Chic, IL AMC Rivers East The Good and the Bad

The Good: Seeing the movie
Being with my friends
Being in a room full of die hard star wars fans
Seeing the movie
Great seats
and seeing the movie

The Bad: People who did not read their tickets right
and complianed when they were told to leave,
most of these people had tickets for
the thursday midnight showing
The lights being on for the first 3 minutes
of the movie
Being told that theater 4 was digital when
it was not.

I had a great time and I want to thank Chicago Force for everything, other than the short list of bad, you can see that the list of good outweights the bad.

 

It was worse that that for those of us in the Red Squadron (theater 4). I'm too tired to tell the whole story right now, but not only was the film not digital, with the usual sloppy reel cuts, and not only were the lights on for the first few minutes, but just as the end credits started, the movie abruptly ended. No credits, no music, no nothing. Most of the people filed out, but a few of us diehards in the front couple of rows (the single digit badges) stayed to complain. After getting some dumbfounded looks from the people working there, we were treated to the entire last minute of the credits. Needless to say, it's a good thing lightsabers aren't real.

So after complaining loudly some more, we finally got the manager to come in to the theater and talk to us. At first he wouldn't admit that anything was wrong. Then he said that the digital projector broke just as the movie was starting. The guy cleaning up the theater had already told us that it broke a couple of days ago. So then he started in on, oh, that's just technology, sometimes it doesn't work. He blamed the lack of credits on a bad cue. We asked him why they didn't tell us that the DLP was broken beforehand, and he said something about not being able to do anything about it. He offered us some free passes, and we of course replied that that would not fix the situation, since it's not about the money for us. He said that it was done and there was nothing he could do about it, and that he was sorry. Yes, after about 15 minutes, he finally got around to apologizing. At this point he said they really needed to get us out because they had another screening. Then he said that it had been a really rough night and that basically they were over extended. (Yeah, great business acumen, to see paying customers and sold-out screenings as a liability.) I reminded him that we had bought out the entire theater and that some of us had been camping out to see this movie in its entirety in DLP, and that we expected them to be better prepared. He asked what we wanted him to do. We told him there was really no way to make it right. I asked him what steps he would take to make sure something like this would not happen again, especially at a big premeire event like this. He never really answered this question.

Anyway, we finally took our money back and some free passes, but I think I can speak for at least a good half dozen of us that we are still unsatisfied. I don't think it's an overestimation to say that my experience at the last Star Wars movie ever was severely damaged.

And I had to ride home in the rain! Arrrgh!

The funny thing is, almost exactly the same thing (besides the rain) happened to me at the 600 N. Michigan theater for the midnight premeire of Matrix Reloaded. I vowed never to go back there, and I haven't. But I'm running out of theaters now.

(Oh yeah, about the confusion on the date of the showings, I don't blame the people who bought those tickets at all. Those people did not read their tickets wrong. If I heard that a movie was opening on May 19, and I went to the website to buy tickets for the midnight premeire on May 19, and I got to the theater at midnight on May 19 and was told I was there at the wrong date, I would be upset and complain and not want to leave too.)

Okay, so maybe I wasn't too tired to tell the whole story. I'm not sure anything can be done to fix all of this now, but I sure as heck wouldn't recommed that Chicago Force participate in another event at this theater without any assurances that the same problems won't happen again. I wonder what the AMC corporate offices, or Lucasfilm, would think about what happened? What can we do as a group?

 

Compleately agree with both of you.

 

I was in theater 16. The good part was that they let us in to get seats so early so that we didn't have to stand outside in line - ummm and I think that's about where the good ended. There were several groups who'd bought tickets online and wound up with one person seperated into a different theater from the rest of their group. Moviegoers and ushers came in about every 15 minutes announcing that one person had been seperated and asking if there was anyone in the crowd willing to switch theaters and of course nobody wanted to trade their somewhat decent seat for the unknown in another theater (or be split up from their own group).

Another woman, her son and a few other people in her group sat in most of the handicap seats and reserved the remaining handicap seats. Finally when a man in a wheelchair came in with his non handicap friend the woman refused to give up her seat for the friend. Her 13 year old son even got up to offer his seat and she made him sit back down.

The exit sign was lit up so bright throughout the entire movie that the theater was never really dark.

