AMC Courthouse Plaza 8
2150 Clarendon Boulevard,
Arlington,
VA
22201
2150 Clarendon Boulevard,
Arlington,
VA
22201
4 people
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Is 8 still THX, Giles? No placard or signage anywhere? If the sound was as bad as you described, I’d write to THX and complain.
I just went to this theater last week to see the new ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel on screen 8, which I remember being the largest, but with the new beds, er, I mean recliners the seating has been reduced dramatically to 151 seats. I don’t know what they did with this auditorium but I remember seeing ‘Starship Troopers’ here and I could have sworn the screen was larger than what I recently saw. The 3D screening had enough light output to make the image and movie have great dimensionality but the overall size of the screen didn’t have wanting to see another movie here. Also when this auditorium had SDDS sound, the audio presentations were top notch, here though the sound was so subdued and unimpressive (this might have been the fault of the movie’s actual soundmix).
with all the upgrades to this theater – I’m surprised that the largest screen hasn’t yet been announced to be converted to be a ‘Dolby Cinema’ screen – laser projection/Dolby Atmos – the whole kit and kaboodle
Since Tuesday, 8/27, #3 has been closed for remodeling. They’re putting in a bigger screen and taking out the first row of seats. I don’t know if it’s supposed to open up again today or Friday.
I noticed that and thought it was a typo. The movie is already opening big, why does management think there needs to be shows every ½ hour? Fandango shows many tickets available. Is #8 still THX certified, or at least the better of the 8 to see/hear/experience a movie there? Aside from the new seating, has the remodel helped the experience there of watching movies? I’m tempted to revisit the place.
“Star Trek” won’t be the only movie playing after all. A few shows of “Mud” and “The Croods” are also scheduled.
On Wednesday night, May 15, at 12:01 AM, “Star Trek Into Darkness” will be playing in all eight theaters – four in 2D (#3, 5, 6, 7) and four in 3D (#1, 2, 4, 8).
From then through probably the next Wednesday, May 22, this will be the only movie playing at Courthouse (you read that right), with the same theater setup as above. Shows are supposed to start every half hour.
The lower level restrooms have been remodeled and are now open for guests.
I’ve experienced reserved seating in movie theaters in other countries. It slows down the line, it clusters people uncomfortably, you are stuck next to talkers until the point where you can move, and that might be too late (often one can tell the horrendous talkers even before a film begins). But mainly I am not seeing an explanation of how this will work. If I can’t just show up for a film that isn’t sold out and buy a ticket, I will go to a theater where I can show up. I don’t want to be put through hoops. I really wish the Courthouse cinema had stayed the way it was. Who cares about fancy new recliners? Honestly, I really just want to see a movie. The only place I want to see money going is in the projection and sound. The rest is insignificant. Guess I will have to pass over AMC Courthouse, my closest theater, for AMC Georgetown, where liberty still reigns. Sigh.
Hum thumbs down for me for reserved seating. How are all these new rules and regulations working out for AMC Courthouse? I just want to be able to go to a movie. I was going to go to Courthouse for the first time tonight since the renovations, but then I saw the reserved seating caveat. What does it mean? Does it mean you can’t just show up for a film? Why on earth is it in effect for all shows?
I guess it’s a stretch that either of the two 3D screens will be playing this at 48fps ?
On Thursday, December 13, “The Hobbit” will be playing in all eight theaters – six in 2D, two in 3D – at 12:01 AM.
I think this is the first AMC in the DC metro area to offer ‘reserved seating’ [thumbs up!]
The upper level will be completed this week, and will be open and showing movies on Friday, November 2.
Also, to Giles: #2, 4 and 8 will be 7.1, after a little rewiring work. These three have Dolby CP750 processors. The one in 8 was put in when that auditorium went digital in February 2011, and the one in 2 was put in very recently, maybe during the lower level remodel. I’m not sure about 4, but it might have been put in there during the first digital install back in 2009. I think it was there in 2010 at the earliest.
(Repost from 9/30)
Leila: I’m not the manager. The decision with the bathroom isn’t his, it’s that of the home office in Kansas City, MO, since they’re paying for the renovation. I honestly don’t know the precise reason behind it, even though I’ve asked. It’s possible that HQ didn’t have the budget to remodel all six bathrooms. Given the inevitability of complaints, I have a feeling this will change in the future.
Giles: #8 is the auditorium that had 8-channel SDDS. I’m pretty sure this one will be upgraded to 7.1. Once the renovation moves to the upper level later this week, they’re going to gut everything. I’ll make sure to ask the sound tech about it.
Also, the main lobby will open on Friday, October 5, the day after it’s completed. So all five theaters that will be open are the remodeled ones.
Cumulo, thank you for the swift and informative reply. I’m sure folks would rather have an unrenovated bathroom on the lower level than no bathroom at all. Don’t know about the men’s, but the women’s is just fine as is. I look forward to seeing the new lobby. Not a big fan of whatever color the new paint was, slightly pinkish beige? It was dark. But I am sure it will look spruced up. The theater is a big asset to the neighborhood. While I go often to E Street, West End, etc. I see much of my mainstream stuff at Courthouse so I can walk home after. I wish Courthouse would bring back the occasional Bollywood movie it was screening at one point. While I know that was directed toward the South Asian community, as long as the films have subtitles, they are definitely a change of pace. Alas, not a lot of foreign films at Courthouse.
did they upgrade any of the auditoriums to 7.1 audio ? I know that at least one auditorium used to feature 8-channel SDDS.
