View Poll Results: Do you like to watch movies at the theater or wait and watch them at home?
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll
Theater or Home?
07-17-09 | 05:25 PM
#76
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Re: Poll: Theater or Home?
As others have pointed out, comedies are the one genre that I think gains a lot from the movie going experience (so long as you don't have truly obnoxious people around you). I also go to matinees largely for price and audience reasons if I want to see something in theaters and not wait for DVD; the exception being comedies and true blockbuster movies (which I will go to during primetime).
I do generally prefer home theater and usually can wait as the release time between theater and DVD is now relatively short. When you factor in convenience, comfort, the ability to eat and drink whatever you want, and the controlled environment to name just a few things - I'm not surprised at all by the poll results.
8 stories high? Basically a screen taller than most mid sized-office buildings? Not too many theaters with that size of a screen around me. So I guess you're (not your) right - some folks can't compare it.
I do generally prefer home theater and usually can wait as the release time between theater and DVD is now relatively short. When you factor in convenience, comfort, the ability to eat and drink whatever you want, and the controlled environment to name just a few things - I'm not surprised at all by the poll results.
8 stories high? Basically a screen taller than most mid sized-office buildings? Not too many theaters with that size of a screen around me. So I guess you're (not your) right - some folks can't compare it.
07-17-09 | 05:32 PM
#77
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Re: Poll: Theater or Home?
I think he was trying to say that most of us do not live within a reasonable distance of an IMAX theater. Sure, IMAX is great and all but size isn't everything. Especially when the same factors are applied to the overall experience. In other words, annoying people that ruin the theater experience and turn it into a nightmare.
Come to think of it, I should not have been surprised that more people liked to wait and watch a movie at home. I guess I was just surprised that so many people would make what I thought was a reasonable judgement.
Come to think of it, I should not have been surprised that more people liked to wait and watch a movie at home. I guess I was just surprised that so many people would make what I thought was a reasonable judgement.
07-17-09 | 05:40 PM
#78
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Re: Theater or Home?
I love seeing stuff at the theater but it's tough to get out because of my son. Typically, the wife and I will see the occasional matinee during the school year. When he's out of school, it doesn't happen.
07-17-09 | 05:56 PM
#79
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Re: Theater or Home?
There is also something to be said for the ability to rewind a bit during foreign language films, where there is often a lot to absorb factoring in the subtitles.
07-17-09 | 06:20 PM
#80
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Re: Poll: Theater or Home?
I think he was trying to say that most of us do not live within a reasonable distance of an IMAX theater. Sure, IMAX is great and all but size isn't everything. Especially when the same factors are applied to the overall experience. In other words, annoying people that ruin the theater experience and turn it into a nightmare.
Come to think of it, I should not have been surprised that more people liked to wait and watch a movie at home. I guess I was just surprised that so many people would make what I thought was a reasonable judgement.
Come to think of it, I should not have been surprised that more people liked to wait and watch a movie at home. I guess I was just surprised that so many people would make what I thought was a reasonable judgement.
But, it can give you a crazy head ache sometimes, so sometimes I prefer 35mm and DLP.
07-18-09 | 12:42 AM
#81
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Re: Theater or Home?
I voted home, but I still very much enjoy the theater - love the big screen, loud audio, new movie posters with lighted frames, free popcorn refills. But i make an effort to go early in the day to avoid paying the higher prices and rowdy crowds. I also rarely go on opening weekend. Even then, I still sometimes get a packed theater room with a lot of people constantly stomping the stairs. I hate how there seems to be an endless line of trailers for movies I don't care for.
07-18-09 | 04:48 PM
#82
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Re: Theater or Home?
I go to the theater a few times a week, but I guess I prefer home, for cost and convenience reasons.
As far as the "experience" goes, I'm a firm believer in the story being much more important than any AV quality concerns.
5" black and white TV with VHS tape, versus state-of-the-art IMAX theater? No difference. As long as the story is good, I get immersed just the same.
As far as the "experience" goes, I'm a firm believer in the story being much more important than any AV quality concerns.
5" black and white TV with VHS tape, versus state-of-the-art IMAX theater? No difference. As long as the story is good, I get immersed just the same.
07-18-09 | 05:59 PM
#83
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Re: Theater or Home?
Although I detest the talking and texting in theaters, there is no substitute for the big screen and an industrial size popcorn with a $6 diet coke. That's livin !!
Comedies are still best with an audience. The laughter is contagious.
Comedies are still best with an audience. The laughter is contagious.
07-18-09 | 06:04 PM
#84
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Re: Theater or Home?
I go to the theater a few times a week, but I guess I prefer home, for cost and convenience reasons.
As far as the "experience" goes, I'm a firm believer in the story being much more important than any AV quality concerns.
5" black and white TV with VHS tape, versus state-of-the-art IMAX theater? No difference. As long as the story is good, I get immersed just the same.
As far as the "experience" goes, I'm a firm believer in the story being much more important than any AV quality concerns.
5" black and white TV with VHS tape, versus state-of-the-art IMAX theater? No difference. As long as the story is good, I get immersed just the same.
07-18-09 | 06:08 PM
#85
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Re: Theater or Home?
Home for me as well... for all the reasons mentioned already.
Sure the audio/video is better at movie theatres, but it doesn't make up for all the other things that detract from the movie viewing experience... and the audio/video in my HT is still quite good anyways. I don't feel like I'm missing anything - in fact, I'm gaining so much more.
Home Theatre advantages/conveniences > Movie Theatre Audio/Video
Sure the audio/video is better at movie theatres, but it doesn't make up for all the other things that detract from the movie viewing experience... and the audio/video in my HT is still quite good anyways. I don't feel like I'm missing anything - in fact, I'm gaining so much more.
