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Naz 8 Cinema
Rating Details »
Category: Cinema
39160 Paseo Padre Parkway(between Capitol Ave & Walnut Ave)
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 797-2000
- Good for Kids:
- No
43 reviews for Naz 8 Cinema
So it's grimy. Service is indifferent. Seats uncomfortable. Samosa's stale.
But I'm a hopeless romantic.
Bring me here, dinner at shalimar and a dance number with 4 outfit changes
...and it might just be love.
This place sucks big time.
- They make the customers stand outside the cinema hall (not even lobby) until about 15 minutes to the movie. When I went it was really chilly outside and I did not have a jacket. I requested the manager to let me in the lobby - he refused and was quite rude.
- They do not accept cards at the ticket counter
- The food they sell in the lobby is horrible
- Seats are not comfy and there is some weird smell
- When I went, there were heaps of boxes in front of the first row. They did not block the view - but still it created a really weird ambiance.
The only positive thing about this place is it shows bollywood movies!
Oh Naz 8. You silly silly theater you. You're ever so grungy, and apparently the parking behind the theater now belongs to Kaiser Permanente, so I'm prevented from secretly hiding my car in back where no one may recognize it.
I'll admit...once in a blue moon I get the craving to watch a really corny, obnoxious, over the top never would this happen in real life and geez don't they break into a lot of songs type film. So I go here.
The seating is terrible, creaky, old, decrepit chairs lined up directly behind one another. So low that I'm prevented from seeing a large middle portion of the screen due to the rather large Aunty seated in front of me. When the lights go out for the movie, good luck finding your seat. It's unbelievably dark and you kinda have to stare at people to figure out if that's your party or not.
I wouldn't risk trying their snacks, I got the popcorn once and it was horridly stale and cold. I prefer to sneak in my own sustenance, including burritos from Taco Bell!
This place gets 3 stars mainly because they're business geniuses. They lack service, proper lighting, and there's nothing edible in the snack bar. But they STILL make money. People flock to this theater to see the latest Bollywood hits. True there is no alternative place to see these films, which leads me to wonder why anyone else has yet to open a competing theater?
Anybody with any sense of self-esteem should avoid this place. The only reason any of my friends go there (and I strongly disapprove of that) is because they have no alternative. That used to be, because now AMC and Century cinemas here and there show Indian movies. Even if they didn't, I'd still recommend waiting for the movie to be out on DVD rather than going to this dump.
Why so much animosity? First, the owners of this place have no concept of customer service. You'll immediately get the feeling that they're doing you a favor by operating this place. If you had forgotten what rude people sound like, the management of this place will remind you. If you have booked your tickets online, don't be sure that you'll get a seat. If you have a little kid, you can't bring his food inside - you still have to feed him those crappy samosas that they sell - even if your kid doesn't have teeth or can't handle spicy stuff. You get the picture (no pun intended).
this place sucks. the bathrooms are always out of stock/toilet papers. hell with the toilet seat covers. i'll be damned if the owner even heard of seat covers before. the theater seats are just flat.. so u could see the person sitting in front of you through out the movie. and kids under the age of 8 should be banned from here. they cry and parents don;'t give a damn. it's a movie theater for hell's sake. not a babies -r-us store. if u want ur kid to cry, take the bastard outside.
I woke up with a sore back after my first expereince with Naz and I sooo had to write this.
Yes, I hate the seats - they are uncomfortable, creek and sometimes have other live things crawling on them, and they definitely didn't design them for people who are big and tall in India say above the height of 5ft 5 in.
About the movie experience itself, friends not from India, kindly note that theatres like Naz will be shut down by a mob in the cities. The multiplexes in India are equal,comparable and sometimes much better than the experience at century,AMC and the likes. We have ossom sound and amazing seating with a wide range of food and drinks - from samosas,rolls, platters to chocolate flavored pop corn :)
Ohhh!!! I soo miss those days of watching bollywood in those beautiful comfy chairs which were wide enough for me (and another friend could fit in) cushy and nice. If you get bored of the drama on screen lull to sleep as a pleasant melodious number comes on!
well! am afraid that the perception of an Indian movie experience is skewed thanks to a trashy place like Naz!
Anyway, it deserves two stars as I hate watching Bollywood on DVDs or at home..
ok an update's long overdue for me here. I stand by my earlier review, and want to expand one detail that's become key for me.
