UFA-Grindel Kino, Harvestehude, Hamburg

Everything that needs to be said has already been said. Unfortunately the Grindel will close down at the end of March 2008, so if you’re reading this before March 31st, go to the Grindel and enjoy the beauty and loudness of Cinema 1.

Also, there is no other cinema in Hamburg which shows english movies regularly without subtitles that I know of :(

I have been living in Hamburg for two years, and I love going to the movies. Unfortunate it is, that the movie-going culture in Germany is largely dependent on dubbed movies, and there's barely a proper cinema to watch movies in their original language. Sorry, guys - Tom Hanks with a Bavarian accent just doesn't cut it for me.

While there are a few cinematheques in Hamburg which show movies in their original languages, The UFA cinema in Grindel is the only one which shows recent ones. All the newest movies wind up at Grindel, and it's not only the best, but also the ONLY cinema in Hamburg to catch them.

And, it's got the best cinema Nachos in Hamburg, and the sneak-preview once a week is a lot of movie-going fun.

The UFA Cinema in Grindel is being torn down in early April 2008 to make way for yet another shopping center.

SAVE THE GRINDEL!
http://www.rettet-das-grindel.de/english.html

The Grindel is a pretty awesome cinema, especially given that it's the only cinema in Hamburg that shows films in their full English-language glory, without any nasty subtitles or (god-forbid) dubbing.

I went along last night to see American Gangster. Seats nearer to the front were 7.50EU and general seating was 8.50. They lose one star for having insane amounts of adverts, but on the plus side you can watch the film with a beer!

As the film was rather long (i don't know what the cut-off is) it got split into two with a 10 minute intermission, which most seemed to use as toilet or smoking break. Talking about the toilets.. they are kinda weird, in that there's the obvious set and then there's a half-hidden set that lies behind them - definitely worth checking them out when queues develop in the main ones.

The seats are big and comfortable, the screen I was at was huge, the sound was good. etc. etc.

It was so nice to see an English film on the big screen again. Until last night it had been about three months since I had been to the cinema so it was a real treat to discover that the Grindel plays regular English films.

The seating is comfy, plus you'll never have to scramble for seats.

The screen and seating are larger then back home and the snack counter not only sells beer but popcorn that doesn"t taste stale. Theres an intermission half way through the film which at first I thought was odd as Australian cinemas never have one, but when the time came through our long movie I was actually glad for the break to go to the bathroom, stretch my legs and buy some popcorn and beer.

For 6 euros a ticket I plan to make this a fortnightly habit.

As a native English speaker, I have to admit I miss the old English cinema on Steintordamm. It was admittedly shabby, but it didn't belong to any huge money machine chain of cinemas, and had a unique charm. Apparently they never earned enough money, and when they had to close, the monster UFA cinema chain took over the job of supplying English speaking Hamburgers with their entertainment.

Grindel Kino is an UFA, which means it's a big, clean complex with six cinemas serving up mainstream blockbuster films. But considering it's the only cinema in Hamburg which reliably shows English films, it's a must for immigrants and English students alike.

I love the Grindel cinema i go there quiet ofter it is great.

I mean i spend there most of my Monday night visiting the Sneak.
The Grindel offers a Sneak Preview every Monday at 9 pm. At the sneak a movie is shown that hasn't been release in Germany so far. Every week it is a suprise sometimes you can watch really movies and a few times you wanna walk out a go for drink instead. But even if a bad movie is on it fun because of all comments and stuff that is going on. Cheering before two people kiss is more less compulsory. :-)

I am very sad that it might be closed down end of the year. So please visit the Grindel.

http://www.rettet-das-grindel.de/english.html

If you want to watch english movies on the big screen (in English, with no subtitles!), the Grindel Cinema is the place to go.

I imagined my first German cinema experience to be completely different to the fun i had last night. I had visions of gestapo esq. usherettes patrolling the aisles with high powered torches looking for children (or 26 year olds) misbehaving or making too much noise. I conjured images of the seats being rigid and hard, the theatre being roughly the size of a meat locker and the screen no bigger than a bath towel. So picture my unabated delight when I was confronted by a cinematic paradise. Fluffy, comfy seats with enormous cup holders and acres of leg room. 6 different types of beer served at the concession stand (Including wheat beer!). Friendly staff with "let's be best friends, but not in a gay way" smiles. An enormous, clear screen with awesome surround sound. This is a great Cinema.

So imagine my consternation when i learnt that they may be closing down this motion picture marvel. Or at least stop showing films in english. I've tried to figure out why they are thinking of doing this, but the only explanations i can find on the net are in German. If my translation is correct, it appears to involve a battery of PHD students, a wheel of cheese, an original copy of Zelda on the NES and some kind of miniature trebuchet. Anyway, the point is, we need to put a stop to this madness. So please sign this petition i found - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/GrindelMovies/signatur...

This is a wonderful place for expats in Hamburg. Lets keep it that way :)