Maringa
enthusiast
Posts: 329
Reg: 11-06-08
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05-05-10 08:48 AM - Post#110500
In response to mgrayar
Went last night (thanks mgrayar for the tip!). Went with wife and another couple and saw Avatar 3D. I can confirm that what I saw was digital projection. Extremely high quality audio and video from my perspective.
I'm not going to add much to what has already been said, but our main take-away from this experience is that we will probably eat out before the movie and just come for the movie itself. Possibly order a desert/drinks or sneak in a snack. The food was just OK...there is only so much that you can do with finger food. Wife ordered the burger duo. OK, but the onion rings that came with it were tough...must have fried an outer ring of the onion. I ordered the chicken piccatta...it was good, but not pricey good.
Theater seats and ambiance were awesome. The movie experience itself will make want to never go to a low budget theater again.
I see us going to this place (only on half price Tuesdays or other specials) maybe once or twice a year, but never to order their food. I hope they do well. Not sure in this economic environment, but we'll see.
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 753
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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05-05-10 11:25 AM - Post#110508
In response to Maringa
I have to stand corrected (or mind changed, whatever) about the digital and 3D stuff - as others and the website have noted, they do have digital projection with 3D capability. I'm still glad we saw "Up In The Air", as we hadn't see that (and have seen Avatar in 3D at the Cinemark XD), but I'll have to do a comparison at some point on the next big digital 3D blockbuster. If GCC comes through as well as Cinemark XD, I may be completely converted.
It is interesting to see that the "I love the movie experience, but the food is meh" theme seems to be common. Some complain of "costs too much", others say "not good enough" and others say both. I realize it's still early in the game, but I wonder how this is going to work out. The Austin menu seems to be the same as ours (including prices); I wonder how the food business is going down there?
Speaking of Austin, there are 14 (as of this writing) Yelp! reviews of the Austin location; they're having their soft opening as well, and most if not all of these reviews could have come from this thread. Their loves, likes, dislikes and hates are almost identical. So, it's not just us. :) I do not, however, know if the Austin location is in an area that's demographically similar to ours (I assume it would be, though).
Brad
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lionhart
member
Posts: 64
Reg: 06-22-09
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05-05-10 01:35 PM - Post#110515
In response to bsnelson
Actually the similar reviews of the Fairview and Austin location are not uncommon to the other locations in LA, Seattle and Chicago.
Earlier this year I "googled" several reviews on the experience at the other GCC locations because I was holding out hope that the cost of the experience would be tweaked by the time the Fairview location opened. The reviews at the other locations were pretty much identical that the movie going experience is great but the food whether it was the cost, taste, preparation (hot or cold or luke warm) was below expectations.
The only thing that has seemed to have been tweeked from the other locations versus the Austin or Fairview location is the prices and to a lesser extent the content of the menu.
The other locations such as LA and Seattle prices are more expensive but that's probably not too much a surprise considering a standard chain like an AMC ticket prices in the New York area are over $10 where as in D/FW AMC ticket prices are around $9.50.
It'll be interesting to see now that GCC is starting to expand if their model will change.
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 753
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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05-06-10 10:15 PM - Post#110614
In response to lionhart
Well, as we say in the computer business, we're out of system integration testing and into production - I'm making good on my 3D promise above and spending real money this time. My wife and her 22 and 23 year olds are going to see "Clash of the Titans" in 3D on Mother's Day at 5:15PM. We'll surely have drinks there, but we'll be eating elsewhere in The Village(s).
I reserved my tickets online at $17.50 each plus $1 each for "booking charge" (sadly, such fees are standard for online purchases and $1 per ticket is actually pretty cheap).
I'll obviously report back on what I see and hear, as well as update my Yelp! review accordingly.
Brad
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 753
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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05-10-10 12:20 AM - Post#110704
In response to bsnelson
Maybe we should start a separate thread for the actual "production" run of Gold Class Cinema - what say you, Web? For now, though...
As previously mentioned, we went to GCC "for realz" (as the cool kiddies would say) today. We saw "Clash of the Titans" in RealD 3D and had (or attempted to have, in my case) snacks and drinks, but not dinner. Due to bad clock management on my family's part, we had to rush into the theater as soon as we arrived (no time to mingle in the reception area). Our party included myself, my wife and her 22 and 23 year old children. We sat in the center of row B, which, I'm convinced, is the best vantage point for viewing. It's not too close, it's not too far, it's just right.