I like a lively audience, I don't mind a shabby theatre, i expect overpriced snacks. And I find that as I've been going to see more Indian films there, I've been worn down by the staff. It's still the most convenient theatre for me (there's another one in Union City, but not as walkable from BART), and I realize I'm starting to dread going there.
I could share so many anecdotes - there was the time the security guy told the ticket taker in Hindi to check our tickets to be sure they weren't fake (yes, the paranoia of thinking someone would go to the trouble of counterfeiting an $8 ticket!). Then he got served when I said to him "why wouldn't they be?" 'Cause guess what - not everyone who understands Hindi is from India! Blank stare in reply and we just went into the film. Would be a great movie scene but was kinda annoying in real life.
There was the coupon I got for a free small popcorn for supporting the theatre while the Indian film producers were on strike and they were showing old films because there were no new releases. It had no expiration date so I saved it for a day I was hungry and when I went to get my corn I was told it wasn't valid anymore, though I repeated politely twice that there was no expiration date. Yes, piss off a regular over $.25 worth of corn and salt.
These guys are notorious for having a nasty theatre, even with film distributors. Even here on Yelp.
I'm waiting for the day when a big company realizes that when any decent theatre in the area starts showing Hindi films regularly for a reasonable price and treats customers well that no one will go the the Naz anymore. Anyone wanna seed me the dosh?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/8/2008
I'm glad to have the Naz8 so convenient to the Fremont BART, where I can go and spend 3 hours… Read more »
This is the premiere Bollywood movie theater in Fremont. This where everyone in the Indian/Pakistani/Afghan community goes to whenever the new Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan, or Saif Ali Khan film is released.
At Naz 8 Cinema, films featuring those actors are events such as a big blockbuster summer movie release featuring a famous comic book character would be for the United States. But these Hindi blockbusters feature 3-hour or more running times with singing and dancing numbers, an intermission, and a just a whole lot of over the top acting and melodrama. If they are bad or good, Indians come out in huge packs for them.
It is quite the experience and everyone should try it at least once as all the films offer subtitles. Grab some popcorn and a soda, or if you want a better experience, some samasos and some chai tea.
Sadly, Naz 8 Cinema could be so much more than it actually is. Your business, whether it is a restaurant, bar, or movie theater, is only as good as its customers. And the customers at Naz 8 Cinema are part of one big circus.
No matter what movie you choose, you have cell phones going off, people talking, babies crying, people coming late, kids running around, super uncomfortable chairs, and the room always smells of stale fart.
And this is all okay in the eyes of the crowd. But if someone like me openly laughs at dramatic moments that are unintentionally funny, such as horrible acting ruining a scene, they stare at you with dagger eyes. But of course, they laugh at all the stupid humor sprinkled throughout the movie. Look, I find Shahrukh Khan annoying and not funny. Sorry for thinking SRK sucks.
But hey, just go once for the experience. And remember, 95-percent of Bollywood movies are terrible, but of the 5-percent that are good are often times better than 90-percent of the crap Hollywood dishes out each year.
I have been here several times and its not soo shabby. I've seen several movies and the audio/video wasn't the best but it isn't bad for the location and price you pay.
From the looks of Naz 8 - it looks pretty rundown and could use a renovation. But I also know Indian businesses are cheap. No offense.
They offer coffee, tea, and other drinks, popcorn and other food and beverages. The restroom was small and something about the lighting that was off base. Again, the decor could be improved.
They used to only play Indian movies but I guess now they also feature some American films. Nice. Gotta reconsider your demographics if you wanna expand and appeal to more people.
OH...YOUR...GOD I cannot get this theater out of my my mind. Little did I know that a simple search would turn up such an experience. I wanted to see the latest X-men movie but hardly anybody is still showing it around me anymore. Fandango led me here. No online reservations but I wasn't expecting a crowd so no biggie.
I had a little trouble finding the place. It's not facing the main street so you have to park just west of the Raley's supermarket and walk into the complex. At first I thought it was closed but there was a window open on the other side. There isn't really a marquee, more like a bunch of movie posters slapped all over the walls. They take cash only, so put away that credit card. If you don't have cash, go in the door and use the ATM inside (at two bucks ATM fee). Then go back outside and try to get the guy at the window to understand what movie you want to see. He'll give you some tiny pink tickets which you take inside and get inspected by a HUGE guy with a turban. If you meet approval, he opens the rope and offers you free popcorn. Having just eaten dinner, we politely declined.
