College Times

Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Daily Buzz

Media Credit: Mike Fisher

There are a lot of things about the movie business that get me angry. For example, screw everyone that went to see "Meet the Spartans" this weekend. By shelling out your hard-earned money on that movie, you've basically given a cookie to the kid that just spray painted your car. It's probably a nice creative effort, but ultimately you should still be pissed it happened.

I'm also angry because I wanted to see "Rambo" this weekend, and I couldn't. Why you might ask? Because the high priced condominiums on Mill Avenue have contributed to Harkins shutting down the Centerpoint 11 Theater just behind P.F. Chang's. As part of the Tempe revamp that's planned over the next few years, Centerpoint closed down last week without so much as a "Thanks for all the memories."

Combined with Heath Ledger's death (R.I.P), it's been a very depressing month.

Harkins publicists says the location of the bigger, better Tempe Marketplace Theater, just off McClintock Drive and Rio Salado Parkway, is the reason for the Centerpoint closing. And I'm actually pretty happy with the Tempe Marketplace Theater because a) the Cine Capri screen is titanic and b) I dig mozzarella sticks as much as the next person. However, the convenience of a theater that's a walk or free bus ride away can never be replaced by big screens or pricey concession food.

Also, considering the giant condos that are almost completed on Mill Avenue, it makes me wonder if the plan for revamping Tempe will take away the simple charms of what made Tempe worth checking out. Are we two years away from seeing Tempe turn into just a trendy Scottsdale redux?

Mostly, I'm just irritated that my movie habits have been permanently disrupted. Having sunk enough money into the Centerpoint Theater to equal half of someone's semester tuition, I took the location for granted. Dinner at one of the restaurants in the area and a movie was a regular Friday event. And personally, the slightly worn down theater had its charms - with its faulty sound system, fuzzy screens and slow projectionists.

Ultimately, theater owners want your $20 in tickets and food, and they're willing to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Making the Marketplace Theater a leisure trip as much as it is a movie event is key to their plan. Personally, I'd prefer a good movie in a bad theater than a crap movie in a theater with stadium seating. But that's just me.

With Centerpoint gone, we'll have either the Marketplace or the Arizona Mills Theater to choose from. Busers, bicycle riders and carpoolers close to downtown Tempe are kind of screwed.

But, whatever theater you choose, the least try to see a good movie. Pretty please?

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