The movie experience itself was, like our mock service experience, superb. The sound and video were perfect, with a sealed set of the RealD "RayBan" style glasses at each seat. There was one preview in 3D for an animated movie (I don't recall which) and a couple of others, then straight to the movie. I won't comment a lot on the content itself, but the 3D, from a functional perspective, was great. My only other RealD movie was Avatar at the Cinemark XD, and this was easily comparable.
Food service was mostly OK, but not without glitches. I was hoping things would be going smoothly now, but once again, as in the mock service, they were out of my first choice of an item (this time, a pilsner style beer on tap, I don't recall the name). This item was on a card that the viewer filled out in-theater (something that wasn't part of our mock service), and trying to negotiate a replacement for it during the movie was next to impossible, as the server didn't know what other pilsners they might have, and didn't even know what style some of the other beers were. The beers (pilsner for me and Shiner for my stepdaughter) didn't arrive when our popcorn (ordered on the same card as the beers) did, and we had to press the call button to "remind" them to bring them. It was only after this that the out-of-stock item was noted, and it took at least 15-20 minutes after that to get the replacement (which was a pale ale that I didn't like at all).
The good news is that the rest of the food service went OK. All four of us were on one "tab", but we ordered in pairs due to the seating (my stepdaughter and me, and my wife and stepson). Our "party" ordered popcorn in addition to the above-mentioned beer; there were several flavors to choose from, including plain, butter (our choice), caramel, white cheddar, "tuxedo" (something I'd never heard of until today, dark chocolate and white chocolate covered mixed together, sounds good) and one or two others. The price was $6, but it did come in a pretty good sized bag that was very nice (shiny black exterior with the "Gold Class Cinema" lettering) and the popcorn itself was good quality, tasted very good, but was not overly greasy or "fake buttery". Quite a bit better than average movie popcorn for sure. My wife and stepson chose the lobster rolls (actually egg roll style appetizers, nothing like a New England style lobster roll) and soft drinks; these were all delivered without a hitch. The lobster rolls were pretty good, but a little greasy.
After the beer debacle, I was bent on speaking to a manager to get my late-arriving and not-tasty brew removed from my tab. When we received the final bill, the pale ale was present but the Shiner was not, so I decided to just let sleeping dogs lie, but I did speak to a manager about the issue. She apologized profusely, but did not offer to remove the beer from our bill (I'll leave it to each reader to decide whether I should have expected this and/or was it "stealing" to not point out the missing Shiner).
So, all in all, a fantastic movie experience, but not as good on the food and beverage side. I'm still hoping they'll improve on that, but they'd better not change anything on the movie side. My wife asked for and promptly received a blanket and pillow, which greatly enhanced her viewing experience (she was cold during the mock service, but toasty warm this time).
Despite the food service issues, we still love this place.
Brad
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AA
enthusiast
Posts: 463
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 07-20-09
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05-10-10 08:44 AM - Post#110710
In response to bsnelson
Either SOME of the theaters have digital projectors or people don't know what a digital picture looks like, but me knowing the difference, knows for sure that theater 8 viewing "It's Complicated" at our mock service was NOT digital. You can easily tell at the green disclaimer slide at the beginning of each preview. The irritating vertical lines and round spots that sporadically roll across the screen. Hopefully I get a different theater when I go back on the 27th and I can see.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3162
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-10-10 09:04 AM - Post#110712
In response to AA
My movie at the mock service was not digital either. But the definitely have the capability. I am wondering if the used non digital copy of the movies for the moch in order to save money since it was free. The movies they played are no linger offered, so maybe the went cheap in movies that dud not really benefit from digital (it's complicated, valentines day). Just a guess, wife saw date night and it was digital yesterday.
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1873
Reg: 12-02-05
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05-10-10 09:55 AM - Post#110714
In response to bsnelson
We sat in the center of row B, which, I'm convinced, is the best vantage point for viewing. It's not too close, it's not too far, it's just right.
Thanks for that info--I was just going to ask what people thought was the best spot. When reserving tickets, it looks like there are 40 seats in each theater--is that correct? 5 rows with 4 columns of a pair of seats? Is row B the 2nd row from the front?