The lobby is dark with lots of blinky lights. The decor is old. It kinda reminded me of an old casino. Cinemas 1-4 on the left, 5-8 on the right. The cinemas don't have doors, per se, more of a curtain coming down to about the four foot level. You can hear other movies playing around you, but once you get in, you don't notice. We had the entire theater to ourselves. Monday night must be the night to go see X men movies at funky theaters. A whole lot of the seats were broken so watch before you plop. A few moments later, they fired up a noisy projector the likes of which I'ven't heard since elementary school.
There is good news though. The movie sounded and looked just fine, plus after just ONE preview, the movie started. I didn't watch ONE SINGLE COMMERCIAL. WOOHOO!!!! Sit down, one preview, and BAM, I'm enjoying the movie. No annoying cell phones, no chewing gum, no screaming children, mildly sticky floors, no talking people. It was great. Despite being old and dilapidated, the facility was decently clean and olfactorily neutral. I wasn't brave enough to try the bathroom.
On the way out, the huge guy with the turban wished us a good night.
We come to Naz for the whole experience of it, not just the movie. Though we certainly don't come for the chai, which is the worst I've ever tasted and costs like $2.50 for a dinky Styrofoam cup. But chai aside, Naz is such a fun little date, especially on $5 Tuesday. Who can beat that?
What I love about Naz (because it's also not the SUPER uncomfortable chairs that will have you twisting and turning and scooting your ass around trying to get comfortable for the duration of the often-three-hours-long Bollywood movies) is that it's the anti-American theater. You don't have to worry about showing up late and pissing off the person behind you by sitting right in front of them 10 minutes into the movie. Kids want to run around? Let 'em run. You didn't expect them to sit still through that entire movie, did you? Cell phone rings? Go ahead, answer it. Have an entire conversation, even after telling the person on the other line that you're in the movie theater. Do whatever the hell you want to do. They're free and mellow over at Naz.
I've never been to India (though I have been to the movies in Pakistan, and I imagine the experiences are similar), but I'm guessing it feels a little like going to Naz. At least I like to think so. And all of the above behaviors that would be considered horribly ill-mannered in an American theater are--to-me--all part of Naz's charm.
Don't go if you're uptight, but if you're in for something different, check it out.
Oh, one more thing: I love the sign on the door warning against bringing in outside food that begins with the words "For obvious reasons..." Brilliant!
Can I tell you something?
I'm sickly obsessed with all things Indian. My apartment drips in saris, pillows, candles, photos, bells and jangles, tapestries and colorful... well, everything. I wear at least 15 bangle bracelets, plus ridiculous jewelry and shawls and salwar blouses on a reg basis. I listen and dance to Indian music, eat the food so much I've resorted to prescription drugs for debloating, and I think Indian men are hot! hot! hot!
For these reasons, its no surprise that my Netflix queue is nothing but Bollywood, right? I also live in a TVless studio apartment, and if I told you how many nights I've cancelled plans with friends to curl up in bed, with my laptop, and watch Bollywood movies and eat gajar ka halwa, you'd commit me.
Today I was introduced to Naz. I now have a place to go to unleash the Bollywood within me (the Bollywood, I would argue, is in us all). The last time I saw a B-Wood movie in a theater in the US? That would be NEVER, friends.
Just go. You'll be treated poorly when you buy tickets, you'll be glared at when you order chaat, everyone will talk through the entire film, babies will cry, your seat will creak, the movie will be 4 hours long...
...it will be like seeing a movie in India.
Walk into Naz & you immediately get hit w/ the delicious smells of curry & cardamon. Nowhere else in the Bay Area can you purchase Veggie Samosas & Mango Lassis to take into the theatre w/ you
Pay no attention to the "only white-girl in the lobby" leering - these movies will teach you that we silly white girls pine & swoon over the handsome Indian boys to no avail. Time & time again our hearts will be broken when they choose their true Indian luv & leave us at the curb.....and yet still we come back.
And I confess that it is SO TRUE :-)
I DO pine!
I DO swoon!
Best part is that we get singing, dancing, drama, laughing, tears, and love, all in one adventure .....and with a 15 min intermission to boot!
As far as movie start times? They're pretty non-existent here - think of the newspaper listings as more of a suggestion rather than an actual start time & the flick may or may not start w/in 30 min of what is listed
But this is ALL the appeal of Naz. The first experience I had (& we all remember our first) was LAGAAN. An absolutely amazing story in an amazing atmosphere - wouldn't have had it any other way
And now when I watch my Lagaan DVD, fond memories of Naz Cinema dance through my head & make me want to keep going back!
