The Clearview Middlebrook Galleria Cinemas, Ocean, NJ  Friday, 8/17/07

I attended a screening of Goldfinger, part of a series of classic films playing each Thursday through Sunday.  The price is certainly right…at $5 a ticket, you can’t go wrong.  For the classic film series, door prizes (tickets, shirts, etc.) are raffled before each showing. 

The sound quality and focus were only fair, but I’ve encountered those issues before when seeing older films on the big screen.  The main problem was the temperature.  It was very cold.  At first I thought it was just me, but a discussion with my filmgoing companions revealed that it was abnormally chilly.  My friend returned the next day for Superbad and advised that the temperature was fine for that showing.

This theater is not luxurious, by any means, but they make up for the lack of atmosphere with the $7.50 ticket price for first-run features in an area where $9.50 is now the norm.  Superbad drew quite a crowd, and there was only one person selling tickets, so there was a wait.

I would not think of this theater as my first choice for a blockbuster special-effects film, but they seem to reserve one screen for something more offbeat each week-Talk To Me was playing there last week.  The classic film series is a welcome addition.  Upcoming classics will lean toward horror and suspense, including a couple of Hitchcock films and, as October approaches, Halloween. 

(This would be an example for a problem I had last year.  Everyone let me know what you think…!)

What: Odor
Where: Regal Cinemas, New Roc City – New Rochelle, NY
When: 10/30/06
Movie: Halloween (1978) screening
Description:
Horrific odor at 8:00 pm sold-out screening of the original Halloween. Odor seemed concentrated somewhere between rows 3-5 on the right-hand side of the theater and became stronger as film began. Wife and I buried our heads inside our own shirts as make-shift gas masks but odor still permeated. Left at about the 30 minute mark.
Complained to management staff who were unsurprisingly clueless. Was forced to describe odor repeatedly as I moved up the chain of command (real examples: “like someone was slaughtering a live cow in the theater”, “like someone had to use the bathroom horribly, but didn’t leave their seat”). Finally received full refund and NO APOLOGY.

I confess I’m a bit baffled.  I’m going to impose upon Jackrabbit for some basic instructions.  I’m a reasonably intelligent person, but I’m finding the basic stuff a bit daunting.  I can upload a link, but I’m not sure how to insert the link as a higlighted word.  Here’s some free publicity for the only drive-in theater in NJ.  I will have to visit it for a review.

 http://www.delseadrive-in.com/

I’ll play around and probably post more (after the jump) later…

So, taking LesterG’s suggestions and incorporating them into Nick’s original reviewing style, we can write a review that has some or all of the following bold headers:

Projection: Not necessarily putting your feelings on someone else, but I think projection quality and aspect ratio fit in here.

Sound: Do you hear what I hear? Or can you still hear after the THX intro blew out your eardrums?

Seating: Plush, lush, stadium, armrest, proper-sized cupholders…

Lighting: I always liked the running lights built into the floor

Cleanliness: it’s next to Godliness

Crowd: Do you want the money or do you want the mob?

Safety: For those with firearms, remember to leave the safety ON during the film.

Parking: Anywhere near civilization?

Concessions: Let’s all go to the lobby….let’s all go to the lobby

Pricing: I paid $10.50 and all I got was this lousy piece of paper

Screen Size: Should at least be bigger than your buddy’s widescreen TV

Screen Physical Damage: Was that hole here last time?

Odors: How we know smell is tied to memory: old roller rinks & old theaters

Staff: Is anyone shaving yet?

Management: Mis- or otherwise

These are just ideas. Anyone can suggest as they see fit.

My guess is that you title your post with either the name of the theater or the name of the city.  The category tags become essential and will only consist of Country, State and/or City.

The review should obviously be dated and timed as to when your experience happened. Should we have a review policy? No personal vendettas?