Landmark's Aquarius Theatre

A desperately needed indie movie house. It has a very good bar and food options. If you combine it with the gourmet Greek restaurant next door you have one heck of an evening.

Small theater, the room had a musty - cigarette smell. It took a while to get use to it. The popcorn was pretty salty. Cashier gave bit of an attitude since I wanted to pay cash. Wouldn't really come back, to be honest.

Pretty good theatre with only 2 screens. Located in the middle of Palo Alto. Small screens and decent sound quality. Doesn't give you the big screen experience though.

Cute independent theatre. Very intimate. Great seats. Clean. Lovely small cinema experience.

Comfy and intimate theater; #1 screen has electric recliner seats, so watch out or you'll fall asleep (they forgot to mention no snoring in the theatre :-) zzz. Great treat bar, popcorn and sodas + homemade cookies and other local treats. Personal treatment on entry, into the theater and before the movie starts. Movies are "Indy", so you get the pleasure of low venue movies in an excellent theater.

One of my favorite indie/art cinemas! Just two screens, but the rooms are nicely small so you can seat close to the picture and the image / sound in them is great. Typically great selection of the latest less-mainstream releases, and even National Theatre Live events. Oh, and they have wine and beer. Go here if you dig these sorts of places!

Absolutely love coming here. Super close to great food nearby. The staff is always so considerate and the seats are comfy. It’s always nice going to a local boutique theatre, grabbing a delicious snack and watching a great movie!

Beautiful theater and great staff but so disappointing to see such an awesome theater play the same 1-2 “blockbusters” for a month straight as opposed to highlighting some more independent and diverse movies, which would add some much needed culture to downtown Palo Alto. Stanford theater is brilliant but would love to be able to watch some more recent classics as well as under seen new releases.

Came here to watch the limited release of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. Boyfriend was the sweetest and did his research on theaters near us that played Frankenstein, and bought tickets over a week in advance, since he knew I was very excited to watch this with him even though the movie wasn't quite his cup of tea. The theater is spacious, and the seats are so comfy. We were able to recline in these seats, and pretty much just lie in them as if they were comfortable beds. The staff was also very nice! Parking was a bit hard to find. My boyfriend had to drop me off in front of the theater while he went to go find parking a bit further away. I'm glad Aquarius played Frankenstein. I left the theater awed, and as a fan of the novel, I cannot stop raving about how good the movie is. Thanks Aquarius for choosing to screen it!

so glad we found this spot. wonderful, smiling employees who seem to enjoy and take pride in their work. and as one said " the best popcorn in town " - they weren't kidding!! *Real* butter !! Also they left out a few bags as we walked out bc it was the last viewing - so sweet and just makes me miss ...the ' good ol' days ' we came here to see Past Lives - parked right across the theatre and had such a wonderful time. comfy reclining seats that have so much space in between you feel like you're in a private viewing. i signed up to be a part of their movie club when i walked out bc i fell in love with this lil spot!! lets try to keep these smaller spots open - we can't let em die out!!

The Aquarius Theatre is a lovely theatre. I avoid the mega theaters when possible. Glad there is a Senior Discount on popcorn and beverages. Super glad the popcorn is served with real butter upon request. The theatre staff are very helpful and friendly. The theatre is located in Downtown Palo Alto which offers several restaurant options for a good breakfast before or lunch/dinner after a movie. Well worth the Dumbarton Bridge ride I take to get there.

