Find the Perfect Movie Theater in or Near Fairfield, CA

In these economic times there are a lot of luxuries going by the way side. One of the few indulgences that remain is the pleasure of seeing a movie in a well-appointed theatre. Starting from the theatres closest to my hometown of Fairfield, CA and working my way out to more distant locations; I'll give you the skinny on 5 of the North and East Bay Area's best theatres. You want to know who has the best food, the comfiest seats, the best sound, picture, and variety. So here's a review from an avid movie-goer.

Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16

Located inside a popular local mall, this theatre is probably one of the only decent places to take a date on a Saturday night, or see that long-awaited blockbuster in town. There are 16 huge screens with awesome picture and sound, and one of the screens is an IMAX Experience. The seating is cushy, spacious and the rows un-cramped. The staff is helpful and usually friendly. The food has a wide offering of everything from personal pizzas, to Cinnabon pretzels. The casual laidback atmosphere combined with small-town matinee charm makes this a neat place to lose a few hours in the fantasy of a good film.

Brenden Vacaville 16

Brenden's huge 16 screen theatre in Vacaville, CA is not quite as shiny and new as Edwards, but is still a great place to see a movie. The sound is stellar even if the picture on the screen is sometimes a bit fuzzy. The staff can be a bit cold at times but they are efficient and the place runs smoothly. They offer the typical theatre fare, popcorn, sodas, hotdogs, etc. One plus is that they sometimes get films that Edwards doesn't play, and the other is that they play their films for quite a bit longer before they remove them from the theatre; giving you more of a chance to see them. All in all I'd give this theatre a 7 ½ out of a 10 rating.

Shattuck Cinemas

This has to be my favorite theatre to go to in the East Bay. They play a slew of indie and foreign language films that many times never hit the theatres in wide release. Most often lesser-known, Oscar nominated films play here before they hit the big screens. There is a quite descent restaurant just inside the theatre as well as a bevy of unique restaurants to choose from on Shattuck Street that provides an eclectic range of foods from casual dining options to gourmet menus. Jupiter's; a popular hangout serving brews, wines and awesome gourmet pizzas is just across the street. A Mel's Diner is just next store. The theatre itself is located in Berkeley, CA on the ground floor of the lovely Shattuck hotel; a fact which is reflected in the décor. It harkens back to a time when movies were in black and white. Beautiful Art Deco designs and golden hued carved ceilings give it a nostalgic flair. There is a different decorative theme inside each of the 10 Screens it houses that make each movie viewing a special experience. The food is mainly popcorn and sodas, but considering the number of eateries located on Shattuck's strip why would you bother eating anything there but the popcorn as a snack?

AMC Bay Street 16

AMC Bay Street 16 is another big screen theatre that is located in Emeryville, CA. Its sixteen screens play a host of movies with fairly good picture quality and sound. The star here is the food. It's like being at the food court at your local mall. You feel like a teenager again surrounded by plenty of junk food to consume and feel guilty about later. The staff is friendly and not too uptight. The bonus here is that it is located smack dab in the middle of a sprawling shopping center with many restaurants to choose from either before or after your entertainment. Sephora, Barnes and Noble, and many other mainstream retailers are close by. Don't' miss dinner at Askew Grill, a unique restaurant with big taste and gourmet appeal at small prices. Try the Cilantro Lime Chicken or the Thai Salmon for a flavor that is both infectious and stimulating. If you are in downtown Emeryville and have some time to spend, you want to catch a movie here.

AMC Loews Metreon 16

To just call this a theatre is an understatement. If location is the key to your movie-going delight, you'll be happy to know that it's nestled right in the thick of every thing that is happening in San Francisco, CA. This is a positively huge entertainment complex. A fun and yet elegant place to take a date; it can also be a great treat for the family or a group of friends. While waiting for your movie to start; ditch the kids at a massive arcade that offers multi-player action, and then dine at one of the many fine restaurants, or browse some of the retail stores inside. The singles scene will have fun getting their groove on at the trendy yet chic nightclub/restaurant Jillian's! If you just came to grab a bite and see the show, the food court serves fast food quality fare such as chicken strips and French fries. AMC Loew's Metreon also has a gigantic IMAX Experience screen to complete your viewing pleasure. If you are visiting town for a day or just hanging around in the city with nothing to do, definitely make it a point to come to this San Francisco movie landmark.