Flickgrrl

This page tells you all about the new Muvico near the Chicago airport and its policies including the Press Release that I posted today:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/21297/

What a lousy idea! How are they supposed to learn to watch good movies? Ageist pandering. I call bullshit on this.

Teenagers aren't precluded except from the luxury auditoriums. The same movies are available to teenagers in the regular auditoriums. See below from the Press Release:

Muvico Rosemont 18 offers moviegoers two experiences. Downstairs, General Admission patrons get extra leg and elbow room with 26-inch, oversized plush chairs. Dining options include extended concession options such as shrimp, pizza, ice cream and slurpies, as well as the popular candy and popcorn treats moviegoers have grown to love. All this for the same amount of money you'd pay at a regular cinema ($7.50 matinees; $9.50 evenings).

Upstairs in Premier VIP, movie fans 21 and over can receive the royal treatment for a few dollars more ($12.50 Mon-Thurs. $15.00 Fri-Sun). Muvico's six Premier VIP Theaters offer luxury amenities not found in other theaters, including free valet parking, free popcorn and 74-inch plush seats, compared to the industry standard of 24-inch seats.

The takeover of the Ritz has been awful. Now they show the same stuff I can see at all the other theaters. It was nice to be able to see a different kind of movie without having to go to the ritz in Philly (not that going to Philly is a bad thing). One more movie option gone.

JDM,

My movie tickets are reimbursed, so this isn't an economic issue for me. Much as I love my kids, who are reasonably quiet in movie theaters because they know Mom will blow if they talk or make too much noise eating popcorn, I see the value in an adults-only moviegoing experience. The reason for the outcry when the Ritz in Voorhees changed its admission policy is that accompanied minors behave more quietly than unaccompanied. I don't think the is ageist, it says to teens, you can see this movie but not with the adults who don't want to be annoyed by your text-messaging and call-and-response to what's happening on the screen.
This said, I really enjoy watching a film such as "Knocked Up" with a teen audience, because the laughter reinforces the scenario. But I don't like it when teens snicker and giggle and give smart-aleck responses to "The Bourne Ultimatum" because it takes me out of the movie.

I have an issue with ANYONE that's noisy during a movie. Children/teens arent the only ones. If I go to a movie, I will NOT attend an evening show and I will wait until its been out for a week or two before going. This way I avoid the potential for problems.

i have been to nearly every movie theater in the city of philadelphia over the years, and I have to say that teenagers are not the largest population of noisemakers in the movie going public. That title hands down goes to the black community. Whenever I hear someone talking/being obnoxious during the movie, they are 95% black. The bridge at 40th street is a fantastic theater, but since you cannot get silence there I cannot go. I would also like to state that I personally am half black, so this is not a KKK issue. We as a community do not know how to behave in a movie.

James,

Let's start with the issue of moviegoers who distract other moviegoers at theaters.

For me, there are two types of talking in theaters. The kind that responds to what's happening on screen ("Jodie! Don't go in the tunnel! That guy has a crowbar!") keeps me in the movie. The kind that's private conversation ("Should we stop for pizza after?") takes me out of the movie. I'm for the talking that keeps me in the movie. I'm against the talking that distracts me.

In my experience, and I go to a lot of theaters in the region from UA RiverView and Loew's Cherry Hill to The Bridge, UA Main Street and the Plymouth Meeting, the talkers of the second kind are predominantly teenagers. I don't know what race or ethic group they are, I know only that they're calling friends on cell phones, giggling inappropriately and acting like class clowns.

Movie theaters are not unlike houses of worship. Those accustomed to meditative silence practice absolute silence at the multiplex. Those accustomed to call-and-response practice same. I'm OK with both.

Carrie,

Living in Chicago, and having grown up in Marlton, I can tell you that the new theater in Rosemont is fantastic, and definitely reminds me of the vibe and viewing experience that I enjoyed at the late, lamented Ritz in Voorhees (when it first opened). Great sight lines, nice ambience and a great environment to watch a movie in. Not a lot of teens were present (the price perhaps) and I wasn't complaining. I hope the concept is successful here, and expands more in the Philly area.

Brian

Everyone treats the moviegoing experience in a different way - teens, adults, children, the elderly and that most refined group, the film aficionados. It's impossible for your average theater to please all of the above and most usually opt to cater to that group that brings in the biggest revenue - families. I'm not unreasonable. I understand and accept that. But it's nice to have one or two theaters among the hundreds (nay, thousands) that cater to those people who take their moviegoing seriously. And if it takes $15 or so for me to able to see a film apart from the usual madding crowd, so be it. It's better than nothing.

