I was here to see a movie today for the first time and really feel like I’d be doing others a disservice by not sharing my awful experience.
One of my really good friends had told me about a new Kunle Afolayon movie called October 1st, and she really wanted to see it. Her dad had watched it during a private screening and had great things to say. Considering that I haven’t seen a movie in Nigerian cinemas in about 6 years or so, I decided it won’t be a bad idea. Plus, I think Kunle does a good job with his productions (I was impressed with the Figurine, and have been trying to watch Phone Swap for the longest time).
We both got to Palms around 5pm, even though we knew the movie won’t start till 6:30. We got our tickets from Genesis Deluxe, which cost 700 naira each, and gallivanted. We even got coldstone ice-cream and to my surprise, it didn’t taste as bad as I remember (the waffle was fresh and delish and they had non-chocolate flavors!!).
Anyway, around 6:20 my friend and I headed upstairs for our movie, which was supposed to start showing in screening room 1 at 6:30pm. We found the room and to our surprise there was no one checking for tickets at the door so we just walked in. Well, my friend walked in with a couple of other people but I was the mumu only one that turned around when we heard a guard screaming “your ticket” as he approached the entrance to the room. So I gave the guard my ticket and that of my friends’ .
We got in and it was so dark! There were no lights at all to lead us through so we turned on the light on our phones to avoid tripping up the stairs as we looked for where to sit. We finally found a suitable space for the both of us, and once we settled down (around 6:28pm..yup we checked the time) we saw that the movie had already started!!! I mean, I’m pretty certain we were on-time, but how the movie started before the advertised time was a mystery to me.
The next thing I immediately noticed was that the screen was super dark as well! The light from the screen was not even enough to see the ice-cream we were eating. I found it a bit weird since I’ve seen Kunle’s movies in the past, and video quality has never been an issue. During some of the scenes I couldn’t even properly see the characters or colors; everything was almost black and white! I didn’t want to assume it was the fault of the cinema, but having watched the quality of the trailer, it’s pretty clear to me that the cinema’s projection of the movie was really poor!
The poor viewing quality really took a lot from the experience to be honest, but the worst part of the whole thing was that everyone who came in after we did had to turn on the lights on their phones to climb up the stairs and find sitting! So you can imagine as you’re seated in one of the sits at the back, someone will just walk in with a very bright light, walk up the stairs and then shine the light in your face because they are trying to see if there are empty sits available. Someone even tripped but caught herself before tumbling down the stairs! At that point I was just like yeah never again!
As you can tell, it was a pretty awful experience and I’d like to use this medium to urge the management of Genesis Deluxe to do better. Part of me hopes that screening room 1 is the exception and all the other rooms are better, but still my experience was subpar.
Thery are just a bunch of inexperienced receptionists this is the second time I call before I leave my office in the traffic for a particular movie only to get here and then you hear sorry the movie is not showing. Who the hell then picked the phone to say the movie was running . Starless if possible
Try IMAX Lekki….I’ve had success with their confirmed movie times and haven’t experienced such, luckily.
It’s just passable. The seats are uncomfortable. A lot should be done to improve these cinemas or people would continue to download and watch movies at home.
Very cold! Haba!! Definitely take a sweater/scarf/jacket. Still not enough lightening to go up and down the stairs in the dark. Chairs weren’t the most comfy and the divider doesn’t move!
Very uncomfortable. Had to move seats because where I was sat initially was very tight. Back had more space. Also hadn’t just gone to IMAX in Lekki yesterday, I wasn’t too thrilled.
I liked the movie, you forgot to mention the part where people kept on shouting, their views on what the characters should do like it was real life scenario. You also left out after the movie, we were left to find our way out in the dark. Anyways the experience wasn’t good. I think the cinema hall is a serious safety hazard. I definitely wunt be going back there without a touchlight….lol
I think this is everywhere . I mean, every cinema hall in Lagos at the moment. Its the same thing in filmhouse and ozone too. I go with my nokia torchlight phone. Happily.
After the hustle and bustle of the week, I was thinking of how and where to spend my Friday unwinding. I’d heard a radio ad about a jazz and comedy show by the elevation church and thrilled by the list of comedians who were to perform; Akpororo, Yaw, Seyi law, a dance group called SOD, etc. I was so game! I called my friend who later disappointed me having closed from work late. She decided to make it up by taking me to the movies so we headed to Genesis Deluxe Cinemas at the Palms Shopping Mall in Lekki.
Location/Parking: Palms has a spacious parking lot but the challenge I have is finding a good spot where my car won’t be blocked by another vehicle. It’s easy to locate the Palms without hassle and being a popular place, even if one is new in Lagos, you can’t go wrong with the Palms.
Pricing/Food: The movie ticket was N1500. We got popcorn which cost N500 and drinks so as to enjoy the movie I guess (but I just feel it’s a regular custom for everyone to go into the cinema with these items).
Service: On the several occasions I’ve been to this cinema, I’ve always been promptly attended to. We saw “Hunger Games-Catching fire”. It was a beautiful movie but I think it was a bit over- tasking for the hero and heroine of the movie.
If I’m not mistaken every trending Nigerian youth, if not all, has been to Palms and probably seen a movie at Genesis Deluxe. What was your experience like? Please share…