Gone, daddy, gone are the days of the single-screen movie house. Today's American movie-going scene is dominated by the cineplex and stadium seating. Many an innovation has made the cineplex experience a sensory fusion that brings to life images and sounds in a dream world we enter to make our escape from real life's conflicts and travails.

Still, the stadium seating cineplex was an innovation of the 1990s. Now, the super cool new thing -- okay, it has been around a few years -- is the premium screening room. National Amusements calls theirs the "Director's Hall". At Village Roadshow, it's the "Gold Class Cinema". In fact, with wide, plush reclining seats, an eclectic menu, and a full wine list, Gold Class is the new standard for the premium cinema experience. With Director's Hall or Gold Class, you pay more.

Is it worth the price? You know what mamma said. You get what you pay for.

Comfy Seats

You can go with the regular rocker-back seats of most cineplex rooms, or enjoy the type of comfort you will find in first class of an international jet carrier. In a premium cinema, your extra buck gets you extra comfort.

"It's a Date"

At most premium cinemas, the "dinner & a movie" date can occur at one destination. In fact the Gold Class menu at this writing includes blue cheese potato chips, calamari, crisp lobster rolls, duck tacos, ravioli forestiere, and seven vintages of champagne. Oh yeah, it's a date!

Quiter Patrons

One of my pet peeves, perhaps to the point of being a fault, is people who talk at the movies. At a premium cinema, this is less of an issue, thanks to smaller audiences that are more spread out, and higher ticket prices. If people are willing to pay more to see a movie, they are more inclined to pay attention and actually care about the movie.

If you like what you have read about premium cinemas, I say, "Lights! Camera! Action! Go to the movies!"