03/23/09

Great Movie Theatre for a DATE

by 3cp

At first I was a little skeptic of paying higher prices for assigned seating...but I most admit it's never been a problem getting into the movie that I want! It's definitely a movie to take a "first" date...

01/09/09

Best Theater in L.A.

by Trinhw

Where else can you ensure that you have the best seats before the show even starts! I love this place and every other theater pales in comparison!

• Pros: Online seat selection, comfortable seats, great staff
• Cons: always, always busy!

09/02/08

The best theater experience ever!

by Darious24

I love coming here, first of all, you can buy your seats in advance and choose where you want to sit, which means never standing in line!! Second, they don't have any commercials, just previews, so you're not seating in the theater for over 20 minutes. They have really good snacks and food. The only reason I can't give them a five star is because they're so freaking expensive!!

Thanks to this stunning Hollywood megaplex, moviegoing has become a luxurious--and expensive--night on the town.

by Contributor

In Short
Come early and browse through the gift shop, grab a bite in the full-service cafe or sip a cocktail at the bar. There's no need to rush, because Arclight provides reserved seating. And, mind you, these aren't ordinary seats--plush recliners offer three extra inches of seating space, super-wide armrests and plenty of legroom. Suited ushers guide you to your seat and introduce each screening with a short speech.

06/19/08

Not a night out - A full blown experience!

by chefstar

From first visit, you will fall in love with the Arclight Cinemas. You park close to the theaters in the well lit, comfortable garage. Quick elevator ride to the lobby level and you are on your way to the theaters. You could already have your "RESERVED" seats tickets purchased online. You can use one of the many kiosks outside on the wall or you can walk in and buy your tickets from a real person not hidden behind 7 inches of glass. But, wait. Once you walk into the lobby - do you want a drink or dinner? That is off to the right at their full bar and restaurant. Or, do you have time to wander through the very entertaining and well stocked gift shop/bookstore. Okay. You finally got your tickets now you have a few moments to wander around. Take a look at the latest art exhibit along the walls. Time for the movie? Pick up popcorn with real butter. A Smoked Apple Chicken Sausage instead of a boring hot dog and you are all set. No irritating commercials. Perfect sound. Perfect picture. A true winner!

• Pros: The whole experience. Love the place.
• Cons: Would love to see the rest of the storefronts full of things to see and do nearby.

05/16/08

Worth the extra bucks - once in a while

by evywang

I don't go here on a regular basis because of how expensive tickets are, but this is the place to go if you want your movie outing to be more special than usual. Beautiful decor, cool displays once in a while (e.g. actual costumes from movies), interesting photographs adorning the walls, and fantastic gourmet popcorn. They have a great selection of movies but plan ahead - there's a limited amount of showings and the times are pretty spread out. I like having our seats picked out beforehand so there's no hassle of finding seats once we get there, but we're always careful to get there early since there are no previews and they don't let people in after the movie starts.

• Pros: Ambience; service (all the employees are ridiculously nice)
• Cons: Can't be late

02/10/08

Plan ahead !!!

by spelt

Plan ahead when you want to see a film at the Arc light! This theater is only 4 miles from my home, but if I don't know by 5 pm which movie I want to see I don't even bother. Tickets for many mid evening shows are often sold out (or you are sitting directly in front of the screen) hours before the show time. If you do get a ticket, good luck parking. STESSFUL!!! As mentioned in other reviews, they will not seat you past a certain time. It can take up to 20 minutes to get into the parking structure and find a spot! No kidding! Leaving the structure can take time too.

That said, all of the positive reviews about the theater itself are ABSOLUTELY TRUE! The employees here are the best! I don't know how they find so many cool, friendly, even funny people to work at a movie theater. The screens and audio set up are the best. I saw Sweeny Todd there and am convinced that the theater made the movie even better. So, go to the Arc light, but plan ahead a bit, or see an early movie.

