AMC Garden State 16

Actually there are at least two theaters with DLP projection.

Oh, my bad. Two theaters with DLP sounds great, since the closest theater near me that has DLP is either Parsippany and Succasunna, both owned by Clearview. It won't be too long before DLP comes to my theater.

One of the better multiplexes around - the lobby is large, more of an AMC style interior design than Rockaway (they had the AMC murals, carpeted lobby, and LED displays). They also had a seating area with couches that reminded me of Cinema De Lux.

In the theater the seats were wide and comfortable (AMC style, as well) with two theateres to the left of the snackbar (1 & 2) and 3-16 to the right (which streaches back into the mall). The screens were large (like Rockaway) - while I will always treasure the ten plex and am pissed its gone, I have to say this wasn't bad, in fact its on a par with Edgewater Multiplex. The thing that I dislike though is the amount of teens on cell phones - what is obnoxious in the mall will unfortuantly extend to the cinema and become a major distraction. Whereas there was some distance between the mall and the tenplex, bored mall shoppers will wonder in to a picture looking for "something to do". Tonight's screening of Bug (which was very intense and well acted, but in parts slow) was met with walk outs, cell phone calls, and other distractions. I look foward to this place when summer movie season ends and hopefully they show an indie flick or two when they're done with Spiderman on 3 screens.

The General Manager of the AMC Garden State 16 Theatre was previously the GM of the AMC Jersey Gardens 20 Theatre (Elizabeth, NJ), and the Senior Manager of the AMC Neshaminy 24 Theatre (Bensalem, PA)

he must have some good experience with those theaters.

Has anyone tried to get into the parking lot from the back roads? Don't bother. All access roads will be blocked on Sundays. The only way in or out on Sundays will be either Routes 4 or 17. You can thank the town of Paramus and it's blue laws for that.

Nice theatre but parking is a nightmare. I haven't been there on Sunday yet, but the parking situation is bad enough to keep me away the rest of the time. As far as the actual theatre, it was nice and I liked the fact people could walk by and you don't really have to get up because there's enough space in front of the seats.

THe manager of the ten plex did not move with the theater?

I was also sad to see the old tenplex close. But the new theater is really nice, I have to admit. It's hard to not get excited when everything is so big and new and clean!

Does anyone have any information about the specific digital projection equipment they're using? Or the media servers or digital media delivery methods they use? I finally got my first taste of D-Cinema and now I'm curious about all the technical details.

someone should change the status of this theater to open since it's now open for business. Is it up to personel at cinema treasures to change a theater listing after someone posts it online (like me)?

Went to this theater today with my aunt to see "Ratatouille" in the DLP auditorium (#10) and I enjoyed the movie, both in presentation and enjoyment. The picture was good but the focus was soft since I decided to sit closer to the screen in the lower part of that theater where there's more legroom and room to move the seats back...the next time I go see a movie in DLP at this theater, I'll just sit near the guardrail near the disabled seats in the middle of the row in order to see the sharper picture. The sound, on the other hand, was great, despite some minor chatting in the audience along with babies crying. The other complaint I also had was that the ticket taker didn't tear the two tickets right, her name was Monika and she tried her best.

When you enter the theater, you have to go up a long escalator, go on an elevator, or walk up the walkway to get to the new wing at the plaza, which has several nice restaurants and shops. The theater looks great outside (kinda like the Rockaway but they have an antenna in some of the roofs for direct transmission of digital stuff onto the screens and there's columns to support the underground parking) and inside it's clean and nice. The only problem that the theater had that day was that the water was out of service, due to this weekend's water troubles caused by a bad storm near a power plant in Harrington which affected all of the Bergen County theaters and some Hudson County ones. It's also innovative, too.

Having accepted the fate of the TenPlex, I've given this theater a couple chances more. My biggest issue was the parking situation. The last few times, I avoided the lots by the theatre and and just walked through the mall to get to the theatre. It's worked out well on that front. Without the parking getting on my nerves before even going to see the movie definitely helps. In the "very small things" dept. I'm glad they carried over Cherry Coke from the 10 plex. Haven't seen that in other most other AMC's. Oh yeah, the actual movies. If they maintaint he actual theaters at the high level they are now, I'll keep coming back.

