Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The best movie theater in Paris


I wanted to show you a photo of Paris in the snow - for it snowed in Paris today for the 1st time in several years - but I did not take a good shot. So instead, let me show you a photo that I took last night after I attended Le Web '08 conference on the Quai de Loire. This neon portrait belongs to a movie theater called MK2, pretty famous in Paris for showing "non blockbuster" movies and for offering more than just a movie! The architecture of the place is really cool, the lighting is fantastic and the experience is really different. If there is a place in Paris where you want to go to the movies, it's there.

47 comments:

  1. love the reflection. what are movie tickets costing in paris these days?

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  2. OH MON DIEU (i can't believe it) i can't possibly be the 1st one....where is everyone?

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  3. yay Maria!

    Eric this is a GREAT photo! Love the colors, the reflection, the black water...so much eye candy.

    Now I'll have to check out the link. I want to know what "offering more than just a movie" means to a Frenchman.

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  4. I heart that neon! Super cool and colorful photo!

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  5. I love old fashion cinemas...
    Where I live there is one but I don't think they will last much longer with the competition of the multi screen cinema just a few miles up the road.
    As for non-blockbusters, I think we can only watch them on TV... a shame...

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  6. Well Eric this is a beautiful photo, indeed, but I am intrigued that you have not had snow for some years. How curious, as we have had it every year and we are not far away! I always thought that our weather was not too dissimilar. No wonder our sweet Guille was so excited!

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  7. Ah! Up on Bassin de la Villette. Katia walked me along here a week after the picnic. The neon sign wasn't there, I don't think, but it's great.

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  8. Michael I found you a couple of little palms again!

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  9. The reflections are such a pleasure! It sounds like the only type of cinema worth visiting!

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  10. Very pretty. I love an off beat movie theater ... there is nothing better. Except maybe Netflix and the fact that they arrive in your mailbox and you get to maintain a queue.

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  11. We do have one art house cinema here and for that I am truly thankful. Never mind the snow shots this is delightful the interplay of those electric colours across the satin water. As for snow the island rarely gets any. A shame as I haven't built a snowman in years.

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  12. Oooooh, Eric, - definitely another oooooh moment as I saw the photo on the screen. Its beautiful. I never did get to experience going to the movies in a country so famous for its films. Its one more thing to go back for!!

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  13. A wonderful photo, but I will look forward to photos of Paris in the snow. I have several photos of Paris in the snow in my office, beautiful reminders of spending a week in Paris for the New Year's holiday in 2003.

    Unfortunately, the beauty of the snow in Paris is also a reminder of trying to fly back from Paris to the USA on the day after the snow. Charles de Gaulle airport had been closed for the snow the day before, and it took us 44 hours to get home to Phoenix, Arizona. The beauty of the snow covering Parisian landmarks made the trip worth the ordeal of the return flights.

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  14. Speaking of movies, does anyone know how much a ticket at the regular Parisian theatre costs? Is there a big difference between weekdays and weekends?

    I'm looking forward to a cinematic experience in Paris...!

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  15. The water almost seems to reflect something different than the neon! It's beautiful.

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  16. In March of 2005, it snowed in Paris and it actually stuck to the ground for a few days. The area around the Chateau Vincennes was like a fairyland. A rare experience indeed. BTW Eric: Le photo de la grande roue, comme un flocon de neige ètait extraordinaire.

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  17. Pretty cool shot! Hey, I didn't know about this place, good info!

    Out of curiosity, I just checked on line to see if the Cinemateque of Palais de Chaillot that we used to go to when I was a kid, was still there. I guess not, they moved it to the "new" Bercy neighborhood.

    It looks like they're having an expo right now, centered around American art (that's movie art) and more specifically around Dennis Hopper.

    click on "passer l'animation" at the bottom of the screen to access the information.

    http://www.cinematheque.fr/fr/la-cinematheque-francaise.html

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  18. By the way, ditto on that Grande Roue shot. Really original and well done.

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  19. What a wonderful photo! Petrea's right, the reflection doesn't quite match the neon sign—makes the image even more fascinating. Sounds like the interior is just as cool as the exterior, and they're showing some really interesting films too!
    Sorry the snow picture didn't work out, Eric, but this is great.

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  20. By the way, the site I just linked (above) is in French but there are 2 video links. The first set is an interview with Dennis Hoper about the making of Easy Rider. He, of course, speaks English, with simulatenous translation.

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  21. Well you fooled me Eric. I thought for sure there were would be a photo of the snow, but this makes up for it. As for us not having snow in "several years", my recollection is that we always have a flake or two every year, but not very much. Maybe it's my wishful thinking or selective memory.

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  22. Have heard of this place, but never been. I have seen the one near Odeon but didn't get to go. Another place I will add to my "To Do in Paris" list..hopefully it will be soon!! Funny...I've seen Snow in Paris...I believe it was 1983. I was young, it was Christmas in Paris...I adored it!! ;-)

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  23. I think I need to start a ' To do in Paris' list now.

    There is so much that I find out here and all of it I so want to do the next time in Paris!

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  24. I almost can't believe it...
    Beautiful :)
    You've made my day!

