is available. But it doesn't have full-on fast food chains like the multi-plexes. The concession stand has a volunteer run feel to it - which I like.
It doesn't have 149323 speaker sound systems - but the types of movies shown here don't require the latest multi-dolby-digi-thx-deafening-bopping-digital whatever.
It DOES have an amazing ability to pull in interesting non-blockbuster films (be it independent films, international, etc.). In fact this spot and VanCity theatre (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) are the two primary spots for these types of films in town.
Each time I've seen a movie here the theatre has been sold out - a sign of how good the selection is!
Yes, I am probably a film nerd. And yes, I love this theatre!Listed in: Vancouver Movie Theatres
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Review from Simon R.
BC
12/30/2008 1 photo
Great place for a nerdy date, the Cinematheque offers an intellectual alternative to the Hollywood blockbusters, although Clark Gable and Alfred Hitchcock sometimes get their features shown. With one screen, the Cinematheque isn't about the money, the popularity or the lowest common denominator of entertainment. It's about the kind of movie you know would be interesting but is ultimately too pretentious to actually draw you in.
Not that they only show post-modern movies with overbearing symbolic references. The Cinematheque provides a healthy mix of cult classics, film noirs, foreign masterpieces and local independents. There's also the classics, movies from the vault so old that they once amazed people who'd thought they'd never combine audio voices with on screen talking.
I love it though, it's clever and provides a genuine guide to actual on-screen culture. Sure it's kind of smug, but you get to walk away feeling smug too. -
Review from Frances N.
10/17/2011
I saw a documentary on China several years ago with an old buddy of mine at PC. Pacific Cinematheque frequently has film showings on independent features, foreign films, and documentaries. PC also seeks to seriously educate their audience on non-traditional cinema.
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Review from Megan S.
1/18/2009
I nice departure from the standard theatre. This is the place to go see some old stuff on the big screen, some new stuff, and some strange stuff.
I've seen some great Japanese movies here. Many times I'll trust the theatre and watch something I've never heard of. So far, that's working pretty well. I find the films to be entertaining or thought provoking. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2008
For a city obsessed with film and film production, Vancouver offers few outlets for outsider, art and foreign cinema that isn't hugely distributed. When it comes down to it the only options you have are special events, the Vancity Theater and here, my favorite, The Pacific Cinematheque.
The Cinematheque itself isn't anything fancy. It's a fairly small theater with kind of cramped seats and really more of a screening room than theater vibe. It'll easily sell out and sometimes the sound isn't fantastic, but it definitely can get the job done without any complaints about 99% of the time.
What wins me over with the Cinematheque though is its curation. Whereas the Vancity will often have a movie playing for just one day, the Cinematheque usually tries to program a handful or a week and often has great double bills. They have recurring festivals and retrospectives every year as well as opening their doors to some of the bigger name touring art and indie prints.
The Cinematheque is also attached to Cineworks so it is often host to some great talks and events involving the film community of Vancouver as a whole.
I'm rarely dissatisfied with what's playing at the cinematheque, and with open events almost every night it's a great option to see something rare, something interesting and something innovative in film. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
1/21/2009
I went to see Roman Holiday the other here and it was so charming. The little theatre room- I would say less than a hundred people- was very empty, but it was clean and the staff was friendly. The bathrooms had method handsoap, very impressive and the coffee bar served free coffee, tea and cookies after the movie. The movie was introduced by a staff educator and there was even a giveaway for more free tickets after a trivia was held. They show unique, foreign, French and independent movies. A definite must-try.
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Review from Trish R.
9/13/2010
Great theatre -- saw many shows here last week for VLAFF - Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. This was the best theatre by far. The seating is comfortable, the concession is quick and easy (and not too expensive), the popcorn isn't laced with salty butter-flavoured crap (real butter, add your own salt), and the washrooms are clean. Very enjoyable experience each time.
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Review from Emma L.
6/12/2010
This place is awesome. We came by today for their open house and free screening of Casablanca. We were offered free popcorn (with butter!) and free water and sat outside listening to a jazz band and watching people take their photos on the red carpet before the movie started. Great summer afternoon.
Listed in: Date night!
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
11/3/2008
I just love this cinema. They show lots of French films, many of them a bit on the older side, and will typically feature several films of a director over a period of a week or so. it's a one theatre cinema, with a small lobby, an eclectic crowd, good popcorn and if you come here you're likely to see something more interesting than usual. (If you like French cinema, that is.) You have to be a member to see a film here, so come on time to buy your ticket and your membership.
