This concept seems a tad bit ridiculous to me for many reasons. First, the people that attend these $35 screenings are going to see crappy B movies, and will probably be groveling over how great the seats and service are rather than the movie itself. Second, the movie you are watching should be about the MOVIE not the price of admission. Third, the people that do go to see these movies are going to be the annoying crowd of tweens that can brag to their friends the next day of how they went to the $35 movie theatre and spent the entire time adjusting their seats and pissing off the waiters. These theaters will not stay clean for long, one will not avoid teenagers by going to this more expensive theatre and the whole idea sounds like a yuppie re-invention of the wholesome regular movie theatre experience!

Better movies is a good start, as is removing the terrible ads before the ads before the trailers, but I'd also kind of like to see a real usher (maybe more of a bouncer) who walks up to that group of dipshit teenagers and tells them to either quiet down or get the fuck out. And who breaks other people's cell phones when they take them out to send text messages.

In other news... I can make a fine meal at home for me and some friends for $35, and my DVD collection is better than 97% of what's in a theater today anyway.

For $35 a ticket there had better better be phazers,like on Star Trek, that pop out from the seat in front of you and vaporize anybody who answers their cell phone or plays grab-ass with their friends.

stupid, stupid, stupid idea. there are already enough distractions in theatres (cell phones, whiney kids, chronic yakkers, etc) the last thing i want is some douchebag ordering a meal in front of me while im trying to watch a scene. I'd rather have a couple beers, order a pizza, and watch from the comfort of my own couch. and save $35 while doing it.

I'm not sure what a theater could offer that would make me want to shell out 35 bucks per ticket, but recliners and champagne certainly are not it. Wouldn't it be obnoxious to have people being served dinner during the film?

You've merely upgraded your annoyances from screaming kids to screaming socialites, and I'm not sure which is worse.

OK, Here's me pseudo-Lorne's bitch (but good):

And I'm deadpan serious- no kidding, now...

are you sure that bitch is calling it that number, because it was 17. Hi, Travers.
-Gina

We have a theater like this in Boca Raton FL although not quite so elegant: easy chair for singles and loveseats for couples. $20 or so gets you free popcorn and the nice seats. A restaurant on site has a full range of food and mixed drinks. I saw the Lord of the Ring trilogy back-to-back when the third movie opened at this theater and it was a great experience. Not worth the price for an average movie.

I probably wouldn't pay $35 to see a regular movie, but to see my favorite band's new tour on a big 3-D screen from the best seat in the house? Absolutely. No more ticket gouging, coliseum crowds, etc. Hollywood is hard at work cutting the theater out of the equation. The future of the theater industry will not be based on movies in the near future; the theaters will have to present live, exclusive, and visually compelling content to remain relevant. The movie palace will be an exciting live venue and will have come full circle from its vaudeville beginnings.

well , i think Mr.pink would say if im going to pay $35 some chick better give me a BJ
outback otherwise i don't tip...this theater just for the rich don't kid your self

Well considering the fact that it already costs almost $10 to see a movie at a non-matinee time, I think I would pay an extra $20 or so to be more comfortable and have more space. I like the idea that they won't be as crowded. However, I think popcorn and a soda should be included in the price. Then again- I don't go to the movies that often (because there isn't much to see nowadays). Oh- it would be even better if these plush theatres had a "classics" night or something. They could show older cinema classics- either re-mastered or not. I would definitely pay more to see some older movies in the theatres than the crap that's coming out now.

There is no one in my area (New England) that would pay $35 to see a movie. If you bring a date, that makes it $70! Ridiculous.

The movie theater is a dying concept. New technology will eventually kill off movie theaters just as the X-Boxes and the PlayStations killed off arcades. Hell, watching a movie on an HD television today provides you better picture and sound quality than at a theater. All this and there's no one talking or kicking your seat behind you.

You know, I like the sound of watching a movie in a plush seat with a cocktail in my hand. That is sort of why I converted my basement to a nice home theater complete with a 62" 1080p HDTV, 7.1 sound and a Blu Ray player (among other nice touches).

It is hard to lure people to the theater. Home theater is just too convenient. And often the quality is better too.

Case in point, my local theater. My local theater is a 12 screen arena seating multiplex from the National Amusements chain. A ticket is $10.50. What do I get for $10.50? I get broken chairs. I get countless ads that would be tolerable if they meant the ticket prices were going to go down.....but they don't (and so help me god, why must all movie ads be extreme Mountain Dew type commercials?)

I get sound that goes in and out during a flick. The dialogue is turned down but the subwoofers are up. So you miss what the characters are saying and if something explodes, it feels like my fillings are going to fall out of my teeth.

