Academy Cinemas — Local services in Waitematā

Academy cinema soul collective theme: "where human wants to win an academy award". This brings back nostalgia memories of my 1998 visit overseas to Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles. In souvenir stores, there were a academy award trophy gifts which commoners could buy for their mantle pieces. Academy Cinema is a boutique cinema and has excellent value for money $5 Wednesday screenings. This Wednesday is Year 1975 50 year anniversary screening of Jaws a horror film. The most recent film I saw was Materialists with A list actress Dakota Johnson. People in acting careers, get judged on their appearance and screen presence. Dakota is a third generation actress, granddaughter of Tippi Hendren. She is awe inspiring on screen, serious and sexy, in the film Materialists her lead role inhappy at possibility of marrying a man in United States, to become poor living in a car even. The lesson: this is American reality in society, and that perhaps love is something one cannot pay for. Only three per cent of actors rise to residual royalties having acting as their full time profession. This is the reality. Academy cinema is the application of my worldrankìng University of Auckland Arts degree in history and media, with even Hollywood film credits. I'm a retired film actress. Academy cinema has film card membership, excellent value for money, $30 per year,. I have attended film marathon screenings for $60 per weekend. Films depict what is going on in society at the time, with politics, religions, advertising, people, sexuality. Film is magnificent for imagination and relaxation. The youthful Academy Cinema employees have the best stage names Stefan Moon and Cameo England. A lot of DVDs sold here, posters, food and drink. Boutique cinema for cinephiles who love the big screen,...

I've watched a LOT of great films here over the years but sadly will let my membership expire this year because the cinema experience has become actively unpleasant with increasing frequency. Unfortunately more often than not I find myself sitting next to patrons with a homeless/streetie vibe who seem to use the cinema as their private lounge. They usually have many bags of belongings and often groceries which they spread out and eat and drink noisily and at length. The aisles are narrow enough but climbing over bags of groceries in the dark gets old after a while. One patron in particular seems to just come to eat and then sleep, and nods off and snores. Many are constantly on their phones in between mouthfuls and rustling of shopping bags. Constant movement. Constant light. One movie I came out literally itching with insect bites and left wondering: at several levels below ground was it fleas or bedbugs? I've booked specific seats only to find them taken and the occupant settled in surrounded by their paraphernalia and unwilling to move. The worst part though is the smell. Unfortunately these patrons sometimes smell pretty bad. The one thing they appear not to do too much of is watch the movie. Tonight I walked out after only several minutes of viewing time after the usual scenario unfolded and I realised I was in for an unpleasant couple of hours yet again. I was looking forward to seeing this 80s favourite in the theatre and I'll definitely miss the movies, but I can watch...

Good movie variety on show, hosts many film festivals, most prominently the Japanese film festival held every November. $5 for all movies on Wednesdays. $1.50 booking fee applies to all online bookings. I used to have a membership, gave me $12 standard tickets instead of $16. Not cheap, but better than the cinema chains around.

Venue is modest and small, but can seat a bit over 100 people. Food selection is quite varied, snacks selection not as varied overall but still good, slightly expensive, but good. Kapiti ice cream is always nice to have. I wish they showed more silent and pre-60s classic films. Maybe needs a bigger audience.

The new (refurbished) boutique room plays more older movies on a monthly rotation (usually up to 4 screenings a month for each movie), but it is very very small, seating barely 11 people and is ridiculously skinny. Audio system is ok, the projection may be a bit too small, but otherwise it's good to have contrasting experiences when going here.

They should do some live music too. They got the...