After a 2-year hiatus, due largely to Covid-19 and choice of cinema worthy movies, my husband and I watched ‘No Time to Die.’ A definite watch-in-the-cinema James Bond movie. We didn’t know it at the time but we were amongst the earliest to see it in Malaysia. A day after it was released on Nov 25. Yay. A first for us as we are usually oblivious, late and last.

‘No Time to Die’ was fast paced from the get-go. Actually, no time to feel bored. Despite a very long running time of 2hrs 43mins. All the hallmarks of a Bond movie were evident. Amplified and magnified on the big screen. Action packed. Spectacularly choreographed and unbelievable stunts that only Bond can come out of alive, still looking suave. My favourite was the one of Bond riding a motorcycle, jumping over an extremely tall wall and almost crashing into a funeral procession. Gadgets galore. Apart from sleek cars and amazing motorbikes, the folding glider that transformed from an airplane to an underwater vehicle was a winner.

The plot was predictable. Stop the villains. The baddies typically looked the part. Scars, bad skin and a glass eye. Save the world. From the unleashing of DNA-based bioweapons. Romance. It seemed, at least to me, an almost believable on-screen chemistry between Bond and doleful Madeleine Swann. Beautiful women. Many but my choice was Paloma, the unassumingly funny and skilled CIA agent in Cuba. One attractive all-can-do man. Who else but Daniel Craig. I mean the Bond. But … with two twists. A Bond progeny. An unexpected end to one of my favourite actors to play Bond. Ah well.

While ‘No Time to Die’ offered a more than memorable Bond movie experience, Aurum Theatre or more specifically Escape Studio 11 heightened the movie going experience to a whole new level. To be honest I hadn’t heard of Aurum Theatre until the week before we decided to watch ‘No Time to Die.’

My immediate reaction was a loud gasp at the ticket prices to this theatre. RM200 per couple. That’s a lot of moolah for two cinema tickets even with drinks and snacks thrown in. I remember thinking of the already too expensive RM100 two-seater sofas at the now defunct GSC Pavilion.  Anyways, after a little moan, we bit the bullet. Got the tickets online, and told ourselves it was a treat and we were going to make an evening of it. And, what an evening it was. By the way, Aurum Theatre is located on the fourth floor of The Gardens, Megamall. My husband and I walked and walked, and had to finally seek help from the concierge to locate the theatre. 

We were the first to arrive at Escape Studio 11. Seriously, it was wow. We were enthralled. We hoped we might be the only two patrons with a run of the whole theatre. Amusingly, we got into Goldilocks mode, and thought of trying the various seats and locations.  Not to be. It filled up very quickly leaving only four seats empty from the 28 in total.   

Escape Studio 11 was a standout with its fun decor.  Pop art on tastefully painted pastel pink and purple walls. Luxurious seating with a selection of recliners and sofas. We sat on recliners at the very top.  Blankets were provided to keep us snug in the cold air conditioning. There was a side table with a dimmer lamp and an USB for charging mobile phones. There was also an underside to store bags and other paraphernalia. The complementary chicken pizzas and tea/coffee were surprisingly delicious. Apparently, the food was prepared at the Jin Gastrobar, a restaurant-bar that serves continental food and cocktails.                          

Aurum Theatre has in total eight viewing halls. Two Getha Lux Suites (yes, the bed company), three Escape Studios, two Comfort Cabins and a Private Screen to host personal events and functions. Nice.  

It was indeed an exceptional experience. But I must admit that after many mugs of green tea that I have daily at home, more mugs of English Breakfast, courtesy of Jin Gastrobar, plus the very cold theatre, I was desperate to use the washroom from almost midway of ‘No Time to Die.’ I wanted to go but didn’t want to miss a minute of the movie. I then wished, many times, I was watching it at home because whoever is the projectionist or the holder of the remote control would be ever so accommodating. Pause for however long. Toilet break. Snack break. Resume movie. All’s well. Not so at the Escape Studio 11. The minute the credits appeared, I was out like a shot.

For me, the whole outing was wow but would have been wow-er with an intermission or toilet break.