Movie Theater Review: IMAX Theater SM Megamall

Author's Note: Sorry for the late one, been pretty busy with my school works lately.


It's not my first time watching here, I've been watching movies here for quiet a while now.

"SM Megamall Fashion Hall"
Courtesy of: wikipedia.org

SM Megamall is located at EDSA, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.

"IMAX Theater Front"

IMAX Theater Megamall is located at the 5th floor of Fashion Hall at SM Megamall.



SM Megamall is really popular in Mandaluyong city. It has become a one-stop place for meet ups with friends, hangouts, shopping, and dining.

IMAX Theater Megamall opened alongside with Fashion Hall on January 26th 2014.

Without further ado, let's talk about the theater.

"The Entrance to the Cinema Lobby"

When I first walked in the lobby first thing in the morning and ordered the ticket, I was the first customer to arrive and bought a ticket.

I went on a Friday afternoon, again like in the last review people are at work or schools around that time.

Based on my experience from the past couple of years going here, it's only crowded when a popular blockbuster is playing on the theater (especially marvel movies) first to last showing.

"The movie schedule by the capture of this image"

But in the case of First Man its not really popular in the country and because of that its only showing on day time.

"IMAX Logo"

"Ticket Booth"

"Me and my friend's tickets"

The movie tickets cost ₱455. This is my second time watching a 2D movie at IMAX (First being Dunkirk at IMAX SM Mall of Asia).

In my past experiences the tickets cost ₱500 or ₱502, maybe because its a 3D movie that time not sure.

Be wary of ticket price change.

Typically when people hear the word "IMAX" they think its a giant 3D theater but no, its basically a giant screen theater with their own proprietary projection and sound system that's all. (for now..)

"The view of the outside from the lobby"

"Lobby Seats"

"The Food Bar"

"Entrance to the theater"

Now let's talk about the inside of the theater

Here's what the theater itself look like (Reference):

Courtesy of: spot.ph

Here are the photos I took inside the theater:

"A IMAX Speaker"

So.. what do I think of the theater?

It's good

Still performs well as my previous visits.

The giant screen still looks clean

Solid projection

Great sound you can feel the sound thunder all over your body and hear the smallest details of the movie.

The lunar sequence of the movie fills the whole screen, (Because it was shot on IMAX Cameras) and with that you can see more things than watching on a traditional movie screen.

Seats are good. Recommend you siting either somewhere in the middle or at the far back.

Conclusion:

Watching a 2D IMAX movie is like watching a movie on a good theater if the lunar sequence wasn't shot on IMAX.

Watching First man on IMAX is a great experience overall.

But with other movies that aren't shot with IMAX cameras the experience is on par with Santolan Town Plaza Cinemas (Atmos Cinemas 1 & 2) (Review) and Greenhills Promenade Atmos theaters (Cinemas 6, 7, and 8) minus the giant screen.

If you're looking for a theater with almost the same IMAX feel but on a tight budget I suggest you looking for a theater equipped with Dolby Atmos sound and it's cheaper than a IMAX ticket. (Depends on the theater)

But if you're willing to watch a movie just for the giant screen and humongous sound then IMAX is for you.

To end this review, Here's my advice:

Watch a movie in IMAX only if there's a scene or a sequence shot with IMAX Cameras.

Courtesy of: Universal Pictures

First Man is still showing on its third week.

Book your tickets now!: https://www.smcinema.com/Menu?exp=IM&t1=0&t2=0

To learn more about IMAX: https://www.imax.com/

Credits to:

IMAX SM Cinemas: https://www.facebook.com/IMAXSMCinema/
UIP Philippines: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/

[Random Thoughts] Going outside

First of all, Sorry If my grammar is bad and the pacing is bad here. I just got tired for today in the writing of this blog. But I'm going to improve my grammar by writing more of these blogs : 3 hopefully...

Going out strolling is basically like surfing in the internet but you're actually there (Back in the olden days, It's the other way around.)

Now all of us are probably tired from school or work, sometimes we need some cool down to escape stress and forget all the problems for a while. For me, going out for a stroll alone is one of my escapism.

Back when I was a shallow kid, My escapism is surfing the internet and playing video games. (Well, I don't play video games as much when I was younger now, weird). But now, the internet (thanks to social media) and video games seem doesn't feel like I've escaped from my pain, stress and issues like it did before. Is it because of all the toxicity of social media and the video game community?. or is it because I'm growing out from these things (but the internet is starting to integrate it to your lives now).

 I need my mom, my dad or my friends to go with me in order to go out. Now that I'm at my legal age I can go out alone. and it felt great!. I get to finally check out stuff (not necessarily buying) without having to worry about my companion being bored or tired. I get to explore things that I didn't know it was there before.