After Shalimar, I went Bollywood. My sister and I have an addiction. Bollywood. Guri can't believe how well we sing Hindi songs. It's kind of being in a parallel universe.
We saw Cheeni Kum---which means "Less Sugar."
It actually was pretty fn hilarious.
Yes, there are movies out there where they OVERREACT but this one was pretty good.
I remember when this was the budget movie theater where my sister and I saw Men In Tights when we were in high school, broke, and bored living in Fremont.
Now there is a man behind the counter who sells samosas and Indian Movie posters are plastered everywhere.
Joy's Indian movie tips and etiquette:
Indian movies are long, so there is an intermission, so if you're a girl, you gotta go past the fifty yard line while snaking through all the women droving to the bathroom. I don't know why there is a line to the bathroom. I never know, so guys, don't ask me. I don't know. All women are slower than me. I absolutely don't know what they do in there.
Don't wear something low-cut. You will get the Amrish Puri staredown from the guy behind the counter. *clicky for example*http://www.bollywoodci...
Don't cuss, as much as my Irish potty mouth wants to say F-K!
shhh..there's babies sleeping in the theater.....
The sign clearly says don't bring drinks in, but at four dollars a samosa, get a Lassi and eat at Shalimar first. =)
Tuesdays are only FIVE BUCKS!
Don't hate. Have an open mind, you'll be surprised that Indian movies are pretty good.
For someone addicted to a misunderstood film genre, this was very nice to see it on the big screen rather than at home on a DVD. It was like going to India but only having to go to Fremont, CA. Multiculturalism rocks!
for more bollywood info: http://www.bollywhat.c...
The Naz 8 so rocks my world! Yeah, it's a little funky... dark auditoriums, non-functioning toilets, and audience members who think it's just fine to carry on conversations and let their kids hop from seat to seat throughout the film, but who cares?
This is a place where I can see any damn Bollywood film I want, have a pair of delicious veggie samosas instead of or with a bag of popcorn, and marvel at the multitude of posters and blinky lights.
It's a bit of a drive from the City, but well worth it. I'll be going to the Naz 8 as often as I can for as long as it's there!
Sure, the customer service is pretty bad, and the temperature is unpredictable, but I still give this place 5 stars. In fact, I think the flaws give it character.
Where else will you find a sign that says FOR OBVIOUS REASONS NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK PERMITTED?
And who else says, Happy Diwali, Eid Mubarak, Every show is now $10 (as opposed to $8). Yes, they really did raise prices two years back for the holidays.
I frequent this place frequently, sometimes on my own. This is THE place to watch Bollywood.
Even if the poster outside says the movie has subtitles, make sure you ask. I had to translate an entire 3 hour film for a friend.
If you want to be part of the action, go on Tuesdays, when movies are only $5 and everyone brings their mama, momma, and loud young child.
Because sometimes only the big screen can do Salman Khan and those over-the-top Bollywood dance sequences true justice ...
Theaters are clean and comfy (this is crucial given the three-hour run time for the average Indian flick).
The concession stand offers samosas as well as popcorn, but you may not want to linger - something about the lobby lighting makes you feel like you stepped into a Vegas casino off the strip, and not in a good way.
You'd be better off grabbing some chaat at Dana Bazar (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) before or after.
I don't like this place. It smells, the floors are sticky, the air circulation is weak, and the people look at you a bit funny. I'm sure there's a better theatre playing indo movies in the bay area.
There's a nice restaurant next door though, I forgot what's it called but it's yummy!
If you want to know what it feels like waiting in line to get into a large temple in India, I recommend coming for $5 Hindi movie Tuesday. OK...maybe it's not quite THAT bad...but it did throw into sharp relief my considerable lack of skill in the shoving people department.
I feel like I want to give this place 5 stars...but I just can't. What's great about it? Watching recent subtitled Hindi movies in an actual movie theater. What's not great? Everything else.
...bumping them up a star for the fact that you can buy tickets online from:
http://chegg.com/Ticke...
That's a pretty good service for a relatively small movie theater business.
I agree with everything reviewers Lisa T., Anjali K., and Leena K. said about this place.
The best thing I ever saw at Naz (aside from 'Bunty aur Babli') was when two women almost got into a fist fight because one of them was talking during the previews. Please. People at Naz regularly talk through the ENTIRE MOVIE.