AMAZING popcorn! I think they use real butter? Doesn't taste oily like standard "buttery topping" at most movie theatres. Great seats, small, close feel like you would get watching movies in a home theatre with family and friends. You're not going to get crying babies, talkative people, people bumping your legs as they squeeze through the row to their seats. This ain't coach on the airplane, it's first class seating. Staff is incredibly helpful and nice! They seem so happy to be there, not like teens on their phones at the theatre room entrance totally oblivious to you until you're right in front of them with your QR code pulled up. You can find great indie movies. They only have two theatres but they make movies an immersive experience. I want to come back but with all the virus stuff going on... :(

Aquarius is a very modern little Indie theater that is able to show two films simultaneously in a rather cozy environment. I recently made the trip up here to Palo Alto to watch The Farewell since it was the only theater (at the time) showing it in the Peninsula/South Bay. Tickets can be purchased online and claimed at the theater, making it very easy to snag that seat before you arrive. If you didn't already know, the theater does require assigned seating so your ticket will reflect where you'll be watching the movie. Once you enter the actual theater, the concession/ticket stand are all the same. The two screens are on the far sides with restrooms located on opposite ends of each other. Since you don't need to interact with anyone as you enter, it's actually rather easy to bring some refreshments if you aren't interested in purchasing any of the concession stand snacks. The seats were LARGE and were able to recline pretty far back. Loved the seats, but wasn't a fan of the one-aisle that you'd use to get in and out of the rows. The theater is also very flat so seats in the back won't necessarily recline upward. Be cognizant of this when selecting your seat of choice. This is a great theater and I hope they continue to do well and promote some of the year's best underexposed films.

This is a small, old-fashioned, and cute theatre with friendly service close to University Ave and walking distance to plenty of restaurants. The lot across the street is free parking without time limits on Sunday.

Tiny little place. Very nostalgic of movies in days gone by. Real butter of the popcorn. Mostly independent films. I go here by myself, slip in the back, and feat my eyes on the screen and my mouth on the buttery popcorn.

Well kept movie theater with just 2 auditoriums that focuses on Indie movies. When you first walk in, you'll see the concession stand that also acts as the ticket counter. They serve your typical movie snacks, but also some more upscale treats/chocolate as well as a selection of beer/wine. Reserved seating which I always appreciate. Seats are leather with recline and comfortable. However, the layout is quite awkward as the aisle is only on one side of the auditorium. If you have the choice, choose the right most seats (at least in Auditorium 2) to avoid having to climb over people. The screen is also not the largest so would recommend in sitting in Rows D-H.

Beautiful little two screen theater where I was able to catch an independent film that no other theater in the area was showing. I had never been here before as I live out of town but found the entire staff to be friendly and accommodating for myself and all of the other guests. I was so full and didnt order any concessions but I loved the mix of items they had available. I was in theater 2 and found the seats comfortable, with great sound and a comfortable temperature. I overheard someone mention that Theater 1 had reclining seats, so hopefully I get to check out that screen at some point as well.

The Aquarius is a small theatre in downtown Palo Alto located near Evvia and the Patio. It shows 2 movies at a time and usually the movie choices are excellent. The seating is very comfortable and the two theatres are relatively small with limited seating. I've come multiple times and have never found it to be overly crowded. The staff is always so friendly as well. Highly recommend!

Loved our experience at this theatre! Lots of places in downtown Palo Alto to grab dinner nearby before the show. Friendly staff, truly yummy popcorn with real butter, and comfortable plush chairs that recline. Prices are comparable to the big box theatres, and it felt good to contribute to a independent place. Can't wait to see what other shows they play in the future.

Great place if you are into Indie films, avant-garde flicks, and foreign films. I usually just look up theaters that showcase a movie I've been dying to see. I picked this place out of convenience with time showings. So I'm not saying it's a go-to per say. But, I've only been here once and I would definitely go here again. One of the two auditoriums has recliners so if you're into that check the film times to see when you get that option for that movie (if that make sense, I hope). The recliners are pretty comfortable I must add. (:

Thanks to Movie Pass, I have been able to explore many different theaters and even go out of my way to see movies at other new theaters. For Aquarius Theatre, I especially came here to see "Leave No Trace." For some reason, movies like these do not make it to AMC, which is a bummer. The Aquarius Theatre itself only has 2 large theaters. Thus, only two movies can be played simultaneously at any time. Please know that due to the configuration of the theater, in Theater 2, the A seats are aisles, while the H seats are against a wall. I made the mistake thinking that the seats on both ends are aisles and have easy access to restroom breaks. The seats are leather, so it is very comfy. The theater itself is small but quite updated, so the experience here has been great. I will definitely be back to watch those Sundance films that seem to only play here or other smaller theaters. PS: By the way, if you use Movie Pass, you can get electronic ticketing in advance with Aquarius Theatre.

