PVR Europa is not worth the deal

Having heard a lot about it, I had certain expectations from this biggie from the stables of PVRs when I went to see Spiderman 2 at PVR Europa Hall in Gurgaon. But well I did not even come to know I was in Europa until I was handed over the lime water pouch by the ticket checkers. I took that at first as some kind of a promotional activity from some lime water maker but the way it was being done told me it was not the usual PVR I used to go in Gurgaon. Checked with my friend (who had bought the tickets at 200 bucks per head) and he confirmed… that we were indeed in the finest of them all (save for the PVR Plaza now I believe). It came as a disappointment. The appetizer in the form of lime water was good. But there were no other pleasant surprises for me to see.

It is a normal hall. You get your tickets in a small envelop with a small menu which you can use to order stuff to eat from inside the hall itself. Rest is same. The worse part is that the hall has no reclining seats. For the sake of leg room, they have fixed seats. This in my opinion is terrible. All through the movie, I kept on trying to recline my seat as I am used to these in Fun Republic and other halls. But well, it was not to be. The movie was the only saving grace; I don’t have any fun memories of the hall itself. There is another special variant of this hall called the lounge. More expensive with better facilities. I don’t think I will give that a try. I am happy paying 50 bucks for an English movie at my local multiplex.

Fun Republic: What should I go and watch!

Duh, it has been so long that I watched a movie at hall. I am waiting for Shrek 2 since almost months and we still do not have it released here in Chandigarh. It was released in Delhi last week. The schedule for the only Multiplex in Chandigarh looks like this:

ANACONDAS (U)
1.45 pm | 3.45 pm | 5.30 pm
DHOOM (U/A)
11.30 am | 2.15 pm | 5.00 pm | 7.30 pm | 10.15 pm
FIDA (U/A)
12.30 pm | 3.00 pm | 7.45 pm | 10.30 pm
KYU! HO GAYA NA (U)
12.15 pm | 3.30 pm | 6.45 pm | 10.00 pm
PHIR MILENGE (U)
11.00 am | 5.45 pm | 10.30 pm

Not 1 movie worth going out for! They had Pierce Brosnan’s Laws of Attraction last week which lasted for just 1 week. Maybe the city does not like good English flicks. But where there is a shortage of good Hindi movies, where do people like me go?

Update: Septembar 4, 2004: The new releases today are HUM KAUN HAI? and RAKHT… Where is Shrek 2? And where is Kill Bill 2!

DT Cinemas Gurgaon

Ohh well for starters we had P.V.R (Priya Village Roadshow) and trust me had enough of P.V.R. Yes, thanks to the concept of multiplexes and cineplexes and what a wonderful change I must admit and a change for the better and altogether different outing experience which is so much more with these theaters and malls. Though, I must admit at this point that I am a complete movie buff and try catching on the maximum films I can (though all are not possible all the time). And thanks once again to my family because we shifted to Gurgaon nearly a year back when this mall mania had just began and is at its peak, with a mall mushrooming in every nook and corner of Delhi and its suburbs. But Delhi and its immediate, the millennium city rules as far as malls and multiplexes or for that matter eating options are concerned. But now let me switch over to my topic of concern, films and with that let me give you a brief on my small encounter and experience of the next growing Multiplex. Yes no points for guessing I am talking about DT cinemas. Though barely, a year old DT Cinema is quite similar to P.V.R.

DT Cinemas has been set with its first Multiplex at the DLF City Centre in Gurgaon and started on the 7th March’2003. DT is also coming up in different parts of Delhi as well and this name would soon become synonymous with a lot of people .The DT experience was great, I remember seeing the first film at DT with my family (Pinjar …thats the film). Though the concept being similar, and the ticket priced at its ambience is great and overall one thing trust me, the seats are very comfortable (you can push back your sit and sit comfortably unlike its competitor).

I guess that is one really good point and then with a good film on partition and with a talented Urmila in the lead …my day at DT was made. And it definitely was a good experience…(Better then the so-called Europa Lounge).

I would call it the savior for people who are more used to the culture of metros like Delhi and Mumbai. I myself shifted from Faridabad to Chandigarh and was looking for some place to hang out. Thank god, Fun Republic was present just 4 KMs from where I live. It’s not as big as the multiplexes in Gurgaon, but well it is something. In fact it’s better than some of the complexes I saw in Hyderabad.

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Theaters and Cinema Halls in Delhi

PVR Anupam-4, Saket Community Centre, Saket
Halls : 4, Ticket (Rs) : 150
With its state-of-the art technology and its wonderful mix of the best from Hollywood and Bollywood, the multiplex has revolutionised the movie going habits of the Delhi cinema buffs. Equally irresistible are the tubs of crackling hot popcorn with that extra dollop of butter and the chilled Pepsi to pep up the spirits. Worth waiting in the serpentine queues for tickets. Tel : 26522938, 26865999. Fax : 6524162.

PVR Priya, Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar
Halls : 1, Ticket (Rs) : 45, 75, 90, 125
The best place to be when you need to drive away boredom. Surrounded by all the happening stores and restaurants, the auditorium has an impeccable selection of Hollywood hits to add to its allure. Tel : 26140048, Fax : 6148577.

Chanakya, Yashwant Place, Chanakyapuri
Halls : 1, Ticket (Rs) : 65, 100
Fountains, a restaurant to bide your time, a full fledged parking lot, a lobby with eats, a mixed repertoire of the best from Hollywood and Bollywood and an audi equipped with the latest DTS equipment. Need one ask for more? Yes, the burgers are soggy and need looking into. Tel : 24674009, 24670423.

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