Imagine this dialogue, if you will (in an Indian accent):
"Shut up, you low-class ho!"
"Who's low-class?"
"You AND your family, b***ch!"
"You want to take this outside?!"
I laughed harder at that than at Kareena Kapoor's attempts at acting.
The only reason I wouldn't give Naz 5 stars is because the hand dryer in the ladies' room never works, and the toilet paper can be scarce.
This theater featuring Indian movies (mostly Hindi, and sometimes in other Indian languages) is not very customer-service-oriented. It is often dirty (though it gets pretty crowded for certain movies, so you can't blame management completely), some of the staff are rude and unaccommodating, the spelling/grammar on signs and advertisements is comically horrendous, and ticketing is a bit disorganized. To top that, a lot of patrons bring young, obnoxious children into movies -- even those with adult-oriented themes.
Still, Naz is the one reliable place to watch the latest and greatest Bollywood hits. Most of the films have English subtitles; you can go to the web site to verify this and check the schedule. On Tuesdays, you can watch movies for just five bucks, although sometimes it's worth it to pay the extra three and go another day when it's less crowded. As you might have guessed, tickets are normally $8, and you can also buy them online for $1.50 more. It is worth it to do so when a major film releases (for example, under the Yash Raj banner and/or starring Shah Rukh Khan). Also, even if you have bought tickets in advance, show up at least 30 minutes early when it's a large release, because a long line starts forming to get good seats. Even when there is a show on the hour every hour.
Pair the movie with Masala Grill next door (and see my review on it).
I just went to Naz today. I go here whenever I feel like it; it is very close to my apartment, like eight min. walk away. I saw Life in a...Metro. It's good I mean it's different although I did not like a lot of parts in it which were gross. But I acted like a mature person and didn't laugh or say "eww." Instead I just covered up mostly.
Ok back to the topic. Naz is a good place to go and watch Bollywood movies. I like the location because it's by Raley's and Subway. If I ever want to buy a couple items I can do that after watching a movie. And, my sister likes eating Subway which is right by Naz. Also, Masala Grill is practically next door which is convenient.
I don't like the staff sometimes because they were sort of mean in the past. Once my sister and I went to go see Black (more than 2 years ago), and my sister had a bag of chips in her hand and she was entering the theatre. Well they apparently got furious over the chips and took them away and told us they'll give em back once the movie is over.
Laugh out Loud! I was like give the girl a break it's just a bag of chips, it's not a grand meal from taco bell she's bringing in!! And, I don't exactly enjoy being around smokers but whenever I go to Naz (outside of Naz) I always ALWAYS smell smoke or a residue of it.
But because it's in a good location and they play good movies there, I give it 5/5.
DO NOT:
- Buy tickets one hour before the movie. Tickets can be purchased online for $6.50 for Tuesday movies.
- Arrive late. You'll have to fight for a seat in the dark and sit up front.
- Attempt to bring in your own food or drinks. They a designated watcher to catch you.
- Leave your seat during intermission without saving it. You'll find someone's child or uncle occupying your seat.
- Assume their will be toilet seat covers at the Mens restroom. Jet black toilets don't make me warm and fuzzy.
- Finally.... Do not talk during the movie while Aishwarya Rai or Kareena Kapoor are in the middle of their sensual scenes. Yes, its breath taking... please don't ruin the moment.
On this Tuesday night showing, we watched: Jab We Meet
http://www.youtube.com...
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Thank you Guri for setting up these gatherings! I love Bollywood movies because it reminds me of Pilipino Culture Nights (theatrical plays performed by Filipino college clubs around California). Now I get to blame you for all the future Bollywood DVD's I'll be getting now!
We had a funny and infuriating "customer service" experience that brought me straight back to India. When we arrived, we bought tickets for the next random showing. The ticket collector wouldn't let us past the rope until exactly 15 minutes before the start of the movie even though no one was around. He finally let us through so that we could buy a snack at the concessions stand, but he would only "hold" our tickets. When we finally sat down to an almost empty theater, it took us 2 minutes to realize that the movie was not subtitled. We immediately left the theater and had a problem getting a refund or exchange on our tickets.
I talked to the ticket seller who quickly pointed to the sign that said "No refunds" and immediately called over security. The security guy/bouncer gave us a hard time, so I asked to speak to the manager, who he suggested was "The Big Boss". I then talked to the manager who didn't want to help until I told him I would write a letter to his boss. After some arguement with each person, the manager granted us a handwritten pass that allowed us to return to the theater the next day for a specific movie at a specific time. We weren't angry, it was just a matter of principle!
