Where The Rock Meets Tinseltown

Despite constantly improving home AV, it remains worth it to go out to the movies. Even today, directors and studios still have the silver screen first in mind when working to create. It's best to view many films that way, at least the first time, and Little Rock offers some good venues for doing that.

The Rave. It's probably the newest in town and is the multiplex behemoth. That's a negative to me. However, on its multiple screens the Rave offers superior exhibition — digital projection, 3D and a soon-to-come IMax-type theater. The stadium seating is good, rest rooms aren't too far away and satellite concession stands down the concourses offer easy access to snacks when the traffic is heavy. Other amenities include a children's lounge for parties, ample parking and pretty good street access from nearby Interstate 430 as well as Col. Glenn Road. Automated ticket kiosks also allow theatergoers to buy tickets themselves if the conventional tickets sales windows are overwhelmed.

What's more is The Rave sometimes offers outside the mainstream programming. It's not unheard of to see a documentary on the marquee or even a foreign or independent film. Lately, they've even taken one night a week to screening such cinema classics a "The Godfather" and "Yellow Submarine" for those too young to have experienced them in a real theatre. I doubt those will be there this summer, but I'll keep an eye out myself.

One more downside to the Rave is the atmosphere, especially during blockbuster season. Crowds can become predominantly teen, loud and noisy. One woman I heard recently referred to it as a "big frat party." Mostly though, our encounters with the hormone-challenged throng have been anywhere from OK to about a 4 on the annoyance scale. (That's a 10-point scale in which is 0 equals an almost unconscious state to 10, which is homicidal with frustration).

Overall score to The Rave is an A minus.

Market Street. I have quit going to Market Street Cinema almost entirely because of a series of bad experiences and multiple factors. Before I try to warn you away, let it be said that MSC does do a good job of programming. The movies there often are ones you won't see anywhere else in town. Its schedule caters to the sophisticated cineaste with documentaries, indies and foreign fare.

What's frustrating about MSC is sometimes it feels like the Mean Old Man from an episode of "Scooby-Doo" is running it in order to run off well-meaning cinephiles. Strike that. The Mean Old Man at least would be colorful. That's not to say that the folks who work for him selling food and tickets don't try hard. They do, but they're handicapped by a management/ownership that either is undercapitalized, incompetent or miserly — or some combination of the three. Equipment and exhibition is substandard. Its failings include poor sound, poor projection and sometimes even poor auditorium lighting. That's the source of the frustration — good movies shown badly.

MSC is hard to find if you're new to Little Rock but it's not far off a major thoroughfare. The theater also does serve beer. If you're a happy drunk, I recommend getting one because it'll help you endure the experience. Other typical concession food is OK. Rest rooms could use a facelift and don't even get us started on the carpet. Should a high-end luxury theater ever open in Little Rock with similar programming, MSC will close in three hours or less. That should free up some spaces in the problematic parking lot. Overall — D plus.

Riverdale 10. I only have sampled it during the Little Rock Film Festival, but it does offer an alternative to The Rave. Generally, they appear to screen mainstream films during the other 51 nonfestival weeks of the year. Seating is the old traditional flat-floor type, and the seats themselves have seen better days. Exhibition is superior to MSC but below that of The Rave. What's great about it is Riverdale is close to a stretch of interesting Little Rock bistros. Dinner and a movie is easy in that neighborhood. You and a date can dine at a chain like Dixie Cafe or independents such as Pizza Cafe or Buffalo Grill, then pop on over on Cantrell to Riverdale. Overall — B-.

Wait a minute, you say, that's only three places. Yes, it is. I don't pretend to be comprehensive in every blog. However, many topics like this will warrant updates and follow-ups, so not to worry. I'm not done yet.

See you next weekend.

The Rave/Colonel Glenn 18 — 18 Col. Glenn Plaza Drive, Little Rock. This is just of Interstate 430 near the Col. Glenn exit and Col. Glenn Road. Huge parking lot.

Market Street Cinema — 1521 Merrill Drive, off North Shackleford Road. Tucked around the back side of the strip of stores.

Riverdale 10 — 2600 Cantrell Road, not as accessible by interstate as the other two but fairly easy to find.