And finally the Absolute worst part about the whole experience was the heat. It was warm and stuffy in there at 10 when they let us in and after waiting for 2 hours for the movie to start and the temperature only getting hotter, when the usher came in to make his various announcements he was met with shouts of "turn on the air conditioning!!" from many people (and this was in addition to several people leaving the theater to complain to the usher and whoever else was standing around outside) - to which all they said was "we're working on it". Throughout the movie the temperature only continued to climb, people took their shoes off and fanned themselves as best they could and by the time the Mustafar scene came on I felt like I was there as it had to be at least 85 degrees in the theater with zero air circulation. It was a miracle that nobody got up and left during the movie, I chalk that up to hardcore fandom. As soon as the credits came on most people left as fast as they could just to get some air. I hope the other theaters fared better than ours because by the end of the movie I was so hot I almost didn't even care about anything but getting the heck out of that theater

 

I was in theater 4, and I concur with all of the observations made above.

During the hubbub with the people who had tickets for Thursday night, I was feeling really pissed at the theater (not the security guys in the room) for having made such an obvious (and avoidable) blunder in the description of the day/time on the tickets. At the same time, however, if seeing SW on opening night was so important to me that I would simply refuse to leave when security came in to escort me out, then it should be important enough to motivate me to make sure I'm getting the ticket I think I'm getting. But the bulk of the blame lies with the theater, clearly.

I quickly realized a few minutes into the movie that it wasn't digital, but I tried not to let it bother me. It is inexplicable that the theater chose not to come clean about this BEFORE the film started, and apologize - at least the resentment would have been less.

However the abrupt ending, right as the credits (and credits music!) were starting, felt like a bigger slap in the face. I have NEVER, not once, had that happen to me in any movie I've ever seen in the theater.

 

I am sorry you guys had such issues in theatre 4! That sucks. CF mucky-mucks, we need to talk to AMC management. No reason why they couldn't tell you it wasn't going to be digital, even if it were the last minute.

By comparison, theatre 7 went well. They had the wrong lens on the projector for the first couple preview, but then fixed it. The sound was lower than we wanted, so my next screening will need to be in a thx auditorium.

It was a bit warm, but not uncomfortable. This time of year with that many people, I can understand that.

We didn't have any wrong ticket people (but I would have been upset if it were me - and rightfully so!). They did make an announcement about that, and about a "theatre rule" about not standing up when we were in the theatre! Excuse me, we bought the theatre, we are waiting 3 hours and we can't stand and talk? We mostly ignored that after they left.

Best thing:
$1 small popcorn
$1 20oz soda
$1 hot dog

 

Actualy I watched the movie sitting on the stairs in theater 4.I don`t know whyt CF gave out those badges with numbers on them,but they didn`t do any good.
Watched it not on DLP as I was led to believe and as it was promoted by CF .But its not CF`s fault.

The theater was hot and humid and the AC was off.

It was more like "Revenge of the AMC" nightmare.

The worse movie going expirience I ever had.

Sorry,AMC,you just lost 1 loyal customer.
You will not get even 1 more penny from me.

 

Overall there were a few good things, but I wouldn't recommend anyone try a similar event there in the future considering how hostle the building management was (no line) and how rude and incompetent the AMC management and staff were.

I'm sorry for those that had a bad experience in Theatre 4, that really stinks.

~H~

 

Did they let folks in to 4 without badges? They did consisently check them at 7. I think we should definitely put together a well reasoned, detaled letter of all the failings of AMC management regarding what we paid for. We need to specifically ask for what to get - I would suggest another digital screening gratis, but I think they loose the digital projector after today. Any ideas?

 

It's a nice thought, but I honsetly don't think they will care at all.

~H~

 

You'd be surprised what a nice letter can do, especially if you cc corporate. Besides, it only costs the cost of a letter. Of course the lowest levels won't hcare, but higher up they will. It was paid with a credit card anyway, it would be within rights to intitiate an investigation with the credit card company. They would much rather just make amends. We really have nothing to loose and perhaps at least some free tickets to gain. They can't give back that night, but tickets are basically free to a theatre. They make their money on the food.

 

"how rude and incompetent the AMC management and staff were."

This is very true, some of the ushers were being real rude to the people that had the wrong tickets, I even saw the manager get in the face of one of the wrong day ticket holders. While sitting there I thought to myself, ok they are here on the wrong day, but you don't have to act with them that way.

I did forget to mention, like Darth bicyclist said, about the credits, I felt cheated that they just cut it off. Maybe I should have stayed and complained but the way I was feeling I might have ended up being kicked out by security. I know that it was not CF's fault for this mix up, but I think the theater was just looking at dollar signs and not really looking at what was important, the fans and the experience of watching the movie. Something must be done so that this does not happen again.

 

MrShiny,

like your idea about a letter.

hhhmmmmm

sounds "NEWS" worthy,

and like if a copy ended up at Lucas films,
and other related companies....

Oh, and Lucas is a HUGE promoter of DLP,
and so I am sure both companies could
put the feedback from...their best fans...
to good use.

hhhhmmm

there are lots of things you can do with a letter,
that might have 240 signatures from those
who were in theatre 4.

just some ideas for you.

