The last movie to ever show at the East Van Cinemas was The Social Network. The poster is still up in the case, faded somewhat and wrinkled. I am a big proponent of seeing movies in the context they were meant to be seen. This is what's left of the East Van Cinemas, a popcorn machine orphaned in a gutted, flooded lobby. The Hollywood is going as well. And others I'm sure. To be honest, I saw a couple of movies at the East Van Cinema and the sound was bad, the seats uncomfortable, and the projection was ever so slightly out of focus on a dirty screen. But the answer wasn't shutting it down, the answer was to fix it up. Two less theaters in Vancouver this year. I wonder how many more will disappear next.
The Rio is, however, still open. And it is making an effort to stave off the inevitable. For instance, I may have to go and see The Outsiders (I mean, just look at the cast, and directed by Francis Coppola) and Rumble Fish (seriously, Tom Waits, Dennis Hopper, Mickey Rourke, Matt Dillon, just to name a few, Coppola genius abounding) midnight double bill. Even if I fall asleep because of the midnight start time, I'd feel good knowing the Rio got a few of my hard earned bucks because they are making the effort to do such things.
Besides, we have enough relics. We don't need more things to feel nostalgic about, we need more things to feel good about.
