Lately on /Film we’ve profiled a couple movie theaters as part of our Cool Stuff feature: Tha Alamo Drafthouse, the coolest movie theater EVER, and the AMC Pacific Place Cinema, the coolest looking movie theater in Hong Kong. /Film Reader Xavier Maury told us to take a look at the Cinedom in Cologne, Germany: “I lived there 7 years and it was a pleasure going there.”
The Cinedom is Cologne’s largest movie center, offering more than 2,300 seats. The multiplex houses 14 theaters, each ranging from 100 to 705 seats, two of which can play 70mm prints. All of the theaters and seats are covered completely in black. The largest hall features a 75 foot wide screen. Each theater is Lucas THX certified, Dolby Surround in all halls, in addition to DTS in halls 4 and 9.
From what I can tell, the Cinedom doesn’t offer any special added features or special events (outside of the occasional movie premiere). Ticket prices range from $6 for Children up to 11-years-old, $8 on Cinema day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and $13.50 on weekends.
The theater is divided in to three floors, all of which have wheelchair access and a large glass elevator. The lobby features four restaurants: Pizza Hut, Ocean Drive, La Gelateria (Ice Cream fresh daily and Italian coffee specialties) and Casablanca Bar & Restaurant. What makes the Cinedom so cool is the architecture, which can be seen in the photos below. Or you can take a virtual 3D Quicktime-VR tour of the Cinedom.
Cool Stuff is a daily feature of slashfilm.com. Know of any geekarific creations or cool products which should be featured on Cool Stuff? E-Mail us at orfilms@gmail.com.
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Sideshow Collectables has finalized the designs for the release of life-sized figures of R2-D2 and C-3PO.
The most authentic life-size reproductions ever available to private collectors are now available for pre-order. Crafted of fiberglass and various quality materials, both figures include light and sound function, for the most ‘real’ experience possible.
Each figure also includes a display base, and a magnetized restraining bolt accessory. R2-D2 is being sold for $5450.00, while C-350 is being sold for $5950.00. Both will begin shipping in 3rd Quarter 2008. Now if only I has $11,500 to waste. Check out more photos after the jump.
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Over at SHH, a tipster sent in pics of Halloween costumes and masks from a Las Vegas showcase for The Dark Knight, including those pretty friggin’ eerie Heath Ledger/Joker masks above. Halloween 2008 just got a helluva lot scarier imagining six year old hooligans giggling down darkly lit streets in those things. Also, the tipster supposedly received a spoilerish reason for the lack of Two Face costumes. After the hop, we have the spoiler (I’d rank it a 6 out of 10) and two big photos of the get-ups…
Discuss: Did the spoiler bum you out a little? Would you go as The Joker for Halloween?
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Last week I posted a cool stuff feature on the coolest movie theater on the planet – The Alamo Drafthouse, an independently run theater in Austin Texas. That’s not to say that a huge corporate cinema chain couldn’t create a cool movie theater. /Film Reader George J sent me a tip about this cool looking movie theater in Hong Kong.
The AMC Pacific Place Cinema opened on December 9th 2006 in Hong Kong, China. Refurbished by James Law Cybertecture International, Pacific Place Cinema is on the ground floor of the Pacific Place mall in the Queensway district on Hong Kong Island. The space use to be a two auditorium UA Pacific Place Cinema.
The newly designed space houses 6 theaters, featuring a total of 599 seats. Pacific Place is considered “Asia’s most technologically-advanced cinema”, boasting Hong Kong’s best three-way SRD-EX audio system, and incorporating a bunch of never-seen before solutions. For example, the ticketing box office is no longer enclosed in a conventional glass box, but is instead “more akin to modern sculpture or the lobby of a chic boutique hotel, protruding outwards to skilfully incorporate the technology used to issue tickets.” Tickets range from $50HK ($6.42 American) to$75HK ($9.64 American). You can choose your exact seat online when purchasing your ticket.
“Inside, the walls of the Cybertectured cinema comprises sculptural, organic shapes molded together to form a U-shaped corridor, creating a journey of discovery at the entrances of each cinema auditorium. The cinema’s design has been configured so that from the moment patrons arrive, they are transported to a totally new cinematic experience. An aerodynamic ceiling with a metallic coating carries a river-like pattern which is carried throughout the foyer of the cinema. The same pattern is also reflected on the floor featuring thin stainless steel embedded into the floor to give a directional glance for the audiences to the auditorium. Each theatre offers movie goers the ultimate in design and luxury. The auditorium entrance is marked by a scribed number set into the wall that is lit by LED lighting, with all facets of signage reinterpreted as part of the architecture.”
