Landmark Cinemas Encore Abbotsford

We came here to watch Les Miserables in end December last year as its timing suit us better than the one in Aldergrove. Being a Thursday night, it was not crowded and it was easy to get a parking space.
The surprise was the price of a movie ticket, much lower than what you would pay in the Lower Mainland, so that was a plus in my book. Could not remember the actual price now but it was around $ 7 or $ 8? Definitely less than $ 10.
It also meant the theater hall was not as plush and the sound system was not fitted with THX or whatever it is called. Les Miserables was showing in Hall 5 or 6, which was up a tiny flight of stairs, near the washroom.
The seats were ok, not that comfortable but acceptable. The sound was a bit muffled, no surround sound. The movie was not projected on the entire screen, so you got lots of white space around the picture. You could also hear the clacking and whirring of the film. It just brought to mind a very old school type of cinema, could be quite charming. Just do not expect a bells and whistle type of experience over here.

Oh Towne Cinema! Many a year has been spent in these sub-​par seats and half-​assed-​run by apathetic teens– establishment. Yet I would choose this theatre over a larger chain any day. First off the popcorn, though expensive is not as expensive as a major chain, is absolutely my favourite ever. I will sometimes go to the movies purely to consume this perfectly salted buttery goodness. As I often will avoid peak days like Tuesday, Friday or Saturday crowds are never ever ever an issue. Again since I’m not huge on crowds these less busy days are perfect for people like me who have a particular spot they NEED to sit in to enjoy their movie experience. The theatre is broken up into 3ish areas with the concession more centralized. Theatres 1 – 2 are bordered by a lame selection of arcade games and other typical slot-​machine games. area 2 is theatre 3 – 4 the 2 largest theatres and where the main showings of bigger shows will be played. Theatre 3 and 4 are the best ones, theatre 4 being a recently converted 3D one. The both have superior sound then the rest of the theatres. Theatre 2 has the most awkward seating as there is a central path and seating is on either side of this walkway with no way for anyone to be sitting in the center and thus get a center view of the screen. Up a small flight of stairs is 4 more theatres and its often nicknamed the place movies go to die. Movies expecting little viewership and are on the way out will be upstairs and I actually prefer these ones. The theatres are significantly smaller seating capacity but the smaller room allows for better sound intake and immersion. Often the less mainstream films will be relegated to one of the 4 upstairs.
There has been numerous times where I would be solely the only one in the theatre and it was actually pretty great hah! The up stair theatres are always WAY cleaner. Typical to stereotypical movie theatre stigma the theatres can often be quite filthy but hell your there to watch a movie not critique those Milk Duds stuck to the bottom of your shoes. The décor hasn’t changed in my 14 years going there and I could care less! It’s almost part of its charm how pathetic it can be at times. The chairs in almost every theatre are different, the up stair ones actually ironically have better seating then the bigger main floor ones. Again its sorta part of the charm.
The theatre is sorta hit and miss for movies it plays, the once operated Grande Theatre by Landmark was known for its indie-​art film centralization and with its closure so did the indie movie scene in Abbotsford. Towne will from time to time pick up a indie film if there aren’t as many big titles out, which is always a nice treat. Movie start times are pretty standard and on any given day you can generally just predict general times. First show times will start 12:30−1ish, then your mid afternoon 3ish, then your typical 6:45−7ish, then there general last shows are at 9ish-​10. As a typical late show goer I always find these show times to be pleasantly crowd free and you will depending on movie length not be leaving the theatre later then 12ish. Movie trailers are 10 minutes on the dot, so if your running late you can take that time and know your not missing anything! The kids working change up fairly often so you don’t really get that connection but the managers don’t so once your on the good end with managers your worries and concerns will always be addressed.
All an all my first choice for a movie theatre!