Just for the record, it has nothing to do with the blue law in Paramus. The town across the street, Rochelle Park, has been complaing about the late night traffic and the traffic all day Sunday since the theatre opened.It defeats the purpose of the blue law. So they(police)block off all entrances to their town from 10pm to 6am Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. I work at the mall there but don't live in either town. Trying to get out of the mall is almost chaotic if you're not out by 10pm.

It's a very nice movie theatre and my favorite in this area. If I go to Garden State Plaza, I now can catch a flick there.

good for you. Go there during Sundays, since the parking lot tends not to be as crowded surrounding the place.

Amazingly, this has become my "home" theatre. I never thought that I'd have accepted this place so much given it replaced the beloved 10 plex. Sundays are my preferred day to go since I can park by the theatre, no problem. The rest of the time, I just park in the regular lot as stated in a previous post. Also on my last visit I thought I had lost my cellphone and the staff was very accomodating helping me look for it. It's proximity to where the old triplex was (and going in th emall the same way) also give it a familarity I don't get when I go out of town theatres.

i agree with you, mikep. to the people of paramus, they needed a better theater, and they got it right. stadium seating, dlp in two screens, dolby ex in all screens as well as great restrooms and excellent service make it the hottest spot in paramus since the malls.

go during the week for a matinee.

Unless it's a holiday or a day when a big movie opens (such as a Friday or Hump Day)!!!! I might go if I'm sick or if my bus route is cancelled due to inclement weather. As for your previous comment, jmags, the best matinee is the AM Cinema on Fridays and Holidays. Is it AMC's largest theater in North Jersey? I think so. The theater in Rockaway is too large, and the one in Clifton Commons is too long, but the AMC in Paramus is just right. 14 screens with 35mm projection, and 2 with DLP. BTW, which theaters are the largest and have the most seats?

This theater, as well as the Clifton Commons, will not have IMAX 3D, leaving the Rockaway complex to be the only theater in North Jersey to show the format come summer 2008.

thankfully this theater wasn't at a mall where there was a near-fatal stabbing of a shopper by a victim, as local news have been reporting this past week or two. Sadly, an elderly shopper was killed by a passing car near the parking lot of the Macy's wing. Most of the traffic around the Paramus area on a Sunday have been due to the movies and restaurants in Paramus. Too bad there's no Fuddrucker's near the 16-plex. I think this theater is the luxury car of movie theaters in North Jersey and is visited by more moviegoers than Rockaway and Clifton Commons combined. Plus, this theater has more seats and bigger auditoriums plus higher prices.

someone should correct the spelling of auditorium in the summary...my mistake. What this theater lacks is an IMAX screen, which the Lincoln Square and Palisades Center right across the hudson have. On Sundays, is most of the traffic in Paramus due to the theater? I heard rumors that the blue laws might be lifted in Bergen County soon...

Found this excerpt from some website:
"2. Paramus, New Jersey: Squad car responded to disturbance at AMC multiplex of female minor standing up during showing of ATONEMENT, screaming an obscenity. Complainant was the female’s mother, who requested that officers “wash out the little brat’s mouth” because she had said “the bad C-word.” Officers removed the complainant and the female subject from the theater."
Here's the link...
http://www.flickfilosopher.com/blog/2008/02/daily_list_top_5_underreported.html

just came back from the movies seeing "21" in theater #2, which has around 500+ seats. #1 has "Horton" and seats around 540+. The presentation was 35mm film, and there were a few instances of splicing and discoloration after the film presentation was delayed for a few minutes...but the screen I saw it on was bigger than the widescreen in Rockaway, plus the sound was great and the seating nice. On the way to the auditorium, one of the workers gave me back my AMC gift card, and she was courteous!!! Parking here is a hassle, even on the day before Sundays!!! The popcorn was ok, very salty near the end. The crowd was well behaved too.

seating should be listed as 4900.

btw, the projection of 21 wasn't digital. It was very blurry, simliar to Rockaway but on a bigger screen that filled half the screen and with more seats. The crowds are more louder than in Rockaway, and the staff is nicer. I'd say this is AMC's best theater I've been to since the old Rockaway theater. There are more ticket atms around the theater than in Rockaway, although the exterior is not as exciting as Rockaway, with its giant movie posters on the left, front, and right side of the theater.

