Fabulously Fantastic Filmworks! (Filmworks Cinema (Manchester))

Member Name: Princess Pea

Product:	Filmworks Cinema (Manchester)
Date:	19/12/02 (3608 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Just read the op!!

Disadvantages: None really, apart from the litter problem.

I have been a keen cinema-goer since for a while now. A decent cinema is quite hard to come by, as they are all quite different. Ok, this might seem like a strange thing to say because they are all basically big buildings with massive screens in where we watch films. But what about all the other little things that makes the cinema experience just that little bit better?

I introduce you to the Filmworks, part of the Printworks complex in Manchester. For all of you who aren't familiar with it, the Printworks is an entertainment venue, where you can find a number of bars and restaurants along with a giant bookshop and a gym. It's one of the city's latest developments, and has been up and running for about two years now. For a quick description, it's a bit like Piccadilly Circus in London- a big centrepiece building with lots of flashing lights and screens.
Nestled in the Printworks is the Filmworks, a UCI cinema. It really is the best cinema I've ever been to, and here are the reasons why:

*Location*

Conveniently, the Filmworks is situated very close to 3 modes of transport:

Manchester's tram network, the Metrolink’s station/stops
Train station
Bus stops

The tram and the train station are about 3 minutes walk away, and there is a bus stop right outside. Additionally, there are also taxi pick-up points outside and a car park a couple of minutes away.
I think the Filmworks owes some of its success to these conveniences, as well as being located in such a bustling and well-established complex as the Printworks. The fact that the cinema is surrounded by 14 top-notch restaurants such as the Hard Rock Café, and 36 popular bars hasn't done it any harm either!

*The cinema itself*

It's a very modern cinema, a far cry from the crumbling Warner Brother's one I’d visited before it opened. The theme throughout is silver, silver and more silver! I say sil
ver, but it's more metallic-looking, which is contrasted with the wood flooring. All in all, it's extremely stylish and tasteful. Cinemas have certainly moved on from the old-fashioned carpeting and screen curtains they all sported once, and this is a prime example of the revolutionary direction cinemas are now taking.

Adding to its modern feel is the high-speed glass lifts and the overall interesting architectural design- lifts and escalators overlap each other in a rather artistic way, meaning there's something interesting to look at when you're waiting for your tickets!
The use of technology is generally quite obvious in the Filmworks: the queuing system has even been modernised, with a scary electronic-sounding voice telling you to when it’s your turn to be served.

Furthermore, the Filmworks is the only cinema in the area to offer IMAX. The IMAX is a new experience, and is basically a huge screen (larger than your average cinema screen) which shows 3D productions, educational stuff and documentaries, etc. I have seen one of the 3D films, and they're excellent: They're only about 40 minutes long, but really are amazing. And it's always fun wearing those funky 3D glasses isn't it?!

Moving on to the cinema's facilities- as well as all the places to visit in the Printworks, I feel I have to credit the Filmworks with its great selection of extras:

*The Gallery* This is a special area of the cinema, sort of like a VIP area in a club. It's pricier than the usual ticket rates (more about prices later), but is definitely worth it. The Gallery is quite exclusive, and offers big leather seats rather than the normal (often uncomfortable) cinema seats. Also, you get 'complimentary food', which is really good as it's unlimited nachos (with cheese or salsa dip), popcorn (sweet and salty), drinks
(the usual- Coke, Fanta, etc.) and Celebrations chocolates. I've been to th
e Gallery a couple of times, and is very worthy of the extra cash because you get lots of extras!
There's also a licensed bar, selling every alcoholic drink you could possibly think of.
Because of the bar, under-18s aren't permitted, which is a good thing for those who want a bit of peace and quiet, and a more adult environment to enjoy a film in.

*Bars and cafes* The Filmworks caters for everyone: There are a couple of small bars where you can enjoy a drink before your film starts. For tee-totals, there's a Nescafe bar, which sells coffee and cakes.

*Saturday Morning Kids' Club* This is when you can see both old and new children's films.

As well as these extras, there's the usual:

Food-points, where you can buy popcorn and drinks, etc.
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream counter
Basic facilities, such as toilets, etc.

The screens in the Filmworks are all fairly big (there are 20 of them!), the biggest showing the newest films. The seating plan in each screen is quite similar, and there are also lots of space available for the disabled. Also, the use of lighting is very effective, as they leave pretty much everything on until the very last second before the film starts. I think this is good, because you can rummage around in your bag for stuff whilst waiting, and actually be able to see!
The seats themselves are fairly comfy, and they all have the nifty device of lifting the armrest between seats- very convenient for couples! This may seem like an obvious thing, but the Filmworks is the only cinema I'm aware of that has this facility. I visited for the first time about 2 years ago with my (then new) boyfriend, so it was a nice addition to our first date!

It's fairly clean, but not as good as it could be: Popcorn is often left all over the seats and there is usually quite a lot of litter on the floor. This is the only area I think the staff need to do better at.
G
enerally, the staff are friendly and courteous, and it's nice to see that UCI have employed a multitude of people, of all different races and nationalities.

Compared to other cinemas, the Filmworks seems like a palace. Judging that Manchester is a rather large and busy city, it's interesting to know that there were only two other cinemas in its vicinity (one grotty old Odeon and an arty place) until a few months ago when a big new one opened-the AMC Great Northern-which I'm yet to visit (I love the Filmworks too much!).

*Prices*

Adult: £5.00
Adult Off-Peak (Mon-Thurs): £4.00
Child/students/OAPs: £3.50
Child/students/OAPs Off-Peak (Mon-Thurs): £3.00
Kids' Club: £1.85 (with the accompanying adult going free)
The Gallery: £15
The Gallery Off-Peak (Mon-Thurs): £10.00

Like I've said, the Gallery seems a lot more expensive, but put it this way: By the time an adult paying the full £5.00 to watch a film starts buying drinks and popcorn (necessities when at the cinema!), it's going to cost them at least £10 anyway as food prices are sky high in cinemas. Therefore, I believe paying the extra for the Gallery is a lot more worthwhile, as you get unlimited 'complimentary' food!

*Conclusion*

Well, that's about it. If you're ever in Manchester, I fully recommend paying a visit to the Filmworks, or the Printworks in general- it really is a fantastic complex.
If all of this hasn't persuaded you, a lot of celebrities are often seen in the restaurants and bars: Bond Girl Halle Berry was seen in Wagamama a few months ago, and the cinema itself is a favourite with the Beckhams.
What more could you want from a cinema?!

Thank you for reading :-)

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