UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14

3907 Shore Parkway,
Brooklyn, NY 11235

Unfavorite 14 people favorited this theater

Showing 51 - 75 of 75 comments

John Fink
John Fink on June 7, 2005 at 2:54 pm

Loews Cineplex in some markets have revitalized former flagship houses that fell by the wayside by offering cheeper admission prices (LCE Ridgefield Park and the Medows 6/Plaza 8 in Northern NJ and Loews 34th in Manhatten are examples), I belive they also found success. Clearview also does it in Bergenfield, NJ and Clifton, NJ (to compete with big name chains National Amusements and AMC, respectivly). Glad to see it worked for Canada, I think it could work here too. Aren’t you all sick of paying 10.25+ (US) for a night at the movies?

The MPAA ought to worry about price controls for movie going instead of piracy, they aren’t exsactly acting in our interests so much as Hollywood’s. Bootleg movies suck, first of all, but I can understand why so many people perfer to buy a copy of something for 5 bucks on the street instead of paying 10.25 to see it on the big screen.

telliott
telliott on June 7, 2005 at 2:47 pm

It worked for Famous Players because they recently extended their $9.95 or less for all theatres all times here in the Toronto area. They used to charge $13.95 (CDN) for all theatres except a few that were already lower prices. I think they should have lowered it to $9.00 as some theatre chains in Quebec have. Cineplex Odeon still charges $13.95 for a few of their biggest multiplexes here.

John Fink
John Fink on June 7, 2005 at 2:10 pm

Hollywood and Bollywood- all those Bollywood movies now copy from rap music videos. You’re right. It’s a sad time to be a film goer, everything seems recycled, very rairly do I get excited about something “new.” It’s just “new” spins on old things (Bewitched looks awful by the way). As for the ads (many of them are the same that show on TV), the exposure and backlash is heavier now than I think it was before, part of the reason is that standard 20 extra minutes tacked on to the running time. Regal does “the twenty” which is less anoying because the ads play instead of slides, the trailers are supost to start at the posted film start time.

I actually suspect theres a chance the price could drop in the coming months if the box office is still failing. Famous Players did it in Canada (I don’t know if it worked or not). Still though once they broke the 10.00 barrier in New York (which they were reluctant to do for atleast 2 years until Loews did it) it seems like they had now shame about raising it every quarter- now Loews in Manhatten is up to 10.75 and the movie industry is hurting- I wonder why.

Theaterat
Theaterat on June 7, 2005 at 7:15 am

John J Fink… The endless trailers are nothing new, but the endless commericials for such things as soda, theme parks , Hyundai autos, TV series, restaurant chains, hair products, computers ans cell phones{of course}a are not helping the movie going experience. Of the six trailers that were shown, not one film interested me.I just will NOT pay 10.25 to see a movie based on an old TV series {Bewitched{ or a remake of a movie that was mediocre at best when it was new. It is a shame, but it really DOES look like Hollywood has finally run out of ideas.

John Fink
John Fink on June 6, 2005 at 7:38 pm

Wouldn’t you say that those endless commericals and high ticket prices are part of the reason Hollywood is hurting with the current box office slump? I think people are just anoyed, I’ve never been to the Sheepshead Bay cinema but it sounds like a nightmare (hell, it was compaired in an above comment to LCE Pallisades Center, my least favorite theatre as that one is always dirty, movies sell out, the projection is constantly awful, the popcorn is terrable, and it also happens to be the most expensive theatre in the area). I miss the days of those small little independent chains in which you had the choice of going to the top quality corporately owned cinema or the small independent without digital sound and the bells and whisles, but it was cheap and did the trick. Those days are gone, part of the reason is Clearview Cinemas (I know you don’t have them in Brooklyn) but they and Regal wiped out the neighborhood small chains through aquiring cinemas. (I know UA was never a small chain, I’m talking about the early days of Regal Cinemas- what they did in Florida and NJ/PA).

Regal, though, has been opperating cinemas better than UA had, I think. UA, rightfully so is notirious on this website for running them in to the ground, Regal is somewhat better at opperating cleaner houses.

