Going to the movies

Edwin · #1 10-01-2006, 08:19 AM

Since early childhood, going to the movies was a pleasure. I love movies. Over the past few years, this has turned around for me. In the recent past, we'd go, pay the overpiced cost of popcorn and soft drink, sit through a couple of annoying promo's/commercials for stuff no one cares about, watch the coming attractions (a plus for me) and then see the movie. Fine. No problem.

Not so anymore. Saw "The Illusionist" recently (fine movie, beautifully romantic with wonderful performances, but that's another topic). But in many ways a bummer of an experience. Now, instead of paying twice the going rate for refreshements, the cost is 8 or 10 times as high ($5.50 for 60 cents worth of popcorn, $4 for a Coke, $2.50 for a candy bar that is 60 cents in the drugstore next door and the drugstore bar is bigger). And ticket prices rising far ahead of the inflation rate.

Movie scheduled to begin at 7:45. Nothing happens until 7:50, then the commericals begin. Most are of no interest whatsoever and SO LOUD. I lost count at 70 of them, most of them presented as a "program" of some sort for our "pleasure," none of them memorable 70? Come on. The captive audience getting restless, laughing, talking. Decades ago, a plus for movies versus TV was NO COMMERCIALS. You pay for your ticket, get the movie, maybe a cartoon or a short subject, newsreel (if you're old enough to remember them), coming attractions and the movie (or movies since there used to be double features).

Coming attractions next a the cineplex. Great! BOOM. Loud, bombastic, fast cutting, bits lasting a second or two, but not much info about the movie. They're longer than they used to be but don't communicater as much about the film.

By the time the movie starts, many are worn out from all the crap that precedes the start of the show.

Even though I prefer what used to be the movie theatre experience, more and more I wait for the movie to show up on cable or at the video store. I will always love movies but the people running the big movie boxes don't seem to love their customers.

Edwin

Carolinagirl · #2 10-01-2006, 08:32 AM

I'll endure anything for those two hours in the dark with anonymity and popcorn.

Edwin · #3 10-01-2006, 08:48 AM

Yes, me too I guess, at least in some ways. However, the people in charge of these theatres are working very hard to make the wonderful experience of going to the movies more and more unpleasant.

Edwin

Set Avatar · #4 10-01-2006, 08:57 AM

There's a wonderful scene...Woody Allen's character as a child, in the lobby of a grand movie theater, "If You Are But a Dream" by Sinatra on the soundtrack...that really captured the essence of "going to the movies" for me.
I stopped going when they started running commercials.

Carolinagirl · #5 10-01-2006, 01:12 PM

i can't stop

Lynda L · #6 10-01-2006, 03:47 PM

We used to go out for a dinner and a movie. Now, after paying for the dinner we don't want to shell out more money for a movie. So we just go home and watch a dvd. It's not as much fun, but cheaper. There are some movies that are better seen on the big screen. Sometimes we make an exception. Not often though. I can't tell you the last time we went to the movies. I think we saw Man On Fire.

George Bellefon · #7 10-02-2006, 06:52 AM

Well once I got into home theater I pretty much got away from going to the cinema. I will still go a couple of times a year just to renew the experience of the big screen. But honestly, I have a 92 inch widescreen and a front projector setup in a dedicated room in my basement, along with 7.1 surround sound that pretty much rivals anything in my local cineplexes, and no expensive popcorn, or chewing gum on the floor, or noisy talking heads in front of me. So it is very difficult to justify leaving all that for the expense of the local cinema. But I truly love movies and have so all my life.

Set Avatar · #8 10-06-2006, 12:07 PM

Maybe thats why I belong to Netflix, I can sit in my comfy chair, in my ratty bathrobe, and eat popcorn via the microwave, along with my JD and water.

FAS: You are my music

Roy · #9 10-06-2006, 12:11 PM

<Maybe thats why I belong to Netflix, I can sit in my comfy chair, in my ratty bathrobe, and eat popcorn via the microwave, along with my JD and water.>

You're right Charlie. That's the life! Plus pausing the movie when it's bathroom time.

Set Avatar · #10 10-06-2006, 12:19 PM

Or with a DVR, or Tivo...

"Wow, did you see the way she snatched up that tip?"

Rhodalee · #11 10-06-2006, 12:21 PM

I still like going to the movies. I love to be with people.

In the good old days, when we were young, myself, my brother and his wife, went to all the Horror movies -- sat right there in the first row. Those were our favorites. They don't make them as good anymore.

Rhodalee

Set Avatar · #12 10-06-2006, 01:05 PM

I have gone off movies, don't know why; i worked on the fringe of this industry for many years that's maybe why, i seem to prefer documentaries, TV comedy series and much to my wife's disgust reality TV, so much produced today is either too sentimental for my taste or too action driven
Tony

Carolinagirl · #13 10-06-2006, 08:31 PM

You and I would get along just fine going to the movies.

George, 92 inches! I thought my TV was big

George Bellefon · #14 10-08-2006, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolinagirl

George, 92 inches! I thought my TV was big

Yeah, Melanie, but I really don't watch tv in my home theater. That's pretty much reserved for movies, music videos and the odd sporting event. For tv watching I use a little 27" lcd flatpanel tv in my reading room.

Carolinagirl · #15 10-08-2006, 07:04 AM

that's cool

BennyBadger · #16 06-12-2012, 08:12 PM

Believe me, I love movies. The excitement of going to a movie theater to see a major film when it's first opening is an awesome experience that you may remember for a long time. Heck, I've been working at a movie theater for the past three years! I am with all of you with the high prices. With tickets, barely any of that goes to a company like AMC or Marcus. The majority of profit comes from vending and giftcard sales. Food prices keep on going up, yet people still buy the food! I bet if people stopped buying the food so much, then a company like Marcus would lower the prices, but I don't have any say in that unfortunately...

johnofphilly · #17 06-12-2012, 08:32 PM

Thanks for bumping the thread, Benny. Edwin has much experience as an actor himself on stage.
He gives many great insights in the "old movies" thread. We hope he's recuperating well from health matters.

Dina · #18 06-13-2012, 03:40 PM

Movies used to be a routine for many families but, now, due to the cost, they're more of a luxury. It's just too easy and so much cheaper to view them at home. Some movies, though, you just have to see on the big screen to fully appreciate them. Even with BluRay, the biggest screen and the best Surround Sound, you still can't replicate that theater experience.