The Cinema in Carlow

Tom10

Whoever is the one that picks the movies that place shows should be shot - a lot!!! It never seems to play anything but the crap that gets panned by every single critic alive, sooooo annoying

aynon

only decent place i find is storm naas, not bothered any more going to carlow cinema....never play anything good. or if they do its on at a strange hour that noone will be able to go see..... and the never use the over head thing over the screens its cheap a4 print offs...... nothing is good about that cinema....NOTHING!!

eddiehead

Its a kip tbh, the amount of times I've had to que from halfway down the stairs to get popcorn etc is unreal. Any idea what the story is with the new one? Time to bump that old thread me thinks....

a5y

Tom10 wrote: »

Whoever is the one that picks the movies that place shows should be shot - a lot!!! It never seems to play anything but the crap that gets panned by every single critic alive, sooooo annoying

Ah now be fair. They did show Iron Man. A long time ago and it was an obvious blockbuster to show, but they're not incompetant beyond belief. Still, if you changed "It never seems to..." to "It almost never seems to..." I'd agree completely.

The Day The Earth Stood Still was the last film I saw there. I think I might just keep it that way.

shotgun mike

Supposdly whoever owns cw cinema has a ongoing dispute with one of the major film distrubtion companies, hence, a lack of blockbuster 'decent' films.

I knew a guy one time who was working there and took a **** in a plastic bag and left if hidden away in part of the cinema, was only found four months later....

KateF

aynon wrote: »

only decent place i find is storm naas, not bothered any more going to carlow cinema....never play anything good. or if they do its on at a strange hour that noone will be able to go see..... and the never use the over head thing over the screens its cheap a4 print offs...... nothing is good about that cinema....NOTHING!!

Yeah I agree. I haven't went there in over a year I'd say. Useless. Storm cinema in Naas is the best around. Long way to go, but worth it really. There's one in Portlaoise as well I think

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Tom10 wrote: »

The cinema in carlow...

Is crap, it's outdated, it's milking people of their money, playing the cheapest films they can get, not caring for what people want, run by a bunch of muppets...

There...

aynon

thats a polite way of putting, but yes, cinema isnt going to be on the top 10 list of anything, unless its a top 10 bad list.

darc

If it wasn't printed in the commercial section of the irish independent I'd be thinking its an April Fool, but it seems the new cinema will finally open.


Wednesday April 01 2009

A state-of-the art multiscreen digital cinema complex is set to open in Carlow later this year.

The €10.4m project at Fairgreen Shopping Centre will provide seating for around 1500 in eight separate cinemas -- two of them equipped with the latest 3D technology.

It will be operated by Omniplex Cinemas which currently runs 16 cinemas in the Republic and eight in Northern Ireland.

"Our new Carlow complex will be the epitome of luxury,"

Mark Anderson, operations director at Omniplex Cinemas commented.

Due to open this side of Christmas, it will most closely resemble the pioneering Omniplex digital complex in Wexford -- the only cinema in the south providing latest digital technology.

The cinema will comprise around 4,180sqm on the first floor of the centre's second phase.

ShayK1

That's great news, thanks darc.

patrickc

deadly darc thanks

patrickc

linky here

http://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/luxury-cinema-to-launch-1693205.html

aynon

apparently most of it is ready, but having problems staffing it(managers, more so then floor monkeys), this is not offical, but i heard it from my mate who works for the company that owns this cinema

cantona1111

Was in the new cinema in wexford and was very dissapointed with the sound a picture, was all excited about the new digital technology they were supposed to be using, but it was crap, didnt seem to clean out the cinemas between shows and had to que for 45 min even when I booked online. Maybe I went on a bad night and hopefull this one in carlow will all singing and all dancing

Morf

Will the problem with distributors still apply as it's an omniplex cinema?

stick-dan

Great news for carlow town, i think it would have been a massive let down had it never gone through. Better late than ever. Hopefully the quality of the movies will match the quality of viewing.

aynon

Morf wrote: »

Will the problem with distributors still apply as it's an omniplex cinema?

not to my knowledge, as its actually owned by UCI.

DANNY22XX

exellent news now i wont have to go to dublin to see a movie that isnt showing in Carlow

Happy Days:D:D

fitzyshea

Finally thank god for that thought it would be dropped with recession!

HugoIrl

Thats great, tired of going all the way to the dundrum showing centre for a decent cinema. Would it really be ready for the end of the year?

aynon

its ready now, all built etc. but need certain contracts for movies to be completed.

