Years ago my partner and I left this Cinemark late at nite to find it was snowing heavily. As we looked over the vast parking lot and the surrounding unoccupied land a woman said it was like being in Russia. Ever since I find that metaphor fitting for this bleak area.
The Russian similarity ends once inside the large structure. This Cinemark is the only movie house that comes close to the opulence those in neighboring cities enjoy. In Pittsburgh, Columbus, or Detroit even the older independent houses showing small films have been grandly remodeled and serve full menus with full bar service. Here we put up with old small drab theaters serving at most beer and wine. In these other cities the chains offer lavish theaters with options to be served dinner in your own private box, $4 matinees, and lobbies suitable for Las Vegas hotels.
Cinemark at VV has a large lobby, cheap matinees, and a limited cafe serving more than Cleveland's standards of popcorn and milk duds. The auditoriums are large, and comfortable. The sound system has you sure you are in the film.
I am not particularly happy to sit in our old dumpy local houses or bottom of the line chains. I am unhappy to pay high admission for bare bones surroundings. I try to come to this theater as much as possible as the others depress me. Cleveland deserves so much better than what the movie house owners give us.