Efexeye
09-14-2003, 03:01 AM
I remember in 1995 I was in the Bay area and I went to see 12 monkeys. It was the first time I was ever in a true movie palace- the place had a balcony, a screen the size of a house, and the coolest digital audio I had ever heard at the time.
Then, I came back to Detroit, where the movie theaters suck. You've got the Phoenix Theater where I see most of my movies, but they only have 1 good screen. I remember seeing AOC there and thinking that the sound was sweet- especially those sonic torpedoes. (On a side note, why would sonic torpedoes work in the vacuum of space?) But that's another post. Turns out, the owner rented special speakers for the premiere, but that was it. Back to crappy SDDS after that. And the theaters besides the main have crappy sound because of the seat setup- half the seats are in front of the projection booth, and the other half extend back to the back wall, which the booth protrudes from. It's hard to describe, but suffice it say that the acoustics suck.
Then, you got 2 Star Theaters. One in Southfield, one in Roseville. Their screens are bigger, and they have stadium seating, but they are always disgustingly dirty and overpriced. Besides, a medium popcorn and medium pop will cost you about 8.50. Plus, they run ADS before the trailers, meaning that if you get there "on time" for a movie, the average preview/ad reel is 17 MINUTES. Bleah.
Another option- the Palladium in Birmingham. It's nice, very nice in fact- three levels of huge theaters, with digital screens outside running trailers constantly, and gel seats that cushion and caress your glutes. But, it's 45 minutes away, packed, and also, overpriced.
So, where are the good theaters in downtown Detroit, you ask?- Nonexistent. There are a few bars like the Magic Stick in Ferndale or the State Theater bar downtown that show second run movies with cheap beer, so that is always fun.
Just ranting a little, I guess- I sure do miss that sweet West Coast moviegoing experience.
Then, I came back to Detroit, where the movie theaters suck. You've got the Phoenix Theater where I see most of my movies, but they only have 1 good screen. I remember seeing AOC there and thinking that the sound was sweet- especially those sonic torpedoes. (On a side note, why would sonic torpedoes work in the vacuum of space?) But that's another post. Turns out, the owner rented special speakers for the premiere, but that was it. Back to crappy SDDS after that. And the theaters besides the main have crappy sound because of the seat setup- half the seats are in front of the projection booth, and the other half extend back to the back wall, which the booth protrudes from. It's hard to describe, but suffice it say that the acoustics suck.
Then, you got 2 Star Theaters. One in Southfield, one in Roseville. Their screens are bigger, and they have stadium seating, but they are always disgustingly dirty and overpriced. Besides, a medium popcorn and medium pop will cost you about 8.50. Plus, they run ADS before the trailers, meaning that if you get there "on time" for a movie, the average preview/ad reel is 17 MINUTES. Bleah.
Another option- the Palladium in Birmingham. It's nice, very nice in fact- three levels of huge theaters, with digital screens outside running trailers constantly, and gel seats that cushion and caress your glutes. But, it's 45 minutes away, packed, and also, overpriced.
So, where are the good theaters in downtown Detroit, you ask?- Nonexistent. There are a few bars like the Magic Stick in Ferndale or the State Theater bar downtown that show second run movies with cheap beer, so that is always fun.
Just ranting a little, I guess- I sure do miss that sweet West Coast moviegoing experience.