Happy 1st birthday, GS 16!!! How is Indy doing at this theater? The last three movies did boffo box office at the old theater when it was seven (Raiders, Temple) to ten (Last Crusade) screens, as well as the triplex when it moved over there for other product. FYI, Indy 4 is being shown in good old 35mm and Dolby Digital 5.1. Last year, Pirates 3 moved over from the old theater into the new one, making "Bug" the first new movie to be played there on opening day, as "At World's End" opened the night before the grand opening. Since then, many DLP showings, as well as the return of 3D to Paramus, brought moviegoers back to this theater but not those who prefer the original tenplex, which will become a Lowes store, as well as its sister theater, which is now a massive parking lot.

Went here today for the first time ever and saw "Iron Man" in No. 9 - I felt like I was walking into a cathedral rather than a movie theater. The lobby is huge and impressive, especially the mural which wraps around the three main walls and depicts various cinema stars, as are the black-and-white classic film portraits that are situated outside the individual theaters. A huge step up, at least aesthetically, from a lot of other AMC theaters I've been to.

This past weekend, Star Wars returned to Paramus, but this time in a year-old theater. It's being shown in plain old 35mm and Dolby EX on one screen, and this one will fare worse than all six star wars movies at the old tenplex, not to mention the special editions and re-releases that made the franchise what it is today. Two 3-D movies are playing at this theater, the hit "Journey" and the flop "Fly Me To The Moon".

I was at AMC Garden State 16 for Saw V last night - strange showing and I have a few notes on it: first was the crowds and the ID checks, which created a long than need to be line, they weren't terribly efficient at this, and for what - an MPAA system that really doesn't work. Secondly, I don't know if there was a group making trouble, I didn't notice them, but at least 5 of their relatively useless security guards came in and kicked them out, gladly they weren't with little resistance, because if they didn't I would have complained about this: you can't ruin a movie experience for 400 other people to kick out 6. I say the security guards there are useless and I'll cite two incidents: at a certain point in the theater's history it was the subject of folks in the mall randomly pulling alarms, causing the staff to evacuate the theater. I see 5 films a week, and in 10 years of this habit, I've only ever been evacuated from a theater three times: the first at the Sunshine in Manhattan was an actual emergency. The other two were at AMC Garden State. Adult security guards stood by while 16-year olds in red AMC polo shirts lead the evacuation.

The second incident occurred at a 3-D showing of Beowulf, when I got up to complain about a guy on his cell phone and when I turned the corner I found it was a security guard. I stared at him and he said "can I help you" and I said "sure, you mind taking that conversation outside" and he said "I'm on the phone with my boss" - I said "that's nice, I paid $14 to see this movie, I don't need to hear you, take the call in the hallway" - the then replied "do you know who your talking to, I'm the security guard". Stupid wannabe cop. (Meanwhile he had patrons sitting on the stairs, which is a fire hazard)

I complained to the management who offered up a free pass, what I really wanted those was an apology from the guard and an acknowledgment as to why what he did was wrong, AMC's management said they couldn't since they outsource security to a private firm, they took my info and I have yet to get a call back from the guy's boss. I'm still holding that free pass.

I'm not in this targeted group, I consider myself to be a sophisticated movie goer, and I like theaters with good customer service (Edgewater Multiplex still is the gold standard in Northern NJ) - while I understand the company has its policies, its security guards and staff need to start treating their filmgoers like paying customers and not criminals, regardless of their age. If 16 years get fed up and decided to stop showing up, AMC doesn't have a future. Its more of the tone of their interactions I object to than then their enforcement of policies.

Every AMC Theatres locations, as well as other theatres (Regal, National Amusements, Cinemark ect...), were carding this weekend for Saw V becaues it is required by the MPAA (which gave the film a "R" rating).

When Beowulf 3D was released, the AMC Garden State 16 was still being built, unless it was shown at the old AMC/RKO Stanley Warner's Paramus Route 4 Theatre.

Not to nit pick MikeRa, but theatres are not forced to card. Many of them do only because they dont want to be the one who gets caught letting in underage kids. The MPAA doesn't care if you card or not. They just rate the film. I have been saying for years, they should keep the "G" "PG" which could cover your pre-teens till like age 16 or 17, bring back the "M" which could cover the group who wants to see Saw etc, the "R" would cover extreme violence or sex, and "NC-17" for what it is intended. But I'm just one fish in the ocean.