We returned the next day with no problems and enjoyed our movie. I would still recommend a visit, especially if you like eating a samosa and chai while watching a Bollywood film. Where else are you going to get that here? Just keep an open mind and make sure you check on the time table to see if there are subtitles!
I love the Naz 8 cinema in Southern California. I wanted to see Don last year but missed it. I wanted to see Om Shanti Om, and I missed. But then last week we piled into the car and made the trip to Fremont for something I had never heard of. It was great!
Naz 8 is what an Indian theater in Fremont should be. See you there on Tuesdays for $5 dollar movie night (I'll be the guy drinking chai and eating a samosa (at the theater! Instead of popcorn! That rocks).
Treat yourself to a little south Asian fun and go to the Naz.......
Naz 8 is a full on cultural experience.
What other movie theater sells samosas?
What other movie theater shows films which have intermissions?
You also have to love the crying babies, the people who walk in late and take their time finding seats in front of you. I'm not saying this to be snide, but it really is part of the authentic Indian movie experience. It comes with an audience which is so invested in the movie, that you can actually hear their emotions - they sigh when the hero suffers a setback, they cheer when the Indian women's field hockey team wins the international tournament by a hair.
One of the worst Movie experience i ever had. I am going to take my time to narrate my experience.
We went to see Ghajani after our 2 yr old slept. First off they charged for her ticket (which to a degree i feel is low but i am not too worried about the cost part of it).
After we got the ticket We wanted to sit inside and he refused to let me stay with my wife for some un know reason. So i had to step out while my wife had to stand carrying our kid. He also has pretty strange rules about who can stay and who can't inside the lobby.
When it was time to get in I had hard time locating my tickets in my wallet, he remembered me showing the tickets to him and acknowledged the fact that i had tickets but still refused to let us in un less we showed him the actual stubs. His Asinine reason was someone can pick up those tickets and watch the movie for Free. And the way he said it was extremely rune. At this time my daughter woke up and caught part of our conversation and commented to him that he was being RUDE, so even a 2 year old could figure this Jack A$$ was rude.
I found my tickets and went inside the floor was sticky and Sound system was crappy. We left the movie b4 it finished.
I would NEVER go back to this theater again and strongly encourage people who visit the place not put up with the Bull..
Nothing better than a day at the Naz. The dancing, the beautiful women, the charismatic men...did I mention the dancing? A perfect day in Fremont starts with the lunch buffet at Madras over at the Fremont Hub Shopping Center, a blended cappucino from the coffee shop across from the Naz, sneaking the blended cappucino into the Naz, then settling in to 3+ hours of Bollywood bliss. At intermission, stop at the concession stand for samosas and chai.
Daytime shows tend to be sparsely attended, but at night it gets pretty wild at the Naz. For the full experience, catch a late-night show with a packed house. The sound system at the Naz rocks, so when those dance scenes start up, it almost like being at a concert. For those of us who are Hindi-challenged, most of the movies are subtitled in English--check the "timings" page on the website to make sure.
i still remember the days when this theater used to be called the "buck fifty" theater. when i was growing up, this used to be the second-run theater that us kids would come to see older movies for cheap. now, the theater has become the premiere bollywood theater of the bay area, and all the stores and restaurants around it sell/serve indian goods and food.
i came here last night to watch jodhaa akbar, the new ashwariya rai movie, which was really good. bollywood movies are super long, and this one was no exception, w/ a 3:42 running time!! thank goodness for the intermission in between, since my butt seriously starting becoming sore from sitting so long. either way, it was worth it, as the movie was so captivating that the 4 hours went by quickly.
this theater does not have your typical movie theater snacks and serves chaat and chai! how great is that! during intermission, the bf got up and got a bhel puri to munch on during the movie, which was tasty. i will definitely come back to check out more films!!
Everything in this place is dirty. Avoid the restrooms here at any cost. I found the men's room clogged and flooded. Very unhygienic and dirty. Avoid this place.!
Naz Cinema is the greatest theater to watch Bollywood movies (outside of India, that is). It has the full-on Indian ambience -- read into this what you will -- and be sure check out the graffitti in the ladies' room.
We are soooo spoiled to have a fulltime Bollywood movie theater here in the Bay Area with an amazing 8 screens that I will overlook the cramped seats and broken heater/AC and just enjoy the show!