Not my favorite theater, and I'll tell ya why. There are a couple of reasons. 1) Seats lean back waaayyyy too far, and it's super hard for anyone to be comfortable. 2) One way up and down the aisles, creating an awkward moment for people who are coming in late. 3) Assigned seats, makes it hard for people who don't know about that. What I did love was their Popcorn! OMG that was so good. I think if I'm in Palo Alto, I'll just walk in only to purchase their popcorn, but not to see a movie.

Same as it ever was..... The Landmark Aquarius features independent and foreign language cinema. There are 2 theaters and a neat Atlantis-like theme. There are also loads of food, refreshment, and strolling opportunities both before and after the show. I first came to the Aquarius in 1984 to see "Stop Making Sense", the ultimate concert movie featuring the Talking Heads. I also recall makin' flippy floppy at a midnight show, with other folks who could talk just like me! Hopefully, they'll play it once again, and they'll play it all night long.....

I am a fan of small local business and support it whenever I have a chance. And movie theatres are no exception. But what the Hell is the deal with the tight seating? It's not like I am even that tall, and talk about knees in your face. I always dread seeing movies here and just figure that I am going to suffer for two hours. The movies they show here are great. Usually independent movies that you wont find playing at your megaplex. The theatre even has an excellent concession stand including chilled Junior Mints. Or if you are like my wife sneak in a healthy supply of gummy bears-NOT. MY. IDEA. Did I mention that there is like zero leg room here? 5 stars for showing some super great films Not so 5 stars for uncomfortable peasant class seating,

I've always enjoyed coming to the Aquarius. It's smaller and the volume isn't as loud as a larger theater. But since they have renovated...paperless and all, I'm so disappointed in the "new" seats. Why spend so much $$ on big, lounge-style, leaning seats that one cannot control?? All the older people sink into them and cannot get out easily, nor are they comfortable. You can ask for a lumbar cushion, but ...they don't have enough for both theaters, if many people ask, so they run out. As you're stuck in the seats, you cannot easily move your legs for people to pass you. It's just all crazy. AND the food costs went way up and they have an usher to take your tickets that they just gave you at the counter....?? None of this make any sense to me. Why are they paying for another person and these crummy seats when they could have recushioned the old seats and ripped your ticket at the window or counter?? I still love the intimacy of the smaller theater, but I"m very disappointed in Landmark Theaters---especially if they mandated this to their franchisees.

Definitely more on the retro side, but I enjoyed the small, older movie theater experience. The seats aren't particularly comfortable and the screen is small, but I think if you are looking to watch something a little out of the ordinary, this is a great place to go. I came here for a movie screening and my group had rented out the theater so that was an absolute blast. The staff was very friendly even though it was probably a little overwhelming with all of us there! Overall, I'm a fan! Great location for the theater as well. Super walkable.

I've lived in PA for 30 years and went to the Aquarius many times for art and independent films. That was before the remodel. I suspect in an effort to provide more seating, one of the screens has non-adjustable seats in which I can't sit. I've been disappointed to find a film I wanted see playing at that screen and had to wait until it was on a streaming service. There's also no parking more than 2 hours on weekdays for matinees, so why do they even show them? I'm done with the Aquarius. It's dead to me.

Oh my gosh. The staff here - each one says hello, smiles, makes genuine contact. Were they fortunate enough to hire all these nice people or are they trained to be so lovely? And the seats are plush and big - reclining. What an incredible theatre

Great little theatre, you can see from everywhere... It's clean and it gets those great indie films you're just dying to see! (Like Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk with Me... which deserves its own five star rating!) Also appreciate that they don't mind you bringing in hot drinks or ice cream from the outside... Aquarius Theatre is just pretty bomb overall.

