Is AMC Rockaway successful? It takes about a year for a theater to stablize, but I think AMC is making a huge mistake by not building upscale complexes the way National Amusements is, they aren’t thinking of the big picture. Yes, they permit you to bring in your own snacks, but if they had a bar/grill like Chatters or 12 Lounge I might be apt to hang out there before the show. The area in general has a ways to go in terms of growing into an entertainment district, there needs to be more dinning options in the area (if you don’t like Fat Burger, Sizzler, Panera Bread or the Food Court you’re in trouble). Therefore I don’t think its later shows do all that well (I saw Shooter on Saturday night at 9:55 and the theater was only about 20-30% full). If the theater isn’t doing well (and hell, it cost some 20-million to build) then why invest in Real D. Cinema 12 is still doing healthy business, as is Cinema 10 from what I see there. The area has a lot of shopping but lacks dinning, which will make people stay around longer, to see those late night shows. Clifton Commons, which got a Real D system has that and is growing that, and the theater is still very successful despite the fact its showing its age. AMC Rockaway 12 did very well with the Twilight Shows (which AMC ceased right after aquring General Cinema), but this new theater, with the second highest ticket price in the state (behind 10.25 at the much better Edgewater Multiplex) may not be performing up to expectations. This wouldn’t be the first time Loews did this, go read about Loews North Versailles. I doubt this place would close but I’ll tell you I was at the AMC Empire 25 the other night and forgot just how ahead of the curve AMC was in building cinemas. This theater may be newer but AMC’s original megaplex design had better seats, sound, and projection. Needless to say the AMC name will be tarnished by them aquring Loews. Travis Reid and company built third rate theaters, some in pooer shape than discount houses (ie: East Hanover and Wayne). This new Loews construction isn’t up to par with what AMC was doing ten years ago, and the projection is horrable and blurry. If you tell the staff this they don’t care. Loews and chains that are this poor in quality are the reason people are drawn to stay home. Its a shame AMC couldn’t see this and fix the problems here. I actually perfer Cinema 12 and Clifton to this place. Clearview has finally figured out going upscale, having good projection, popcorn and luxerious seats are a draw and they have rapidly turned their opperations around making them (shockingly) one of the best chains in the area.

Justin, you’re gonna love this. I just called the theater. After confirming that they were NOT showing “Meet The Robinsons” in digital 3D, I asked when Rockaway would get the system. The customer rep replied that they won’t be getting it. I said “ever?” and she replied yes. I said that was unfortunate since the 3D version of these upcoming movies is where the money is (and apparently what the people want.) It continues to baffle me that AMC could construct a brand new theater with the latest “this and that” and not install the digital 3D system from the getgo (or at least soon thereafter)…especially since AMC is one of the major chains that has contracted with Real D. I’m hoping they will have a change of heart as the market becomes flooded with all the upcoming 3D movies I’m reading about. Thanks to Clearview, we at least have Parsippany and Succasunna. Their auditoriums and screens aren’t as impressive as Rockaway’s but at least they have the technology. Saw “Meet the Robinsons” last friday and it definitely delivered the goods!!!

When 300 opens this weekend, please post any info regarding the presentation of the film, which will look a bit different than those commercials advertising the film that were shown in HD. The film will play on three screens (probably the two big auditoriums and the third biggest) at the theater with normal 35mm projection and Dolby Digital EX surround sound with a running time of nearly 2 hours (not including the AMC Moviewatcher Network stuff as well as the trailers).

Just went to see Pan’s Labyrinth in theater #5, and the film was awesome. No splices at all (save for the change to credits at the very end which is normal for all movies), the sound was terrific, and the picture was very good, with readable big subtitles. All in all, a nice experience in a rarely crowded show. When I left the theater, there was a short line since it was early evening and most people were at the mall rather than the 16-plex. I hope business rebounds after the Oscars are over and seeing if some movies that have been out of the theater are going to play there. I really want to see “The Queen” but that’s playing only in Parsippany (Clearview) and in AMC’s sister theater in East Hanover (no stadium seating, duh). So much for AMC Select in Rockaway.

The prints are blury because the lenses probably let too much light in – they claim to have HD lenses (everything these days is called HD because HD sounds cool, I guess). But I’m glad someone else noticed this, its a problem, so much so I really don’t go here as much as I would – that and the theaters aren’t as comfortable as they would have been if AMC built this from the ground up. But hopefully AMC won’t let this one because rundown like virtually every other Loews site they have (Loews started it) – East Hanover and Wayne these days look worce than a discount house, I can’t imagine what that crappy theater they own in Stroud Mall looks like now. Meanwhile Clearview, who I used to not be a big fan of has vastly improved the quality of their projection and the comfort of their theaters. They still aren’t at National Amusements-level but at least they’ve turned themselves around majorly.

Since the theater opened several months ago, has it been one of the profitable theaters for AMC? According to Wikipedia, only the Empire is the closest theater in my area that makes more money than the Rockaway location. Any word on when DLP comes to the theater? It would be nice to see a movie in HD, e.g. 300 or Grindhouse. The prints are a bit fuzzier than the Clearview screens in Parsippany, although the sound is really good and the seats are comfy!!!

just went to see happy feet( which has been playing for more than two months after it came out when the theater opened) and i was glad it was still playing while its opening weekend rival, casino royale, lived and let die at the theater. just wait until summer rolls around and there will be more movies that will have a long exhibition life. just like happy feet which was awesome on a decent screen with rumbling surround sound.

Or because there is no market for them in Rockaway. I saw Fast Food Nation at the theater opening night and was one of about ten people in the theater. I don’t know how the other “AMC Select” movie playing that night did (the Dixie Chicks doc Shut Up and Sing). Art movies generally do better in an area with a highly educated audience or in an area with a college and arts culture: Rockaway is as mainstream as areas come, family movies probably do very well here. Bigger art movies probably would hold their own at this theater and if Pan’s Labryinth crosses over and expands out to 1,000 or more screens you’ll likely see it at AMC Rockaway. In general the only muliplex that really plays art movies on a consistance basis in Northern NJ is Edgewater.

Just came back from a screening of “Children of Men”, and here are some issues that I had with the show:

1-During the last few minutes of the preshow, the screen went blank. My dad went over to see the general manager and the guy who runs the place says that it will take a while before everything’s up and ready. Has anyone experienced this kind of thing before? It doesn’t matter because it’s only the preshow. Soon after, the show went on.

2-The projection is a bit soft. Yeah, the sound is great, but the picture was not as sharp as the one I saw while I sneaked into a screening of “Primeval”, which was shot in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The smaller the screen , the sharper the image. I hope AMC has digital projection soon.

You keep asking this question. Why don’t you call them up? There’s an idea.

Any word on when digital projection comes to this theater? Since it’s a new theater, I think it will take some time before I see some good summer movies on a big HD-like screen. Also, how is business at the Rockaway compared to their competition?

It’s a pre-show that usually shows commercials, ads for tv shows and videogames, as well as AMC First Look, which is an exclusive sneak peek at upcoming movies, in this case, the new “Reno 911” movie which looks funny!!! The digital preshow is shown using a video projector on the giant screen, resulting in a grid-like image which looks like the Jumbotron in New York’s Times Square. The sound quality is pretty good, but it’s not in widescreen. The presentation lasts around 20 minutes, and then the film reels roll with the typical movie and policy trailers (all in 35mm film). I hope AMC in the future gets its two largest theatres installed with digital projectors (DLP)!!!