Their sound system is very good, by the way, all the better to get down to the funky tunes that make it a Bollywood flick.
By the way, this is for the ladies: you HAVE to come early so you can get your eyebrows threaded at Beauty Plus, the Indian beauty salon just across the plaza (see my Yelp review). It costs just $7 and they do an amazing job -- your friends who just spent $30 at some upscale waxing salon will be so jealous. It just takes around 10 minutes.
It hurts like a mofo, BTW. Which is why you have to take your mind off the pain by watching Govinda, Kareena Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan dance around trees for the next three hours.
YES! I loved the glittering roof with the over the top blinking lights. It was $8 for a 3 hour long movie with 10 mins intermission in between. It wasn't too busy on a Saturday night. It had plenty of seats to choose from. The movie was "Race" and the experience was golden.
I've watched Naz grow from an awkward infant when it took over the historic one-screen ABC Cinema in Centerville (kicking out the Rocky Horror Picture Show along with it), to a hyperacitve teen when it took over the multi-screen GCC theater in the Hub (accomodating the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday nights - imagine the scene of freaked out Indian families when they'd leave their Bollywood dreamland to a line of dressed up freaks) to a somewhat tired, grumpy Indian grandpa who grumbles while he walks with his hands clasped around his back on Paseo Padre at dusk when it took over the Super Saver Theater in whatever-that-name shopping center by Washington Hospital is called.
I have mixed emotions about this here Naz as I've seen it age. Has it allowed me to introduce non-brown friends to the insanity of Bollywood on the big screen? Of course. Has it allowed me the choice of not one, but several movies where a girl runs through a field while singing with the voice of a portly 70 year old grandma not too unlike what went down with C + C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" video except in this case everyone in the audience KNOWS a portly grandma is really singing and is ok with it? Of course. Has it allowed me the choice of watching Shahrukh Khan basically play himself, even while he runs through the length of Manhattan with a heart condition, no matter which door I walk into? Of course. Has it even allowed me to see a current, intense Pakistani movie about the battle between religious moderates and extremists when no other theater anywhere I know is showing it? Of course.
But Naz has its downsides. I've been to each of the three theaters in Fremont long before Naz took them over, and each time, the general deterioration of each theater post-takeover has been really pronounced. Also, minus - the way expensive concession stand. $4.75 for a small bottle of Kirkland water and a small styrofoam cup of mediocre chai? Yaar, I know when I'm getting ripped off. And while I also applaud their efforts of selling samosas in a movie theater, it would help if the samosas actually didn't taste 3 days old.
And to that lady who brings her 6 year old tired and cranky kid to an 11pm movie and that dude who thinks nothing of it to answer his phone during the big climax when the hero discovers that the villain who looks like his twin is actually......his twin -- just stay home and watch it on pirated DVD, will ya? Sure, there's something authentic about all your cacophony, but I'm an old, cantankerous curmudgeon now and there's laws in this country against swatting people with a stick of partially gnawed sugar cane.
Thank you.
3 stars.
Is The Naz's facility the most fresh, state of the art movie theater around? Well, no--this location has been around for years, serving as home to General Cinemas and a bargain theater, among others.
Are the mens' rooms fresh? NO, and that's all I have to say about THAT.
But when I go too many weeks without a Naz trip, I really start to feel like I'm missing out--and I am.
Naz has been around in Fremont for years & years, first in the old theater in the area of F'mont Blvd now known as "Little Kabul," another home to many movie houses over the years, then in the Fremont Hub, in the former home of another major multiplex. It was in this home that the Naz gained my attention through an article in the local paper: a young anglo reporter took the plunge, & reported on the amazing assault on the senses that is the Bollywood film, and the amazing array of international foods that the Naz served at this time--popcorn, nachos, samosas, whatever. He was clearly impressed. But apparently I wasn't ready to cross that line just yet.
Flash forward years later, to another article about Bollywood cinema. "Krrish," ( http://www.netflix.com... ) a sort of superhero flick, Bollywood style, is expected to be a huge hit, one to draw fans from outside the Indian culture, in to see their first Bollywood film. I took that as my cue.
So, I grabbed my 13-year old son. We got our tickets, popped by the snack bar for samosas and mango lassis, then spent 3 hours in awe.
And went back & saw it again.
And have been back many times since, sometimes multiple times in a week, sometimes seeing every movie on the list.
