If You Have to Pay $10.75 for a Movie...

waverly_ifc
Originally uploaded by dangunderman.

...Do it at the new IFC Center, formerly known as The Waverly.

Movie ticket prices in New York have consistently been a terrific source of anger for me. And now New York is pretty much free of movie houses that charge less than $10. One exception, of course, is Center Cinemas on Queens Boulevard here in the leafy enclave of Sunnyside, where for $7 -- $4.50 on Super Tuesdays -- you are guaranteed one of the shittiest experiences possible in movie watching.

The IFC Center almost made me feel like my $10.75 was well-earned. There's no advertising before the film (other than a pretty cool animation featuring themselves, you know, just to let you know where you are). And instead of advertising, the feature is led by a short film. Preceding a feature by a short is a long-lost ritual, and I'm hoping against hope that movie theaters everywhere will pick up the tradition again, the way the IFC Center has.

It's a cinema owned by the Independent Film Channel, so naturally, they keep a fairly interesting selection of films in the theaters. We saw "Touch the Sound," a documentary about profoundly deaf Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie. It was good. I was also pleased to see that they do some revivals. It's "Jules and Jim" at the moment.

The concession stand is expensive like at all movie theaters, but offers organic popcorn, fresh-brewed coffee, hot and cold teas, fancy chocolates, and baked treats.

It's the theaters themselves that made me happiest. Not only do they have stadium seating and nice screens with great sound, but the back row is a series of love seats. Dude. Love seats.

Independent film monopoly and non-union projectionists aside (they've even had the famous inflatable rat), the experience they provide is almost -- almost -- worth the cost.