Cinema Heaven and Hell

Movie going has always been a passion and escape for me — barricading the terrifying outside world between some quality soundproofing and a 5,000-watt xenon bulb. Not to mention the air conditioning, hard to find in the greater Santa Barbara area.

As a long time resident of Goleta, we always looked to Camino Real Cinemas as the apex of the movie going experience in the south county, and as I broadened my horizons (and by that I mean literally every other city in Southern California), I realized that Metropolitan Theatre Company might have a few shortfalls to answer for.

I’ve lived in Los Angeles since 2012, and to my surprise, patronizing my first theater here required I choose my seats. No lines. No surprises. No showing up to find a sold out sign. No sitting within three feet of a 50-foot screen.