19 November 2015

Best of Canberra call out - cinemas

| Charlotte
Join the conversation
30
cinema

In these days of internet TV, iPads, Netflix and cinematic television series like Game of Thrones, cinemas have to offer up something special to get us off our sofas and into their ticket queues.

Luckily, we’re spoilt for choice in Canberra when it comes to going to the movies.

If it’s a family outing you’re after, you might choose popcorn and choc tops at Hoyts at Belconnen or Woden. For a night out with friends, you could grab a drink or dinner in Manuka then head to the movies across the road. If it’s a date, you might choose Dendy in the Canberra Centre or Palace Electric at New Acton so you can grab a glass of sparkling wine before you catch a flick.

The competition is hotting up in coming weeks and months. Hoyts is installing extra comfy seats and adding a liquor licence to its Canberra sites in a bid to compete with Dendy and Palace Electric.

Dendy, meanwhile, has begun work on a major expansion project.

There are cinemas we haven’t mentioned already, like the ARC cinema and Limelight at Tuggerangong, but we’ll leave it to you from here …

Which is your favourite Canberra cinema, and why? We’ll road test your two top picks this weekend and announce our Best of Canberra – Cinema winner next week.

Join the conversation

30
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Palace Electric is good, Dendy is not- too many technical problems.

rubaiyat said :

No_Nose said :

dungfungus said :

Getting to the parking is the problem.

Don’t worry, soon all the southside will be able to drive to Gunghalin, park there and take a tram. Surely that will make it easier.

An example of the “I’m the centre of the universe” thinking.

As you point out everybody on the route of the tram will be able to have a pleasant night out, catching the tram till very late, not have to worry about or pay for the stinky loveliness of the carpark enjoying possibly a nice glass of wine and a meal either before or during the movie or theatre or whatever is on then going home happy without drink driving and endangering everybody else.

But then that would be considerate, thinking of others, and not the Canberra Way, right?

As a bonus your BMW won’t be stolen and burnt to the ground in the car park, so possibly a better night out than you are used to.

I can’t wait another 50 years for a light rail to come to Tuggers so I will drive as long as I can and then get a taxi.
I don’t have a BMW by the way. I used to about 40 years ago when I was well off but it succumbed to one of the Brisbane floods and I wasn’t sad to see it go as German cars are the most overrated ones on the market.
Do you intend to catch the tram to your ski chalets?

I see a shedload of movies most weeks, because I write short and bitter lemon flavoured reviews for family and friends and just like watching films.
For mine, Limelight is the easiest visit, especially during the day. Palace is probably the best experience, just ahead of Dendy, but parking is problematic; I tend to park over the bridge, except during Floriade. Wouldn’t usually bother with Dendy Premium, though it’s a bit of fun at a significant premium price.
Neither Hoyts is especially good at anything, and Event Manuka is cheap in the day but tries to be more than it is when it needs a serious polish-up inside to compete with the exterior. It would be lovely if the mainstream cinemas put on a few more weird, minor, Oz, foreign or indie movies from time to time, rather than leaving that mostly to Palace or Dendy.

Palace Cinemas — good value (esp if you’re a senior), comfy seating, great variety of screenings, food and drinks, and reasonable parking.

They get my vote.

No_Nose said :

dungfungus said :

Getting to the parking is the problem.

Don’t worry, soon all the southside will be able to drive to Gunghalin, park there and take a tram. Surely that will make it easier.

An example of the “I’m the centre of the universe” thinking.

As you point out everybody on the route of the tram will be able to have a pleasant night out, catching the tram till very late, not have to worry about or pay for the stinky loveliness of the carpark enjoying possibly a nice glass of wine and a meal either before or during the movie or theatre or whatever is on then going home happy without drink driving and endangering everybody else.

But then that would be considerate, thinking of others, and not the Canberra Way, right?

As a bonus your BMW won’t be stolen and burnt to the ground in the car park, so possibly a better night out than you are used to.

ANU Film Group, hands down. Best value cinema in the country. Where else can you pay a one-off membership fee and see as many films as you want?

Celebrating 50 years next year too, so they’re clearly doing something right. Do yourself a favour if you’ve never been and look into it – I find it hard to see a film anywhere else these days.

JC said :

gooterz said :

What dandy redevelopment?
Anything to do with half of civic looking empty?

Denby is taking over part of the roof top carpark in the Canberra Centre and expanding. As it will be over the road a bridge will link the existing foyer with the new part.

Is Dendy owned by Dandy Denby?

gooterz said :

What dandy redevelopment?
Anything to do with half of civic looking empty?

Denby is taking over part of the roof top carpark in the Canberra Centre and expanding. As it will be over the road a bridge will link the existing foyer with the new part.

dungfungus said :

Getting to the parking is the problem.

Don’t worry, soon all the southside will be able to drive to Gunghalin, park there and take a tram. Surely that will make it easier.

rubaiyat said :

The ANU Film Group. now 40 years old, has to be THE best bargain in Canberra or anywhere in Australia.

If they would fix the heating it would be even better value.
Sausage roils in the kiosk behind the screen are good even though they are nuked in a microwave oven.

