AMC Dine-In Theatres Essex Green 9

Grand Opening ad in photos section

Please update, 776 seats.

I heard that it was a bad rodent issue as to why it was closed

heard they got new recliner seats that are smaller now. haven’t tried them yet but are really new, like within the past month type new. I bet they are like the smaller recliners in east hanover or morristown

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/04/west_orange_essex_green_shopping_center.html

I agree, even with reserved seating and other amenities.

AVOID theater 3 with a passion. Just saw Sing 3d there and one of their 2 3d projectors has a color issue that if you close your right eye, can see a giant yellow tint over the bottom right corner and a purple streak going diagonally around that yellow border. It ruins the 3d. They need a new projector.

according to the THX website, no theaters in NJ including this one are certified anymore. The closest one i can think of is in Franklin Mills, PA.

Attempted to see the latest Liam Neeson flick, Unknown at this venue. Having already had dinner at a local restaurant, I was not interested in the Fork & Screen experience. Plain and simple, I just wanted to enjoy a good escapist movie, no frills. The hostess claimed that the movie was sold out for non-dining patrons as it was clear that the theater was holding out for those patrons willing to shell-out big-bucks for the food package. I find waitress service at entertainment events to be a distraction, even when they try crawling on their knees to be less conspicuous. AMC can keep their Fork & Screen concept. Instead I drove to Montclair and enjoyed Cedar Rapids at the Claridge. By dining out, and going for drinks and coffee at a local pub afterwards, I got to support some local merchants and not the corporate coffers of AMC.

I just ran a check on the THX website to see if the THX screen at AMC’s Bridgewater Commons remains certified, and oddly, it now shows that not only that it is, but also that the THX screen at the Essex Green also remains certified; when I ran the check the other day using the zipcode above, the Essex Green did not show up (and still does not). Go figure. I am beginning to wonder how often that THX search page is updated and how reliable it is.

I don’t know and truthfully don’t care about THX certification which is a scam by which most, if not all modern multiplex screens would qualify for certification if they’re willing to pay George Lucas for the rights to the brand. But I did see a movie a smaller Cinema Suites auditorium and have a few notes: the Fork & Screen/Cinema Suites experience was very comfortable but ultimately a bit distracting.

The main entrance was re-done and the box office removed with an automated box office only (I suppose if your paying cash you can at Guest Services, inside, they re-did, adding a wall to the area that used to be the long closed/removed Sound Stage Cafe. The snack bar is now a real bar, and there’s a bit of seating around the lobby.

They retiled the bathrooms, and repainted some walls. The seating was modified and is about, if not less than what the theaters had (Cinema Suites, the complex’s four smallest sat about 50-60). As for value: the food was a slight upgrade from the chicken fingers and fries at other AMC’s (in fact that’s what we had). It was okay but the prices are movie theatre prices, so your getting mediocre Applebee’s kind of food at movie theatre prices.

Service was a tad slow, including a wait from start to finish for an hour for popcorn (by time I pushed the seat-side button, the server came, then they told us they were popping more, and ultimately it came out an hour from when I first pushed the button). We arrived about 25 minutes before the show and had our drinks (strangely the wine was the only thing similarly priced in value to a restaurant) and appetizers with the previews. Our meal came out about 15-20 minutes into the feature, and from there plates sat, which is a little annoying. The service was friendly, if not slightly distracting, when the bill comes around it’s towards the end of the feature – imagine what revelations you might miss in the distraction.

The seats themselves were plus recliners that reclined at the push of a button as well. The idea of eating a whole meal with the swivel table is a little distracting from the movie, as your trying not get any food on you. The theater itself is an okay experience, the food is pretty boring for the most part especially since they advertise “Cinema Suites” as an upscale evening out, Gold Class looks more interesting on the cuisine front.

Did I dislike the concept? No, but I there are some kinks AMC needs to work on before this can go prime time (I don’t think it ever really can). While I like having food options in the theatre, I did have to say the idea of eating a meal is distracting, perhaps next time I’ll go for finger food, the idea of cutting and worrying about not dropping food on you is enough to take you out of the picture.

Theater now open as a fork and screen. Status should be changed on the theater summary. Is theater 1 still THX certified?