AMC NorthPark 15 — Attraction in Dallas

I'm not sure I can properly put my disgust over my visit to this theater into words but here goes. I'll start by saying that I frequent my local theater 2 to 3 times a week and I travel quite a bit, so I've been to theaters all over the country. I understand quite a bit how theaters operate and how customers should be treated. Yesterday AMC Northpark hosted Tom Cruise and it was no secret. The problem is that they framed it in a way that it was a "Premiere" and that he would visit multiple screenings to introduce Mission: Impossible. In reality, they set up a private IMAX screening that was a public screening to begin with and was sold out, but they forced refunds and moved those customers to a standard screen. Cruise went to speak to the private screening and then if you put two and two together spoke to the original ticket holders that we moved only because I believe they feared the backlash that would come if those customers who were forced refunds found out that Tom would have been in their original showing. Staff was rude all day. Screaming at customers who were doing nothing more that trying to get a glimpse of Tom. Cops all over the theater threating patrons to have to do things the "hard way" if you didn't move from where you were standing. The whole time they were dishonest, deceptive and deceitful about how the events were going to unfold. I had tickets to 3 different showtimes, the first of which was 2pm where I did watch the film. The other 2 I asked very politely how the event was going to play, because if I wasn't going to get to see Tom I wasn't going to hang around. They purposely and willfully lied just too not have to refund the tickets. That's as good as theft in my opinion and just plain bad business. Also, a dollar is a dollar. My money spends the same as anyone else's so to be treated less than just because you are hosting a celebrity and to treat people as if they simply are not good enough to catch a glimpse of one of the favorite actors is disgusting. They didn't have a problem keeping my money as they lied though. I can say that is by far the most despicable theater I have ever stepped foot into and the worst I have ever been treated as a film goer. I could not and would not ever recommend this place to anyone and you couldn't pay me to step foot back into it. They took what should have been a great day as a film lover and turned it into a nightmare for...

Showtimes rarely start on time. I've had the screen turn off or not start about five times now over the course of two years. Last week the IMAX broke and we weren't told the showing was canceled until about 20 minutes of sitting in silence. There are never enough attendants at the concession stand and until recently was always trashed as if a tornado had blown through it (I can't recommend the food. Not very good.) The manager/owner is a really wonderful person but the employees could care less. The sub-manager flat out lied to me when I asked if I would have my same seats for the showing they moved us to. We had to deal with some poor guy telling us that we were in his seat when the manager had told us they'd reserved our same seats in the new showing. A fight broke out in the middle of the movie due to raised tensions from the IMAX being canceled, to the point we had to stop watching the movie and deal with breaking it up. Also our replacement showing was no longer an IMAX showing. All I got for it was one free pass.

On the plus side, I love assigned seating. I don't get what the anger is over it. It's convenient and I already have my seat saved for me as according to who paid for it first. No more arguing with people over seating and I can pre-pick to not be beside anyone so I don't have to listen to mouth-breathing and popcorn eaters beside me. Someone flipped out over the "fees" involved with purchasing online. One, I don't mind paying an extra buck or two for a nice seat (If a buck or two is going to break the bank for you, don't go to this theater? There are cheaper theaters in the area. 2 people is already over 30 dollars.). Two, you can go to the theater in person any time and pre-pay for a showing if you have an issue with purchasing your tickets online. Some of us LOVE reserved seating. I'm too old to stand in line and get to the theater hours early. Now I can show up right when the film starts, stress free.

They really need to get new employees or find managers willing to reinforce rules. Also when a showing crashes? Make sure you take the time to sort people into new seats with a new ticket. Don't just say "We'll figure it out" and make people fight to squeeze into...

I wish I could give .5 of a star with how negligent and careless the theater staff is. My aunt and I were seated within theater 12 for the English subtitle release of the first 3 episodes of a highly anticipated anime series entitled 'Dan Da Dan'. From the start of the ads/previews, the aspect ratio of the screen to the actual film's image was off. There was a collective assumption among the fellow movie-goers that maybe the physical screen would lengthen to its proper aspect ratio to accommodate the full image by the time the film played. The film begins to play on the screen and to all of our shock, the subtitles are cut off from the screen itself and projected onto the wall. 3 separate gentlemen that were seated in different areas of the theater/different groups simultaneously go up and went out together to point this on-going issue out to the staff. Come another 15 minutes after they returned, the issue persisted. Because I am a fan of the manga and already understood the storyline, I wasted my movie-going time to complain myself. The gentleman with a walkie @ the front stated that "the in-person technician" has "the weekends off" and therefore they could not lengthen the screen to the proper aspect ratio for the film. I've never heard of an "in-person technician" that takes WEEKENDS (I.E., THE BUSIEST TIME FOR ANY MOVIE THEATER) OFF. The issue was never fixed. We received day passes, but it was the worst in-theater experience I've had in my life. It was beyond ridiculous. I will not be seeing a film @ this theater again.

I would've taken pictures but my phone was dead. Hopefully one of the other men I had previously mentioned will...