Josh H

IDK, I guess for me to a large degree size is more important that PQ, so I don't worry to much about prime seats etc.

As long as I catch a showing that isn't packed with babies and teenagers, I always enjoy a movie more in the theater than I do in mine or anyone else's home theater.

jeffkjoe

I think you have a valid argument there.

mzupeman2

Well like for me, I always pay for my wife... and it's $10 a ticket to see a movie where I'm at. That's STILL more money than it costs to actually purchase the thing on DVD and watch it as many times as I'll ever want for the rest of my life.

And yeah, the theaters have 32'x70' or whatever dimensions... but you're sitting a lot farther back from that screen so you have to take into accountability the percentage that picture is actually taking up from your field of vision. I bet you many people sit in a good enough range of their HDTV's at home to have a pretty similar experience... especially those people with projectors.

The Bus

I've watched demos for $50,000 Runco projectors and while they are mighty nice, it doesn't match being in a good theatre.

Now a bad theatre, I'd prefer seeing the movie on full-screen on a 5th-generation VHS dub on a 13" TV/VCR combo.

mndtrp

We only go when it's an event movie, and it's opening night. Otherwise, we'll wait until it comes to dvd.

The biggest problem I have with theaters, minus the cost, is I can't kick back comfortably. Most of the time, there are people in front of me. Even when they aren't, it's still not all that comfortable.

maingon

as much as i love popcorn and a soda, I often go and not get anything either. Bu i do love getting a medium popcorn with White Cheeder seasoning and medium soda.

TomOpus

Which is why I'm glad with the proliferation of stadium-seating theaters out here. The ONLY time I go to a non-theater-seating theater is when I want to see a movie in DLP and it's at a regular-seating theater.

Gotta love the clear view and the extra leg-room. Oh, and when you don't have neighbors, you can flip the armrests up and you have extra room on the sides.

Corvin

While people complain they are too distracted in theaters, I personally find that I'm too distracted at home.

mndtrp

We have the same seating here.

TomOpus

Well, all I can say is maybe it's good that you can't get too comfortable... otherwise it'd be easy to doze off.

maingon

i am too, at the theater, i find myself forgetting about everything. when I walk out I am always relaxed.

Tracer Bullet

I really don't think he had POC 3 in mind when he wrote that

RichC2

I live in a college town, I have a good time at the theaters.

Audience reaction at movies like Snakes on a Plane and Grindhouse definitely enhanced my enjoyment. I also enjoy crowds at most horror movies.

There are exceptions though, I saw Day Watch last night at a local arthouse theaters (gave it another shot, still a terrible movie, cool subtitles though), the screen was smallish, video was a little washed out, and the left channel on the audio blew out during the finale. All around, terrible experience, but at least the audience wasn't bad.

That said, I suppose it depends on where you live, here - it hasn't been bad at all, people mostly seem mature enough to handle themselves. Back in my hometown though, I had a sudden rush of why I hated going to the movies as the theater was full of idiotic kids with piss poor sound and the last time I went was for another pretty awful movie (Constantine).

Giles

me too!

where'd you sit? I know most folk like the balcony, but I prefer the surround sound to surround me, not fired directly at my face... I prefer sitting in the middle and somewhat close so nearly all my periforel (sp) vision is locked onto the screen. Grindhouse at the Uptown was h-u-g-e on the curved screen and with the bombastic sound it really was a ride. While there are quite a few theatres/screens I prefer to see movies on and at, I really like to see movies where they were meant to be seen - in the theatre. I think people who can't or wont commit themselves to the theatrical experience particularily those whose hands and faces are welded to their cel phones should be barred from going to the cinema period.

wendersfan

No, not so much...

Josh H

Same here. It's much more escapist than watching at home where the phone may ring and where I have work needing done just waiting for me in the other room.

DVD Josh

Good guess, we sat in the balcony, but that was mostly a function of the fact that none of the floor seats were any good.

I will say the sound was amazing for the show, even up there.

JACOB

knocked up is the best movie I have seen this summer.. it has alot of heart.. which I cann;t really say about the other big movies. I would highly recommend it.

Jacob

DVD Josh

And in other news, I will be having a Turkey sandwich for lunch today.

Giles

huh?

Mopower

I drive a blue car.

See that has nothing to do with the thread discussion. Neither does posting about Knocked Up.

Giles

oooohhh....


how true

Giles

besides my aversion to the Uptown's surround sound placement (they really can't do anything to remedy that though). The sound is also a major plus. I remember when I saw 'Jurassic Park' there, when the T-Rex roared, it literally rumbled through my bones, given the size of the auditorium the sound also reverbed all over - it was jawdropping.

~

Before it closed, the theatres in Pentagon City Mall had an amazing Sony 8-Channel SDDS setup (some dipshit on the News Channel 8 website thought differently though) - that was my #1 favourite theatre for the sound 'experience'...

[another plus was that the theatre/mall was at a subway stop and they had a great foodcourt where I could buy and enjoy a huge cup of beer with some Panda Express food]

BuddhaWake

Sorry if I'm late on this Bus but the 16 wasn't sold, the ones in Philly were sold to Landmark so east, Bourse and 5 and they kept the old website but 16 its still owned by the same folks as before and they have a new website for it. so there is still hope. I've yet to go to the other ritz (literally 3 blocks from me) since they sold but I've also noticed that I used to get more invites before than now.

DeputyDave

I've posted several of my bad experiences in other threads, and even declared I wouldn't go to the theater again after Spiderman 3. Most of my extreme bad experiences come from other people (phones, talking, etc.) and that I will eventually be jailed for my reactions to them.

I would also like to add the comfort factor. I'm 6'4" @ 225 lbs, and none of the theaters near me offer good seating. I am always cramped and because I hate having my seat back kicked so much I am hyper sensitive to bumping to person in front of me. It is also imposable for someone to pass by me while I remain seating. Anytime anyone in my row has to pee or get food I have to stand up while they rub against me.

I may live in a large city, but I am in the commercially forgotten Southern part of San Diego. I only have 3 theaters within 30 minutes from me (not counting the drive-in a block away) and they all suck. Bad seating and classless clientele.

I might be willing to drive North a bit once a month if I knew that the experience was worth it, but the only theaters I've been to out of my area (with he exception of Hillcrest, a semi art house) are simply more of the same.