Like most modern metropolises, Boston sports several movie houses that show mainstream moneymakers like Rambo or Perfect. The seven Sack Cinema theaters are the best places to find new films that are popular across the nation. But, unless you feel the urge to ride the subway, there's no reason why you should have to leave Cambridge for good flicks. The Square has a good assortment of mainstream popular, classic, and foreign films to keep you entertained without ever having to venture into Boston.

The Harvard Square Theater Complex ( Church St.) stuffs five screens into its small three story structure. It used to feature daily double showings centered around some cute theme, but this was canceled during renovations last year. The manager says the double flicks may start up against this summer. In the meantime you can catch first run and weekend late night shows there.

Those disenchanted with the run-of-the-mill and seeking films by the likes of Truffaut, Fellini and Cocteau can satiate their Euro-urge at The Brattle Theater (40 Brattle St.). Up until July 11, the cozy movie house will feature its annual Janus Film Festival with movies by popular Eastern and Western European directors. Films from the fifties like James Dean's classic Rebel Without A Cause and and an occasional late night 1960s film will round out the rest of the summer. The Janus Theater (57 JFK in the Galeria) also shows foreign films, though it is currently featuring Desperately Seeking Susan.

Right here on campus. The Harvard Film Archive (Carpenter Center, 34 Quincy St.) plans some good and somewhat obscure classics, not to mention horror and animation screenings. Though its located at artsy-fartsy central, most of the classic films have a distinct proletarian and social commentary bent. Among others, Stanley Kubrick's psycho-nightmare The Shining, his apocalyptic satire Dr. Strangelove and an Eastern European animation festival will fill the screens there this summer.

A five-minute walk from Harvard, the Orson Welles Cinema (1001 Massachusetts Ave.) also shows foreign films, but usually blends them with popular flicks. Keep an eye out for the actress festival.

Tired of all this serious stuff? Looking for some really bad cinema? Head up to Off the Walt Cinema and Cafe (Central Square, 15 Pearl St.) in late July for its "Fourth Annual Summer Schlock Festival". No films are scheduled yet, but you can bet Attack of the Killer Tomatoes will show up on one of those screens. A cartoon festival precedes the crud.

Its been known to show lots of foreign films, but the Nickelodeon (606 Commonwealth Ave.) will show mostly American first-runs this summer. And if you're willing to trek into Boston for a movie then you probably wouldn't mind heading up to the Somerville Theater (55 Davis Sq.). One of Boston's oldest moviehouses, the Somerville has an ambiance of chic grime. But don't miss this house that looks like it could easily be revamped into a punk palace. It's got pink walls and even a real balcony. The Killing Fields and Clockwork Orange will fill the screens several times this summer, and a rock series will make its way into the oldtime theater later this summer.