Modular Building 10232 Palace Cinema

[polyphonic]

Hope the movie posters are cards. I plan to customise mine to have LEGO Avengers, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings posters. Then all the 'stars' of those movies can attend the premieres!

[meyerc13]

I haven't bought a modular yet, but when I heard this was going to be a movie theater I had high hopes this might be my first since I missed out on Town Plan. However, I'm really disappointed with what I'm seeing. First off, there aren't enough seats. Since this is LEGO's flagship building line, I had hoped they would greatly surpass Town Plan, but Town Plan had 5 seats and this only appears to have six. I've seen home theaters with more seats than that.

Windows in the theater room? Even Town Plan knew that wouldn't work. I've seen theater buildings with windows on the outside, but they are typically bricked over since you can't have outside light leaking into the theater.

I'm sure die-hard modular fans will snap this up, as will folks looking for a great parts pack, which I'm sure this will be if the price isn't too high. However, I doubt this will attract many LEGO City fans like me who have been on the fence regarding the modular line. The only way I'd even consider this is if it uses printed pieces rather than stickers. That might convince me to buy it for the parts, but this isn't the theater that my town has been lacking.

[antp]

Seeing the "rounded" windows without glass above the little square windows with glass remind that TLC should really release a glass for these windows (as currently the only "glass" for these rounded windows is the lattice one, if I'm right)

[Crownie]

I will further go out on a limb and say the Theater should not have been done as a corner. The shape and abundance of windows just doesn't jive as well in a corner configuration. I think a straight up middle building would have better allowed for a main seating area, plus a balcony and separate projection room.

That was my initial feeling as well, and I still stand by it now. This building certainly has a lot of charm, but some of the obvious drawbacks seem like they could have been fixed in a 'middle building' instead of using the corner model. (Surely there's a better word for it that that? Streetside building? Frontside building?)

I've accepted the use or non-use of stickers as a reality of the times, so I'll not complain about that, but the theater windows really do need to be bricked up on the inside. I can't believe I didn't see that sooner.

[merman]

Is there any chance we might get an inverted corner building some day? So a V-shaped one?

[RedBrick1]

Liking it! Kind of suprised at the small number of seats, kind of expected a few more. I am really liking the stars on the "walk of fame", very nice touch. And the doors are fantastic!

[Aanchir]

It looks like a modular, in fact it probably will be one. I personally do not like the new creator "Expert", to me the creator line is, for give me people who like it, kiddish. Now, plz don't take this the wrong way, I just don't really like them having "Creator" in front.

Ummm... nobody ever doubted that this was a modular. Furthermore, the Creator theme is actually one of the more advanced LEGO themes, since it emphasizes innovative use of existing parts over use of specialized molds. I don't collect Creator sets myself, but they're brilliantly designed, they cover a range of building levels, and I've enjoyed many hours putting Creator sets together on LEGO Digital Designer.

Furthermore, the designers for the modular buildings were already from the LEGO Creator design team (Jamie Berard and Astrid Graabaek), so in this case there's not much of a change whatsoever. In fact, I'd argue that branding these sets with LEGO Creator is a good thing, as it'll help dispel the myth that LEGO Creator is "just for kids" and will help it restore its reputation as the quintessential LEGO theme.

Seeing the "rounded" windows without glass above the little square windows with glass remind that TLC should really release a glass for these windows (as currently the only "glass" for these rounded windows is the lattice one, if I'm right)

Well, there's also a barred window for prisons and a closed wooden shutter from the Pirates of the Caribbean sets. But neither of those could be used as glass.

Is there any chance we might get an inverted corner building some day? So a V-shaped one?

That'd be cool, but I doubt it would happen. The most important part of a LEGO set is typically the front, since that is what will be appearing on the front of the box and in catalogs, and unless an "inverted corner modular" had a larger footprint than the average modular, its front would be small and unimposing compared to all other modulars, not to mention framed by the plain, unadorned walls that will be mostly hidden when the street is assembled.

[andythenorth]

That might convince me to buy it for the parts, but this isn't the theater that my town has been lacking.

Omigawd. Imagines. You could break the rules and build your own theatre. Of course, Lego don't want you modifying the original intellectual property in the set, and could sue you under the DMCA. You'll also definitely invalidate the warranty.

