Hey
everyone out there behind a computer screen!
Happy Monday from me, you’re (probably not) favorite reviewer,
TheCinemaChick! I've had a rough
weekend, so I’m setting aside a few things for now. Don’t worry, I’m still going to do my look at
the summer movie season. You see,
yesterday was Mother’s Day and for me, it’s not an easy day because I lost
MovieMomma in 2012. I did go through
grief counseling this year but if anyone else has ever lost a parent, you know
how hard it is to have holidays like this.
Yes, I have OtherMother and TenMom (KitKat’s mother has accepted me as
her daughter and they live in Tennessee) but it will never be MovieMomma. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the
maternal figures in my life. There’s
just no one else like your mother.
Enough
about my sadness. I've been mulling this
over in my head a while and I've decided that I want to take a look at the
theaters I frequent. That’s right, I’m
reviewing the theaters themselves. I've
thought about what I would base my criteria on and I think I've got it. I’m going to base my opinions on the
following five factors: Lobby/Hallway, Theater, Management/Staff, Snacks and
Cleanliness. I've been to a lot of
cinemas in the area and everyone’s got an opinion on which one they prefer. I can honestly say, I've been to some amazing
places but there is one theater that I will never go to again. You’ll understand when I write about that
one.
What’s
my rating system? Let’s make one up…I
suppose a five star system would work.
Also,
keep in mind I am not affiliated with any of these businesses. I’m not employed at any of them. At most, I’m a patron. If they like what they read, fantastic. If they don’t, I’m sorry but I’m entitled to
my opinions.
The
first theater I want to visit, metaphorically, is Harkins Theater. It is in Southlake, Texas which isn’t too
terribly far from me. It’s a bit of a
drive, whether I take a highway or the back roads. But that’s not their fault. I’m more than willing to make the drive out
there to see a movie. So, let’s look at
each of my criteria, one at a time.
1.
Lobby/Hallway
The building itself is fairly small.
There’s just one long hallway and a medium sized lobby. Even when it’s full of people, it never feels
like it’s small because there’s plenty of room to maneuver through the crowds. Granted, there are always those people who
stop in the middle of the area to chat but that’s not anyone’s fault but their
own. And remember, it’s hard for me to
get around because I do require a cane to walk.
I've never felt like I was going to be shoved aside or knocked
over. And they are well lit, so
navigation isn't an issue. Overall, I
give it my highest rating, five stars.
2.
Theater
The theater itself is bright both before and after the show. A lot of people leave as soon as the credits
start, which is ok but if you’re like me, or it’s a Marvel movie, you
wait. However, I've been to some
theaters where you can’t see anything until well after the credits end. It’s like the want you to be in the dark, pun
intended. A lot of the time, I am
terrified to move around in a theater because it’s dark and having a cane, I
need to see where I am stepping. I’m
also visually impaired, so I can’t see outlines in dark places. I love that Harkins actually makes sure
people can see where they are going. I
personally feel safer going up and down the steps, knowing I can clearly see
what I am doing.
Rating: Five Stars
3.
Management/Staff
You know how some places have employees that just look like they’d rather
be doing anything else at that moment?
Or how it reflects in their attitude?
I never see that with the workers at Harkins. I’ll admit, sometimes they do seem tired but
they work hard and I cannot fault them for showing signs of exhaustion. They are genuinely friendly, gladly help out
if you have a question and are incredibly helpful. I've had issues with an employee…never
actually. And the management? Bravo Harkins management! You guys are the best. I went to a midnight showing and asked a
manager about possibly going in like, 2 minutes earlier so I could get a
seat. When he asked why, I explained how
most people rush in at once, run past me, etc and that I had been knocked over
before during a marathon. I was just asking
because of my personal safety. Since
that night, I've noticed there has been a “no running, no pushing” rule
enacted. They’ve even said if you get
caught doing that, it’s the end of the line for you.
I am incredibly impressed that they took a concern from a customer (I’m
sure it wasn't me, other people have probably said things in a similar manner
before) and made it a rule so everyone can be safe. And yes, I do feel safer at Harkins. I feel I am less likely to trip, be knocked
over, fall…I just think they raised the bar here.
Rating: Six Stars (Because they are that good. I’m not kidding, they are amazing.)
4.
Snacks
Honestly, just about every theater I go to has a subpar snack bar. I’m normally unimpressed but everything. However, they have a great selection. I've never had stale popcorn either and
believe me, some places I've been have no shame in serving leftover stuff. Don’t like the amount of butter you got? They have small stations to the side where
you can add more. They also have the
plastic jars with seasoning in them if you want a different flavor. Did you know other theaters charge for
it? I've seen it sold for about a dollar
other places but here, they give it away.
And if you haven’t tried ranch popcorn, you’re missing out. They have a huge variety of candy as well, if
that’s what you want. They even offer
pizza and small burgers if you’re really hungry. I’m not a fan but that’s because I've never
understood getting a full meal at a movie.
If you’re at a movie tavern, I understand but a normal movie? Don’t get me wrong, I've eaten probably
everything they offer because I've attended marathons there and if you’re there
all day, you don’t just want popcorn.
Personally, I go for the pizza but to each their own.
Rating: Four Stars (sometimes the lines get really backed up and you end
up waiting a long time to get to the counter, and I don’t mean during marathon
events. Even then, it’s worth the wait)
5.
Cleanliness
Not going to lie, I've never seen this theater dirty. Yes, after a movie, people leave their trash
all over but that’s it. The bathrooms
are always spotless, even during marathon events when they are in high
use. How is it possible that they keep
it so clean? The lobby and halls may
have the occasional piece of popcorn or ticket stub but that’s it. It’s just…clean. Once again, it’s good for me because I feel
safe, knowing I can’t slip on someone’s spilled popcorn. They take care of things in a very timely
manner. Oh and during marathons, if you’re
too tired or too stiff to make it to the trashcans in the hallway, they come around
with a bag so you can dispose of your garbage.
Is there anything they won’t do?
Well, I mean, yeah they can’t do everything for you but still, they’re
pretty impressive by my standards.
Rating: Four and a Half Stars.
They’re not perfect and there are some people who just leave the trash
all over and it’s possible that sometimes, something might be overlooked. However, by far, Harkins is the cleanest
theater I go to.
There
you have it, folks! My first theater
review! What do you guys think? Do you want me to write about more places I
go? Would you want to know what I think
about some of the local theaters? And by
local, I mean the places in the Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Southlake,
Colleyville, Arlington area. I live in
the Dallas/Fort Worth suburbs so I tend to stick with what’s closest to
me. Sorry, I don’t see the need to drive
to downtown Dallas for 3 hours.
Also,
as I've said before, I am not affiliated with any of these places. They are simply theaters I go to and like
going to. If they like what I say,
great, if they don’t, I’m sorry.
Until
next time, I’m TheCinemaChick and I think I’ll make a sandwich for dinner.
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