No!!! I would NOT pay 50 % more to escape teenagers at the movies. In all honesty, sometimes the behavior of adults is even worse!! As for the Showcase at the Ritz Center, I'm quite satisfied (and pleased) with the way things are going there although I would prefer a few more independent and foreign films to be shown.

On the positive side, I feel that management has done a fine job in trying to accomodate the various demographics. I am enjoying the Silver Screen series, and it's nice being able to see mainstream and arthouse films in the same theater. In addition, I have noticed that most children are with their parents and have been well-behaved (the teens too!!!) Bravo!

I saw 3:10 to Yuma at Ritz/Showcase a few weeks ago. Those who are writing this place off should come back here. They're keeping more of the ambience than one would expect, all the patrons (even the teens) were extremely well-behaved, and the staff was courteous. Even better, the presentation was absolutely flawless - in frame, in focus, minimal scratches. They even seem to have changed the theatre layout for Mainstream and Art - art is now on the RIGHT side, getting the larger houses, and the mainstream films looked like they were grouped to the left in the small screens.

I think they're doing a pretty good job. Again, I think the booking is certainly an issue - there should be more independent and foreign stuff - but they're being smart with what they ARE booking (I'm not seeing gratuitous horror/torture porn, and they are booking Lust, Caution). They're keeping it different from the Cinemark (a well-done theatre) and the AMC Loews (the less said the better), and I think that should be commended.

I saw 3:10 to Yuma at Ritz/Showcase a few weeks ago. Those who are writing this place off should come back here. They're keeping more of the ambience than one would expect, all the patrons (even the teens) were extremely well-behaved, and the staff was courteous. Even better, the presentation was absolutely flawless - in frame, in focus, minimal scratches. They even seem to have changed the theatre layout for Mainstream and Art - art is now on the RIGHT side, getting the larger houses, and the mainstream films looked like they were grouped to the left in the small screens.

I think they're doing a pretty good job. Again, I think the booking is certainly an issue - there should be more independent and foreign stuff - but they're being smart with what they ARE booking (I'm not seeing gratuitous horror/torture porn, and they are booking Lust, Caution). They're keeping it different from the Cinemark (a well-done theatre) and the AMC Loews (the less said the better), and I think that should be commended.

I have to agree with most of the comments about the Showcase in Voorhees. After a rocky change over the management has done a very good job in making the theater close to what it used to be.
That being said, I was very disappointed with an incident that happened at the first session of Talk Cinema Voorhees. I was seated next to two people in the theater that were texting on their phones through the entire film! When I asked them to stop
they REFUSED! We are NOT safe even during Talk Cinema. Later when I was in the bathroom, I over heard two employees laughing about the incident.
It turns out the two texting were theater employees! By the time I got out of the stall they were gone. When I find out who these two are, I am going to bring it to corporate theatre managements' attention. The reason I could not point them out in the first place was because they came in after the film started and left before it ended. This in itself made me very suspicious. It is bad enough I have to put with this during a regular feature, but I pay $120.00 a season for Talk Cinema, I do not want a light shining in the corner of the eye distracting me.

I could not possibly have less interest in seeing films like Transformers, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry or the remake of The Heartbreak Kid, with or without teens. Nor do I have any interest in patronizing theaters that would show such dollar theater fare. And while I always did find it a bit off putting when the Ritz would show more mainstream films, it was never accompanied by the smug dismissive attitude that came with National Amusements takeover, not to mention a promised "public forum" that will clearly never take place. I'd rather give my money to the International House or even Mark Cuban, at least he was wise enough to not change something that was clearly working, only to (according to the posters above) eventually, and very slowly, back away from those changes in an attempt to win back those they so brazenly alienated and ignored months earlier. I guess the Shrek 3 money wasn't all they hoped for.

My husband and I who are among the people saddened by the changes at the Ritz are still regular attendees, not bc it is the old wonderful Ritz but bc it is the not-as-bad-as-the others Ritz. My husband who was initially more upset has settled into, thank God it isn't any worse, while I still find young children running jarring...not to mention when I find children under 6 in the bathroom alone during the films. I haven't seen the art side move to the right; I am always being shifted to theleft to the oldest and tiniest of theaters while being handed a mini-toblerone.
I think most of the art films were playing at the Loews and other theaters. I think it is getting more and more mainstream and by calling some regular art movies when they clearly are not it makes it look like they are playing half and half.

