Comments from jimpiscitelli

Showing 1 - 25 of 148 comments

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Randhurst 16 Theaters on May 2, 2011 at 1:08 pm

What were the other preview movies besides “The Godfather”, “Inception”, “The Dark Knight”, “The Hangover”, “Avatar” and “The Blues Brothers at the new AMC Randhurst 12?

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Cinemark Melrose Park on Apr 25, 2011 at 10:41 am

All 10 screens now have Digital Cinema and RealD-3D capability.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Regal Bolingbrook Stadium 12 on Aug 10, 2010 at 11:29 am

Regal Theatres has taken over this theater on May 25, 2010 along with the Cantera 30, the Crown Glen 10, The Gardens Cinemas at Old Orchard, the City North 14, and the Webster Place 11.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Forest Park Mall Cinema on Jul 27, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Besides “Cocoon” what other movies were shown in 70MM at the Forest Park?

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 12:33 am

River Oaks Theatres Timeline:

1969: Theatre 1 opened with 1600 rocking chair seats by the ABC Great States chain. It’s premiere was “100 Rifles” with Jim Brown and Raquel Welch.

1972: Theatre 2 is opened across the street from theatre 1 by the ABC Great States chain. It had 500 seats (but not rocking chair). It’s premiere was “What’s Up Doc” with Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.

1974: ABC Great States becomes Plitt Theatres.

1975: Theatre 3 opens adjacent to Theatre 2 by Plitt Theatres. It also sat 500 seats. It’s premiere attraction was “Once Is Not Enough”.

1977: “Star Wars” opens.

1978: Theatre 4 opens adjacent to Theatre 1 by Plitt Theatres. It had 900 rocking chair seats like Theatre 1. It’s premiere attraction was “Magic” starring Anthony Hopkins.

1980: “The Empire Strikes Back” is released.

1980: Theatres 5 and 6 opened by Plitt Theatres. It had 500 seats each. It was located a few blocks away from the other theatres.

1983: “Return Of The Jedi” is released.

1983: Theatres 7 and 8 opened by Plitt Theatres. Its premiere movies were “The Dead Zone” with Christopher Walken and “Rumble Fish” starring Matt Dillon.

1986: Plitt Theatres become Cineplex Odeon Theatres.

1988: Cineplex Odeon opens a 6-screen theatre inside the mall. Theatres 1 and 4 become 9 and 10; Theatres 5 and 6 become 11 and 12; 2 and 3 (for a time) became 13 and 14; 7 and 8 retain their numbering.

1990: Theatres 13 and 14 close.

1998: Cineplex Odeon Theatres become Loews/Cineplex Theatres

1998: Theatres 11 and 12 close.

1999: “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menance” opens.

2002: “Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones” opens

2005: “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith” opens

Fall, 2005: Theatres 7 and 8 close.

January, 2006: Theatres 1-6, 9 and 10 close a day before Loews/Cineplex became AMC Theatres.

June, 2006: Jenco Theatres(the owners of the nearby Lansing Cinema 8) reopens Theatres 1-6.

November, 2007: Theatres 1-6 starts showing second-run movies.

2008: Theatres 1-6 close again.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Showplace Village Crossing 18 on Jul 14, 2010 at 4:54 pm

AMC Theatres has taken over this theater since May 25, 2010.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Before AMC & Kerasotes: What's left of M&R, Plitt, & C-O in Chicagoland? on Jul 12, 2010 at 9:16 pm

Update:

M&R: Norridge – AMC Theatres
Lansing Cinema 8 – Jenco
Portage – Independent
Webster Place – Regal Cinemas

Plitt: La Grange – Independent
Gateway – Independent
Stratford Sq. – Century/Cinemark

Cineplex Odeon: 600 N. Michigan – AMC Theatres
Quarry Cinemas 14 – AMC Theatres
North Riverside – Classic Cinemas
Bloomingdale Court – Picture Show Entertainment
Rivertree Court – AMC Theatres
Chicago Ridge – AMC Theatres
Gardens At Old Orchard – Regal Cinemas

Essaness: Davis – Independent
Lake – Classic Cinemas
Golf Glen – Big Cinemas

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Landmark at the Glen on Jun 28, 2010 at 5:59 pm

Regal Theatres along with the Cantera 30, The Gardens Cinemas at Old Orchard, the Bolingbrook Showplace 12 has taken over this theatre.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Critic thinks movie intermissions should be revived on Apr 19, 2010 at 1:31 pm

I agree they should bring back intermissions for movies running for more than 2 ½ hours. I do remember when I saw movies at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, IL they had intermissions for “Ragtime”, “Sophie’s Choice”, “Amadeus” and “Out Of Africa”. In recent years the only movie that had an intermission was “Gods and Generals” because it ran over three hours.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 11:12 pm

More suggestions:

3/12/2010 REMEMBER ME
3/19/2010 THE RUNAWAYS
3/31/2010 THE LAST SONG
4/2/2010 CLASH OF THE TITANS (IN REALD 3D)
5/14/2010 ROBIN HOOD
7/23/2010 SALT
8/20/2010 TAKERS
10/22/2010 PARAMORMAL ACTIVITY 2
11/19/2010 HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART I

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Movie theater popcorn named as one of America's biggest ripoffs on Feb 14, 2010 at 9:59 pm

Some movie theatres like Cinemark and AMC have combos. Like at my Cinemark a tub of popcorn and a large drink costs $10.50. If I go to a cheap theater (like the Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court) a tub of popcorn and a large drink costs $8.00. Last time I went to a Regal Theatre (the Lincolnshire) a large popcorn and large drink cost me $11.00.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Lincoln Village 1-6 on Feb 10, 2010 at 9:17 pm

Hopfully the Picture Show chain picks this up (like they did with the Bloomingdale Court) and turn it into a second-run theatre.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Will movies at home kill movie theaters? on Dec 27, 2009 at 11:23 pm

Movies are better enjoyed in a theatre. I see a movie in a theatre to determine if I would buy that title on DVD and Blu-ray. It doesn’t matter how big your home theatre system is, it doesn’t beat seeing a movie in a theatre.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:05 am

Here’s some suggestions:
12/18/2009 AVATAR (in REALD-3D)
12/25/2009 NINE (on screen #9)
12/25/2009 IT’S COMPLICATED (on screen #11)
12/25/2009 SHERLOCK HOLMES (on screen #10)
1/15/2010 THE BOOK OF ELI
1/29/2010 EDGE OF DARKNESS
2/5/2010 DEAR JOHN
2/12/2010 THE WOLFMAN
2/12/2010 VALENTINE’S DAY
2/19/2010 SHUTTER ISLAND
3/12/2010 GREEN ZONE
4/2/2010 TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO
5/7/2010 IRON MAN 2
5/7/2010 LETTERS TO JULIET
5/28/2010 SEX AND THE CITY 2
7/2/2010 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about [i]Star Trek: The Motion Picture[/i] - Movie Memories 30 Years Later on Dec 18, 2009 at 1:41 am

I originally saw “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” on ABC-TV in 1983 with the extended footage that was also in the video release. I later recorded it off of TCM (Turner Classic Movies) back in 1995 on VHS (TCM aired it in widescreen format).

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Sep 3, 2009 at 8:37 am

Just visited the newly renovated theatre yesterday and what is left from the Cineplex Odeon days is the “Now Showing” signs and the navy blue carpeting on the wall. What is gone is the zig-zag carpeting being replaced by tiles and new carpeting in the theaters, new seats in all theatres, new signage outside and the so-called “V” logo (in which Village Theatres took the original “C” from the Cineplex Odeon and make it into a “V”) has been replaced by the “Picture Show” logo. Bathrooms are clean as well as the theatres.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Aug 31, 2009 at 8:29 am

@Paul: You can find showtimes at www.movietickets.com and search for Picture Show @ Bloomingdale.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Aug 28, 2009 at 11:30 am

The new name is now called Picture Show at Bloomingdale.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Aug 16, 2009 at 9:25 pm

The Bloomingdale theatres will be reopened on August 28, 2009 under the Picture Show discount movie chain. Admission will be $1.75 all times, on Tuesday admission will be $1.00. I knew that this theatre will eventually run as a second-run theatre.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about "Apocalypse Now" 30th Anniversary on Aug 16, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Originally I saw the movie on ABC-TV. I recorded the original on VHS from The Movie Channel. Later I saw the “Redux” version at the Yorktown Cinema in Lombard, IL and later got the DVD of the “Redux” version. Paramount should release this on Blu-ray.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on May 28, 2009 at 10:22 pm

Other suggestions:

5/29/2009 UP (In REAL-D 3D)

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Happy 10th anniversary, "Star Wars: Episode I"!!! on May 9, 2009 at 10:40 pm

I remember seeing this at Cinemark Melrose Park just over two months after the theatre opened. This was the same for episode III. I saw Episode II at the Crown (now Kerasotes) Village Crossing 18 because they were showing it in digital projection only to find out that it was sold out and ended up seeing it in 35MM instead.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Before AMC & Kerasotes: What's left of M&R, Plitt, & C-O in Chicagoland? on Mar 7, 2009 at 12:57 pm

The Stratford Square theatre is also was left of Plitt even though Century/Cinemrk made it into a 16-screen digital cinema.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Cinemark Melrose Park on Feb 21, 2009 at 12:54 pm

They have recently added Real-3D projection in this theater. Hopefully they will show “Monsters vs. Aliens” as its first feature in Real 3D.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Is Village Entertainment out of business? on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:35 am

At least Classic Cinemas took over the North Riverside and did a great remodeling job.