State or the art cinema (Filmworks Cinema (Manchester))

Member Name: Cuchulain

Product:	Filmworks Cinema (Manchester)
Date:	24/12/01 (1316 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gallery, Pre-booking

Disadvantages: Finding you way about inside, LONG queues

Since the bombing of Manchester five or six years ago people haven't looked back. the entire city centre was devasted to the point of a lot of buildings being pulled down, and even now not everything has been rebuilt. But the Printworks has. Set in the heart of the city it is one of the blocks that is fast becoming the trendiest section of Manchester to be seen in, and along with the Triangle across the road, it is pulling people away from the Trafford Centre and into city centre shopping again. The Printowrks is massive building in which many different chic bars and restaurants have opened, along side the Film Works. Manchester's newest cinema. It boasts 23 different screens as well as the Imax screen, the third largest screen in Europe.

As you enter the cinema from the covered street of the Printworks, everything looks stark and metallic, with polished chrome and aluminium everywhere, and it looks as good as the many bars that surround it. What do you want to know about cinemas...

Price. Probably the most important thing when talking about cinemas, and the Film Works has a wide and varied range of prices, starting from about £4 for kids and OAP's going up to a whopping £15 for a seat in the gallery. You get the usual deal in the normal priced seats, but in the gallery, seeing as you're paying £15 you expect something better. And you get it. instead of the normal seats you get massive, and i do mean massive, leather couches to lounge on while watching the film. The arm-rests can be moved up out of the way giving a sofa feel, and also giving the oportunity to get a little closer to who ever is lucky enough to be sitting beside you. as well as massive seats you also get complimentary snacks, consisting off a large pack of popcorn and nachos with a range of toppings. Then there are free soft and warm drinks and exclusive use of a designated bar. This gives going to the cinema more of an entertainment feeling than just going to watch a
movie, and the extra comfort is even more welcomed when you are watching a longer film, such as Lord of the Rings. The standard seats are roomy enough even for me, a 6 foot 4 bulky bloke, but come nowhere near to the comfort in the Gallery. there isn't enough room to stretch out, but enough to be comfortable so that you aren't worried that you'll miss any of the on-screen action.

The screens are immense. Just like all modern cinemas, size matters, and the Film Works has size in abundance. I feel sorry for people who could only get tickets for seat in the front fifteen rows, cos they are in danger of getting a stiff neck looking up to the top of the screen, and twisting round to see the sides.

Just like all modern cinemas the Film Works allow you to pre-book either by phone or over the internet. You can pay by credit card and then pick your tickets up from an automatic machine meaning you do not have to queue for ages to get your tickets, which is always handy when you're running late, which my girl-friend usually is. Just a pity that you can't pre-book the refreshments you want as well...

The layout of the cinema itself can be a little confusing as you try and navigate the escalators and lifts to get you to your appropriate screen, but there are normally loads of staff about to direct you on your way. Which is the only other thing that lets the cinema down. The staff. Maybe they don't get paid enough, but most of them seem to be a little peeved at something or other and most of them reminded me of that student character from the Simpsons who does all the check-out jobs, but then you don't go to the cinema to watch the staff.

Choosing this cinema over the many others Manchester has to offer is a good choice, especially if you opt for the more expensive Gallery, maybe just to impress the girl or boy you are trying to get off with.

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