Actually, MikeRa, if you'd taken the time to look it up on IMDB you'll find that Beowulf 3D was released on November 17, 2007 - this theater opened in May 2007, if my memory serves me correctly I think I saw it on the Sunday night of its opening weekend. I understand AMC has its policies, perhaps more education is required upfront (maybe a sign informing ticket purchasers that R-rated films require an accompanying parent or adult guardian and that IDs may be checked at the door). As I had said I don't object to the enforcement of policies for films such as the Saw series, its the tone of their enforcement as a customer, one that is way over 17, that I had objected to - as well as the efficiency in enforcing the policies. Any business should offer quality customer service and on this front they didn't really deliver. I hope the other theaters mentioned above had better systems than Garden State. (I've also seen the check ID at the door system, create long lines at Clifton Commons)

As for the MPAA, I agree with movie534 - without writing an entire essay on the subject the MPAA's R-rating has become too broad, encompassing films like Slumdog Millionaire (which I saw in Toronto and was shocked to learn it had received an R-rating, because, it may be one that teens may want to see and there is no reason they shouldn't be able to alone, a PG-13 would have been fair) and Saw. The MPAA system is voluntary, aside from a few states and jurisdictions where it is law (it is a state law in NJ, but I know Cedar Grove's town laws require its cinema to enforce the guidelines). Without saying too much I'll point you to Kirby Dick's This Film is Not Yet Rated - a great example of just how stupid the system is. We do need a system and guidelines, but to me there is a clear distinction between Billy Elliot (also rated R) and Saw V, while Crossroads (a film with a horrible moral for young women: you should loose your virginity to a dangerous looking older dude because he drives a cool car) is PG-13. The R and the PG-13 ratings have become awfully bloated, while the NC-17, a perfectly good rating, goes unused because god forbid someone make a film exclusively for adults - those wackos over at Cinemark won't show it.

My mistake. i was too tired when i posted the little tidbit on Beowulf 3D (I was watching the World Series after I got done work, at my theatre carding for Saw V).

Check this link out....
http://tinyurl.com/57oq8n
BTW, has attendance at this theater dropped because of the slowing economy at the nearby mall?

Ever since this theater opened near the mall, customer traffic near the shopping center has increased, even on sundays when the nearby mall is closed and there is ample parking day and night although getting there is tricky.

the new jonas brothers movie is playing on the two dlp screens, while coraline is in 2d. the next 3d movie will be monsters vs aliens, followed by ice age 3.

In terms of how this theater looks, it's beautiful, big and nicely laid out. The problems stem from the fact that this place attracts a huge crowd on weekends. I think that if they kept the other ten plex open, both theaters could've survived and even thrived because, as far as movie theaters go, this area is under served (Remember: Paramus has two Toys r us', three Gaps, two Macy's etc. So it stands to reason that another (albeit) smaller multiplex could do well.

In going to this theater, one has to know that weekends (esp. Saturday nights) are deadly. Give yourself an hour at least to get in. Between the horrible parking at the mall and the crowds, you have to give yourself some extra time. And of course, it depends on what you're seeing. Going to an anticipated movie on its first weekend out? Give yourself TWO hours.

I think (overall) management does a decent job of handling things here. It could so easily get out of hand because you have a lot of different ethnic and socio-econmoic groups (welcome to the Garden State Plaza Mall) all mingling here. They've got their hands full.

One last gripe (and it's not about the theater but about those going to the movies): IF you know you're seeing an anticipated movie on its opening weekend, do you really think you're going to get a good seat coming in 10 minutes before the posted start time??? My wife and I get chuckles watching these late comers as they round the corner and see how full the theater is. And then they start the "is that seat taken" routine. I have not experienced this any where else like I do here.

Is this theater the busiest of all the 16 screen AMC theaters in North Jersey? I think so, since Clifton's not far behind and Rockaway is in third.

This theater is the third mutliplex with DLP in Bergen County. The other two are in Edgewater and in Ridgewood. All are showing in Up in 3D. Was this place selling out of tickets when Up 3D opened? It will still play until Ice Age 3D comes out...

