Stadium seating reaches local theaters

by Jennifer Nespoli features editor

Movie going is an experience at some movie theaters. At Regal Cinema, it is an art form.

Regal Cinema does its best to rise above all the competition. With stadium seating, a cafe and digital sound, it offers features that other movie theaters do not match up to. At $7 a movie, with no student discount, it had better offer special features.

Being a spendthrift myself, I am usually not too impressed by anything that quickly depletes my wallet. However, the first time I visited the Regal Cinema theater that opened up last year in Edgemont, I knew I would never be able to go back to conventional theaters. AMC, United Artist, and even the Ritz can not compare with stadium seating.

Stadium seating is a growing trend for movie theaters all over the country, but to find it in our area, you'll have to look to one of the Regal Cinema theaters.

Of the IO theaters at the Edgemont location, not all of them have stadium seating. Yet the ones without stadium seating are still worth the price of the ticket.

As you walk into one of the stadium seating theaters, it will look at first like you are walking into a Jong hallway. Then as you approach the movie screen, the wall will end and you can look up at the seats rising above you. Each row of seating is on a step above the row in front of it. You have to climb up steps to get to the top of the theater.

The Regal Cinema in Edgemont opened last year. It offers stadium seating and a cafe in addition to a regular concession stand.

Stadium seating is not the only nice feature in the theater. Each individual seat is soft, comfortable and has a high back so you can Jean back without having to worry about disturbing the view of the person behind you. which also means that the person in front of you will not be blocking your view, either.

Regal has something else that is unprecedented in the movie theater industry: com- mercials during the standard previews before the movie. The commercial they are showing now advertises a minivan with a television in the back.

The only good thing about showing commercials for the movie watcher is that it allows you extra time to get popcorn or go to the bathroom. Otherwise, I think it is very strange.

The cafe is in addition to the regular snack bar that all movie theaters have. The snack bars sell the usual movie foods, like popcorn, candy and soda.

However, at the cafe they also sell cookies and other delicacies. so you can satisfy your appetite to the full extent of your wallet.

These delicacies are not cheap, of course. If you go to a Regal Cinema theater, prepare to pay. But also prepare yourself for a truly unique movie-viewing experience.

If you can stand to pay $7 for the ticket and more for snacks, then I do not think you will be disappointed.

There is only one problem. Once you've experienced a movie with stadium seating, it will be so much harder to go back to the old-style seating at other movie theaters.

So if you go, understand the consequences, and then enjoy the movie.

For more information, directions or other locations, call (610) 325-8159.