My opinion is totally split. Great selection of films for sure, but the screen is pretty small and the chair... I will advise you to BYOC- "bring your own chair"-- camping chair, lawn chair, high chair, anything you may have at home is more comfortable compared to their chairs. Or, bring a cushion or blanket to sit on for your comfort. I walked in with a coffee purchased outside of the theater without problem, so I was also happy about that :)

I try to use my MoviePass account whenever I can, but the Aquarius doesn't show up in the MoviePass app. I had an old booklet of Landmark passes I had bought several years ago, and at first the box office person said they didn't take them, but then changed her mind and said they did, and then changed her mind again and charged me an extra $1.50 surcharge for each ticket, with no explanation. The theater has converted to reserved lounge seating, but at least where my girlfriend and I sat (L4 and L5) the armrest between us couldn't be raised and there was no control of the angle of the seat back. I couldn't avoid leaning all the way back; it felt like my head must have been almost in the lap of the woman behind me. This made drinking my drink very difficult. Until I had drunk a substantial amount, I had to hold it at such an angle that it was spilliing out the straw hole in the lid onto my shirt. The audience for our screening was very talkative, which was quite distracting. The movie we saw was good and this was the only theater within 50 miles showing it, but the whole experience left a lot to be desired.

I'm really surprised that this theatre isn't rated higher than 3.5 stars. It doesn't play any of the bigger movies that hit the box office but that's what makes it so amazing. I love the indie movies they show here. We had a chance to catch The Lobster, Finding Vivian Maier and The Stanford Prison Experiment, all of which were great. They theatre is small but almost never crowded. You can walk up for a show 10minutes before and be guaranteed a seat. They've also upgraded their seats to recliners so you can sit back and relax. Overall it's a really nice old school theatre to grab a movie for $12.

We have come here to this smaller quaint theater over the years to watch some indie films over the years and really enjoy coming here. Great to have some variety when you want a break from the mega complexes with the throngs of the people.

Purely for convenience and the quality of films shown here. It's also really cute & charming how the staff come into the theater prior to the film's start time to wish everyone a good show. How sweet & old fashioned! Chiropratic needs? Don't come here. The seats are so NOT orthopedic.

Came here to see Anomalisa, since it wasn't showing at many locations, but I'm glad I gave it a shot! I've walked past here several times and always known it existed, by the movie sitch never lined up. Movie selection: I don't keep track of this, but it looks like 2 movies (there's 2 auditoriums), showings timed in a way to let you hit both in the same night, if that suits your fancy. Ticketing: There's digital kiosks and you can order from the same counter as food. $12 for a weeknight ticket. Seating: You pick your seats when you order. The seats aren't paired --as they are at Shoreline -- so any 2 next to each other are about the same. They're the sofas with the recliner settings and they go pretty far back. The aisles are HUUUUGE. (See photo)** so when picking your seat be aware that each row back is quite a distance further from the screen. Staff: Some might call this overstaffed, but boy were they attentive. Friendly. Food: They actually have a menu here (see photo)**, which includes the usual popcorn and hot dog, but also motz sticks, mac n cheese bites, and empanadas. I haven't tried them so I can't speak to it though!

I revisited this theater to catch a movie and was extremely impressed to see that it has been updated from the inside. All the seats now are comfortable reclining chairs with an automatic leg rest that opens up with a click of a button! The best part is that you can reserve your seats so no more rushing to make it before time! The chairs are pretty comfortable too It's as good as watching great movies on your couch. This continues to be one of my favorite theaters because they're always playing very interesting and eclectic indie movies. I've never been disappointed with any movie I've seen here so far.

The Aquarius is your classic old-style venue, with typically a single film at a time, sometimes two. And when I say old-style, I'm not talking about Drive-In movies from the 70's, but the really old-old style where there is a single ticket vendor, who may also be your ticket taker, probably also your concession stand guy, and quite possibly the film tech. I haven't been down for a movie at the AQ for awhile, but their clever quippy headliners decribing the movie rarely fail to ilicit a smile as I walk by daily. You won't get the THX or somesuch super sound system (I think some of their films highlight 'Dolby' which just makes me snicker...almost like saying "Color brought to you by..."), but you'll still get indie films that are otherwise harder and harder to find in theaters these days.