How has attendance at this theater done since it opened two years ago? It's too bad that the Tenplex is now plastered with graffiti and crawling with bugs and mice, and its sister theater, the Triplex, is now a parking lot (just like Shea Stadium). This theater could be the only cash cow that will help the mall, even on days when it doesn't make money on Sundays and holidays.

On the Baristanet website, there's an article by a local moviegoer critic praising the theater as the one with the best sound and best picture in North Jersey. Just google "clifton commons" (one of the sister theaters) on the Google News website and there will be an article about this guy, who does 10-minute video reviews on Youtube.

At the mall near this theater, one of the actors from "Harry Potter 6" was at the Hot Topic store, a few days before the movie came out. Have things improved at this theater since it opened?

possible digital IMAX coming soon at this location within few months

just what Paramus needs...a fake IMAX screen when there's a Domed IMAX screen to the south of town, an IMAX theater to the east of town, and one up north.

What Paramus (and the northern NJ area needs) is a multiplex situated with tons of parking and situated so that it is the only occupant. The problem with this particular theater (as I mentioned before) is that mall parking especially on Saturday nights (granted, Sundays are much better due to Bergen's Blue Laws). If you see a late-ish movie that gets out after 10:00 PM, the only way out of the mall is through the exits onto Route 17 south and onto Route 4. The exits into neighboring Rochelle Park and closed off. It can take up to a half hour to get out.

I agree with your comment, CConnoly1.

Since it has already two digital projectors, will this theater upgrade them to 4k? I saw a 2k presentation at this theater only once. I hope they don't bring the fake imax to the theater as it will lure IMAX fans to Lincoln Square.

Which auditorium will get the digital IMAX treatment and when will it open...I think Avatar will be the next movie. Paranormal Activity is playing at this theater, as is AMC's sister theaters in Rockaway and Clifton.

what's the latest on the imax? Rockaway is getting it first.

Seems that Xmas Carol 3D will be the first IMAX 3D feature to be shown at this theater (not to mention the two 3D screens showing the film). That might happen; if it doesn't, then Avatar will be the next movie to debut in the new IMAX theater.

they now have 3 3D screens with one Sony 4k....Rockaway and garden state are going live with their IMAX on the same day.... I asked one of the managers and their live date is November 19.

sounds good. I wonder if they'll share the same showtimes. Which auditorium at this theater will have the IMAX? Maybe screen #1...which has the most seats.

are the imax showtimes up for this theater and the ROckaway? For Rockaway it's not up yet...once the conversion is done by November 20 the system will be activated.

looks like the imax is opening just at this location, leaving the rockaway to open in a month with avatar as the next movie.

Imax now open...they're showing some doc.

my mistake....it will open this weekend with xmas carol.

http://twitpic.com/q5hqb
this is the line outside the theater for new moon...crazy, isn't it?

btw, how is the imax doing?

i didn't liked it... i thought the screen at Empire was bigger than the imax screen at garden state... and plus the picture wasn't bright enuff either.. sound was kicking...

have you tried the liemax at rockaway or jersey gardens? I think i'll skip them and go see the real thing at palisades center, which is easier to get to than sitting in new york traffic coming to the big city (both empire and Lincoln Square). I never been to the Empire theater but I usually see the front of it while driving down Times Square.

4900 seats? that's quite a lot for an amc theater even more than the old tenplex or triplex.

Here's a facebook group for people who like this ticker taker named kunio....
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120464108214&v=info#/group.php?v=wall&gid=120464108214
I never seen him before....but he sure works hard to greet moviegoers!!!

I think anything over 4 screens shouldn't even be on cinema treasures.You talking about a business that runs them in and out like cattle.Glad i got out in the early 80's.

A friend of mine went to see Avatar in either digital 3-D or Imax 3-D and although he liked the movie, he felt somewhat dizzy after nearly 3 hours of 3-D action.

I'm confused, how can Empire's IMAX be a larger screen than here when someone said this theater's largest screen is larger than Rockaway 16's largest screen when Rockaway's IMAX screen is larger than Empire (NYC)'s IMAX screen??

Which is the largest liemax in NJ? Here, Rockaway or Jersey Gardens?