Come see a movie! they said. It’ll be great! they said. And I said, sure, send me the $25 gift card to check out Dolby Cinema and I’ll put it on my list of things to write about.
Well, that was in March and just when Dolby and AMC announced the opening of a Dolby Cinema at AMC Loews White Marsh 16. I do attend movie screenings there frequently but it’s on the northeast side of Baltimore and takes a good hour to get there. So I was determined to wait for the right movie.
The movies were either rated R (I was thinking of taking my son) or just something I didn’t really want to see.
Since that time, there’s been an opening of a Dolby Cinema at AMC Columbia 14, much closer to my home. And when I finally made good on my promise to take my son to see Wonder Woman, we found it was playing at the Dolby Cinema in Columbia.
Side note: have you seen Wonder Woman? We both absolutely loved it. It’s a MUST-SEE!
If you haven’t experienced Dolby Cinema, here’s what to expect.
Order your tickets. Go online and order your tickets. We usually order through Fandango where we can purchase the exact movie we want at the exact time, pay for it, and simply show the code on my phone when arriving at the theater. No waiting in line!
Pick your seats. When you order your tickets and select Dolby Cinema, you’ll be prompted to select your seats. That’s right. There’s a seat map, just like on an airplane. I recommend the middle of the theater if you can get it. We ordered the day before we went (and it was for a Friday night) and ended up in the back row – not the best location for anyone shorter than me!
Seat map example for Dolby Cinema from Fandango.com
Find your theater. Just in case it’s not obvious, you’ll usually see a designation just outside the theater letting you know you’re in the right place.
Find your seats. You’ll have a specific seat assignment. Mine was row H, seats 7 and 8. The theater is clearly marked with row letters and seat numbers. I loved that I didn’t have to get there super early to find good seats!
Sit back and relax. This is the best part. Every seat is large and capable of reclining in multiple directions. No tired knees for me!
Chair controls at Dolby Cinema at AMC theater
Immerse yourself in the experience. Admittedly, I thought that Dolby was just about the sound. Dolby used to be synonymous with cinematic sound. But Dolby now gives a cinematic experience in three ways
- DRAMATIC IMAGING – The picture comes alive with astonishing brightness, contrast, and captivating color that more closely matches what the eye can see.
- MOVING AUDIO – Feel like you are transported inside the story with sound that flows all around you, including overhead. The breathtaking realism of the sound creates a powerfully moving experience.
- INNOVATIVE SEATING – You’ll enjoy next-level comfort with spacious, high-power, reserved recliners that pulsate with the action.
Wonder Woman was the perfect movie to experience everything Dolby Cinema has to offer. There are a few problems, though.
It’s definitely more expensive – around $17 per ticket for adults and $14 for kids. And if you don’t plan in advance, you might not be able to find seats together or in the part of the theater you want to sit in.
But the biggest problem is that you’ll be spoiled. I liken it to flying business class overseas. You’ll never want to sit in coach again.
2 comments
So swanky! I need to see if we have one here.
I think they’re slowly moving them into all AMC theaters. I can’t remember if they have that chain in Raleigh!