App Review: Fandango 21
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The Fandango app is available for download immediately from the Palm Catalog for free and is a very handy app for anybody that enjoys the movies. It is a location aware application so right away it will know where you are and what theaters are around your location. The main screen has four major options. They are: 1) Movies. 2) Theaters. 3) In Theaters. and 4) Coming Soon.
The Home screen automatically displays what is opening this weekend, top box office movies, and also in theaters. When you tap on a movie it opens up with general information and movie poster. It also shows showtimes for theaters near you. Their is four main choices on that screen and you can Buy tickets to a movie showing, Watch the trailer for the movie, read reviews, and look at photos from the film.
By clicking trailer it turns your phone into landscape mode and quickly loads a trailer for you to watch. Clicking photos brings up about 20 photos to view from the movie.
If you click buy from a specific theater in your area it will prompt you and ask for the time you would like to see.
One of the best features is when you tap Coming Soon from the main screen. It brings up a list of movies categorized by date. The best part is when you tap on a specific movie it brings you to the familiar page of General info but their as a calendar icon with a plus in the top right. Pressing this will add the day the movie comes out to your calendar.
I have already gone through and every single movie I'm looking forward to this summer I have added to my calendar so that I may be reminded of when each film is coming out.
If your in the main menu and click on theaters it will automatically bring up a list of nearby theaters. When tapping on a specific theater it will bring up a list of what is playing, along with showtimes and other information such as phone number and looking up directions in Google maps.
The great thing about the app is you can plan ahead and choose a different date if today doesn't work for you.
The App is also very smart in the way it stores your information and can easily be changed and tinkered with.
Overall I would say that this is a must-have app for anybody that loves to go to the movies. It is very user friendly and really quite fast. I know with all of the good movies coming out this summer I will be using this application on a weekly basis. With the Palm Pre's ability to integrate web into calendar, and google maps it makes sure that you will be on time to see previews and have a large tub of popcorn. 5 out of 5!
21 Comments
Why just now talk about this app? It was out when the Pre came out.
Some of us live in areas where the Pre is not available yet. Launch? What launch?
Can anyone enlighten how purchasing are done and when purchased where do you get the tickets? I'm guessing at the theater? Nice review by the way!
So-So review - I'm upset that I didn't write this one first - because I actually know how to spell "there" and "their" and use them correctly (same goes for you're and your). Fairly informative app, not very well written. No offense to the writer, but I'll take $10 and write a more in-depth review with corrected Grammar ;-)
I assume based on his comments below that English is his second language. So I'll cut him some slack.
Longster, you create a Fandango account. The account info will include an email address (for confirmations) and credit card number for billing.
If you buy tickets, when you show up at the theater you swipe the same credit card at the electronic ticket purchase kiosk (select Will Call if needed) and your tickets & receipt print.
There is a $1 fee per ticket on top of whatever the theater charges but it is nice to make sure you get the tickets in case the show you're going to see has a chance of being sold out. It also streamlines things a little as there's generally no waiting at the kiosk v. a line for a cashier.
I've used it twice and while I'd prefer the service charge be $1 per transaction v. per ticket, I can live with it due to the added convenience. To see the Star Trek movie with a friend, for instance, I bought the tickets while waiting at a stop light on the way to his house.
I should note Fandango doesn't have a ticket purchase agreement with all theaters. Kerasotes & Cinemark, yes; AMC, no. Don't recall any others offhand. For those without a Fandango agreement you can still see the movie times but need to use an alternate service like Yahoo for advance purchases.
Was wondering about that for a while. Now I can use it with confident. Thanks!
AMC Theatres uses Movietickets.com, which may be their own site.
Doesn't the app insert the purchased movie into your calendar too, as well as check to see if ti conflicts with anything already on yoru calendar before letting you buy? I thought I read that in another review.
I believe the Flixster app uses Movietickets.com, but the implementation in Flixter needs a lot of work.
AMC has some theaters that work for purchase in some areas (Ex: AMC Universal Citywalk in LA)
Nice to know. I'm in the Chicago area and the AMC theaters around me don't work with Fandango but do with Yahoo and, as noted above, movietickets.com. Not much of a concern for me personally since in my case Kerasotes is closer, cheaper, and newer (better seating). The staff at Kerasotes seems friendlier as well.
Thanks!! I did not know I could store the release dates in my calender.
Hi,
How does this app compare to Flixster and to similar apps on the iPhone? Better? Worse?
Lawrence
This app and flixter is fine. I like it, but I hate the fact they charge 1 buck for every ticket for "convenience fee". Come on, what the hell is that, I don't really see any convenience really, just a way for the theater to make an extra buck off us. I'm doing them a favor by going to watch a movie and they're going to charge me for that? That's BS.
I'd guess your dollar goes in part to Fandango and the rest to the theater for the maintenance of the electronic system. Maybe some day as the initial overhead wears off the price will come down. But they gotta pay for their employees, electronic or human.
Thanks for the review and noting about the upcoming release date calendar entry -- didn't know that!
Just to clear up a few questions. I wrote this review on the 6th I think, but am happy precentral posted it. Sorry it is not more in depth as I only am allowed ten pictures and I didn't think it would be as good if you could not follow along with screen shots. Sorry to anyone that was offended by my improper use of grammar. I am just a college student with two years of english. I posted this in the forums and am sorry I did not spend a ton of time editing. You should re-write one if you don't like it! Since the review an update has come out. Thanks to everyone that enjoyed the review! I typed this from my pre so THEIR Is probably some mistakes. :) great community!
I like Flixter a tab bit better than fandango app & Where app. Fandango is smoother, and more sharper, but flixer is a little bit better since updates. But i guess the reason i like it better is the reviews and can see upcoming dvds. reviews from popcorns and rotten tomatoes. Flixter popcorn reivews come mostly from people on facebook and myspace, and rotten tomatoes reviews is on of the most popular out there. Also Like upcoming dvd release, so i can add movies to netflix.
egreenwood1 - Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it even though I had already used Fandango a few times since getting my Pre. Please ignore the critics who find it necessary to belittle your efforts by pointing out minor grammatical errors. Some people make themselves feel better by being condescending towards others.
Yes, it does place the movie on your default calendar, the google calendar in my case.