Theaterat
Theaterat on June 6, 2005 at 7:10 pm

Went to the Sheepshead today to see Cinderella Man and Star Wars the newest edition. Even though the films were good, I also have some good news about the theater itself. It was a lot cleaner than it was on my last visit( maybe because it was on a Monday} and the staff seemed a lot more pleasant than usual. They STILL have the endless commercials and trailers, but now they are telling you to shut off your cell phones! A sign of the times prehaps, but several patrons were still using those insidious things- with those annoying “ring tones”.Other than that{maybe Im old fashioned about so called progress} it really was NOT a bad experience. Now, if I can find another movie that is worth seeing, maybe Ill go back.

br91975
br91975 on May 27, 2005 at 6:40 am

1999 was such a remarkable year in film – with ‘American Beauty’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘The Matrix’ (which I wasn’t a big fan of, but I respected the break it represented from traditional blockbusters), ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Three Kings’, and ‘The Blair Witch Project’, just to name a handful – that, to me, it seemed as if Hollywood was on the edge of a precipice much as it was in the late 1960s and the ‘film school generation’ at the time began laying waste to the stale machines the studios were becoming. Of course, history didn’t wind up repeating itself (at least not on a long-term basis; only for that one year, as it turned out) but I think there’s a chance of such a revolution, as it was, taking place again if audiences continue to send a message by refusing to waste their time and money on – and doing so in larger and larger numbers – the dreck currently filling so many multiplex screens across the country.

MikeRadio
MikeRadio on May 26, 2005 at 11:44 pm

The fact of the matter is…. the studios will NOT waste time on scripts that build and give you a good story with good CHARACTERS. Everything now is get into the story and get out. Characters are hardly ever developed so you care or know anything about them. If something is not moving the story forward, it is just OUT.

Maybe it is the ADD society we live in, but I think it is more the rack em stack em way of the studios today to get peopel talking about the movie so you see it week 1 or 2, and if not the DVD is right around the corner.

Even movies like ET and the Karate Kid DEVELOPED the charatcers. The 1st set of Star Wars (4-6) developed the characters (and those were ACTION movies!) In fact, if they didn’t would there REALLY be new Star Wars over 20 years later. No is the answer, because it would just go in and out of your memory lke most movies today.

And how about some good stories? Anyone see THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW? That is an insult to any moviegoer in America who has above a 5 IQ because of it’s story line and content.

And since this is a UA (Regal) Sheepshead Bay discussion, that theatre is STILl a dive, even though it is the best Brooklyn has to offer in that area.

They did the minimal amount to keep any other chair from getting the idea of opening a theatre in Brooklyn.

Regal does what is has to and not much more.

I’d like to see a great AMC pop up in Broklyn. They may be corporate in many ways, but at least they would do it with style.

Theaterat
Theaterat on May 23, 2005 at 8:58 am

CC connoly…Saw the “Truman Show” when it first opened in the spring of 1998, and I absolutely hated it. However, I caught it on cable on a cruise ship vacation about a year later, and after watching it for the second time, I realized what a good film this was!The concept was intriuging and very well handled.Jim Carrey showed what a fine actor he could be in a dramatic role, and the ending was totally mind blowing!Peter Weir did a fine directing job, just as good as his earlier works like “The Last Wave”, “Gallipoli”, and “Year of Living Dangerously”.Saw “Eternal Sunshine” recently, and although it was not perfect, it still was top notch and was superior to most of the current swill thats out there.

chconnol
chconnol on May 19, 2005 at 10:43 am

My thinking about 70’s films is that they culminated with both “Jaws” and “Star Wars”. There are a LOT of people who say that both of those films were the beginning of the end of the great films of the 70s but I beg to differ. Why? Because those two films were/are great: they were exciting, well made and done with heart. They GAVE something to the audience and audiences responded back with $$$. They were and are as much part of the 70s film landscape as any other. Without the great, landmark films made during the 70s (remember, Lucas made “American Graffiti”) those two films might never have been made.

Where the “break” occurs in terms of the creativeness vs. the monetary gain which has taken over all the BIG studio releases happened exactly as you state: in the mid 80’s. It’s hard to exactly pinpoint it but around 1982, films began to rot. 1982 was (to me…) one of the last truly great years. You had “Tootsie” and “ET”, two all time classics. After that, the studios began to pump out more and more crap. Yeah, of course there were still good films being made. But 1982 was the end of the line for the creative stuff that came about because of the 70s.

I still think films mattered even in the 90s. When things really started to suck for me was after 1999. That year was the last year where I actually got excited over some of the studio releases. The two that spring to mind are “The Sixth Sense” and “The Blair Witch Project”. Yes, some will deride these films now but they were exciting and involving films. They intrigued people. Even 2000 wasn’t too bad with “Gladiator” and such.

It was the summer of 2001 that really started the trend. What happened was the studios were terrified that there was going to be an actors strike and they rushed as many studio films out into theaters without checking to see whether they were any good or not. This was the summer of the awful remake of “Planet of the Apes”. I read that the studios realized that summer that even if a film blew, they could still make a lot of money during the opening weekend only. That’s where they make their main $$$. Ever since then, that’s been the philosophy. Open BIG and then who cares if it dies off. A profit awaits on DVD. I remember the summer of 2001 because it was the first summer where virtually every movie I wanted to see, frankly, sucked. Either I stopped going or was sorely disappointed when I went.

Sorry for the rant but you got me started….