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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2pugs
member
Posts: 80
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 05-31-05
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05-10-10 10:00 AM - Post#110715
In response to allen
Yes, B is the second row from the front, and yes, 40 seats total sounds about right. When my husband and I went we were seated in row D, center right seats. We thought it was the perfect spot. Of course personal preference is always a factor. My guess though is anything in row B through D would work well, and even better if you can get center seats.
| Allen resident since 03/2003. |
Edited by 2pugs on 05-10-10 10:00 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Michael
enthusiast
Posts: 1983
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-20-02
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05-10-10 10:06 AM - Post#110717
In response to allen
We sat in row C (C5 & C6) and thought they were perfect. Not too close & not too far. The next time I go, I will get row C in the middle.
I think row 'A' is at the top, but not positive.
| I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it! |
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 753
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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05-10-10 10:24 AM - Post#110719
In response to AA
Either SOME of the theaters have digital projectors or people don't know what a digital picture looks like, but me knowing the difference, knows for sure that theater 8 viewing "It's Complicated" at our mock service was NOT digital. You can easily tell at the green disclaimer slide at the beginning of each preview. The irritating vertical lines and round spots that sporadically roll across the screen. Hopefully I get a different theater when I go back on the 27th and I can see.
The round spots you're likely talking about are reel change indicators, and definitely wouldn't be present in a digital "print". We observed this during our mock service of "Up in the Air" as well (though I can't imagine UITA being shown in digital anywhere; it's not that kind of movie).
I don't know this for certain, but I'd think that all of the theaters can show film ("non-digital"); not having a conventional projector would limit what could be shown there.
In any event, RealD is digital only, so our "Clash of the Titans" viewing was most definitely digital. Unfortunately, I agree with many who say that this movie isn't the best showcase for the technology, as it was shot "flat" and had 3D effects added in post production.
Brad
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 753
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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05-10-10 10:34 AM - Post#110720
In response to bsnelson
As for the seating, the online chart shows four "columns" of ten seats each, in pairs. Realistically, though, it's a 4 x 5 "block" of seats in the middle with a column of 2 x 5 on each side. Row A is closest to the screen, and they're numbered from left to right as you're looking at the screen (e.g. the center "block" consists of seats 3 - 6).
I agree that distance from the screen is a personal preference; for us, row C and back just didn't fill our field of view as fully as we'd like. Row A had us looking too far upward at the screen.
Having said all of this, I don't think one would say that any of the seats are "bad".
Brad
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CagratAggie
newbie
Posts: 19
Reg: 11-28-05
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05-10-10 10:50 AM - Post#110726
In response to mgrayar
Did everyone that signed up for a membership during the mock service weekend get their free ticket in an email? My wife and I both signed up for a membership. I received my free ticket email but my wife didn't. Maybe they have it figured out to allow one free ticket per household.
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1873
Reg: 12-02-05
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05-10-10 10:51 AM - Post#110727
In response to bsnelson
It looks like there is at least one smaller theater there--Death at a Funeral is showing in a 24-seat room.
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1873
Reg: 12-02-05
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05-10-10 10:52 AM - Post#110729
In response to allen
Found another one--Kick-Ass is also in a 24-seat room.
Perhaps the smaller theaters will be the non-digital ones?
I guess someone could call to find out.
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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allen
enthusiast
Posts: 1873
Reg: 12-02-05
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05-10-10 10:53 AM - Post#110730
In response to allen
The Back-Up Plan is in a 32-seat theater.
| We sittin' here, I'm supposed to be a franchise player....and we in here talkin' 'bout PRACTICE? |
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Pollyanna
enthusiast
Posts: 1039
Reg: 08-16-04
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05-10-10 11:01 AM - Post#110732
In response to CagratAggie
We received ours.
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Michael
enthusiast
Posts: 1983
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-20-02
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05-10-10 03:27 PM - Post#110736
In response to CagratAggie
Did everyone that signed up for a membership during the mock service weekend get their free ticket in an email? My wife and I both signed up for a membership. I received my free ticket email but my wife didn't. Maybe they have it figured out to allow one free ticket per household.
Check your junk/spam mail folder. I know people some people said theirs wound up there.
| I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it! |
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Maurice
Community Expert
Posts: 3981
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
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05-11-10 10:52 AM - Post#110799
In response to Michael
Nope, I never received any mails from the theater other than a confirmation when I signed up, that I did confirm.
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Michael
enthusiast
Posts: 1983
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-20-02
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05-11-10 06:33 PM - Post#110825
In response to Maurice
Bummer. You might give them a call.
| I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it! |
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