Home Theatre advantages/conveniences > Movie Theatre Audio/Video
07-18-09 | 06:42 PM
#86
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Theater or Home?
But then, I prefer films that can do more than just entertain. Although I do enjoy my share of mindless Hollywood fluff like Jurassic Park.
07-18-09 | 07:31 PM
#87
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07-18-09 | 07:47 PM
#88
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Re: Theater or Home?
Looks aren't everything.
My earlier comment wasn't meant to sound pretentious by the way. Watching movies mainly for entertainment is perfectly fine, and the "film can be art" camp is no better than the Hollywood fluff fans. I straddle both camps, but poke fun at the latter more often.
My earlier comment wasn't meant to sound pretentious by the way. Watching movies mainly for entertainment is perfectly fine, and the "film can be art" camp is no better than the Hollywood fluff fans. I straddle both camps, but poke fun at the latter more often.
07-24-09 | 01:26 AM
#91
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Re: Theater or Home?
I have gone from being pretty much seeing everything in the theater to almost seeing nothing in the theater. I can't even remember the last movie I saw in the theater.
As prices went up I went from seeing 4 movies a weekend to 1 a week to 1 every 4 months or so. It is just cheaper and easier to wait for Netflix. Locally student prices are only offered on one day now, matinee costs the same as evening and I think tickets are up to $8. At that price it just isn't worth the hassle.
As prices went up I went from seeing 4 movies a weekend to 1 a week to 1 every 4 months or so. It is just cheaper and easier to wait for Netflix. Locally student prices are only offered on one day now, matinee costs the same as evening and I think tickets are up to $8. At that price it just isn't worth the hassle.
07-24-09 | 02:24 AM
#92
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Re: Theater or Home?
I avoid going to the theater at all costs. Crowds annoy me way too much these days. If a film is projected wrong, or if the sound is off, I'll just focus on all those faults though out the entire film.
My home theater set-up isn't that impressive with only 5.1 surround and a 73" DLP, but it's enough to keep me happy and away from annoying crowds.
My home theater set-up isn't that impressive with only 5.1 surround and a 73" DLP, but it's enough to keep me happy and away from annoying crowds.
07-24-09 | 02:27 AM
#93
Re: Theater or Home?
No "depends" option?
For most movies, first week out, I prefer to wait. For most movies, however, if I wait, then I just wait for the DVD to come out.
For the few movies I have seen recently, I went during the day and the experience was great both times. I recently saw Up and Moon. At the screening of Up, it was just me and the person I saw the movie with in the theater, and it was well worth going to see that movie in digital 3-D because the old fashioned red/blue 3-D they put on the home video release inevitably SUCKS.
And when I saw Moon, maybe three or four people were in each row, on average, and nobody made a sound. The quietest audience I ever seen a movie with. And the movie was well worth seeing on the big screen.
Sometimes seeing a movie in a theater can be a rewarding experience if you know when to go.
For most movies, first week out, I prefer to wait. For most movies, however, if I wait, then I just wait for the DVD to come out.
For the few movies I have seen recently, I went during the day and the experience was great both times. I recently saw Up and Moon. At the screening of Up, it was just me and the person I saw the movie with in the theater, and it was well worth going to see that movie in digital 3-D because the old fashioned red/blue 3-D they put on the home video release inevitably SUCKS.
And when I saw Moon, maybe three or four people were in each row, on average, and nobody made a sound. The quietest audience I ever seen a movie with. And the movie was well worth seeing on the big screen.
Sometimes seeing a movie in a theater can be a rewarding experience if you know when to go.
07-24-09 | 02:33 AM
#94
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Re: Theater or Home?
To this day, I have never seen a movie in 3D during a theatrical exhibition. I really wanted to see UP, but couldn't get passed the idea of seeing a movie with a ton of kids in the theater. Oh well. I am planning on seeing The Final Destination, so that might be my first 3D experience.
Can't miss Halloween 2, though... I'll kill anyone that ruins that movie in a theater ;P
Can't miss Halloween 2, though... I'll kill anyone that ruins that movie in a theater ;P
07-25-09 | 07:10 PM
#96
Re: Theater or Home?
Buy yourself a real popcorn machine (yes, even the $200 ones) and you'll never want theater popcorn again. All of my friends have blamed me for ruining movie theater popcorn for them. Of all the money I've pumped into my home theater the popcorn machine is always the favorite item.
07-26-09 | 01:13 PM
#97
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Theater or Home?
I too wish both was an option. I hardly ever make it to the theater anymore but watching films on the big screen with large crowds is hard to duplicate at home. Yet having peace and quiet in controlled settings at home has it's advantages as well.
07-26-09 | 01:23 PM
#98
Re: Theater or Home?
To this day, I have never seen a movie in 3D during a theatrical exhibition. I really wanted to see UP, but couldn't get passed the idea of seeing a movie with a ton of kids in the theater. Oh well. I am planning on seeing The Final Destination, so that might be my first 3D experience.
Can't miss Halloween 2, though... I'll kill anyone that ruins that movie in a theater ;P
Can't miss Halloween 2, though... I'll kill anyone that ruins that movie in a theater ;P
I've seen MANY movies geared towards kids in the theater and rarely have a ton of kids in the theater to ruin it for me, because I wait.
07-26-09 | 05:25 PM
#100
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Theater or Home?
The tip to seeing a movie like Up is wait a couple weeks for The Next Big Kid Event Movie to be released. When I saw it, all the brats were watching Harry Potter. This week I am thinking of seeing Harry Potter now all the brats are at G-Force.
I've seen MANY movies geared towards kids in the theater and rarely have a ton of kids in the theater to ruin it for me, because I wait.
I've seen MANY movies geared towards kids in the theater and rarely have a ton of kids in the theater to ruin it for me, because I wait.