Theaterat
Theaterat on May 19, 2005 at 10:21 am

CC Connoly… Regardless of what anyboby thought of Mel Gibsons non-epic on the last hours of Christs life, he took a chance{even using ancient Aramic language as opposed to non accurate English) and made a film that people actually went to see. It is that rare film that got people talking-and thinking as well.And I agree. The late 60s and most of the 70s was a great decade for movies. The downward trend began in the mid 80s and continues to this day.

chconnol
chconnol on May 19, 2005 at 9:32 am

Re: “Master and Commander” one of the finest movies I’ve seen in the past 10 years. Yes, partial thanks to Crowe who might be a bit of an a-hole in real life but is intelligent enough to at least ATTEMPT to star in projects that have some teeth. But the real congrats go to the director, PETER WEIR. He is one of the BEST directors around today and of all time. Right up there with the best of them. The guy can take hack material (like “The Truman Show”) and turn it into something unique and exciting.

As much as I did not like “The Passion of the Christ” (too divisive…not my idea of Christian at all…) I’m glad at least Gibson was cinematic and got people into theaters. It was Gibson’s passion and on that alone, I’ll applaud him.

There ARE worthwhile films out there. “Eternal Sunshine” is not everyone’s cup of tea but it was mine and I loved it. There are thoughtful, intelligent people out there TRYING to make movies that matter. Maybe, just maybe if the numbers keep going south, the studios might try something radical. Who knows? Maybe we’re in for another decade like the 70’s.

And I hate Tom Cruise…

Theaterat
Theaterat on May 19, 2005 at 8:41 am

CC Connoly….I an sure the Palisades is not as bad as the Sheepshead, but I take your word for it.I have ranted about the sorry state of todays cinema on other entries. The only 2 bright spots on this summers movie horizon seem to be the new “Star Wars” and “Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe.I hope the new "Star Wars” is not as bad as “The Phantom Menace” 6 years ago when it opened, I went to see it with my friend Mike B. We sat there dumbfounded. When the “podrace” sequence unreeled, we just looked at each other and said" ripoff of the chariot race in Ben Hur- our favorite movie. Hope the new one is better. I will be dissapointed if “Cinderella Man ” is a bust.Aside from “The Passion of the Christ” the last movie I saw was “Master and Commander”.It was excellent and exciting. The production team really did their homework and it showed. As a ship modeler and naval historian, I can say this one was dead-on accurate from start to finish. It seems that Russell Crowe can do no wrong!Bet you can~t wait to see “Bewitched”. Marvelous. Another lousy TV show becomes a movie. Whats next? A movie version of "Mork and Mindy" That wouldnt surprise me. Even the novel idea of an all black cast in the movie version of the “Honeymooners” probably wont save it from the junk heap either. As far as Tom Cruise is concerned, can this guy Really act? He has 2 facial expressions and Im sure he will be hard pressed to come up with a 3rd! I`m beginning to think that Hollywood has finally run out of ideas. They have all but written off the adult moviegoers. As long as they keep on giving us these MORON MOVIES, it will be a cold day in hell before I go again. It may be sad, but it is certainly true.

chconnol
chconnol on May 18, 2005 at 11:38 am

Theaterat: you’re way too kind!

Virtually all the new theaters (if you can call them that) are factories with not one iota of anything resembling personal service. Think this dump is bad? Try the Loews Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. The same thing there.

And you’re right on target about the lousy, lousy, LOUSY movies “Hollywood” is making these days. It’s as if they simply don’t care. It’s all marketing now. The studio gets the lions share of the boxoffice in the first weeks of a films theatrical run leaving the theater owners to get their $$$ later and through the concession stand. The studios now make their big bucks on DVD sales. But don’t tell anyone else involved in the film about that. There’s no open profit sharing for DVD sales….yet. Only the big name stars like Cruise and Speilberg hold enough power to demand a piece of the DVD profit pie.

My wife and I used to go to a movie, on average, once a month 10 or 15 or so years ago. It wasn’t just a thing to do. There were actually good movies then mixed in with the usual popcorn junk. (And to old timers out there: admit it…even “back in the day” the studios produced mass market crapola like “When Worlds Collide” and such).

The movies and the theaters are killing the experience for me. It’s so sad to comtemplate. BUT if the movie going continues it’s trend, the studios are going to have to do something.

