Cinemark
Cinemark's Tinseltown chains have a problem. Someone in their design department insist on decorating the interior of their theaters like a Chucky Cheese. However, gaudy design choices aside, Cinemark presents the best movie going experience for your buck.

First, every Tinseltown comes equipped with at least one or two super sized 75ft screens, a must for any serious moviegoer. The sound is superb, usually presented in THX, Dolby, and DTS. And of course, there's the seating. Stadium is standard, wide roomy isles are the norm, and most importantly, lovely reclining, heavily padded seats WITH extra large cup holders.

However, parking is a bitch. They've managed to locate their parking as far from the theater as possible. While it is technically still part of one property, the big, heavily traveled, parking lot road between their lots and the theater itself is a very bad idea. At least they have enough handicapped spaces... make that way to many handicapped spaces. Their concessions aren't always the best, however many now have Pizza Parlors or Coffee bars inside, which helps offset this a bit. But you're there to see a movie, not eat dinner, so what's the diff?

Parking:	5
Appearance:	5
Concessions:	6
Seating:	10
Movie Screen:	9
Sound:	9

United Artists
There's something soothing about these cinemas. Tastefully decorated, without any of the neon gaudiness of Tinseltown, but totally unpretentious as well. The snack bar is first rate, with a wide assortment of unique snacks, drinks, and the usual candy/popcorn fair. Even the snack bar layout is accommodating, double sided so it's easy to get to without having to exit the "must have ticket" area.

The theater's stadium seating is perfectly placed, though the seat rows are a little more narrow than would be perfect, and they don't recline as much as you might like, especially if you're around the 6 foot mark. Their screens are nicely sized, but don't have the super jumbo screens you'll find at Tinseltown or AMC. Every time I visit UA, it somehow feels like home. Their sound is superb, but good decorating and convenient snack bars can't beat out Cinemark's jumbo screens and ultra comfortable seating.

Parking:	8
Appearance:	9
Concessions:	8
Seating:	7
Movie Screen:	8
Sound:	9

AMC
AMC looks really cool. Dark colors, nice lighting, slightly futuristic, but not the least bit silly. Small game rooms scattered about down the corridors, multiple snack bars, on the surface quite nice. But the snack bars are poorly stocked, with only a meager fare of candy, popcorn, and day old Hot Dogs. The layout is confusing, dividing the cinema up in an odd fashion, occasionally making your particular theater difficult to locate.

AMC's biggest theaters are SPECTACULAR. They Feature what is by FAR the biggest and best screens in the biz. But each Cinema usually only has 2 or 3 of these. The rest of their theaters are of a much lower class. Some step down in screen quality is to be expected, but AMC jumps just a little to far. Sound is incredible... in all their theaters.

Seating in every theater though, features super wide isles, big overstuffed chairs with jumbo sized cup holders! Unfortunately, NONE of the chairs recline at all. In fact, I'm almost certain they've stuck them in a forward leaning position, making them nearly impossible to feel at ease in. Parking, at least at the chain nearest me, is a nightmare! Frequently, customers end up parking on the grass. Even if you arrive early, chances are you'll have quite a hike from your car to the box-office.

Parking:	1
Appearance:	7
Concessions:	3
Seating:	9
Movie Screen:	10
Sound:	9

Rave
Rave is a funky movie chain, you are not likely to encounter a great many of them. But, Rave does seem to deliver a hip, unique, atmosphere you're not likely to find anywhere else. However, individualistic decorating alone doesn't make a movie going experience, and really that's all Rave has going for it. Concessions are lackluster, seating is stadium, but the chairs themselves are supremely uncomfortable. The screens are nice, but nothing special, as is the sound. In other words, they've got a great look, but would have been better off to spend some of that money on comfort.

Parking:	7
Appearance:	8
Concessions:	4
Seating:	2
Movie Screen:	6
Sound:	7

Loews:
I haven't been in a lot of Loews cinemas, Cinemark being the most common megaplex in the great state of Texas. However, my first couple of forays were a bit confusing to say the least. Apparently, Loews has decided to go the opposite direction from every other theater chain, and organize their ticket purchasing and line forming completely apart from the easy to understand, common method of ticket purchasing and tearing. I'm still not sure if this is cool and unique, or merely annoying. Their concessions are exciting, bordering on weird. The stand itself is out of place, stuck in the middle of the lobby, and not always easy to get around on the way to your theater. But it features a strange assortment of snacks and foods ranging from Shrimp to popcorn. Again, I'm still not entirely sure if this is a plus. After all, do you really want to buy shrimp from a pimply faced teenager whose biggest accomplishment in life is his 1978 Chevy Nova?

The theater itself is decorated in red... and lots of it. In a way it's reminiscent of the classic Cineplex of the 70's, but this is reflected in color scheme only. The theaters are stadium seating... sort of. And while the seats are plenty comfortable and adequately reclinable, the rows could use a little more room. But the sounds and screening is first rate, despite the bizarro nature of the cinema itself.

Parking:	7
Appearance:	5 (confusingly appealing?)
Concessions:	1 or 9 (depending on your point of view)
Seating:	6
Movie Screen:	8
Sound:	8

General Cinemas:
Once the golden gods of American Cinema, most General Cinemas have long since been replaced by more aggressive, glitzy, chains with stadium seating and serious surround sound. Frankly, I can't think of one reason anyone would actually choose to enter a General Cinema. Most are in poor repair, and generally only remain in business in areas where they are the only game in town. Only go there if you must!

Parking:	5
Appearance:	1
Concessions:	2
Seating:	1
Movie Screen:	1
Sound:	1

Get Local! Some of the best movie FUN can be found at funky local cinemas. Here's two of my favorite Texas contenders.

1. Alamo Drafthouse (Austin) - Food, booze, and exhibitions! It's not the cleanest place, but it's the most fun you'll ever have in any theater. Food and booze is served in theater by waiters while you watch a motley assortment of classic, campy, and new films. Home to a number of different yearly film festivals, frequented by local filmmakers, big name directors, and occasionally a fat red haired film critic or two.

2. Angelika Film Center (Dallas) - Upscale viewing for low-end films. The Angelika is so high class it even sports a chandelier. But you won't see big budget Hollywood flicks here. Indie's rule the Angelika. In its few months of business, it has quickly become the center for the Dallas movie crowd. With lavish staircases, and an affordable sit down cafe in the lobby, Angelika can deliver an entire evening of conversation and film appreciation.