29 June 2003

Cine Capri Returns to Valley

On Friday, Harkins Theatres opened the new Cine Capri at Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101 in Northeast Phoenix. It will boast Arizona's largest screen size, that will actually be 12 feet wider than the original Cine Capri, measuring nearly 70 feet. However, unlike the original, the theater will be tucked within a 14 screen multiplex complex. Also on site will be a Cine Capri museum with relics on display from the old theater.

This week, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle is the feature flick. Seems like a crummy movie to grace the screen of such a magnificent theater. Next week, it's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

I loved viewing movies in the old Cine Capri and was saddened when it was bulldozed in 1998. Not enamored with the all of the frills of the gold curtains and other dressings, the giant screen was the primary appealing feature for me. I'd try to get in the front rows too, adding to the immersive experience.

posted by Naum at 12:27 | Valley

Comments

DISAPPOINTMENT is the key word when it comes to the “new” Cine Crapi (not a typo) theatre and the multiplex madness at the Harkins Scottsdale 101. Living just east of Scottsdale Road on Pinnacle Peak, we waited anxiously for the opening of the new theatre complex just a stones throw away…..how exciting not to drive to Desert Ridge and fight all of the Mall “goers” to spend a pleasant two hours away from the reality of life. But, upon sneaking out during the afternoon of July 1st, to catch the opening of The Hulk in the new surroundings, I was immediately taken aback by the seemingly apathetic and downright backwardness of the staff. I wrote the feeling off to “grand opening issues” and “early afternoon” startup. I stood in the ticket line (I do find it amazing that there are 8 or even 10 lines to sell tickets, but alas, only one maybe two were manned and clearly “running on empty”.

On to the concession line…..again, what seems like 40 lines with only two or three manned and clearly an additional 8 or 10 people wandering around the back clearly looking for a purpose in life (it was reminiscent of a government run operation).
Next, the movie ….the auditorium was typical, seats comfortable and the sound was not unlike every multiplex in operation currently. The Hulk was running its course when toward the end and the culmination of over an hour and a half of following the story line…..

FLASH….on come the lights, and a voice booms over the dialogue of the movie that “everybody has to leave”……again the apathetic, looking for a purpose in life staff were standing around seemingly lost. No authoritative direction in “an emergency”, no explanation…nothing just “BLAH”!......one staff member did mention in passing that “we’ll redeem your tickets later”. I Left with an “empty”, “waste of time”, “lost” feeling, and made my way home putting the entire situation out of my mind.
Two weeks go by and my wife and I decide that we’ll try out the new Cine Crapri…..a typical Monday, the heat in the Valley is compounded by the onslaught of the monsoon’s and a needed break, in a cool environment, with a much promoted 70 foot screen, state of the art sound system and seating for over 600, was the diversion of choice. The ominous déjà vu struck at the ticket area, but, I justified it to the heat or a supposedly slower Monday night.

Back to the infamous concession stand where more stations were open, but as we stood in line, none of them seem to be moving….the gentleman in front of us suggested we might even try another line as our server “was even slower than the rest”….finally with the customary “enjoy your movie”, sixteen bucks worth of tickets, another twelve bucks for a Dr. Pepper and a bag of stale popcorn, we were off to find our seats and enjoy the show. Somehow the old joke about “how many concession workers does it take to screw in a light bulb comes to mind”.

CONTINUED
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