HugoIrl

aynon wrote: »

its ready now, all built etc. but need certain contracts for movies to be completed.

I have to be blind. . . . I haven't seen anything that looks like a cinema near the fairgreen!!!

patrickc

upstairs above next and all those shops

ShayK1

HugoIrl wrote: »

I have to be blind. . . . I haven't seen anything that looks like a cinema near the fairgreen!!!

You'll only see the entrance. Don't feel bad. I'm just guessing where it is, I don't REALLY know.

carlowguy32

i was up in the galway digital one part of the g hotel complex and was very impressed, they have a bar and stuff for a drink or 2 before you go in, it makes abit of a difference, dont have to be rushing if your in a pub in town before hand

stick-dan

ShayK1 wrote: »

You'll only see the entrance. Don't feel bad. I'm just guessing where it is, I don't REALLY know.

the entrance is between river island and next isn't it?

aynon

you are correct sir. a little black door, not like your little black number.

ShayK1

stick-dan wrote: »

the entrance is between river island and next isn't it?

as far as I know yes, I'm guessing there's an emergency exit between next and new look...

stick-dan

Thought that also shay, any rumours of the opening date?

HugoIrl

carlowguy32 wrote: »

i was up in the galway digital one part of the g hotel complex and was very impressed, they have a bar and stuff for a drink or 2 before you go in, it makes abit of a difference, dont have to be rushing if your in a pub in town before hand

That place is brilliant, for an extra few euro you can get into screen 7 which has really fancy seats and a small table beside it to put your food and drinks

stick-dan

hopefully will carlow be like this, eh on second thoughts we know it wont be.lol

HugoIrl

There's only 2 of those ones in Ireland I think, we'd be well lucky to get anything near to it. Did someone say its an omniplex for carlow?

stick-dan

HugoIrl wrote: »

There's only 2 of those ones in Ireland I think, we'd be well lucky to get anything near to it. Did someone say its an omniplex for carlow?

Yupp yupp you heard correctly, at least to my knowledge anyway.

aynon

i have been told though its going to be owned by UCI, might double check that info, but 99% sure i'm correct.

patrickc

Wednesday April 01 2009

A state-of-the art multiscreen digital cinema complex is set to open in Carlow later this year.

The €10.4m project at Fairgreen Shopping Centre will provide seating for around 1500 in eight separate cinemas -- two of them equipped with the latest 3D technology.

It will be operated by Omniplex Cinemas which currently runs 16 cinemas in the Republic and eight in Northern Ireland.

"Our new Carlow complex will be the epitome of luxury,"

Mark Anderson, operations director at Omniplex Cinemas commented.

Due to open this side of Christmas, it will most closely resemble the pioneering Omniplex digital complex in Wexford -- the only cinema in the south providing latest digital technology.

The cinema will comprise around 4,180sqm on the first floor of the centre's second phase.[/quote]

aynon

right, but i just heard off my mate who works in storm naas, who is now owned by UCI but still operates under Storm cinemas inc., he told me about the staffing setup and how he was requested to join the team by his new regional manager for 6 months. may haps i shall double check info,

carlowguy32

just wondering what becomes of the old cineplex now? will they still be running it or will it lose down? maybe if they revamped it and got a digital upgrade?

stick-dan

Well i'll put it this way, if we get a new cinema would you go to the old one then?

If they upgrade after the new one arrives then it's pointless as 5 years ago it needed an upgrade.

aynon

probably be like naas, old might stay open but wont see much business.

fitzyshea

The old cinema is to close after the new one opens. Its owned by the company (Anderson Ward) who are opening the new one.

paddycanada

I am the General Manager of the current cinema in Carlow Cineplex. Cineplex and Omniplex are the same companies operating different brands throughout the country. The company is owned and operated by the Ward/Anderson cinema group and has no affiliation with UCI. IMC is affiliated with us but is not the same company. I will also be the General Manager of the new Omniplex in Carlow.

I would be glad to answer any questions within reason of course either on here or at the cinema. There has been no work start on the new place as of yet but we still anticipate finishing by the end of the year.

Patrick Ryan
General Manager
Omniplex Carlow

patrickc

Hi Paddy Canada thanks for that, it's useful to know.

kildareash

That's great.
I'm so excited bout the new cinema, I can barely read this thread!!! Afraid to get my hopes up.

Wld be great if new or current cinema operated some kind of loyalty card system or annual pass or something like that.

shenanigans1982

Yeah I think an annual pass would be a great idea.

