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A separate VIP Theatre provides a more personal experience.

The "digitally advanced" Galaxy Uptown theater first opened its doors

Gig Harbor residents finally have a movie theater all their own.

Galaxy Theatre's newest location, in Gig Harbor's Uptown Center, opened March 7 and is known as the Galaxy Uptown. It features 10 screening rooms that vary in size from cozy (their VIP Theater-more
on that later) to cavernous.

The Galaxy Uptown will host a whole gamut of movies, including the latest kiddie movie, maybe an independent film, definitely a big event movie, and even a 3-D movie.

This won't be your parents' 3-D movie. You won't find a flimsy paper blue and red-lensed joke of a movie here. At the Galaxy Uptown, you wear real 3-D shades: hard plastic Buddy Holly-looking glasses with polarized lenses so that you look like you're donning sunglasses when the lights go down.

"Real 3-D will be a new wave starting this year," said Frank Rimkus, CEO of Galaxy Theatres.

His prediction that the "future will be digital Real 3-D" is no off-the-cuff remark either, as such technology-sticklers like James Cameron and George Lucas are remaking their most popular movies into 3-D. James Cameron is even working on an original one called "Avatar."

While there are specialty movies, like "U2 3-D" out now, the first live-action 3-D movie, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" starring Brendan Fraser, opens this July.

The Galaxy Uptown carries the distinction of being the "first and only theater to be DCI-certified (Digital Cinema Initiatives) on the West Coast," according to Rimkus. This makes the facility proficient in accommodating the quality demanded by tech-savvy film critics and audiences alike. Along with the Real 3-D capability, all ten theaters, or "auditoriums," as Rimkus calls them, are all-digitally equipped and their rocker-recliner seats are arranged stadium-style so the audience can really enjoy the great acoustics.

"The digital projection can show you over 2 trillion colors," said Rafe Cohen, President of Galaxy Theatres, to an audience of community leaders, movers and shakers at the pre-opening night party.

"It'll be like the first time you use an HDTV. That's how much of a difference it is."

There are about a dozen sound speakers per auditorium to provide the all-digital Dolby surround sound. No more whistling and crackling sounds during the movie in this theater.

"It's our own proprietary setting that we have for sound. It makes any sound sound better," Rimkus said.

Do you like to enjoy a glass of wine while you're watching super-sharp images and are surrounded by digital sound? Rimkus paints this scenario:

"You walk in, get your ticket at the box office. Don't stop at the regular concession. Go through the doors of the VIP theatre where a doorman greets you with a menu. You order your food, a glass of wine perhaps, eat at the small tables provided in the greeting room or just take your glass of wine into the theatre," Rimkus said.

The VIP Theatre is a 21 and over auditorium where wine and beer are served. The idea is to provide a setting where there will be no crying babies and no text messaging in the dark and no raucousness that will disturb the movie experience.

The theatre chairs, with their bright red velvety covering and soft cushions, are I-don't-want-to-get-up comfortable. Arranged like love seats with arms that can be pulled down if need be, a numbered little black table in between, the configuration evokes intimacy and warmth. Even the walls are covered in a textured red cloth. "We want to deliver a first-class movie going experience," Cohen said.

Rimkus echoes this sentiment but with a twist: personalized, multi-media experience.

"Since there is Internet capability in the building, any Internet media or any electronic media item can be accommodated," Rimkus said. If you want to, you can rent the VIP Theatre weeknights for a ladies' night "America's Next Top Model" finale party. Try one of the auditoriums for an XBOX 360 "Halo 3" tournament or an AFC Championship Game with your buddies. It was announced at the pre-opening party that starting in September, people can watch "Monday Night Football" at the Galaxy Uptown for free.

"This 'multi-media presentation box' can be used with our trained staff for educational purposes. Schools can use it for special presentations 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Plus, all 10 auditoriums can be linked together electronically if needed," Rimkus said.

Other Galaxy Theatres have been used as a venue for training sessions for schools. "We like to be a part of the community, and we are more than happy to have colleges and schools use our facility," Rimkus said. Don't forget about the concession stand. All movie theatres have one, but this one is different. They offer Dreyer's Grand soft ice cream, French fries, and hot dogs that are not dried out and wrinkled. And what about everyone's favorite movie snack: popcorn?

"Seriously, we are known for our popcorn. We're the only theatre [company] that serves real butter on our popcorn and it is popped fresh a half-hour before show times. Any leftovers get discarded," Rimkus said.

With a business motto of "More Than Just A Theatre," Galaxy has delivered one that could fulfill that philosophy.

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