Thank you for such detailed information, Cumulo. I was at Courthouse last night to see Looper and was very surprised by all that was going on and how we had to ride the elevator to get to the upstairs screening rooms. There was a bit of a traffic jam, but it all worked out.
I consider Courthouse my local theater, but I hadn’t been for a while since I was out of town.
For me, the good news about the renovation is about some screens getting bigger and especially about the speakers. The sound has been a problem sometimes. The bad news is about the downstairs bathrooms. What possible rationale could there be for giving patrons fewer bathrooms! This means that if someone is watching a film downstairs, they will miss quite a bit if they have to get up since they won’t have a close bathroom. This isn’t an issue for me. I can’t bear to miss moments from movies so I plan accordingly, but I see people leaving quite a bit. Can you explain this crazy decision? Courthouse will be creating longer lines with this move, since so many people want to go after a film ends.
You seem to have the inside track on these renovations. Perhaps you are the theater’s manager. If you are, or you known him/her, please urge the manager to reconsider the bathroom decision. There is other really good news in this renovation. It means the theater appears at least not to be in danger of closing any time soon, otherwise why spend the money? That makes me very happy. There was a point a few years ago when it seemed to be in danger.
I hope the ticket prices don’t go up. I really don’t care about fresh paint, fancy displays, fancy seats, etc. The only thing I care about in movie theaters (and I see most movies in theaters) is good projection, good sound, and an unobstructed view. Courthouse isn’t an old time movie palace or a vintage art house. For the latter, interior design is more important to preserve. But again, if slapping on some new paint and renovating interiors will attract more people to the theater, I guess it’s ok. I just wish I could have a conversation with the Courthouse programmer.
The lower level box office enclosure, right next to the exit doors and the escalators in the Metro tunnel, has been closed off, and poster cases have been installed on the exterior. For many years this box was used only to list currently-playing movie titles on the letter board.
The box office and Guest Services desk are both on the right side. Due to the building layout it wasn’t possible to remove the left-side staircase, so the right-side one was removed instead and Guest Services moved there.
The main lobby is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, October 4.
The interior of the elevator is also supposed to be remodeled at some point.
Is currently in the middle of a multi-million dollar renovation. Work began around August 1 in the lower level (theaters #1-3), and the whole building is expected to be completed in November. Some of what’s being done:
All interiors and theaters are being repainted and getting new carpet. All the poster cases and theater doors are being replaced. The main and upstairs staircases and railings will be replaced with glass panels.
All theaters are getting ramps and stairs for “stadium-lite” seating, new home-style reclining seats that adjust at the push of a button, new screens (larger in some theaters), new speakers, automated masking and digital preshow ads.
LCD panels will be outside every theater, listing the movie title, showtimes, etc.
The main lobby concession is being totally replaced and enlarged, and will be the only one in the building. There will be new food items and LCD displays. The upstairs concession (rarely used) will be completely removed to create a larger “area of refuge”, and the downstairs one (unused for many years) has been removed and walled off for an employee area.
The right-side box office, from the outside as you face the front doors, is being redone to include digital displays and a third terminal. It will be the only box office. The left one has already been closed, walled up and painted over on the outside, and several 24-hour ABOs will be installed there. On the inside, it will become a Guest Services area. The staircase above it might have to be moved, or totally removed, to accommodate it.
The main and upstairs bathrooms are being redone (new tiles, Dyson hand dryers). The downstairs bathrooms are being discontinued and will be employee-only.
The AMC 8 THEATRES signs on the outside of the building are supposed to be replaced. I think the one on the back (which nobody can see) near the parking garage might be moved to the side of the building, directly facing the courthouse across the street, so that people driving on Courthouse Rd. can see it.
The lower level was completed this week, and opened and showed movies today, August 31. The theater doors haven’t been replaced yet, just repainted for the time being. The bathrooms down there are still open for guests, until the whole building is finished apparently.
The next area being worked on is the main lobby. #4 and #5 are closed, but the lobby is still open so people can get to the other six theaters. The concession stand is closed, and everything has been moved to the one upstairs.
All 8 screens are digital as of Tuesday, June 5.
Sony 4Ks (with 2D lenses) from the AMC Glendora 12 in Glendora, CA were installed in #6 and #7 on that day, and in #3 and #5 on the previous day, June 4.
The final 35mm shows were on June 4 – “Battleship” and “For Greater Glory” in #6, and “Dark Shadows” and “Men in Black 3” in #7.
The THX-certified one is #8.
Which of the 8 is THX Certified? Is it 4? I blogged about visiting here but it has disappeared. I think I saw the first Mission Impossible movie here back in ‘96 in the THX theater.
Got its first digital projector (Sony 4K) in auditorium 4 on October 28, 2009. The first movie to play was “Where the Wild Things Are”. The RealD 3D lens was installed not long after, and the first 3D movie played was the Dave Matthews concert “Larger than Life”.
Three more Sony 4Ks, all with 3D lenses, were installed on the same day in February 2011, in auditoriums 1, 2 and 8.