tedbeard Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 By day it would seem innocent enough, but turn off the lights and the Ucky Rag would be open for business. LOL, I like the way you think. Quote
Missing Brick Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 I've finally decided: the staircase has to go. I would rather make a screen 3 x as large and put additional details on my first floor and seating for another 9 or 10 folks and really give the illusion of a large stadium style theater Yeah - the ground floor seems like a waste of space in the current design. I'm thinking of modding it so the auditorium is a separate windowless room that starts on the ground floor and extends up into the 1st floor. The 'staircase' can be a 3-wide walkway running up the side of the auditorium. iPhone screen on the back wall. Shift the popcorn counter next to the ticket desks (tucked under the auditorium seating) with the auditorium entrance where it used to be ; at the end of a cooridoor running past the movie posters. Should be enough room for at least 4x5 seats. Projectionist's booth access via the auditorium or via a ladder up from the ticket office. Quote
snefroe Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 well it doesn't look bad, but it's not jaw dropping beautifull either... Quote
Vindicare Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 A few people have now said they are going to get this because they have the others. While that's clearly your prerogative, but for the amount of money they are, it seems strange. I could see you saying this for something $20 or less, that's a lot easier to swallow. Also, I too have never been to a movie theatre with a chandelier in it, I guess the ones I go to aren't fancy enough. Quote
sgeureka Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 A few people have now said they are going to get this because they have the others. While that's clearly your prerogative, but for the amount of money they are, it seems strange. I could see you saying this for something $20 or less, that's a lot easier to swallow. Even if a new modular is not deemed perfect, its price is still WAY below the usual 10 cents/piece. So if it takes some modding to look better, then it's still a good deal. And if someone changes his opinion a few years in the future, they can still revert to the LEGO-designed version for free. For example, my Grand Emporium is a teaching hospital with pharmacy, and I don't regret buying the original IMO ugly shop version in any way. Quote
The Dutch Guy Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I have been away from the forum for a while, so i missed the launch if this topic. Reeding it hoever made me smile. So many opinions, good or bad. Made me remember all the negative attention to Pet Shop when the first pictures were published and how many turned 180 when the set was officialy released. I think many will do the same. I was quite pleased with it. It looked great and wil be an asset to my town. I must agree with those who dislike the `Limo`, on that part Lego could have come up with something a little better. The streched Limo would have been great here. I can´t wait until more details are published Quote
scottwb2010 Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I have been away from the forum for a while, so i missed the launch if this topic. Reeding it hoever made me smile. So many opinions, good or bad. Made me remember all the negative attention to Pet Shop when the first pictures were published and how many turned 180 when the set was officialy released. I think many will do the same. That is what is so good about this forum and this thread on the new modular cinema in particular. There are those who love/like it to, those who don't like it, then there are the still undecided who are sitting on the fence for the moment. It's all healthy banter with lego fans putting over their point of view on this building and what they would do differently. Long may it last. Don't we just love the release of a new modular??? Quote
Lance Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 While I will be getting this for mine and my son's city, it doesn't look as good as the previous modulars. Maybe my thoughts will be changed when I see this in real life, but something just seems........strange. It lacks the charm that the other modulars had, and I've never seen a chinese theater before. I'm hoping that I don't have to mod this set, as I'd hate doing that to one of the Modular Buildings (unless it's the interior, which I probably will change). Quote
wondermonkey Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 That is what is so good about this forum and this thread on the new modular cinema in particular. There are those who love/like it to, those who don't like it, then there are the still undecided who are sitting on the fence for the moment. It's all healthy banter with lego fans putting over their point of view on this building and what they would do differently. Long may it last. Don't we just love the release of a new modular??? Yes! I'd imagine a lot of those on the fence may change their minds when they see some of the variations from those who buy it and change it. While I will be getting this for mine and my son's city, it doesn't look as good as the previous modulars. Maybe my thoughts will be changed when I see this in real life, but something just seems........strange. It lacks the charm that the other modulars had, and I've never seen a chinese theater before. I'm hoping that I don't have to mod this set, as I'd hate doing that to one of the Modular Buildings (unless it's the interior, which I probably will change). Hmm. That's interesting... I love it, as is, but will be making significant modifications to it! I can't let anything just sit on a shelf without looking at it every once in a while and seeing something I'd like to change. My FB is longer from front to back to accommodate an updated fire truck, it had a helipad on the roof for a little while. I found a second Queen Anne's Revenge on clearance and knew I had to make my original twice as big... same with the Creator Lighthouse... Even my Emerald Night, which I dearly love, looks very different! It's the primary reason I enjoy this hobby of ours. Quote