All of the seats are upholstered with sumptuous French leather, measuring 4 feet wide leaving plenty of leg room to spare. The VIP theatre provides seating for 39 and is rented out for intimate corporate receptions and private parties. The largest theater has 142 seats.
The cinema’s refreshment bar offers freshly imported cheeses from England and Denmark, quality olives, a variety of desserts, more than 10 types of mineral water, from Italy, the U.S., France, and Switzerland (available at the specially-designed Aqua Bar).
I have not had the chance to visit the AMC Pacific Place Cinema, but if I’m ever in Hong Kong, I’ll be sure to check it out. More photos available after the jump.
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I know, I know… I’m late to this party! The one big takeaway from my time in Austin at the SXSW Film Festival (aside from the hot indie rock girls, the parties, the great movies, and great food) was that I fell in love with the Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater.
I’ve been to movie theaters from coast to coast. I’ve been to The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, the Castro in San Francisco, The Arclight in Los Angeles, and even the new Mark Cuban owned Landmark. The Alamo Drafthouse theater is by far the best movie theater I’ve ever been to. It’s the type of movie theater that makes me wish I lived in Texas, and here’s why…
From the moment you enter the Alamo Lamar, you are transfered to another world, one where Aliens attacked Texas, and the community had to come together to defend the Alamo. Alien-like flying saucers provide light from above (as they should), and a vintage Donkey Kong arcade machine (which was installed for Steve Wiebe’s King of Kong challenge) provides free plays.
And to the left is…
Mondo Tees (and Posters)
Mondo Tees sells new, vintage, and custom iron-on transfer shirts. They also offer a few premade t-shirt options. They offer a bunch of t-shirts I haven’t seen anywhere else. For example, they offer a Sneepur Patrol shirt from Eli Roth’s Hostel and a Death Proof skull and bones t-shirt. This is the t-shirt store where I found the Director Name Band logo stylized t-shirts I posted about last week, and the very cool posters that Tyler Stout created for The Alamo’s special screenings (we posted about these last month).
I spent probably $150 at Mondo Tees while in Austin. You can see The Wizard poster I bought my best friend in the Special Events section below.
The Concept
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is Austin’s only independently owned and operated movie theater. They serve a full menu of dinner, snacks and drinks to your seat while you watch the movie. The theater is laid out like a traditional movie theater, except every other row of seats has been replaced with a long narrow table for your food and drinks. You can order drinks and food before and during the movie without any distraction to the feature presentation.
Ordering Food
Each seat placement contains a couple menus inside the narrow bar-type table. During the pre-show entertainment, waiters come out and take your orders in the traditional way. Once the movie starts if you need anything at all, there is paper and pencils at the table. All you have to do is write down what you need on the paper, stand the paper up on the card holder attached to the table. This acts as a flag, and your waiter will only come by if he sees the card. They even provide minimal mood lighting underneath the tables, which can be used to see the menu in the dark without disturbing other moviegoers.
Pre Movie Entertainment
Seating usually begins 45 minutes prior to a screening. But you won’t have to sit through any of that annoying in theater pre-movie advertising while you wait. The Alamo shows little short films, usually from the 1970′s grindhouse-era until the feature begins. At SXSW I attended at least 12 screenings at the Alamo, and not once did I see the same thing twice on the screen. I was told by one of the employees that the Alamo randomly gets sent reels and footage on a weekly basis, and the management decides what goes into the preshow entertainment.
“No Talking” PSAs
The Alamo has public service announcements before each screening telling the audience to silence their cell phones and to keep talking to a minimum. But these PSA spots are like nothing you’ve ever seen before. One of the first ones that I saw had legendary horror film director George Romero tell the audience that if they didn’t keep quiet, that he’d turn them into the living dead. They then cut to clips of zombies getting torn apart and getting beat down. Another spot involved King of Kong star Steve Wiebe stare-of-death towards a chatting fan who made him die in Donkey Kong. Another hilarious video features StrongBad yelling at a talkative Homestar Runner. Most of the videos end with “Keep quiet or we’ll take your ass out!” or something to that effect.
The Menu
In addition to the usual (Movie candies for $3.99 and popcorn for $3.59-$4.99), The Alamo offers a wide selection of Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches, Tacos (shrimp, ribeye, chicken, and fish), Pizzas, Pastas, Entrees, Desserts and Beverages. Some of the item have fun movie-themed names like: Nacho Libre, the Once Upon a Time in Mexico Salad, Royale with Cheese Burger (pictured above), the Over the Top dog, Smokey and the Bacon BLT, and The Constant Gardener sandwich. Pizza options include The Godfather, Porky’s Pepperoni, My Big Fat Greek Vegetation Pizza, the Raging Bull, and the Poultrygeist. You can see their whole menu at this link.