I get a projected image not properly formatted for the screen. I remember seeing the last Harry Potter flick at this theater and I heard a kid ask his mom, "Is the movie suppose to be showing on the curtain to the left of the screen?" The mom answered, "Nope."

I love the theater experience. I am 29 years old and many of my fondness memories stem from going to the theater. There is nothing like the energy of a good crowd (like when I saw Superbad over the summer and the audience laughed so much I missed some lines of dialogue but didn't really care). But it seems like theaters don't do much to combat the grievances of the fans.

$35 for a movie ticket?! Puh-lease, I'll just wait for the Blu-Ray.

I'm from Australia and we've had this cinema option for quite a long time now.

I've only ever gone when someone has given me a gift 'voucher' to the cinelounge (cheap-arse, i know). And i've only ever used said voucher for something BIG (ie NO comedies, NO arthouse) - usually a so-called 'BLOCKBUSTER' that runs at two+ hours (in a feeble attempt to get 'value').

The problem is this...those lounges are so damn comfy, I recline and start snoozing 40 minutes in.

Now whether that's a reflection on the film choice...? Well, that's for another blog...

I dont know, I like the feeling of going into a packed theater on opening night of a movie i am really excited about. I like being with other people and taking part in the moviegoing experience. I dont think fewer seats is going to make that better, its just going to make it feel more like home, but with service.

Besides, its not like this will diminish the assholes. It will probably just have more. Instead of listening to some douche on a cellphone, you will have to listen to some douche on a cellphone yelling at the waiter because he wanted the 95 pinot, not the 2000.

It totally isn't worth it. Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington both have something similar for less than half the price. For $15 a ticket, you can sit in comfortable large seats with ottomans to put your feet up on. There are extra pillows and cushions to lean on. Plus you can order drinks, dinner and snacks from a menu and the waiters bring it to you. There are no annoying commercials and, on some days, they have a musician play music before the movie starts.

seems like there'd be too many distractions...drunk rich assholes, waiters in my way during the topless scenes...the seats in most multi-plexes have already gotten pretty plush, and i usually just sneak in food or booze if i don't want to buy a $6 popcorn and a $5 fountain soda...if the $35 came with a fat blunt, and it was a movie I really wanted to see then I'd go for it!

1. No. $35 might be reasonable for a Lord of the Rings or Indiana Jones marathon, but for just one movie, I would pass. I don't drink so the cocktails hold no appeal, and I prefer the basic movie theatre seating to any "plush" extras a theatre could provide. I worry that I'd feel like I was in a luxury hotel instead of a movie theatre. Also, I saw Oklahoma and Ray at that Cinerama in Seattle, and I hope the Cinerama sticks around even when the Gold Class Cinema arrives.

2. My demand could be unreasonable to ask for at every single screening and sometimes only happens at film festivals, but I have paid more for a single movie when it is followed by a Q & A with the director and others associated with the film. Here, I feel like I'm getting my money's worth because I get insights from the filmmakers. Sure, those insights will probably be on the DVD commentary, but there's still something special about watching a movie in a theatre with a large audience and hearing live from the filmmakers following the screening.

I think its great, the cheaper cinema experience is still there for those who want it. But this is a completely different way to see movies, I think people will pay $35 for the trimmings.

One more thing: Maybe the waiters can shoot any patron that pulls out a cell phone to text during a movie. Point blank in the back of the head. Taling gets a bitch slap!

I think it is odd to offer such a theatre, yeah it is nice for the rich, but as Hollywood struggles with already high ticket prices and the fact sometimes I have to beg people to see a Imax 3-d film for a mere $15.00 those will never go for this. I agree with you Peter on the fact that get rid of those horrible ads . I like movie trailers the real deal only. I spite those relentless ads esp. the ones that feature hard rock bands touting the military like it is the perfect hell of a resort.

I think its a nice alternative. I wouldn't mind shelling out some extra cash to be in a clean, comfortable, teenager free cinema any day.

It does appear to be very conducive to talking and laughing without regard to what's going on on the screen. I've been to more casual theaters that serve light dinners and beverages during a movie and it's far more of an experience that puts the movie as a background. It's not the $35 then as much as why I want to see the movie. Certainly if I'm going to focus on what's playing, the distractions could ruin the night. From the looks of their website (http://www.villagecinemas.com.au/goldclass/), they have a lot of the typical concerns covered and the overall experience looks well thought out. I'd try it.

These theaters sounds like a horrible idea. How can you enjoy watching a movie when people around you are ordering food and drinks around you.

If I was going to pay at least $35 to watch a movie in a theater an escort wouldn't be a bad place to start. Honestly, I wouldn't mind watching a movie with just seating for myself, with a date, and/or friends for $35.