Dobie Theater
2021 Guadalupe St Ofc
Austin, TX 78705 (512) 472-3456
- Good for Kids: Yes
9 Reviews for Dobie Theater
I hate the Dobie. Granted, I used to be a projectionist at the Drafthouse, but my dislike of this place is not in the rival sort of way. Once you get over the "hey I am in Egypt", or "oooooh is this a LIBRARY?" aspect of the place, it's quite annoying.
The Egyptian room for instance, is the most awkwardly made theater. A pole in the center, and everyone sits at an angle? Really? Then the seats are way small, with almost no leg room. Also, it's not uncommon to check out a new movie and the print is already scratched. In addition, due to the small theater size, everyone talking is that much louder and annoying.
Tonight, I went and checked out "Zombie Strippers". The movie itself is hilarious, both intentionally and by accident. I showed up at 7 for the 7:20 showing, and was the only person in the theater. That is, until right as the previews started, and 13 other people showed up. Since they showed up late (some would say "on time"), they weren't able to get all their important conversation out before it started. So they had to blab on through the previews and start of the movie. The sound was way too low, and at first, the sound kept coming in and out, prompting the projectionist to even stop it at one point.
At least the place is clean, and granted they have gotten better since being bought out by Landmark. I understand that it's a part of Austin, and all that jazz. But seriously, I'll go to the Drafthouse any day. The beer makes the pain of having to be around others in an enclosed space less agonizing. Not to mention way more comfortable.
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This place is a piece but has a personality since the rooms are themed. But it's kinda tacky and doesn't have stadium seating. The rooms are incredibly small.
But hey, in Austin, you don't have too many choices in terms of choosing a theather.
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I really LOVE this place.
I like the themed rooms. I like how small the spaces are. I always feel like I've just shared my experience with everyone watching the movie because their aren't hundreds of people watching!!
The concessions are fun. It's such a small operation. And I love the fancy candies they sell. Though I'm usually too cheap to buy them.
The movie offerings are always very fun!!! I saw Rize and also Hands on a Hard Body!!!
Tonight I will see Hot Fuzz, from the makers of Shaun of the Dead!!! I'm taking a friend who is new to town... he will LOVE Dobie!!! I know it!!
Cool place.
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The Dobie is the best theater in town if you ask me. They don't always have the best movies, but when it comes to something that the Dobie and the Alamo both have, I'll take the Dobie any day. The main reason being that if you go to the Alamo and get a burger and a bucket of beer, it's gonna be more than $20. If you go to the Dobie, you can sneak in your own beer and food.
I used to work there almost 10 years ago and even though it got bought by a national chain while I was working there, you really can't tell the difference as a customer. It's still one of the most laid back places in town.
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I hate Dobie "Mall" but I love Dobie Theater. I dig the tiny theaters and red velvet curtains, and the selection of movies is generally great. On occasion they'll be showing nothing but crap, and that's too bad. If they served beer, it'd be a better date spot than the Alamo.
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For a university with 50,000 students, this is the only movie theater within walking distance of campus. The University of Texas at Austin long ago shut down funding for regular screenings in the basement of Batts Hall and at the Union; Dobie is the only option for many, including the thousands that live on campus.
Dobie has four very small screening rooms, each with their own theme: Egyptian, French Tudor, Gargoyle Gothic, and Space-Age Art Deco. It's the only movie theater I've ever been to that also has obstructed seating, although it's never been so crowded as to force me to actually sit behind a pole. Get to the Gothic theater early enough and you can grab one of the few seats at the end of the aisle that has no seat in front of it; you won't have to worry about the basketball player wearing the 10-gallon hat sitting in front of you.
Dobie is a Landmark Theater, which means they keep to the artsy, moody, dark, genre, and sometimes indie brands of films. Back in the day, they'd have free midnight features during the week leading up to the new semester of classes. They also host a ton of free advanced screenings; when it comes down to it, become savvy enough and you'll be doing something wrong if you're paying to see a movie in Austin.
Don't be fooled by the crappiness of Dobie Mall and the over-priced towers above it. This place's heyday might have been in the late '80s and early '90s when Austin used to be cutting edge, but Dobie Theater can be a very cool time.
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Such a sad, sad place.
Small 4-theatre complex in the most depressing campus mall in the universe.
The most claustrophobic parking situation ever (free on evenings, usually if you leave your car there long enough), into a confusing clusterphuck of entrances and floors so the journey past the closed LCD stores leaves you desperate to find the movie portion of the mall.
Sad employees sighing their way from you telling them your film choice to them giving you the tickets.
Aisles cutting through the theatre seats diagonally instead of parallel.
Other than the arthouse and indie roster here, a real black hole.
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This is probably my favorite movie theater in Austin. When I'm in the mood to go to the movies, I check the Dobie listings first.
They are the ones who usually bring us the better independent films and documentaries. If you are into film as an art form, not as some sort of fluff made for mass consumption, the Dobie is your place. You won't find any of the Hollywood trash here.
Keep your eye on what the Dobie has, because the films generally only run a couple of weeks. There have been several cool films that I've missed only because I wasn't paying attention.
If you are visiting Austin, and are into indie theater, I highly recommend the Dobie, it is absolutely awesome! Cool lighting, funky murals in the theatres, and great music played before the movies. Also the architechture is reminiscent of the Crest in Sacramento.
Right outside the theater is plenty of tasty 'mall food', but you can get good coffee at the theater.
http://www.landmarkthe...
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