#TGLife
There was a time when watching a film in a theatre was a simple experience. You came, hit the seat, (which in case of many Indian theatres was just a wooden plank), and watched the film. Later on, multiplexes with comfortable chairs and food courts added more value to the experience. But what if we tell you that there are ways in which a movie experience in theatre can be taken to the next level in many ways? Indeed there exist around the world a number of luxury theatres that offer much more than just a comfy seat and a film when you step in:
Edible Cinema, London, England
Every guest at an Edible Cinema screening is given a tray filled with numbered “mystery boxes,” each containing either a bite-sized morsel, or a mini cocktail that connect to specific moments in whatever film is being screened. The pine forest scene from Pan’s Labyrinth, for example, was accompanied by “the burnt woody aromas of pine-smoked popcorn, the ‘crunch’ mirroring the sound of feet on a pine needle floor”. It’s the perfect place to see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
Archipelago Cinema, Thailand
With a lobster fishing raft for seats and a utopian lagoon for an auditorium, this architectural marvel opened in 2012 and screens a variety of films, most of which are outshone by the scenery. The auditorium, a raft of sorts, intended to float on the sea, was designed by German-born and Beijing-based architect Ole Scheeren. The raft is built out of recycled materials as a series of individual modules. This allows the unit to be flexible for future use and to allow the raft to travel to other film screenings on the water.
Raj Mandir Cinema,
Jaipur, India
The Rajmandir is one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. The lobby of the Rajmandir is adorned with chandeliers, custom-made wooden tiles, and glass inlay. Scented by a flow of floral perfume from ducts beneath each seat, the ornate chandeliers and gilded stairwells of this Rajasthani gem make it one of the most conventionally luxurious cinemas on Earth. A regular for Bollywood movie premieres, it’s been hosting the great and good of Indian cinema for more than four decades, and boasts four different seating classes each named after a precious stone. A long-time tourist attraction, the Raj Mandir possesses the perfect blend of elegance and opulence.
Cine de Chef, South Korea
Ciné de Chef is a combined luxury movie theatre and gourmet restaurant, located in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. It’s not particularly avant-garde to serve food at your cinema, but how about french cuisine cooked by Le Cordon Bleu-certified chefs, supplemented with seasonal seafood and Korean beef tenderloin, accompanied by a 200-strong wine list? That’s the extraordinary USP of Cine de Chef. The theatre seats just thirty people in deluxe chairs costing Rs8 million each, and is equipped with 11.1 channel speakers which surround the entire theatre, including the floor and ceiling. In the restaurant, Le Cordon Bleu-certified chefs serve modern Asian cuisine. Other services provided by Ciné de Chef include valet parking, a private elevator, an escort service and English-speaking staff.
Nitehawk, New York, USA
A schedule packed with gems from the past, traditional 35mm projection, and a list of served-to-your-seat delicacies: Nitehawk Cinema is an indie film lovers paradise. At Nitehawk Cinema, guests can order unique and delicious cocktails, dinner, and snacks (including the signature truffle oil popcorn) while they catch the latest indie flick of their choice.