Ed

 

Neither Lucas or AMC care what we do, they already got their money. AMC gave the people from theater 4 a refound and 2 free tix per person for the movie, they can cover their @$$ with that excuse.

The best way to deal with this theater is to not do anymore events with AMC.

 

i think anyone who feels strongly about this should write a letter to AMC corporate, mentioning the specific names of managers you dealt wtih at the theater. rude, snotty, whatever ticket takers and grunts are one thing--they're just trying to do their job--but the managers at a movie theater are the face of the owners on the job.

obviously, writing a letter may do nothing, but at least it gets it out there. if nothing else, it may make you feel better. i personally plan on not patronizing another AMC theater for as long as I can help it, and I may even write a letter too.

from everything I could tell, Chicago Force entered into a good faith relationship with this theater that grew more and more sour as the film drew closer. from the line to the film itself and everything in between, they seemed to care little about us once their cash was in hand. and they seemed consistently obsessed with "corporate," as though some faceless suit was prepared to descend upon the building at any moment and start tearing out hearts for letting CF hang up a sign or sell a T-shirt.

i'm really sorry for those who had a bad experience in theater 4, but if it helps, I had a good experience with the movie itself and i STILL hate AMC with an ungodly passion thanks to their total mismanagement of this experience and their disregard for their customers.

 

My wife and I were in theater 4 (and can prove it with ticket stubs / CF badges) but did not stay to complain or to request refunds/passes immediately after the show last night.

Is there anything we can do now to get refunds/passes?

 

Hello,

mary and i were # 62 and 63 for theatre 4, red group, we had fine seats but otherwise.....

the above comments are true, some ushers were cool and calm, most were overwhelmed and under prepared.
a sad comment on management's cooperation with the audience.


so what are the digi theatres at amc?




amc screw heads aside, i really did like the movie.

thanks

Jim

 

Call the theatre. Tell them you are not happy.
Gene

 

Um, isn't the theatre's fault that the wrong day ticket holders got up there anyway? These people seem to have gotten past the ticket taker, who should have been the one checking the tickets.

Definitely write if something bad happened to you. Personally, my experience was good, but do write it wasn't. Places to send to (it cannot hurt at all to cc these places):

Peter C. Brown, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
AMC ENTERTAINMENT INC.
920 Main
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

Amc River East 21
322 East Illinois Street
Chicago , IL 60611

Texas Instruments DLP Products
6550 Chase Oaks Blvd
Plano, TX 75023

Lucasfilm
P.O. Box 10228
San Rafael, CA 94912

 

It was truly a disappointment to everyone at CF that there was so much difficulty with AMC.

You can't imagine the work and frustration that Dave and Caroline went through after all of the hours and days they spent running around and tearing their hair out to try to make this last installment of Star Wars a truly wonderful experience....and...as it seems with most things connected to ROTS ...it was cursed and not to be. Hazmatt and I spoke briefly after everything was over and we both were bitterly disappointed in AMC and heartsick over what had happened.

Corporate America continues to sicken me more every day that goes by....it would seem that there is no one out there with any heart or soul anymore...

 

Greetings Fellow Fans,

To everyone who was in Theater 4, I'm terribly sorry for having your 1st viewing of RotS be less (much less) than optimal.

AMC River East 21 Management promised to give every patron in that theater a free pass for a future viewing. We are currently working on getting those passes and will contact each person who purchased tickets through us to get you those passes.
Please stand by until Monday for an update.

We know that we can never get you your first viewing back, but hopefully we can get you something for your troubles. Chicago Force trusted AMC to provide us with an optimum viewing for our members, one that we paid for in full, well in advance. You, our members trusted us, and we hope that that trust continues.

Sincerely,

Dave Gray

 

That's great news - not optimal, but great.

I wonder if we could get the digital auditorium again for a screening at no charge (in addition to these passes). That might help out too. It won't affect me either way, as I was in the other theatre, but it can't hurt to ask.

 

That sounds good... BTW my girlfriend won the General Grevious picture.. She was happy.. Other than that I looked like a fool to my friends.. They thought the picture was going to be Digital ( Boy where they busting my chops afterwards.. not my fault

 

Thats comforting news I guess..

 

I thought about trying to get a screening, however, the odds that we could schedule all of the people affected by the screw-ups into the same showing again is probably not feasible. We just want to get the theater 4 members something tangible that they can definitely use. I know we had several people from out of state in theater four. If we get generic passes to everyone, they can see a movie at their leisure whenever and wherever they are.

I'll never patronize an AMC theater again regardless.

Bosh