Came here on a weeknight to watch Chasing Ice, a documentary film about climate change and photographer James Balog who dedicated many years to documenting the melting of glaciers around the world. Go see it! But back to the theater. They allow you to buy your tickets online with the addition of a $1 convenience fee/ticket. It turned out not to be necessary, but I'm glad that it goes towards maintaining this independent theater. The location is primo, right in the heart of downtown Palo Alto and next to many shops and restaurants. Parking can be a bit of a pain because of this, but just be patient. There is a single ticket counter that faces out towards the street. They also have a small concessions stand with all of the basics including freshly popped and fragrant popcorn. I like the fact that they have a little popcorn flavoring station with various shakers of salt. Seating was older, but comfy. The theater itself was fairly narrow, with a single aisle down the center. The theater was sparsely staffed with just two people on a weeknight, but one of them came in with a ukelele and sang a little song for us before the show, asking us to put our cell phones on silent. It added a personal and rather quirky touch to the theater that I liked. Also, I noticed that they have a sense of humor as the other film that they are airing is Anna Karenina, which they described on their marquee as "A Tale of Two Hunks"! I'm a fan of this gem of a theater, and I will return!

Came here for the SF documentary festival. It's old-school and I appreciate that. the workers were super nice and when the movie started without sound they tried to fix it right a way. I felt bad because the other, not so friendly customers, were yelling on top of their lungs to "restart movie" "no sound." I totally did not expect that from the customers in Palo Alto, i mean, really!? Also, parking right next door! Love it!

Love having this theater in Downtown Palo Alto. No blockbusters, always just really good films. Perfect place to pay attention to if you like smaller, indie films or are into Oscar-noms. Their seats are new and lean back with feet rests and are so comfortable. Make sure your movie is good, otherwise you can easily fall asleep! So cozy. Great locations, friendly staff, and yummy snacks.

I have never been to a theater where a mustached dude strolled up the aisle while playing an ukulele to introduce the trailers, advertisements and film in a French accent. Totally weird, but totally entertaining. Like, everyone else said: its small, the sound isn't great, the seats aren't comfy, and parking sucks!

Really comfy cute movie theater ! The seats are so comfortable and the view on the screen is so amazing , good quality

Loved the comfortable leather chairs and location. It was in the downtown Stanford area. I bought my ticket about an hour before the movie, so I was able to walk by the shops before the start of the movie. I was able to sit at my pre-selected seat roughly 15 minutes before showtime. I watched an indie foreign film with subtitles and row D was a perfect place to sit to get a good view of everything. I could hear the other movie playing on the other side of the theater at times during my movie, but it didn't bother my enjoyment of the film. I mean...it is a small theater with two screens after all. Franz was such a good movie (great character development, plot, etc). I can't wait to watch another indie film. I will definitely be back.

This is an indie film venue, not a mainstream theatre. The theatre is small, run-down, and feels cramped. The chairs are narrower than at most theatres. The lobby reeks of popcorn. I'd much rather see the same movie at the Guild in Menlo Park, but if this is the only place showing something I could be persuaded to come back. The gelato place across the street is to die for (classico).

Thank you Aquarius, for providing an alternative to the homogenized summer fare that Hollywood extrudes into movie magaplexes. (Sorry Paramount, but I'm drawing the line at Transformers 3). It was because of summer movie burnout that my wife and I made a long-overdue return to the Aquarius to catch an indie flick. The theatre itself has looked the same for years - Hip but dated, with tight seating and small screens. But the vibe is laid-back, friendly, local, collegiate; The staff''s attitude and humor quotients are excellent. For a dinner-and-a-movie night, you can't beat the location in downtown Palo Alto. There are scores of restaurants within a block radius; And for post-movie discussions, there's a Gelato place across the street, or numerous bars and coffee spots within a stone's throw. I can think of at least one more movie I'll have to see at the megaplex this summer, but after that, on our next date night I hope to bounce back to the Aquarius or to its sister theater, "The Guild" in Menlo Park.