The ANU Film Group. now 40 years old, has to be THE best bargain in Canberra or anywhere in Australia.

gooterz said :

What dandy redevelopment?
Anything to do with half of civic looking empty?

Usually, Tony Abbott or the airport people are blamed for Civic looking empty (which it is).

What dandy redevelopment?
Anything to do with half of civic looking empty?

Sandman said :

How do you have problems parking at Dendy? I don’t think I’ve ever parked more than 20m from the lift that takes you right up to the cinema, and our Friday night session that ended around 9:05 last week resulted in a $2 parking charge. Bargain at twice the price.
Online booking meant we had perfect seats, plenty of sessions to ensure we could work around when the wives would be home from work to take care of the kids.

Prices are starting to get up there, but I’ll still only go to Dendy.

Getting to the parking is the problem.

The ACT Government in partnership with New Acton entrepreneurs should opportunistically hop in and poach Tropfest … a Canberra-owned short film festival would be great!

batmantrilogy4:19 pm 12 Nov 15

I have been to palace for most of the time !
Always had great experience.
Although netflix has totally revolutionized everything .

How do you have problems parking at Dendy? I don’t think I’ve ever parked more than 20m from the lift that takes you right up to the cinema, and our Friday night session that ended around 9:05 last week resulted in a $2 parking charge. Bargain at twice the price.
Online booking meant we had perfect seats, plenty of sessions to ensure we could work around when the wives would be home from work to take care of the kids.

Prices are starting to get up there, but I’ll still only go to Dendy.

Alexandra Craig3:19 pm 12 Nov 15

dungfungus said :

Alexandra Craig said :

Mysteryman said :

miz said :

Limelight https://www.facebook.com/Limelightcinemas/

Shows all the good movies and then some, and doesn’t rip you off. Even more discounts are available through the loyalty card. And you get free parking – just ask the cashier to extend your two hour ticket.
Very popular and well patronised, particularly over the Christmas/New Year period, so get there a bit early.

It’s almost impossible to see a movie and get change from a $20 note anywhere in Canberra other than Tuggeranong. I’m glad Limelight haven’t done the usual “open up with reasonable prices then jack them up to un-competitive levels within a year” trick that every other cinema in the ACT has done – I’m looking at you, Palace Electric. If Limelight wasn’t a 30min drive away, I’d go there far more often.

I still don’t know why they haven’t opened a Limelight cinema in Gungahlin. There’s a rapidly expanding population are no other cinemas nearby.

While I’m ranting, I’m not sure I like the “book online” system that every other cinema has. Sure, it’s great that you can choose your seating, but knowing that most sessions already have all the good seats taken even though nobody has arrived yet, has soured the fun of spontaneously walking into a cinema and deciding to watch a film.

Only $10 a ticket at Manuka cinema 🙂

You don’t look old enough to get a senior’s concession.

Haha! It’s $10 for everyone, except child tickets which cost $7.50 😀

+1 for Palace. All my experiences there have been positive.

Dendy, especially in the premium cinema can be very hit and miss. Last time we went the seats hadn’t been cleaned from the previous session and the couple in front of us spent the whole movie talking and using their phone. When you pay a bit extra for your movie you expect certain standards and unfortunately they weren’t met.

Don’t mind taking the kids to Palace – and getting a big glass of red!

However, could write a whole separate rant on that carpark under the Nishi building. What a nightmare.

Alexandra Craig said :

Mysteryman said :

miz said :

Limelight https://www.facebook.com/Limelightcinemas/

Shows all the good movies and then some, and doesn’t rip you off. Even more discounts are available through the loyalty card. And you get free parking – just ask the cashier to extend your two hour ticket.
Very popular and well patronised, particularly over the Christmas/New Year period, so get there a bit early.

It’s almost impossible to see a movie and get change from a $20 note anywhere in Canberra other than Tuggeranong. I’m glad Limelight haven’t done the usual “open up with reasonable prices then jack them up to un-competitive levels within a year” trick that every other cinema in the ACT has done – I’m looking at you, Palace Electric. If Limelight wasn’t a 30min drive away, I’d go there far more often.

I still don’t know why they haven’t opened a Limelight cinema in Gungahlin. There’s a rapidly expanding population are no other cinemas nearby.

While I’m ranting, I’m not sure I like the “book online” system that every other cinema has. Sure, it’s great that you can choose your seating, but knowing that most sessions already have all the good seats taken even though nobody has arrived yet, has soured the fun of spontaneously walking into a cinema and deciding to watch a film.

Only $10 a ticket at Manuka cinema 🙂

You don’t look old enough to get a senior’s concession.

Alexandra Craig10:17 am 12 Nov 15

Mysteryman said :

miz said :

Limelight https://www.facebook.com/Limelightcinemas/

Shows all the good movies and then some, and doesn’t rip you off. Even more discounts are available through the loyalty card. And you get free parking – just ask the cashier to extend your two hour ticket.
Very popular and well patronised, particularly over the Christmas/New Year period, so get there a bit early.