However I've heard a rumour that the new Creator "Expert" sets come with a disclaimer form at the back of the instructions. You can clip it out, fill in your details, and mail it back to Lego. They'll then send you a special waiver that permits you to build whatever you want (using only legal combinations of bricks of course). You do need to be aware that you certainly can't then share pictures of your creation on websites like MOCpages, Brickshelf, Flickr, or especially Eurobricks. I mention that so you don't get into trouble.

cheers,

Andy

[Redhead1982]

Seeing the "rounded" windows without glass above the little square windows with glass remind that TLC should really release a glass for these windows (as currently the only "glass" for these rounded windows is the lattice one, if I'm right)

Well, there's also a barred window for prisons and a closed wooden shutter from the Pirates of the Caribbean sets. But neither of those could be used as glass.

I made a suggestion for round glass in the Embassy subforum a while ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one 'missing' this piece.

To add my share, I'd love to see a new window glass mold in trans clear.

- Part name: Window 1 x 2 x 2 2/3 Glass with Rounded Top

Hope I'm not the only one with this 'strange' wish for a new part/colour.

[David Thomsen]

I expect people to be disappointed that the sloped roof is a facade, but then this is Hollywood, so it does make sense. Also as the 'budget' set of the Modulars they were clearly trying to save money in some ways.

I don't mind the red carpet at all. I knew it was coming since I saw that the baseplate was red instead of green. But there really do need to be posters on that wall, or some kind of features.

I'm fine with the amount of seats in the theatre. Everything is always in smaller quantities in Legotown.

But I agree with everyone else that this should have been a side building rather than a corner building.

Edited January 4, 2013 by David Thomsen

[Faefrost]

Yes I also think these are printed, I also think the stars on the sidewalk will be printed as well! the only thing that might be a sticker is the white screen!

I'm almost thinking that the posters may be dual sided printing. That they are printed on the front and the back of the same window insert panel.

I made a suggestion for round glass in the Embassy subforum a while ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one 'missing' this piece.

Add my vote to this as one of the most needed pieces.

[scottwb2010]

Well now that the first pic has been available for a week and more made available today its time to comment!

I think like a majority of people, we were expecting or more hoping for an Art Deco Cinema, similar to Sonic Starlights, as going by the rumours it was to be a cinema, and a straight front build and not corner build although again rumours were it would be a corner. But as some have already commented, we have been spoiled by the high standard of Cinema MOC's that are out there and TLG has to build within a price affordable to most so that rules out something costing 500+ uk pounds.

Speaking of price and going with comments already made, this could be around 100 uk pounds, a price closer to the first 3 modulars and putting in a price range of more people than say 140 - 170 uk pounds.

Anyway I quite like this building even though the high expectations have dampened some people’s enthusiasm which seems to happen when every modular comes out, but some rally round as it grows on them the more pictures they see of it.

I won’t comment on the car, but Im a bit disappointed by the auditorium. I thought it might have had more seats and a separate projector room and no windows!! But then again I havn't seen pics of the inside of the cinema this is based on.

It would have been good to have red tiles out front representing the "Red Carpet", but a corner build and door doesn’t lend itself to this. And maybe the star actress could have had an evening dress on for the "premier" performance and a separate usher/ette for the popcorn stand to free up the projector operator. But then it’s down to costs.

Plus sides, I like the roof technique, colour scheme and stars on the pavement. I will get this set as I like it and even if I wasn’t too amused by it, it would be silly not to have with the other modulars.

Finally I personally think TLG should have used the corner build for a Bank or Post office and had the cinema on a straight building.

Edited January 4, 2013 by scottwb2010

[andythenorth]

$100 for popcorn? I'm disappointed by that, and I definitely won't be buying this set on that account. (See pics on first page)

Edited January 4, 2013 by andythenorth

[scottwb2010]

$100 for popcorn? I'm disappointed by that, and I definitely won't be buying this set on that account. (See pics on first page)

Yeh and what is the girl in red dealing for $100 on the street outside the cinema? lol

And in the auditorium when they are seated, is the star that arrived in the car telling the chauffer to take his hat off cause she can't see sitting behind him in the back row and does the photographer in the back row look a bit like JR Ewing from Dallas??

[kermit]

The interior just looks too small and cramped and what about bathrooms for the customers. I think the building is lacking a third floor with the second floor having no windows and the third floor having windows. The exterior walls of the second floor which would be the cinema could of have statues to make up for no windows. Given that the monsters fighters haunted house used stickers i doubt the posters in this set would have printed pieces , infact the picture on the movie screen looks like a sticker as you can clearly see the edges of the sticker.