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  25. Aathira,

    Be sure to check out the PDP Forum as well where many people have shared their ideas.

    http://forum.parisdailyphoto.com/

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  26. It's my movie theater! I mean, I go there when I want to see a movie. That's my closest theater (and the best one!). The place is really nice: bookshop, restaurant, nice sofas to wait. ;)
    In front of Quai de Loire you have another cinema which is Quai de Seine. Almost the same place but with different movies.

    Michael, it's not your selective memory, it snowed last year, for sure!

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  27. It's my movie theater too! I like these two MK2 in front of each other, "Quai de Loire" and "Quai de Seine". When you buy your ticket for "Quai de Loire" in "Quai de Seine", you can cross the channel between the two in a little boat named "Zero de Conduite". Very funny.

    Currently a ticket costs 9.90€. Quite expensive!! For movie lovers like me, you can suscribe to the unlimited UGC/MK2 card - 18€/month.

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  28. Au fait Eric, deux photos de néons d'affilée? Ce doivent être les lumières de Noel qui monopolisent ton esprit...

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  29. there is a movie theatre here in L.A called The Bridge:Cinema De Lux. its full of amenities like reserved seating, lounge for cocktails, coffee bar and concierge for restaurant reservations, taxi service - movie tickets are $14.50 ...
    thebridgecinema.com

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  30. Claire, thank you for these informations I didn't know.
    "Zéro de conduite" is also the name of an old French film (1933) ; a priceless story.

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  31. Maria, you sent me looking. I hadn't heard of Bridge: Cinema De Luxe. There's one in Philadelphia, too. Ours is near LAX (Los Angeles International Airport, for those of you who aren't PHX-CDG).

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  32. So. Michael and Guille recall snow last year. Eric? Who's been telling porky pies? ;)

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  33. Poor porky pie Eric! ;} He gets second guessed at every turn - though I can understand why. I'm sure that, just like when it rains, its been snowing in one place in the city and not in others at the same time. After all, I saw the snow earlier this year and Guille and Eric didn't - and Carrie don't tell no porcupines!!! : ) (Guess that doesn't work in England, does it, Lynn - Carrie don't tell no hedgehogs?? - Nah.) : )


    Maria -- I see you're in LA! I don't know if I missed that before, but, either way, glad to have another Angeleno in the PDP fold! Congratulations on GF!!

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  34. And let's not forget about the Conservatoire Libre Du Cinema Francais on Quai du l'Oise ad rue de l'Oise.

    Our snow is NOT gone. Want some?

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  35. LOL Carrie, well no not really. he he. Porky pies is Cockney rhyming slang for lies, so that's why that one works! I like it though :)

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  36. I did figure that one, Lynn - that's why I said what I did about it not being a lie, just people being in different places - though I didn't know it was Cockney. That's why "telling porcupines" works as a degradation of "telling porky pies" in American rhyming slang, but, I think you call the little blighters hedgehogs, right?

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  37. LOL we do indeed. I'm totally lost though now! he he. How do you get from pork pies to hedgehogs? Giggle... anyway, I have to rush up the apple and pears to answer the dog and bone now. Later...x lol

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  38. OK, OK... When I say snow, I mean REAL snow, not just a couple of flakes that melt the minute the hit the ground!

    Mind you this time, the snow did not remain on the ground either, but at least the sky was really full of snow and it lasted at least 2 hours! That's what I call snow ;)

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  39. LOL, Lynn - oh, dear, stew compicated!! Its like algebra:[Porkypies=porcupines (soundwise); porcupines=hedgehogs (meaningwise)]

    Ooooh! I think I just figured out why its not translating - I just tried saying porky pies to myself with a Cockney accent and it doesn't sound nearly as much like porcupines as it does when I'm reading it to myself with my American accent! Ah, the richness of international communication!!! Two countries separated by a common language and all that!
    LOL - hope you didn't trip on the apples and pears! ;)

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  40. he he glad you explained!

    Oh Eric, don't worry, I was joking; I understood you really...smarm, smarm, Lynn always understands you. ;) LOL

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  41. It is a nice place indeed...There are actually a movie theater on each of the banks. You can take a small boat to cross the canal as there is no bridge near by.

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  42. 19th Arrondissement surely?
    Don't forget that the Communist ex-mayor of Montreuil published an ad in a paper comparing the MK2 brand to an aggressive shark! I don't see any fins in that reflection...

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  43. What lovely reflections! I'm not much of a movie buff; we only go about once a year. We've met our quota this year, but hopefully there will be something we will want to see soon.

    SNOW? :) We only have about 2 and 1/2 feet on the ground right now. If you'd like, I would be willing to share!

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  44. Wow! Much as I love to see snow photos; this is truly beautiful, Eric. The reflections are lovely.

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  45. Are you sure mk2 is not into blockbusters? Right now they show in Quai de Seine/Quai de Loire Secret Défense ; Madagascar 2 ; Changeling among others.

    And mk2 Bibliothèque is worse.

    I agree mk2 beaubourg is truely art cinema, though.

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  46. Great pic of one of my favourite parts of Paris. Just behind the MK2 at 14 quai de la Loire is the restaurant "Au Rendez-Vous de la Marine". I have known it for about 11 years since before the cinema was built, when the area was a bit dodgy... happy to say it survives unchanged. It's always full of locals - the man who owns the "Canauxrama" boats is a regular. The proprietor Raymond Ortiz is a great character and a good singer in the traditional French "Chanson" style - I have his CD on my iPod.

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  47. It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge

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