You would think that because this is primarily a movie theater, and not a restaurant, that the quality level of food would fall in line, but this is not the case. I’ve ordered almost every kind of option off the menu, and never once have been dissatisfied with what came delivered to my seat (except for the time I ordered the Organic Burger and didn’t realize it came with a salad instead of fries… now you know). Actually, having this full service option available resulted in our ground at SXSW eating way more than we ever should have. It’s hard to sit and watch a movie without ordering at least a beverage and appetizer.
Appetizers
Appetizers include Red Pepper Hummus, 20 Beer Chili, Falafel, Hot Wings, Potato Skins, Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Pickles, Fries, and more. I found the best value to be the Chicken Strip Basket. For $6.99 you get three fried chicken strips, and a basket of fries.
Beverages
The Alamo offers 23 different beers on draft, available by the Pint (usually around $4) or in a Pitcher (usually around ($15-$17), and over 30 different bottled beers, available by bottle ($3-$7) or bucket ($15-$20), 15 types of Red wine, 11 types of white wine, and champagne.
They also offer Italian Soda, Spring Water, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Orange Juice, $5 milkshakes (or a Guinness milkshake for $7), coffee, and tea. Soda is available in 22oz ($2.79), 32oz ($3.59), or a pitcher for $6.99. The pitcher is by far the best deal, able to take care of two fat guys at the movies, or four normal moviegoers.
Here’s a tip: As for Ice in the cups, and no Ice in the Pitcher. It took us a whole week to figure this one out. The Milkshakes are also amazing, and include mini-M&M’s on top of the whipped cream (how cool is that?).
Cool Events
Okay, so the movie theater has good food and a cool vibe, but that’s it right? Nope. Half of what makes The Alamo so cool is the programing. When The Alamo isn’t playing host to the South By Southwest Film Festival, the Quentin Tarantino film festival, QT Fest, the Ain’t It Cool News Bumbnumathon, or FantasticFest, they host some of the coolest movie events on the planet.
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Like any smart 20something, I am looking to retire in the next year or so, or at least go far far away to a land where the Drudge Report and Nick Denton have no reach. A loyal Slashfilm reader in Miami named ‘Hot Turtle Sex’ directed me to the following link belonging to a Welsh family of four (two cute kids). Using the architectural technique of “earth sheltering,” they have created a cozy home literally built into the earth that shares a helluva lot of resemblance to a hobbit hole and The Shire in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
The Dale family claims to have no real knowledge of architecture and says they built the home for 3,000 pounds (about $7,000) over a three month period using, get this, a “chainsaw, hammer, chisel, little else really”; also “men, lots of heavy lifting.” I dig/relate to how the men ended up being mistaken for “yetis” near project’s end. The home is insulated with straw, has solar panels, a skylight, a spacious loft bedroom, a “compost toilet,” charming slugs and charm for days. I’m left wondering if the children were delivered by storks and if those storks deliver beer (oh wait, they brew their own).
They want to inspire others to create eco-friendly, low-impact hobbit-like homes and frown upon exposing infants to toxic modern day construction materials. Are you up to it? I’m so down. If you’re a Slashfilm reader residing in Wales, get involved directly.
More photos after the jump.
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I’ve been looking for a cool executive desk for a while, but often I find them too high class or professional for my tastes. But I think I’ve finally found something cool enough for the /Film Offices – The Han Solo in Carbonite Executive Desk. Too bad it’s not on sale. Tom Spina Designs created this desk for Mark Hall of the Grammy Award winning group Casting Crowns.
“We had someone looking for a highly unique desk with a sci-fi theme for his home theater/home studio office. I created several designs and eventually hit upon the idea of using a Han in Carbonite (derived from an old Illusive Concepts artist proof) as the top of a combination desk and art piece. I did the initial concept and sketches and Richard handled the details, worked with the metal shop and did the final build. Two RPF’rs also contributed resin detail pieces (where better to go than the RPF for the best parts around?). The main “box” for the desk is custom metal, as are the computer cut side boxes which both light up with an orange glow. The piece is finished with a 1/2″ thick glass table top.”
But I really wonder how the desk might look with a screen, keyboard, mouse, mousepad, and all the other junk which needs to be on top of it to function. Thanks to Derek, Bryan, and anyone else who sent this in to us.
Cool Stuff is a daily feature of slashfilm.com. Know of any geekarific creations or cool products which should be featured on Cool Stuff? E-Mail us at orfilms@gmail.com.
