Do you consider yourself an snob. Such as, you often decline invites to watch movies at someone else's house because you know it won't be the same experience as watching at home.
I feel that way sometimes. I have a 60 Sony Wega LCD and a pretty nice 6.1 surround sound, anchored with a SVS sub. I get invites from my brother in law who has a 7 year 25 inch RCA tv with no surround sound. I often make up excuses to watch movies there. Now I'm starting to run out of excuses. Any of you guys feel the same way?

Yes...That is so true about being snobby.

All my friends come to my house to watch movies, there is no problem there.

My friends, though, want to see movies all the time at the theater. I tell them, "I'd rather wait for the DVD, buy it and it's only going to be $5 more than seeing it in the theater." They do NOT get that theory. I often feel embarassed.

So I'm a double snob:

I'm bragging about my good HT
and I am constantly missing outings with them

Do they have popcorn and soda? That's all that matters.

No, I'm not that much of a snob. I watched a movie on my friend's little 14" TV plugged into his PS2. Although, I would sometimes say how great it would be to have surround sound.

Unless they have a hot sister/friend. Then the popcorn/soda comes second.

At any rate,
Of my friends and family only my brother and parents have tvs smaller than 57". And they are family, I can't be snobby to them.

So no problems here.

Cinema tub of movie butter microwave popcorn: $1.69
20-oz bottle of soda: $1.20
Watching a DVD on your HT as opposed to your buddy's 25" non-flatscreen TV: Priceless

I don't have much in the way of friends,so I don't get invited to watch movies at anyone elses place.If I did,I could definately see myself fitting into this category.

None of my friends invite me over to their place to watch movies because 1) They know I probably already have it or have seen it, and 2) They'd rather come over here and watch it on my HT.

As a guest, I usually get to pick the movie. If they don't have a home theater, I'll pick something I'm not going to be too disappointed watching it that way. Such as Open Water.

This is how I am. My friends are always asking me "Hey did you see [some movie currently playing in the theater]?" No matter how many times I explain to them that I wait for DVDs to watch it my Home Theater. And they've all pretty much been over to watch movies, so they know why.

It's funny that you mention that the DVDs more expensive. I usually argue that it's cheaper to buy the movie and own it. After you add in popcorn, soda, and the cost of tickets for my wife and I. Factor that against a $15-$20 DVD.

The one thing that does bug me is the people that know I don't watch movies in the theater, and will discuss main plot points of the movie they just saw.

Yes - very much so. I very rarely go to someone's house to watch a movie. I want to enjoy my HT as much as possible.

I invite my best friend over all the time to watch any of the new dvd's that come out that I know we've been wanting to see, but I always end up taking it over there. Granted, he has a nicer surround sound system than mine, but he has a regular 4:3 27" tv that we have to watch from all the way across the room, instead of watching it on my 38" widescreen HDTV, with my acceptable surround sound. The problem here is his lousy live-in leach of a girlfriend...but that's another story.

So even if you had friends, you wouldn't go over there anyway?

I still think you need one of these

Even though you have an ultimate home theater system, I would still go over and watch a movie with him. Maybe he's not into high tech video, and audio like you, and he may just want to invite you over for company, and to be sociable. (just like when guys invite their friends,or family over for watch sport events, and such). Make him feel good, and go.
Because if you don't, he will eventually think you don't want to go over because of his outdated equipment. Material things doesn't mean nothing to somebody, and most of the time, the relationship with a friend or a family member means a lot more.
And if you continue on making excuses for refusing to attend his invitations, you are going to hurt his feelings, and it may develop a personal conflict in your relationship with him.
Just for the record, I also have an high end home theater system, and I would not hesitate to go, if someone invite me over to their home for a movie. Consider what I had stated before, it's all about being friendly, and sociable.

I will watch older movies that I have seen a hundred times at a friends house, but not new releases I want to see. My sister and brother have upgraded to 65" and 51" HDTV both with adequate surround setups so it is not to bad their. My parents have an older Sony bigscreen and we got them a new receiver for Christmas so i am ok there. The friends are the problem, so I try to get them to me or just avoid watching movies when i am with them.

Agree. People are more important to me than my movies, and I have a very nice HT system.

I'm not snobby about it and usually go whenever invited, but sometimes it gets very taxing watching movies on other people's crummy equipment.

It used to be an issue at my GF's (I couldn't stand her player skipping and tiny 13" TV), so I bought her a new player, TV and surround sound just so I could enjoy movies at her place.

Anyone who would value home theater equpment over their friend is a total jerk. And that the end of it.

I have a passable HT (36" WEGA, 5.1 DTS/DD surround with sub, sectional with recliners, dim HT lighting) and most people do come over here for movie nights, but as has been said, people are way more important than clear picture and sound. Heck, if I'm visiting a buddy's house, I'm doing more chatting than movie watching.

I have a pretty midquality system and enjoy having company over to watch movies. That being said, if someone is kind enough to invite me over to their place, I gladly accept.

If a friend invited me over to watch a movie on his "regular" set up... and I declined because I'd rather watch a movie on my HT... I'd be fuckin' embarassed. That's some pathetic friend YOU are.

A friend is someone you should NEVER be a snob to. Never.

/end rant

Sorta beat me to the punch.

I only have a 27" Sony flat mostly because all my $$ has been dumped into the audio side. That said, I refuse to listen to any "home theater" movie on anyone else's system (unless better than my own). Older movies or those with mono tracks, I'd be happy watch them elsewhere.

I don't think being a snob has anything to do with it. First of all, all of my friends know I have a real home theater room and none of them have ever asked me over to watch a movie at their house. Why would they? If they feel like watching a movie with me, they'll come over. If they feel like doing something else at their house, they'll ask me over to their place. One friend has a pool table. If someone feels like playing pool, they head over to his house. They don't get a little 3' pool table and try and play on that.
If a friend did ask me over to watch a movie, I'd probably tell them I'd be happy to come over, but I don't feel like watching a movie. I don't think that makes me a snob, but if I'm going to invest 2+ hours watching something, I'd rather watch it where I enjoy it the most.
It's not like you do a lot of bonding during a movie, anyway.

I don't even watch movies in my living room anymore (only TV) even though I have a big screen TV and 5.1 sound. I just don't enjoy it as much as I do watching a movie in my theater.


Your thread is directed at those with theaters, but all you have is a TV. I'd rather not watch a movie at your house either.

Does that make me a snob?



Stew

I've done this. My friends invited me over to watch a movie on their 13" (!) TV. We settled on American Movie, which was oddly appropriate on that set.

All depends on the movie. I'm not going to throw a hissy fit because I can't see Along Came Polly in HD.

Also, I don't have friends.