[TheLegoDr]

Actually that isn't a bad idea kermit about having another level with the windows/statues of some sort and having the actual theater part with no windows. The downside is height. It is already as tall as the rest of the Modular line (short of the tallest of the tall Town Hall), so I doubt they'd want to go much higher than that.

But I was going to buy this without all of those pictures. Put it in blind packaging and call it a Modular, I will buy it. But those pictures are the gravy on the cake...or something like that. I love the red baseplate. It works perfectly for red carpet, although yes a real theater may have more patterning on there. I love the movie ideas and the windows (if stickered or printed, both work). The stars on the sidewalk are brilliant. I agree that the corner idea isn't the best for a theater, but I do love the architectural aesthetic. I don't love the torsos used in the figures though. That one is from Lord Vampyre isn't it? Or at least another Vampire figure and that seems out of place. It doesn't look "classy" to attend this showing. But of course the CMF figure will work great here.

I don't love the windows in the theater itself. I may have to modify that somehow. But I do love the piece usage otherwise. I don't mind that it is such a small theater because you are pretty limited with LEGO if you want it realistic. Too bad they didn't come out with a new piece for a popcorn box or something. I mean, Friends received an ice cream cone which is awesome. So why not add something else for City fans.

[Vindicare]

Yeh and what is the girl in red dealing for $100 on the street outside the cinema? lol

She's buying tickets.

I'm loving this more and more! I really like the roof technique. I knew there wasn't going to be many seats, that's just how TLG works. Not every ground floor is tiled either, so I don't see how that's a big deal. As for the car, I'm just happy they didn't give it the City treatment and give it the monster wheels.

The interior just looks too small and cramped and what about bathrooms for the customers. I think the building is lacking a third floor with the second floor having no windows and the third floor having windows. The exterior walls of the second floor which would be the cinema could of have statues to make up for no windows. Given that the monsters fighters haunted house used stickers i doubt the posters in this set would have printed pieces , infact the picture on the movie screen looks like a sticker as you can clearly see the edges of the sticker.

Theres really no point talking about what the buildings don't have, because ALL buildings LEGO makes miss things.

[BrixKix]

Another excellent modular! I own the last four modulars and will definitely add this one. As usual the exterior is fantastic, seeing as the modulars are typically display pieces, I think the interior is well done. As for the car I must say I'm a little disappointed. The FB had such a nice red engine so I hope that trend continues. Now if only the Green Grocer wasn't so expensive!

[wooootles]

One major positive for me is the abundance of Dark Tans (all around the building!) That should push a healthy amount of those on Bricklink.

I do think it's rather small floor-area wise.

Overall, I'm glad about this release, if only because I will only likely buy it for its good and rare MOC-friendly parts (just like my town hall)

Green Grocer still proves hard to top as the best modular building.

[sonicstarlight]

Green Grocer still proves hard to top as the best modular building.

I don't think any official sets will ever top the GG for me, personally. That was the first (and only) modular to have a nicely patterned tiled floor, so I wasn't expecting one here. I did think there would be more seating on the second floor, though - I don't know why they bothered putting stairs up to the roof in the theater itself. Again, not stellar interiors but about what I expected.

The thing that bothers me the most for some reason are the light bley brick bricks on the exterior. I'll admit I hate brick bricks in general (the idea was excellent, but the pattern on them is completely off, especially if you want to offset them to make something sturdy) and this looks like it would be a stucco building in real life so I don't understand why they are there. I think I am at least going to flip them around so that only the horizontal lines sides are showing.

[diamond]

Ok I love it. Awesome set lego not quite art deo but cannot wait to own it

[lostdriveway]

I really like this set and think it will work well in my city

A couple of things though

- I will be adding curtains to the theatre room

- maybe a wall around the projector so it is in its own room

- first modular that I might purchase 2 of and extend the lobby and theatre room...

- I actually like the stickers and don't mind that they are not printed bricks!

- love the stars on the sidewalk!

[merman]

So who said it was a budget modular and what would that mean?

[Crackerjack]

So who said it was a budget modular and what would that mean?

Budget modular just means they have to meet a lower price point.

[Faefrost]

Budget modular just means they have to meet a lower price point.

I wish for a budget they would release 1 or 2 16x32 half footprint ones. Such as small stores similar to each of the buildings in Pet Shop, as individual sets.