PG-13, 2 hr & 32 min
-There's a new multiplex cinema in Concord, CA, at 2035 Diamond Boulevard. It's the Veranda Luxe Cinema & I-Max; it has 10 screens. It showed advanced screenings of STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI on Thursday, December 14th, 2017, ahead of its Grand Opening the next day, Friday, December 15th.
I couldn't attend any of the advanced screenings because I had to be at work early the next day. But I was able to catch the 9:00 p.m. show during their Grand Opening on the following night.
I bought a ticket for auditorium 2, row E, seat 11.
I had to take a menu with me into the auditorium. Once I was seated, I pushed a button to summon a waiter to take my order. I ordered a small buttered popcorn, a lemonade and some garlic fries. I got the popcorn and the lemonade ( with too much ice ), but I never got my garlic fries--and I didn't get any napkins, at all! Halfway through the movie, the waiter came back with my check ( to interrupt my movie-watching pleasure? ). I told the waiter that I never got my garlic fries, and he adjusted the bill for me. ( I don't remember how much I paid for the ticket & for the concessions items. )
Oh! about the movie ... the recliner seat was so comfy that I dozed-off through a bunch of scenes! I may have to watch this movie again. But, then again, I am not a huge Star Wars fan; so, maybe not.
I like how this multiplex has cellphone blockers in each auditorium so that I don't have to put up with rude and inconsiderate assholes who talk and/or text during a movie presentation. There are also an ice skating rink( for now ) and some dancing water fountains outside!
I had to go back to the ticket taker to pay on my concessions purchase. I didn't know where to leave the lemonade's drinking glass; so, I took it home with me as a souvenir. I think that I'll take home another one!
I hope that the other theatres in the area will also install cellphone blockers in their auditoriums! This would be a blessed relief.
I attach some photos. The 1st one is during the Grand Opening. The rest where taken on Christmas Day ( but, first, I had lunch at Tomi Sushi & Seafood Buffet at the Sunvalley Mall across the freeway ) when I drove back to Concord to watch THE GREATEST SHOWMAN at 3:45 p.m. ( because the movie that I really wanted to see was sold-out at 2:45 p.m. ) and DARKEST HOUR ( the movie that I really wanted to see ) at 5:45 p.m. I was seated in row C, seat 12 for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN. And I was seated in row A, seat 1 for DARKEST HOUR ( and the seat had wet spots on it so I had to wipe it dry with a napkin that I happened to have handy ). I don't remember how much I paid for each movie and which auditoriums I was in.
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN was a good musical. But DARKEST HOUR was mostly dialogue.
I pressed the button on my seat because I wanted to have some lemonade while watching DARKEST HOUR. But no waiter/waitress ever came to take my order!
After watching the DARKEST HOUR, I saw an old white lady seating on a bench in the hallway, along with some relatives, who was complaining about some chest pain. When I exited the multiplex, I saw a fire truck and an ambulance pull up at the curb to attend to the emergency.
Anyway, here are the photos:
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The photos are all time-stamped an hour ahead because I didn't bother to adjust the time for the end of Daylight Savings Time.
I hope that all of you had a
And, lastly, I wish you all a
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