Do you like "art"? do you like nifty snarky movie descriptions on the marquee? Are you happy when your movie starts only 10 minutes after the scheduled time instead of the multiplex standard15? Are you pleased by a streamlined entry process where one person sells you a ticket and then you just walk in? Then maybe you should consume your not-so-mass media at Aquarius

Yeah, it's not the fanciest theater in the world, but what it lacks in amenities is made up for by the awesome selections of movies one can see at the Aquarius. Case and point: Jiro Dreams of Sushi http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/ Saw this on Easter Sunday, when nothing else was open in Palo Alto. +1 star just for that! I arrived WAY early (like an hour before the show started) purchased a ticket and went across the street to Paxti's for a glass of wine. A nice pour and about 30 minutes later, I came back to claim my seat. Theater wasn't packed but it was clean and they have a small concessions stand. Popcorn and soda are a must. From what I could see, they only have two theaters. Fine by me. If it keeps quality of films high, totally cool. It wasn't full so I had my choice of seats. Of course a couple came and sat next to me - it ALWAYS happens like that. Either someone sits next to me or directly in front. Even in a practically empty theater. WTF? Not the theater's fault, some people are just inconsiderate. The film was fabulous! Learned all about the art of sushi making, Japanese work ethic, running a family business. Very cool. Would never have heard of or seen the film had I not been checking out Aquarius's website that day. Staff here is VERY nice. Since it's pretty low-tech, someone working the ticket counter or concessions stand has to make an announcement at the beginning of each movie, reminding people to turn off their cell phones and enjoy the show. Cute. In a world of mega-plexes, full of annoying kids, this was a wonderful treat in Palo Alto. If you haven't yet seen a film at Aquarius, support local business!

Came here for amazingly shot film along the lines of "Ono Jiro wet dreams about delicious mostly raw seafood carefully molded over properly prepared vinegared rice and achieves perfection, only to wake up and think, $hit it was just a dream! Back to to the grind, b**ches, then continue to slave drive his son and not let him take over for years to come". Stellar movie. Interesting enough there are older Japanese TV clips on youtube about sushi and Jiro, and you see some of the same characters from the movie too....small world. But if Jiro were to watch his own movie here: Jiro dreams of cheaper organic half tea half lemonade bottled drink sold here. In reality, it costs $2 at Whole Fewd$ and nearing $5 here. Jiro dreams of having sushi themed snacks served at this movie showing. Of course anything elsewhere would just not match up to what was actually served in the movie. This is why Jiro wants you to eat dinner first before watching the flick, lest you slobber over your pants from the footage. Jiro dreams of having this movie offered in 4D...3D glasses with pumped air inside (imported from Japan of course) smelling of the ocean, the market, raw flash frozen tuna and sea life, and of course the smell of the nijiru or anago stock for sauce and simmering. Of course Jiro has wishful thinking. Jiro dreams of more lunbar support and recline on the seats Jiro was entertained by the info announcer (Aquarius employee) who told viewers to turn off their cel phones, upcoming shows, movie duration etc, all while playing a ukelele, like a throwback to the Middle Ages. Old school, just like Jeeeero.

Five stars just for existing as an indie cinema smack in the middle of downtown Palo Alto. The wife and I dined at Evvia the other night and then walked all of 10 feet in the rain to the movies. Where else here in suburbia do you get to do that? Also, both the ticket/popcorn guy and the valet parking guy seemed to be owners... unless they are working on their dissertations at Stanford while doing this part time. That's a goofy way of saying they were extremely friendly and well spoken -- discussing economics with one another and then asking how we enjoyed the movie afterwards -- not exactly what I have come to expect from the staff at Century theaters. I do have to take one star off for the tiny screen and run-down seats. Admittedly the infrastructure is not what you are getting at the big, new theaters. But then, this also sort of adds to the charm.

