If the price is too high, don't buy it. You don't like the practice, don't go. This is America, home of the free. If enough people supported your view, theaters will change. Crying about it does absolutely nothing.

I often wonder why they don't do this. If the theaters could get together and boycott the studios for even just a week (especially if it was during a blockbuster release), maybe they could negotiate a better deal for themselves. The studios have no other outlet. What are they going to do, release Iron Man 2 direct to dvd? The studios and the theaters have a symbiotic relationship. It doesn't make sense that one side gets the shaft while the other makes out like bandits.

And you know what the studios would do? Say hello to Internet and Cable VOD premieres. Theaters would go out of business as fast as LPs and the 8-track tape. Studios have the upper hand, and they know it.

I was the manager at a small local theater a long time ago, and this is exactly how we did it. There just wasn't enough time between showings to do much else. We actually had small leaf blowers and would just blow everything up to the front of the theathers.

I was always amazed at the messes people would leave behind. And as bad as people would leave the theaters, the bathrooms would get even worse, especially the ladies room.

I don't think studios want that. People pay for the community experience (when positive) and the big screen and big surround sound. I know everyone here has a big theater, but most people don't. It will be a while before people don't associate direct-to-dvd with shit.

I think the theaters have more clout now, especially with so few national chains, that they could really use their bargaining power, but they don't out of fear. If they can't survive without concessions, they need to think about changing their business strategy. The higher ticket prices go, the more people will be willing to forego concessions. Then what will they do? If they only have a short life left, they should go for broke anyway.

My and other sundries get taken to the trash can as I leave.

People who leave their trash (or carts loose in the parking lot) need to be removed from the gene pool change.

I only get popcorn and whatnot if I have a coupon for something free. When I do have trash, I take care of it myself. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't, it's on the way out the door.

I do the same at concerts and sporting events.

Same here. But now that I think about it after reading this thread, I may start taking it with me and dumping it in the trash by the room door. We'll see....


DVDTALK...

I've had nothing but great service from AMC employees at the 4 different locations I frequent here in CA. As a matter of fact, I was at an AMC a couple weeks ago and when my friend asked for the fresh stuff that just literally stopped popping instead of the already packed stuff, the guy went out of his way to get the fresh stuff for her and he was totally cool about it.

My thoughts exactly.

Yep.

Is your friend attractive?

HAH!!! I knew this would come up and the answer is No.

It's admirable that you think it'll work that way. But how have theaters responded to declining ticket sales in recent years? 30 minutes of commercials before the trailers and higher ticket prices.

If you could raise the price 10% and lose 5% of your customers would you do it? Of course, that's just capitalism at work. Would advertisers continue to buy time if no one came to the movies?