I love Metrotown, makes me feel like i am back in Japan, trains, buses, theaters, arcades, shopping, underground parking, office towers, etc... all built into each other in one spot, anyone who is pro-density and pro cores should think twice before criticizing it. There is a reason why it is so busy (i love the packed busy feeling myself), because it is successful and has been built right in the middle of a relatively dense urban area and has connected itself very appropriately to mass traffic. Also it is multi-leveled, fitting more stores in less space. The theater is busy of course, but thats why you don't see a movie on the opening weekend, i usually go on a week night or a couple weeks after a movie has come out and at times i am one of 3 or 4 people in the theater. Living near Metrotown mall has reduced my need for a car in half, i do a lot of my shopping there, from T&T to HMV, and if i want to see a movie no need to drive, just a 5 minute walk, and it also has many decent restaurants such as the Dim Sum restaurant near skytrain, so it is also good for outings with friends (I enjoy the arcade as well). Not to mention during the cold snowy period walking from one end of the mall to the other did make my walk to skytrain a lot more comfortable. Not everything can be street front retail, if not that would encourage people to drive a lot more to get from one store to the other all the time, having so many amenities in one spot reduces traffic. Also having such a large mall here has yet to kill the street front retail in Metrotown, many places are very busy along Kingsway. Just my rant. Crystal mall is awesme too.