Theaterat
Theaterat on May 17, 2005 at 11:33 am

This is NOT a theater. ITs a factory. Even with the stadium seating gimmick( wich resembles a balcony) this place was designed to ( if I may quote the theme from RAWHIDE) move “em in and move "em out.It IS the only game in town and UA knows it. Everything that is wrong with todays movies is what is wrong about the Sheepshead! Its is beyond dirty. the teenage morons who work here dont give a rats ass about anyone or anything, the snacks are overpriced, the bathrooms reek of urine, the stench of the butter and the popcorn is sense numbing, there are too many commercials and trailers, the "acid trip” image that plays on the screen,all the other “dont"s) they screen with the trailers are only just some of its faults. Wise up UA do something about this mess, or keep on wondering why movie attendence is down 20 percent from last year. And also HGollywood {if you are reading this) GIVE US BETTER MOVIES instead of the hard sell hell you force upon us!!

RobertR
RobertR on March 8, 2005 at 1:48 pm

I can’t believe people would rather go here then to the neighborhood theatres that sadly are closing because of it. I never liked this place even when it first opened. It always seems to be out of control and that a riot could just break out.

rondanto
rondanto on March 8, 2005 at 1:41 pm

t’s a shame that the people of Bensonhurst have to travel to Sheepshead multiplex to go to the movies.What happened to the new multiples by Nellie Bligh’s?

chconnol
chconnol on January 25, 2005 at 7:11 am

The multiplex was a HELLHOLE back in the early 90’s when I lived in Brooklyn for two years. On a crowded Friday or Saturday night, it was chaos in the lobby if there was one or more big, opening films there. Secondly, the place STUNK. Literally, it smelled like an old sneaker in there. I went back there about five years after I had left Brooklyn, it still smelled like that.

The only reason why this place has remained is because there were/are(?) so few choices for people in Brooklyn. I understand there’s new theater in East NY on the Belt Parkway but would YOU go there?

Astyanax
Astyanax on December 21, 2004 at 8:59 pm

Ticket lines for the latest releases are bedlam with customers becoming frustrated and surly because of the confusion and long wait at the box office. Other multiplexes in the burbs run more smoothly. Very much of a factory environment – as soon as a feature lets out, you are corraled out of the theatre, and discouraged from re-entering the lobby. Only redeeming value is that the multiplex is across the road from Jordan’s Seafood House, a one-of-a-kind Brooklyn experience. Sometimes it’s better to skip the hassle in the movie house and start off with some clam chowder. The fried clamari is hard to surpass.

taketheatrai
taketheatrai on December 21, 2004 at 8:30 pm

The theatre open in 1987 as 9 screens. THe original entrance was off the Belt Parkway. Frm the lobby you were able to see the ocean. In 1997, UA added 5 screens to the current cound of 14. 12 out of the 14 are stadium seating. Theatres 8 and 9 were renovated, but weren’t converted to stadium seating due to the dimensions of the houses. Their are know three mens and womans restrooms. Their is a 3 story parking garage. All screens have digital sound.

LennyG
LennyG on November 4, 2004 at 12:28 pm

Hey, any ideas on how I might get in touch with Regal (they own the building right?)I would hate to see them turn in into another faceless mess.

SheaJC
SheaJC on October 29, 2004 at 10:37 pm

United Artists Sheepshead Bay is a terrible building with no personality. Why can’t we have theaters like in the mid 20th Century, with wonderful details and architectural features? “Robert R.” had it correct when he said that is looks like a factory. Very unfortunate.

RobertR
RobertR on May 17, 2004 at 7:25 am

This theatre is a friggin mess. They dont even have a sign on the outside, it looks like a factory. It’s a sad statement on the people of Brooklyn that they would stop attending some of the smaller well kept theatres showing the same films causing them to close. Not only is the theatres themselves just average, they are not kept clean and the audience runs from one screen to the other. On the weekends the Belt Parkway backs up to get off the theatres exit. You would think they were going to The Zeigfeld or Beekman for a real movie experience and not a Brooklyn plex. If anyone is curious why the Midway is operated so well, UA is partners with Heskel Real Estate group who are in the theatre constantly making sure it is run properly. Thats the only chance for the Marboro when it reopens, but I think Regal is going that one alone, so god only knows.

MikeRadio
MikeRadio on May 16, 2004 at 10:16 pm

UA, as well as the west coast Edwards chain are now part of the Regal Cinemas Empire….

There is no more United Artists.. it is now just another part of REGAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP.

This company seems to do things on the cheap… Yes they make sure there are screens but they don’t do anything to make the theatres anything special or even classy at all… like AMC does for instance.

The renovated Sheepshead Bay theatre STILL havs some auditoriums without stadiunm seating… STILL has really nasty bathrooms.. the funniest is the one mens room that was newly added with ONE URINAL.. or the line outside the ladies room.

The theatres are OK but just OK.. nothing special about this place… It was just renovated and expanded to keep anyone else out of Brooklyn.. look how really run down they let it become before this renovation project.

MarkW
MarkW on February 17, 2004 at 2:19 pm

When 4 new screens opened in July 2002, The 4 screen UA Marboro was closed. Typical UA screwing one neighborhood to cater to another.