We've seen Bollywood films where there is no singing and dancing. We have seen ones that keep the genres down to only one or two. We have even seen movies that are only two hours, and even one or two where people kiss! But none of this is the norm. What we can generally expect is three hours of singing, dancing romantic comedy, tragedy, action and adventure--where lips never quite meet. Sexy anyhow--Hollywood, take note! Many are Bollywood takes on Hollywood films, and many are seriously good films that kick butt over the closest Hollywood alternative you can find. "Cheeni Kum," ( http://en.wikipedia.or... ) for instance, is far superior to the American restaurant-themed films released around the same period, "Waitress" and "No Reservations"). An aquired taste? Yeah, maybe. And it's like they say for parents: make sure a new food is sampled many times over a period of time, to make sure it is properly introduced.
How did it feel walking into the Naz for the first time? Well, part of why it took so long, I guess, was the idea that my white face would not be welcomed. Yes, we are noticed when we walk in. Once, one of the young concession attendants asked if we like Indian movies. When he didn't understand our order (chaat), he said, "I'm not Indian." I replied, "neither am I!" Everyone is pretty much friendly and accepting, and if you smile, they'll smile back.
No, the Naz is not a high-end theatre, but it serves a real purpose in the community, both for transplanted Indians, and for people like me who want to enjoy & appreciate the full flavor of the modern American culture, at least as available here in the Bay Area.
I am a HUGE Bollywood fan. You'd never know it, but I am. My friend invited me to see a Shahrukh Khan film 3 years ago, and ever since I've been in love. I usually end up seeing my Bollywood films alone nowadays, because I live in San Diego and I make the hour and a half drive to the SoCal Naz 8 near Cerritos. I have a feeling we (in the States) catch the Bollywood blockbusters later than they do in the Motherland, but a Hrithik Roshan fix any time, is always good. And you can eat a samosa while you watch, yum!
today was the first time i saw a bollywood film (heyy babyy) in the us. the only other time i've seen one was when i was in nz during their int'l film fest.
honestly, i was kind of impressed. i don't know what i was expecting, but the theatre was clean, bathrooms clean (although the lady before be did not flush...she didn't use any tp, either..???), good sound system, and service at the concession stands decent. we ordered some popcorn as well as some papri chaat. both were good.
The Naz 8 is basically a typical 1980's movie theater in a 1980's strip mall that hasn't changed much in the past 20 years. Except all they show are Indian movies (they say they are international but really it is Indian). I just had a mango Snapple and pistachio ice cream, so can't speak to the quality of the other snacks. Mostly I think it is excellent that there is an 8-screen Bollywood theater here!
Arrogant Management. Dirty seats. Managers extremely rude to customers. They don't accept credit cards. No ATM around. They let parents walk in with babies as it its a ToyRus. They don't trust any print outs you have (if you book your tickets online). Lousy sound system.
Movies here are non-Hindi speaker friendly. I don't speak Hindi. However, the subtitles can fail to be functional when displayed in white and when the character doing the talking conveniently decides to wear some spotless white shirt and the cameraman opts to point the camera in a way that the white shirt spans the entire length of the bottom of the screen such that those much-needed subtitles are camouflaged like chameleons. I hate it when this happens.
The theater is .. okay. It's so Indian .. no fake smile, no warm welcome, it's all business here. Late at night, the place is really busy. I don't mind Indian people, but when you put them together and give them a singular destination .. they turn into a raging mob, paying very little heed to the notion of personal space. Also, since most of the people here are families and old people, you also don't get the same rambunctious crowds that frequent theaters in India. No infuriated yelling when things have gone horribly wrong (the only thing that can ever go wrong in these movies -- OMG, so-and-so's father refuses to consent to so-and-so's marriage with his/her star-crossed lover). None of the fanfare and throwing of confetti to celebrate a happy ending. Interaction with the silver screen is nil, naught, negligible. The people that come here bring to the theater the worst of both their worlds. They're mundanely polite Americans while they watch their movies and ruthlessly impolite Indians when push comes to shove in dark crowded corridors.
But, I wish every theater sold samosas and chai at their concession stand like they do here .. this is probably my favorite thing about this place.
Bollywood is good, especially with the Jolly Green Giant in your company. I don't think I would have felt comfortable going here without my Indian friend, but one day I'm sure I'll take a BART journey to catch some flicks and curry when I know nobody will be around to stone me.
As for the theater, it was your standard small theater with several screens. No stadium seating. Kinda like a porn theater. Didn't try the snacks, but I will next time.
