 |
| Hot tubs, cemeteries and ancient ruins. |
Now more than ever, movies don’t have to be confined to a cinema. But in a day and age where movies can be downloaded to iPhones and watched on the train to work, it is sometimes nice to be reminded that sitting with a group of fellow film-lovers is a beautiful, communal experience. These places in Australia and abroad seek to do it a little bit differently.
1
A movie among the stars
The stars are above and below at Cinespia’s
famous open-air movie nights, held in Los Angeles’ remarkable Hollywood
Forever Cemetery. The resting place to hundreds of Hollywood luminaries
such as directing kingpin Cecil B. DeMille, buxom beauty Jayne
Mansfield, and Australian Oscar-winner Peter Finch has hosted the
popular al fresco cinema experience since 2002 with films of all kinds
being projected against the big white wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum to
a crowd of picnicking movie-lovers.
2
Bushland drive-ins
It’s widely believed that only the big metropolitan cities of
Australia have the groovy cinema options, but a drive-in movie theatre
in the bush is something very unique. The Yatala Drive-In
just outside of Beenleigh opened in 1974 and offers clear skies and
double features for adults and kids (and you can even bring your dog!)
and the chance to have a classic night out. And since drive-ins has a
distinctly vintage Americana vibe, the Yatala’s diner is an old
fashioned American-style diner with vinyl seats and hot dogs and burgers
on the menu.
3
Not quite a hot tub time machine
Sometimes you just have to multi-task! Climb up to a London rooftop and experience Hot Tub Cinema,
which blends the relaxing summertime gaiety of enjoying a cold beer in a
hot tub with your mates with the traditional good night out indulging
in a classic or cult movie on the big screen.
4
Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water
Not many places let you show off your beach bod while engaging in
your cultural side, but if the hot tubs of London aren’t your thing then
maybe floating in open water while Jaws plays is more to your thing. Alamo Drafthouse
recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s horror
classic by bringing back their beloved Jaws On The Water screenings in a
(man-made, shark free) lake in Texas. For your $30 you get a tube for
every guest plus bragging rights forever. There are even floating bars
and fish tacos for sale.
5
A twist on a movie before bed
At the Olympia Music Hall in Paris, IKEA hosted a special movie
screening where audiences didn’t relax on wicker or lounge on a sofa
that they had to construct themselves during the pre-film
advertisements. No, audiences got to lie on a bed. An entire room full
of them. The theme has expanded beyond France though and now the Electric Cinema chain in England has refurbished some of their locations with bed cinemas. Closer to home, Blitz Megaplex theatres in Jakarta offer velvet sofa beds for your cinematic relaxation.
6
Pop up over London
Outdoor cinemas aren’t rare these days throughout summer months, but The Nomad Cinema
series of pop-up events are a unique variation on it. Occupying various
locations across London including the Brompton Cemetery, one of
Britain’s oldest dating back to 1840, Belgrave Square, Paddington
Gardens, the Royal Academy of Arts and many more. Best of all is that 100% of their profits go to charity.
7
Bringing Rome to Croatia
Did you know there is an ancient Rome amphitheatre in Croatia?
Strange as it may sound, the location is the most famous and important
monument in the town of Pula and was constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD
at the same time of Rome’s own magnificent colosseum. Among the many
events held at the site, the Pula Film Festival
is an annual event hosted during summer where fans can fill the centre
of the arena and watch Croatian cinema in the same spot that gladiators
once fought in one of the most historic and grand locales imaginable.
8
New York, New York (it’s a helluva town)
In New York City, sometimes the very best cinematic experiences
aren’t in the biggest halls or the craziest places or on the tallest
buildings. To have a true NYC cinema experience you must check out one
of the many independent venues show arthouse fare both new and old.
Places like UnionDocs in Brooklyn and the Maysles Cinema
in Harlem offer simple but unique places that worship at the altar of
non-fiction cinema. If you’re after something a bit more hip, then you
can’t miss Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema, with its matinée and brunch sessions plus late night cult line-ups to enjoy with a drink, and Videology, which has a bar up front and a screening room at the back while the walls are lined with DVDs that are available to rent.
(Lead photo: Hot Tub Cinema/Facebook)
Love going to the movies? Qantas Movies is a new way for Qantas Frequent Flyers to earn Qantas Points. You can earn two points for every dollar spent on great value movie vouchers when you buy at qantaspoints.com/movies. You can redeem these vouchers at over 200 cinemas around Australia, including many independent cinemas. Plus Australian Qantas Frequent Flyers could win a year’s supply of movie vouchers simply by purchasing vouchers from Qantas Movies before 3 September 2015. You can join Qantas Frequent Flyer for free here to start earning points to help you get to one of these amazing cinema destinations around the world.