It’s almost impossible to see a movie and get change from a $20 note anywhere in Canberra other than Tuggeranong. I’m glad Limelight haven’t done the usual “open up with reasonable prices then jack them up to un-competitive levels within a year” trick that every other cinema in the ACT has done – I’m looking at you, Palace Electric. If Limelight wasn’t a 30min drive away, I’d go there far more often.

I still don’t know why they haven’t opened a Limelight cinema in Gungahlin. There’s a rapidly expanding population are no other cinemas nearby.

While I’m ranting, I’m not sure I like the “book online” system that every other cinema has. Sure, it’s great that you can choose your seating, but knowing that most sessions already have all the good seats taken even though nobody has arrived yet, has soured the fun of spontaneously walking into a cinema and deciding to watch a film.

Only $10 a ticket at Manuka cinema 🙂

miz said :

Limelight https://www.facebook.com/Limelightcinemas/

Shows all the good movies and then some, and doesn’t rip you off. Even more discounts are available through the loyalty card. And you get free parking – just ask the cashier to extend your two hour ticket.
Very popular and well patronised, particularly over the Christmas/New Year period, so get there a bit early.

It’s almost impossible to see a movie and get change from a $20 note anywhere in Canberra other than Tuggeranong. I’m glad Limelight haven’t done the usual “open up with reasonable prices then jack them up to un-competitive levels within a year” trick that every other cinema in the ACT has done – I’m looking at you, Palace Electric. If Limelight wasn’t a 30min drive away, I’d go there far more often.

I still don’t know why they haven’t opened a Limelight cinema in Gungahlin. There’s a rapidly expanding population are no other cinemas nearby.

While I’m ranting, I’m not sure I like the “book online” system that every other cinema has. Sure, it’s great that you can choose your seating, but knowing that most sessions already have all the good seats taken even though nobody has arrived yet, has soured the fun of spontaneously walking into a cinema and deciding to watch a film.

Postalgeek said :

dungfungus said :

The curse is still the rude people who insist on playing with their devices while the film is showing. I have found a solution is to move from my preferred seat and sit upright immediately in front of them to block their view of the screen (in case they decide to watch the movie).

Went to the cinema on Saturday and some idiot kept checking his messages next to me. i don’t think sitting in front, unless you’re 7 foot something is going to work, as nowadays the tiered seating seems to be quite effective. And that’s assuming the seat in front is vacant.

I’ve decided my personal response will be to silently hold my phone about a foot from the side of their head with an ‘Annoying, isn’t it’ message on the screen.

I like it (but I’ll have to buy a phone to try it).

Limelight https://www.facebook.com/Limelightcinemas/

Shows all the good movies and then some, and doesn’t rip you off. Even more discounts are available through the loyalty card. And you get free parking – just ask the cashier to extend your two hour ticket.
Very popular and well patronised, particularly over the Christmas/New Year period, so get there a bit early.

dungfungus said :

The curse is still the rude people who insist on playing with their devices while the film is showing. I have found a solution is to move from my preferred seat and sit upright immediately in front of them to block their view of the screen (in case they decide to watch the movie).

Went to the cinema on Saturday and some idiot kept checking his messages next to me. i don’t think sitting in front, unless you’re 7 foot something is going to work, as nowadays the tiered seating seems to be quite effective. And that’s assuming the seat in front is vacant. I’ve decided my personal response will be to silently hold my phone about a foot from the side of their head with an ‘Annoying, isn’t it’ message on the screen.

Holden Caulfield4:32 pm 11 Nov 15

Dendy Premium is obviously a winner too, if budget isn’t an issue.

Generally Dendy or Palace have more tolerable clientele that will cause less disruption to your viewing pleasure. Join their club for cheaper tickets, the downside is paying for parking.

My Hoyts visits are usually less pleasurable, needing to put up with kids kicking the back of the seats, talking or playing with their phones throughout the movie.

Dendy set the standard for “sizzle” when they opened a few years ago. It was my favourite but access and parking in that area makes it a problem these days.
The Palace complex in New Acton is quirky but good and concessional parking underneath (when available) is great value. I found it hard to place a wine glass on the space between the seats without it sliding off but with a $9 per glass minimum now it is a pleasure I can’t afford.
Seating and sound is excellent as it is at Manuka.
There are other venues that are good namely the theatre at NGA and the ANU Film Group. Concessions are available at almost every regular venue but probably the best is Palace.
The curse is still the rude people who insist on playing with their devices while the film is showing. I have found a solution is to move from my preferred seat and sit upright immediately in front of them to block their view of the screen (in case they decide to watch the movie).
When is RiotACT getting its own “resident” film critic? I love Ben Pobje in the CT but Canberra is big enough for another.
We are blessed with annual film festivals here and the choice an quality available makes it difficult to stay home and watch TV or a DVD.

Holden Caulfield3:05 pm 11 Nov 15

Palace Cinemas for me, mostly due to the broader range of films they screen (festivals, retro etc). Popping up to Monster for a pre- or post-movie drink/snack also helps.

Aside from the parking, of course, which is pants most of the time (pro-tip: park across the road near the Shine Dome).

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.