• Pros: Audio Visual is great...service great
• Cons: Parking situation is a nightmare

01/16/08

clean, beautiful theatre

by denthx87

went on a date there. very little kids presence. staff was nice. really clean and cool look to it. loved it. prices a little high but i wasn't paying so that was cool.

12/31/07

The only civilized place to see a movie, probably anywhere.

by losfelizboy

It is official. I can't see a movie anywhere else now. Nowhere in the city can you get a "civilized "movie-going experience like you can at Arclight Hollywood. I went to the Grove and Chinese 6 recently to see films that weren't screening at Arclight and the experience there was horrid -- patrons either wouldn't stop talking, they'd keep getting up and down during the "slow parts" of the film and at the Chinese 6 there was almost an altercation because one patron told another to "shhhh" and the offender shouted back "no body tells me what to do" until security finally came in to remove the offender. The Grove bathrooms, while nice are one big P*ss Fest during weekends -- it is just gross in there -- the staff can't mop and wipe fast enough.

99.99% of the time my experience at Arclight is great --- the patrons are more respectful of each other, there are NO frigggin commercials(and no lame Coke Film Quizzes), the seats are comfy -- reserved seats are the best thing ever, the sound and picture top notch. Even my favorite old school neighborhood theatre, the Vista -- which I love -- can't compete -- the Arclight Hollywood brings out a more "educated" crowd (in general, not always) than most places and I think with that comes a bit more respect for your fellow movie-goers that I'm finding doesn't happen at other theatres. It is more akin to going to a play in some respects. I ran into parking issues during the AFI Fest - the garage was full much earlier than normal-- I just circled around and parked at the shopping center across the street (Borders). As for other negative comments regarding parking -- hey that's life in LA -- you got a show to go to leave early to get parking, you come late, don't be surprized there's no room. Also -- the garage is run by the city of LA, not Arclight (Pacific Theatres).

• Pros: Reserved Seating, Best Sound and Picture, Civilized Patrons
• Cons: Garage can get full on weekends -- just come early!

10/19/07

ARCLIGHT WILL SELL YOU A RESERVED SEAT, BUT IT MAY NOT LET YOU SIT IN IT

by weeno

REASON 1:

I spent 1 hour driving to Arclight from the West Side, only to be greeted by ?LOT FULL? sign.

REASON 2:

As a result of not being able to park in the theater lot, I had to drive 2 blocks away in Friday traffic to park in an expensive valet lot.

REASON 3:

The 2-block drive in Friday traffic, and the walk (run) back to the theater, added 10+ minutes to my travel. And though I bought my tickets in advance to ensure I?d have a seat, I was refused entry because I got to there after the previews started ? due to the fact that Pacific's lot can?t accommodate all of its customers and I had to park 2 blks away.

Though Pacific claims to care about its ?customer experience?, which its staff repeatedly uttered like automatons in attempting to explain why I (and the other frustrated guests at my side) weren?t going to be let into the movie, it?s clear that Pacific actually only cares about the experience of a portion of their customers ? namely, those lucky enough to park in its structure and get to their seats before the cut off.

Ironically, while I was arguing with the usher abt the rationale of the hair-brained policy of selling reserved seats at a premium, but putting roadblocks up to actually sitting in them, there were DOZENS of customers on the other side of the rope, standing in the concession line, all of whom were able to go back into the same theater to which I was refused entry ? and long after I would?ve been in my seat had I been permitted to pass the rope.

Besides these folks, need I even raise the issue of the fact that ANY customer can get up and back to their seats during the show as often as they want and without any restriction?

This policy gives me ? and the DOZENS of others who were in line behind me seeking refunds for the same reason -- another reason to stay at home, where I can have movies delivered to my door and where I can watch them from my oversized couch and on my oversized tv.

• Pros: great seats -- if you're allowed to sit in them
• Cons: you can't get to your reserved seat if you get to the theater late -- even if it's the theater's fault b/c you had to park far away due to its lot being full