Came here only because it was the nearest theater that was showing Anna Karenina. It's small, and it's charming. I definitely give a lot of props to theaters and establishments that still have that small town charm, but not a theater I'd come back to in the future, and that's just me. It's a nice theater, but movies are just cheaper if I get them at some of the larger establishments that are selling tickets through vendors like Costco. The theater itself is small and a bit awkwardly situated in that it's essentially a narrow rectangle; we got there late so we ended up more toward the front but the view was decent. I think Aquarius is something that represents the smalltown collegetown of downtown Palo Alto, but I don't see myself choosing this movie theater over any others. I would only attend again if it was showing something else that was only being selectively screened.

In terms of sheer comfort, it's nothing close to the whizbang theaters of today - the layout is extremely old-school (stadium what?), seats are creaky with springs that jab into your nether regions, and the ambiance is reminiscent of those cheesy funhouses at your local fair. BUT.... the Aquarius theater is one of the few places nearby that shows the great indie movies short of SF itself. That alone almost pushes it to 5 stars. Also, gotta love the snarky commentary they put up on their outside display, making fun of the movie titles. I always get a kick out of them when I drive by.

This is such a little gem of a movie theater. There are only two inside but it is super modern. My boyfriend and I each had a glass of wine while lying in reclining seats....ahhhh, life is good. It can be a little bit of a drag when it's super busy and all the seats are taken but the staff will do everything that they can to accommodate you by moving your seat. I recommend this theater.

Good place to watch foreign films that you don't normally find at the Century or AMC theaters. Due to the nature of these movies, there is usually a smaller crowd so I've never had to wait in line for a movie or not having good seats. I have watched some interesting foreign films here, such as Coco Avec Chanel (French with English subtitle), Mao's Last Dancer (Chinese actors, English speaking), etc. Last night we watched Amour, which is a sad French movie and is currently Oscar-nominated. It's a good movie but a little depressing, so if you are looking for a romantic date movie this is probably not a good one to see, just be forewarned. Watching these movies usually makes me reflect more after the movie. It may not be the most entertaining movies you'll ever watch (plus you have to read the subtitles) but then there is usually more depth to these well done pieces than the Hollywood cookie cutter movies, which I can usually predict what the ending is within the first 5 minutes of it. I know, I know; what's "entertaining" is also very subjective, so that's just my opinion.

This is for the newly remodeled theater. They did a nice job in renovating the theater. The two main "complaints" are the line to get tickets/food and the seats. If you are under 6' you are out of luck in having a good view. The seats are comfy but hard to see over the seat in front of you. Since there is no slope in the theater everyone is on a level ground. I literally had to peak between the seats to read the subtitles on the screen. The line to get the tickets and food is the same. Not a big deal but the area between the front doors and the counter is so small! The people waiting in line are blocking people who need to get through. So it causes a big jam there. Once it starts raining it will be worst since people will not want to wait outside. Overall nice theater just a few things that could use improvements.

A classic two-screen theatre that allows you to experience what going to the movies used to be like before the existence of megaplexes. I've seen countless independent films here, and it has always been an enjoyable experience.

Reclining reserved seats???? YES Please! The renovations on this cinema brought it into the 21st Century with some might fine additions of being able to reserve your seat, without the high cost of many theatres that have reserved seating. The cinemas are still a little small, and of course now with less seating, but I haven't found it to be a problem on the weekend, so I am there! ~Ms. Ali

I love this tiny theatre off the main drag in downtown Palo Alto. Before a movie begins a REAL LIVE PERSON comes into the theatre and asks that people silence their phones and alert the front desk should the temperature of the theatre become either too hot or too cold. I loved that because sometimes theaters are absolutely freezing. Also - the snack counter has appropriately proportioned children's cups and popcorn bags if you bring the little ones. *tip* there is a public parking lot directly across the street.