MrDarthLord Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 That was my plan as soon as I got a good look at it. I'm not sure if it will be "Noodle Palace" or "Golden Palace". Depends on how I want to make the sign I guess. That's the best thing to do, I will do the same. With the last stair, you can even have a few tables on the roof. Or buy 2 sets to make a real projection room, higher building and so on. Quote
Artifex Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 This is such a nice looking set -- if not the design, then the colours alone make the Palace Cinema stand out among the other modular sets. I really like the interior -- I think its just above all the previous modulars. Or, at the least, it's right there with the Town Hall (which I think got one of the best interiors). Quote
nesquik Posted January 14, 2013 Posted January 14, 2013 (edited) Some of the disappointment in regards to the Palace Cinema's screen room can be understood, but I would hazard a guess that many members are judging the scale/proportions of this theatre against modern and/or common buildings. The truth of course is that this is not designed to emulate a modern multiplex cinema. Part of the charm of the modular buildings is that the major services we take for granted today are scaled down to a very charming level; that which preceded technologies we are so used to. It is because of this that each building has genuine personality, and represents the function quite clearly. Each service is set in a period where design fashioned an iconic look. With this in mind, I believe the Palace Cinema does a nice job of recreating a smaller community atmosphere for movie watching. This isn't to say that large theatres never existed in the late Art Deco period - quite the opposite in fact - but many small and even 'tiny' picture houses were extremely common. This is the benchmark that the designers likely went for with this set, as it looks like a very manageable build and offers some really lovely details throughout. I would happily sacrifice the authenticity of the interior for a stunning architecture, because Creator products are designed more so to be showpieces that cram as many interesting and clever building techniques/details in as possible. The only flaw I can see in this product is that the architecture/exterior is inevitably more suited to a larger theatre, but for the all the reasons just listed, this doesn't bother me. I'd quite like to double it up anyway and maybe even change it from a corner design to a two-long building. (Check out this 1930's theatre room in England:) Edited January 14, 2013 by nesquik Quote
Lloydy68 Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 I think Lego have managed to produce a "Marmite" set, I for one will be buying it to go along with my other sets, but the cinema room needs some customising, I'm thinking of three rows of seats and they will be ramped, I will also enclose the projector into a booth Quote
Hey Joe Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 I think Lego have managed to produce a "Marmite" set 'Marmite' set? What's that?!? Joe Quote
rriggs Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 (edited) 'Marmite' set? What's that?!? Marmite is a yeast extract spread for toast/sandwiches/etc. Marmite famously have/had a marketing slogan where they claim people either love it or hate thereby implying that there is no middle ground. (Marmite is horrible - I'm firmly in the hate camp). A marmite set would therefore be one that some will love and some will hate with few people inbetween.... If that is the case (which I'm not sure it is) I would be one of the lovers. I really like it and some of the detail is great. It reminds me of a couple of local cinemas I went to as a child (late 1980s) in many of the design features and the layout. A bit more Chinese looking perhaps but that would be easy to fix! Cheers Rog Edited January 15, 2013 by rriggs Quote
Faefrost Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Some of the disappointment in regards to the Palace Cinema's screen room can be understood, but I would hazard a guess that many members are judging the scale/proportions of this theatre against modern and/or common buildings. The truth of course is that this is not designed to emulate a modern multiplex cinema. Part of the charm of the modular buildings is that the major services we take for granted today are scaled down to a very charming level; that which preceded technologies we are so used to. It is because of this that each building has genuine personality, and represents the function quite clearly. Each service is set in a period where design fashioned an iconic look. Actually that is sort of the problem with the Palace Theater. The outside is great for the most part. What few flaws there are would have been easily fixed by making it a straight front building instead of a corner. But they are obviously going after the look and feel of an American movie theater from Hollywoods golden age. There were quite a few details found in those back then that are not found in modern ones. The big one being a balcony with seating. Also the interior of the heater portion should be a tad more ornate. Draperies and hangings, maybe a few of those lion head castle bricks. House lighting along the walls. The single projector in the viewing room went