Also can you tell us the reason why nobody other than UCI does buttered popcorn?:D.....I have heard its to do with claims which does sound outrageous enough to be true.

paddycanada

There are a couple reasons we don't do buttered popcorn. Claims are one of them, it is very greasy when spilled and therefore a safety hazard. We used to offer it but due to some incidents have pulled it. Our current popcorn has a butter flavour and is still quite tasty.

The biggest reason is the mess. I have worked in cinemas where its been offered and it is quite quite messy to clean.

I will suggest the loyalty card option to the powers that be.

cashback

So this will be an eight screen cinema. Does this mean we will get eight screens of Vin Diesel/Teen Comedy/Romcoms every night?

Is there any chance that maybe even one or two nights a week, one screen could show something a little off the radar. I don't necessarily mean subtitled Ukrainian dramas but just something more interesting than the usual.
Even just to see The Damned United recently, we had to go to Tallaght and it's not as though it's a little indie movie or anything.
There's currently a vampire movie called Let The Right One In which is getting lots of attention, would be nice not to have to travel to Dublin to see this kind of thing.

Also not sure if it's feasible, but how about a Classic film slot once a week? E.g. Jaws, Alien, Reservoir Dogs.

patrickc

the current cinema i know does the screened and unscreened on a tuesday evening, maybe this could be expanded as you say cashback

paddycanada

This program has been largely unsuccessful. I doubt if it will continue. As for the Vin Diesel and Rom/Com comment well, 8 screens versus three and the flexibility of digital will allow us to show a far wider variety of films. One additional suggestion I have put in for the new place is that we show a throwback movie on our midnight shows (starting times between 11-12 Friday and Saturday nights) for example Jurassic Park or Godfather, Clockwork Orange or take suggestions. Sounds very similar to what you cashback said. I would appreciate some feedback on this one if you don't mind.

In the current cinema it won't happen. The availability of the off the radar prints, and the pure cost of them even if you could find them make them financially unviable.

I also read in an earlier post that we are having problems with distributors. This is simply untrue and there is one particular poster here who has posted numerous things which are simply untrue. We only have three screens, it is impossible to always select movies that every single person will want to see. Usually we agree to take on a certain number of prints as a company depending on the cost, and then move them around from cinema to cinema. For example we showed Slumdog Millionaire approx 5 weeks after its release date. We also showed The Wrestler about 6 weeks after its original release. Some distributors just don't make enough copies of certain films therefore inflating the price artificially. That is something a small cinema such as ours simply can not afford.

If any of you care to stop in to the current cinema, please say hi when you are there next. Also as soon as I get news on the opening date you will be the first to hear it here. We are shooting for sometime early fall but its very tentative and nothing is official as we are still awaiting clearance from the fire people for a permit to start building.

Queen-Mise

cashback wrote: »

Also not sure if it's feasible, but how about a Classic film slot once a week? E.g. Jaws, Alien, Reservoir Dogs.

I would agree 1000% with this suggestion. It could be any classics from the age of cinema. I would love to see Citizen Kane for example on the big screen. Especially though the sci-fi/fantasy/action flicks - the likes of Close Encounters, Star Wars, Mad Max, even the LOTR's.

Another suggestion has there ever been a lunch-time/mid-afternoon cinema slot for the older classic Westerns and such like. Have no idea would these be even be available to show on a cinema screen. But I do know for example for mam and dad would definitely go and see High Noon again or any of a thousand others.

ShayK1

Paddy, I'd just like to say thanks for the info. Its great to get a little inside info.

Personally, I think a showing of old school movies would be great. I'd love to go see something like The Godfather in the cinema. However, I'm not a regular customer of the cinema and whether I'd actually go see it would depend entirely on my mood tbh.

cashback

paddycanada wrote: »

This program has been largely unsuccessful. I doubt if it will continue. As for the Vin Diesel and Rom/Com comment well, 8 screens versus three and the flexibility of digital will allow us to show a far wider variety of films. One additional suggestion I have put in for the new place is that we show a throwback movie on our midnight shows (starting times between 11-12 Friday and Saturday nights) for example Jurassic Park or Godfather, Clockwork Orange or take suggestions. Sounds very similar to what you cashback said. I would appreciate some feedback on this one if you don't mind.

That throwback idea sounds good alright. And I'd love to see Jurassic Park on the big screen again!
I didn't actually know much of the screened and unscreened program, I've been away travelling.
Well I'm sure you'll get lots of feedback here.