which is better? now or then?

Someone just asked me if, with the number of specialty cinema theatres/projects that are appearing on the Toronto landscape, if there has been a better time to be a movie fan in this city?

I'd argue yes, there were better times. And better movies.

Here are 4 different pages from The Toronto Star from '68, '72, '79 & '81.Have a look at the listings today and which would you prefer?

Hard to imagine today a major cinema doing a revival screening of a film released over 30 years prior, like the Famous Players Theatre at the Eglinton was doing with Chaplin's The Great Dictator. All we get now is a release of Avatar, with extra bloating! And on the same page, is Peter Watkin's Punishment Park at the Avenue Cinema, in amongst the 31 other films to choose from including Prime Cut.

The answer, I think, is obvious.

(click on the pages to look at the images bigger)