away during the days of Edison, along with the guy who turned the handle. This thing is called the PALACE Theatr. They took that kind of statement seriously when decorating. Most of this is easily self fixable, it is Lego after all. Looking at the model I am left with the following impressions. The designer decided to make it an American or more specifically California type Golden Age Theater. The designer had probably never seen one in person so was working mostly off pictures. Somewhere along the research line they failed to make the distinction between "pictures of old style theaters" and "pictures of theaters in the actual old days". A good tip off to this is the box office style and location. That type of box office was put in place in most of these buildings in the 1970's, to handle the larger crowds and lines from the new Summer Blockbusters like Jaws and Star Wars. Prior to that the box office was a smaller booth, either the classic free standing one in the entrance or just to one side in the foyer. Overall it leaves a very disjointed feel, that I think is part of what is putting some people off. We have a 30's - 40's era building and frontage, with a 70's era side and box office, and a 1910-20's era viewing hall. (With a 50-60's era limo out front.) if you have ever messed around with Model Railroading, avoiding this subtle dissonance is one of he first real good tricks you can learn. The eye sees details, the brain however sees time. Avoiding the Doctor Who time dilation effect is what makes the difference between a model and a toy. Now granted Lego is in fact a toy. But we have been spoiled because each of the previous Modulars, whether by accident or intent of design, was each individually very well founded in a specific feel of time. Is this making any sense? Quote
Missing Brick Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Modular buildings are all about the exterior. Generally the interiors are close to empty - with just a few items chucked in for fun. eg. The upper floors of the Grand Emporium, the empty cafe corner, the petshop brown house. It's left up to the customer to fill in the blanks. I've already mapped out a rough design for a 30-seater two-tier auditorium which can be dropped in to replace the Palace interior. I must say it takes alot of plates and bricks - at least 800, so I'm not suprised Lego decided to leave the interior largely empty to keep the price down. Quote
wondermonkey Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Is this making any sense? Absolutely! Some great thoughts. Quote
Lance Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 From LEGO Shop's Facebook page: Full details on the Palace Cinema will be released this Friday. We'll post them all here on the page. Quote
Captain Settle Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Yay! Great news. I for one like the interior and think the projectionists chair is fantastic. I will still probably mod the interior though. I will have to choose between getting this or pet shop. (OT: Do owners of pet shop think it is good?) Quote
MrDarthLord Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Pet Shop is nice to me, because the 2 independent buildings allow you to create many different scenarios, you have 2 different appartements, and the colors are nice. Probably my second prefered modular after the Town Hall. Quote
Faefrost Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Yay! Great news. I for one like the interior and think the projectionists chair is fantastic. I will still probably mod the interior though. I will have to choose between getting this or pet shop. (OT: Do owners of pet shop think it is good?) Can't really compare since no one has their hands on the Theater yet. But yes the Pet Shop is quite good. It's a little smaller than most of the surrounding buildings (in size not scale). And it is essentially 6 smaller builds rather than the typical 3 larger ones. It has a lot of nice architecture and distinctive builds and tricks. And we can't forget the only toilet to be found in the Lego universe. (Expect a line). Overall I like it more than Town Hall, but not quite as much as GE. I love that it splits to two separate 16x32 buildings so it can be used to bulk out your city in lots of interesting ways. Quote
Captain Settle Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks for the comments. As it would be my first modular I will probably get pet shop as having two buildings would help make my town bigger. On Topic: What plans do people have for fleshing out the interior? I would probably put a row of seats in front and behind the current seats, and then put a plate underneath them to make them rise. Quote
antp Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 And we can't forget the only toilet to be found in the Lego universe. There is one in the set 7905: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?set=7905-1 I also really liked the Pet Shop, nice interior, and fun to build Quote
wondermonkey Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 (edited) I've seen so many good ideas on this thread! So far I'm planning to: 1. Remove stairs to roof 2. Build in a separate projection room 3. Add curtains to upper floor or brick over windows on inside... something, as long as it preserves the look of the building. 4. Remove the ninja weapons from the points (maybe them to give Raphael ) 5. The car... eh I don't know, I could easily part it out and not miss it, we'll see 6. PF lights connected to a 9V train regulator! Maybes: 1. Build it into a regular full width building 2. Buy a second set to facilitate above 3. Upgrade to color movies with my old iPhone worked in tastefully somehow 4. Stadium seating 5. Bathrooms! Edited January 15, 2013 by wondermonkey Quote
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