We also see regular movies. I have not experienced problems with adults talking and such at the theater. I do, however, encounter rude staff on occasion (new ones not the regulars from the Posel days), dirty bathrooms, and the theaters often still have cartons with nacho cheese in them and popcorn on the floor after they have been cleaned between showings(almost stepped in one last week), so I am constantly saying I miss the old days. I liked kids being accompanied by adults and I think for many kids (like my child) it was a rite of passage for her and her friends to be old enough to go there alone.Ilove kids and teach teens, but kids don' thave to be everywhere. There are plenty of the other kind of theaters; this chain was one of a kind.

The management has not painted over where posters used to be, not plastered holes where the larger posters used to be.

Would we pay more? Sometimes bc we already do when we cross the bridge to go to the Ritz chain for the art films the 16doesn't get anymore.

I think the new management saw the light and slowed (perhaps halted) more changes when they saw the turn out for the Ms. Redstone forum in the summer. She cancelled; we were treated like celebrities; we were told it would be rescheduled but so far nothing.

Mark Cuban knows how to do a takeover.

Denise Peters

The takeover isn't as bad as expected at the Ritz 16 but that is all I can say. We go regularly bc it is still better than other area theaters, but kids running, food on the floor and dirty bathrooms were not something that happened in the Posel days.The theaters frequently are littered with food after they have been cleaned between showings and some of the new staff are quite rude. I haven't noticed that the art films are getting better theaters on the right; I am always being sent off to the smallest ones on the left.

I have noticed that many of the art films are also at Loews; I think it is a way of saying we have just as many art films when they don't.

My husband has decided it isn't as bad as he feared and better than others, so we have to live with it. We do spend extra money to go see the Philly Ritz movies too--that takeover was much better.

I feared worse, but think that new management was taken aback by the number of people who signed up for the Redstone forum which was cancelled. We were treated like celebrities that night. Of course, it hasn't been rescheduled and the comment box about the theater has been removed as of late.

I haven't had the experience of people talking in the theaters there. I love kids and teach, but don't think they belong everywhere ; this was an oasis for adults. Kids could come at a certain age with adults. My daughter and some of her friends saw being able to come in alone as a rite of passage, as a sign of adulthood.

I wish it could be like it was before. I hope the movies don't keep declining.I also wish they would fix the paint and plaster damaged by poster removal when the family took the posters and art work they wanted.

Denise Peters

Could you expand on how the staff is rude? What were the incidents?

They ignore you when you ask a question because they are too busy talking to each other. They don't clean up well after the movie is over. This is not true of all the employees certainly, but some are much less concerned about job performance than before. The ticket sellers, however, still tend to be efficient and courteous and helpful. And they are faster at processing tickets than anyone at Loews.

I dont really know about anyone else, but I do know that the last time there was segregation in the United States, quite a few people were pretty upset... If I am not mistaken the National Guard was even called in so that segregation as it stood at that time could come to an end in a somewhat peaceful manner... Now I know that alot of people are getting to the age that maybe we aren't taught these things in school anymore... but segregation was a very horrible thing done with all of the wrong intentions just because one group of people was scared of having to interact with another.... I mean really does anyone remember seeing these signs..... (WHITES ONLY)...(COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN).... (WHITES ENTRANCE)...(COLORED ENTRANCE) .... Maybe everyone is just thinking that no one will really say anything if we start this up again... Well so long as it includes everyones teens, and is not based on race or religion... But then again we are not allowed to discriminate based on those factors, so ask yourselves in a world that now allows homosexual unions, and abortions would anyone really be against age discrimination... Personaly I doubt it, in some cases age discrimination is a good thing like in the sale of tabacco, and alcohol, and most handguns... But a grocery store, and pharmacies, and what about now a movie theater... Where will it stop... Who will we segregate next?? Will it be the senior citizens because they take too long to do things or because they cant work anymore. Or beacause they have spent the last 30 to 40 years working to make a better life for you and me and now their children are segregating their own children from themselves. Are you really that afraid that you might miss a line in the movie that your life really depends on??? Grow up, look back in your history books. Segregation no mater when, or against who, has always been a very, very bad idea... Never working out for the better in the long run..

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