AMC Garden State Plaza 16

I was at AMC Garden State 16 for Saw V last night – strange showing and I have a few notes on it: first was the crowds and the ID checks, which created a long than need to be line, they weren’t terribly efficient at this, and for what – an MPAA system that really doesn’t work. Secondly, I don’t know if there was a group making trouble, I didn’t notice them, but at least 5 of their relatively useless security guards came in and kicked them out, gladly they weren’t with little resistance, because if they didn’t I would have complained about this: you can’t ruin a movie experience for 400 other people to kick out 6. I say the security guards there are useless and I’ll cite two incidents: at a certain point in the theater’s history it was the subject of folks in the mall randomly pulling alarms, causing the staff to evacuate the theater. I see 5 films a week, and in 10 years of this habit, I’ve only ever been evacuated from a theater three times: the first at the Sunshine in Manhattan was an actual emergency. The other two were at AMC Garden State. Adult security guards stood by while 16-year olds in red AMC polo shirts lead the evacuation.

The second incident occurred at a 3-D showing of Beowulf, when I got up to complain about a guy on his cell phone and when I turned the corner I found it was a security guard. I stared at him and he said “can I help you” and I said “sure, you mind taking that conversation outside” and he said “I’m on the phone with my boss” – I said “that’s nice, I paid $14 to see this movie, I don’t need to hear you, take the call in the hallway” – the then replied “do you know who your talking to, I’m the security guard”. Stupid wannabe cop. (Meanwhile he had patrons sitting on the stairs, which is a fire hazard)

I complained to the management who offered up a free pass, what I really wanted those was an apology from the guard and an acknowledgment as to why what he did was wrong, AMC’s management said they couldn’t since they outsource security to a private firm, they took my info and I have yet to get a call back from the guy’s boss. I’m still holding that free pass.

I’m not in this targeted group, I consider myself to be a sophisticated movie goer, and I like theaters with good customer service (Edgewater Multiplex still is the gold standard in Northern NJ) – while I understand the company has its policies, its security guards and staff need to start treating their filmgoers like paying customers and not criminals, regardless of their age. If 16 years get fed up and decided to stop showing up, AMC doesn’t have a future. Its more of the tone of their interactions I object to than then their enforcement of policies.

Went here today for the first time ever and saw “Iron Man” in No. 9 – I felt like I was walking into a cathedral rather than a movie theater. The lobby is huge and impressive, especially the mural which wraps around the three main walls and depicts various cinema stars, as are the black-and-white classic film portraits that are situated outside the individual theaters. A huge step up, at least aesthetically, from a lot of other AMC theaters I’ve been to.

btw, the projection of 21 wasn’t digital. It was very blurry, simliar to Rockaway but on a bigger screen that filled half the screen and with more seats. The crowds are more louder than in Rockaway, and the staff is nicer. I’d say this is AMC’s best theater I’ve been to since the old Rockaway theater. There are more ticket atms around the theater than in Rockaway, although the exterior is not as exciting as Rockaway, with its giant movie posters on the left, front, and right side of the theater.

just came back from the movies seeing “21” in theater #2, which has around 500+ seats. #1 has “Horton” and seats around 540+. The presentation was 35mm film, and there were a few instances of splicing and discoloration after the film presentation was delayed for a few minutes…but the screen I saw it on was bigger than the widescreen in Rockaway, plus the sound was great and the seating nice. On the way to the auditorium, one of the workers gave me back my AMC gift card, and she was courteous!!! Parking here is a hassle, even on the day before Sundays!!! The popcorn was ok, very salty near the end. The crowd was well behaved too.

someone should correct the spelling of auditorium in the summary…my mistake. What this theater lacks is an IMAX screen, which the Lincoln Square and Palisades Center right across the hudson have. On Sundays, is most of the traffic in Paramus due to the theater? I heard rumors that the blue laws might be lifted in Bergen County soon…

This theater, as well as the Clifton Commons, will not have IMAX 3D, leaving the Rockaway complex to be the only theater in North Jersey to show the format come summer 2008.

go during the week for a matinee.

Amazingly, this has become my “home” theatre. I never thought that I’d have accepted this place so much given it replaced the beloved 10 plex. Sundays are my preferred day to go since I can park by the theatre, no problem. The rest of the time, I just park in the regular lot as stated in a previous post. Also on my last visit I thought I had lost my cellphone and the staff was very accomodating helping me look for it. It’s proximity to where the old triplex was (and going in th emall the same way) also give it a familarity I don’t get when I go out of town theatres.

It’s a very nice movie theatre and my favorite in this area. If I go to Garden State Plaza, I now can catch a flick there.

Having accepted the fate of the TenPlex, I’ve given this theater a couple chances more. My biggest issue was the parking situation. The last few times, I avoided the lots by the theatre and and just walked through the mall to get to the theatre. It’s worked out well on that front. Without the parking getting on my nerves before even going to see the movie definitely helps. In the “very small things” dept. I’m glad they carried over Cherry Coke from the 10 plex. Haven’t seen that in other most other AMC’s. Oh yeah, the actual movies. If they maintaint he actual theaters at the high level they are now, I’ll keep coming back.

Went to this theater today with my aunt to see “Ratatouille” in the DLP auditorium (#10) and I enjoyed the movie, both in presentation and enjoyment. The picture was good but the focus was soft since I decided to sit closer to the screen in the lower part of that theater where there’s more legroom and room to move the seats back…the next time I go see a movie in DLP at this theater, I’ll just sit near the guardrail near the disabled seats in the middle of the row in order to see the sharper picture. The sound, on the other hand, was great, despite some minor chatting in the audience along with babies crying. The other complaint I also had was that the ticket taker didn’t tear the two tickets right, her name was Monika and she tried her best.

I was also sad to see the old tenplex close. But the new theater is really nice, I have to admit. It’s hard to not get excited when everything is so big and new and clean!

Does anyone have any information about the specific digital projection equipment they’re using? Or the media servers or digital media delivery methods they use? I finally got my first taste of D-Cinema and now I’m curious about all the technical details.

Nice theatre but parking is a nightmare. I haven’t been there on Sunday yet, but the parking situation is bad enough to keep me away the rest of the time. As far as the actual theatre, it was nice and I liked the fact people could walk by and you don’t really have to get up because there’s enough space in front of the seats.