While ago before writing this post, I went out for a stroll at Shangri-la Plaza and SM Megamall to calm my nerves from school work. I'm enjoying air conditioning there since my household dosen't allow air conditioning in the afternoon unless there's a visitor.

Well. I go and stroll at malls for now because as a student who barely has money, those places are the only accessible and good (decent?) places I can get in.

Soon when I earn money from working in the future, I will go out and explore more things that the internet couldn't offer.

(First Blog) Movie Theater Review: Santolan Town Plaza Cinemas

Its been half a year since Santolan Town Plaza opened its doors to customers and businesses looking for a space to lease.

But I mainly go there for their movie theater. I've been going there for a while now so I'm taking this opportunity to write a review about it on my blog.

Courtesy of: Santolan Town Plaza Facebook Page

Santolan Town Plaza is Located in Col. Bonny Serrano Ave, San Juan, Metro Manila. Just in front of Fountain International School, Santolan Campus.

Santolan Town Plaza is not exactly a mall, its a half office building and half mall for me. It's spacious and that made Santolan Town Plaza my go-to getaway despite the fact that there aren't much stores to look at.

But the best part of the place for me is the theater. Now let's talk about the movie theater.

"The Entrance to the Cinema Lobby"

The movie theater is like I said about the mall "Spacious", BUT in my experience whenever there's a new blockbuster showing on it's first weekend it's crowded but in this trip, that's not the case.

I went on a wednesday noon. people are usually at their schools and work around that time so that made the place really spacious at the time 

"The Escalator"

"The Cinema Lobby"

My ticket

In this review, I will be watching Mission Impossible Fallout.

The ticket prices are varies on the movie and it's theater. Cinemas 1 and 2 priced at 280 (270 non-atmos movie) while Cinemas 3 and 4 priced at 270

But wait a minute... Why is Cinemas 1 and 2 price is 10 pesos more expensive than the ones on Cinemas 3 and 4?

Well... here's why.

Cinema 1 and 2 are Dolby Atmos equipped theaters (To learn more about Dolby Atmos, Click here)

while Cinemas 3 and 4 are equipped with standard (probably dolby digital) 5.1 (or 7.1) surround sound system

But here's a catch. Not all movies being shown in Cinemas 1 & 2 are "Atmos" movies so it really depends on the movie if it's mixed in atmos or not. So if a non-atmos movie is being played in cinemas 1 & 2 the price goes down to 270 again since it's not a atmos movie.

"Cinema 3 Door"

"Cinema 4 Door"

"Snack Bar"

"More Snack Bar"

"Potato Corner"

The Snack bar of the theater has variety of snacks but I mostly buy the popcorn there. The popcorn had the same taste as the one in Power plant cinemas (since this place is also owned by power plant lol)

The Pricing of snacks is pretty high but hey, in the movie theater industry, their income came mostly from the snack bar than on the movie itself since the movie is still owned by the distributor. Sad isn't it? . - .

But hey,
they probably still gain profit from the office lease and other stores in the place hahahahaha.

"Clean Bathrooms btw XD"

The thing that also impresses me is the clean bathrooms.

May be small but hey, still clean bathrooms : )

"Thanks Advisory!"

Actually in my experience. The theater's sound system is really loud. Be mindful if you're going to bring your younger children there.

"Cinema 1 Door"

Here's the theater where I'll be watching the movie.

Here's what the theater looks like.

"Cinema 1"

"The Screen"

"Overhead Speakers"

"The Projection Room"

"The Projector Up-Close?"

"A Subwoofer?'

"Chair"

One of the things I like about the theater is that their chairs are made out of leather instead of cloth. makes it really comfortable even when I'm sitting throughout the movie. 

So.. What do I think of the theater?

One word.. Fantastic!

Still performs good as my previous visits.

The screen and projection is solid.

The sound system is mind-blowing!. (I can hear sounds going around and above the theater)

Seats are great.

Employees are friendly. In the beginning of the movie I heard a static on the right speaker and the music is only heard on the front speaker throughout the movie. This never happened on my previous visits so I informed my concern to the counter. She called one of the movie theater's operator and talked it out. He said that it's the movie is at fault, not the sound system. He also said that also happened in Cinema 2 when it was showing the same movie when it was first showing. I'm actually glad I asked, they're really friendly employees.

Overall the movie theater is great!

Definitely going back here again to watch a movie.

Hope the good things about this theater stays that way.

"Courtesy of: Paramount Pictures"

Mission Impossible: Fallout Now Showing.
Book your tickets now!: https://powerplantcinema.com/

Credits to:
Santolan Town Plaza - https://www.facebook.com/SantolanTownPlaza/
UIP Philippines - https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/

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Coming soon!