Clovis just got a lot more appealing (to me)
Submitted by Jefferson Beavers on Wed, 12/13/2006 - 14:26.
Independent film lovers rejoice! The grand opening of the new Criterion Cinemas Stadium 16 is scheduled for this Friday, Dec. 15, at the Sierra Vista Mall expansion in Clovis.
The new Criterion theater, operated by North American Cinemas of Santa Rosa, Calif., has a promising lineup of alternative film choices in its first weekend of programming. Here are the films on tap:
* Fast Food Nation - Starring Greg Kinnear and an ensemble cast, returning to the Fresno/Clovis market.
* For Your Consideration - Starring Christopher Guest and an ensemble cast, returning to the Fresno/Clovis market.
* Guadalupe - A new indie out of Mexico, brand-new in the Fresno/Clovis market.
* Keeping Mum - Starring Maggie Smith and an ensemble cast, brand-new in the Fresno/Clovis market.
* The Queen - Starring Helen Mirren, returning to the Fresno/Clovis market.
The new theater isn't quite listed yet on Yahoo movies, AOL movies, or other popular showtime aggregator sites, but you can bookmark the Criterion page on the North American Cinemas site for future showtime details.
John Moses, president of Fresno Filmworks, said publicly last week at the monthly Filmworks screening that he has heard that Criterion has pledged to offer a steady menu of independent films, now that it has entered the Fresno/Clovis market. He urged Filmworks loyalists to give them a try, and I agree.
Filmworks and Fresno Reel Pride will still, of course, be my favorites. But let's hope Criterion sticks to its word, and provides local moviegoers the alternatives we want and deserve.
The old Regal Cinemas six-plex at Sierra Vista Mall, formerly a United Artists theater, will now close. Regal previously had a stranglehold on the entire Fresno/Clovis movie market, owning all five major moviehouses in the area and often severely limiting moviegoing choices.
I'm sure millions of dollars were spent, but I agree that the inside of the theater looks "cheap". It looks as if they were in too much of a hurry to open. It looks very plain and incomplete. The bathrooms looked like they had not been cleaned of the construction dust, and the tile work on the floors was poorly done. Yes, the carpeting looked "cheap". I think the walls between the theaters are too thin because we could hear the sound of the movie next door. I'm hoping that the theater really is just incomplete and that the appearance will improve. The outside of the building is very nice and so are the new buildings around it. The rocker seats are cool and they have Cherry Pepsi! It's not all bad. I just wasn't wowed!
Clovis Theater
"On the cheap"?? That theater cost millions of dollars. It's just stunning inside. Bathroom stalls a plenty. The sound and projectors are imported from Germany. No other like them in California.
Please...before you spread the "on the cheap" thoughts, see it for yourself first hand.
Thanks.
clovis theatre
I've been looking forward to the opening of the new theatre since I'm about a mile away and they're supposed to be playing more indie films. I have some family members who went this weekend and said they felt like the theatre was done "on the cheap." Cheap carpeting, not enough bathrooms, etc. Hopefully, they'll keep the indie films, though.
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