Why Don't You Go To The Movies Any More?

[arwalden]

:popcorn:

[derby378]

1. We only pay matinee prices for movies

Last movie I remember paying full price for was Fahrenheit 9/11.

[DainBramaged]

2. $10 here, $7 for us Seniors

Fuck them and their $10 soda and popcorn special too. Plus gas and there ya go, a loser for these theaters and distributors.

I pay $5.50 to rent it for 2 days from Ballbuster when it comes out (and they ALL come out ASAP now) or wait a month after it comes out and buy it for $12.


Doogal (I know suckie example) was released Feb 24th, hit the street last Tuesday. Not even 90 days. The Ringer, 12/23/05; 5 months.

Why go anymore?

[terrya]

3. Well, let's see...

$10 bucks to get in. After you get a bucket of popcorn and a drink, there's almost another $10.

You sit down, and of course, if you're reasonably close to the screen and it's a popular movie, you've got people sitting around you or in back of you. And hey...sometimes they TALK DURING THE MOVIE. How wonderfully considerate, right?

But before the movie starts, you have, besides the trailers (which I certainly don't mind), the fucking commercials. Yep, commercials...just like on television. Of course those commercials are because "Mission Impossible III" cost $185 million to make, partly because Tom fucking Cruise is getting paid $30 million, plus is demanding and getting a substantial part of the gross. So, to defray the costs of film, gotta stick in some commercials for Coke, Nike, whatever.

And then...the movie starts. And...guess what? If you're in one of those brand spanking new Cinemultiplexes, you're treated to the latest in sound systems...which means that it's TOO FUCKING LOUD. If it's some action film, with gunfire and explosions and that sort of thing, your ears are still ringing after you've left the theater.

But...you realize that just a few months after the film opens in a theater, it will be out on DVD. And while you don't have a movie theater sized screen in your living room, if you're watching, say, "Capote"...well, who cares?

So...that's why I don't go to movies very much anymore.

[CanuckAmok]

10. Ad disruptors.

The last few times I've gone to the movies, someone (or a small group) starts shouting or singing through the ads. More often than not most of the audience laughs, applauds, or whatever. I think it's great; the corporations have bought a captive audience, and someone is making sure that same audience doesn't get the message.

[derby378]

12. I've disrupted ads occasionally

Remember the "Front Row Joe" cat from Cinemark and his intro animation before the previews? As soon as his song-and-dance number was up and the music ended, I piped up and said, "And please have your pets spayed or neutered."

It got laughs. My friend told me he couldn't take me anywhere. :evilgrin:

[Kajsa]

24. Good for you!

Now, there's a good public service
announcement for you.

Keep up the good work.:-)

[Kajsa]

23. I'm with you, terrya.

The tickets and concessions cost too much and
the sound is

WAY TOO LOUD!!

OK- I'm an old lady but I'm not hard of hearing, yet.
Another beef is,

The AC is on full blast-even in January.

IT'S FREEZING in most theaters.

Forget it- I'm renting DVDs and watching the flicks
in the comfort of my living room.

[GalleryGod]

69. No commercials at our theater complex (The Ritz 16)

None,Nada...just trailers and feature.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear arwalden!

I voted other.......for a combination of a few of your choices.

Ticket prices, too much spent on junk at the concession, noisy people, and the ADS!

Too damn many ads, at too high a volume! Disgusting.... :puke:

The ONLY thing I miss ....the really big screen! *sigh*

[gollygee]

5. Hard to find a babysitter

and that would be an extra large expense if we could find one.

[Fleshdancer]

6. The kid factor

My husband and I use to go to the movies all the time but now it's just too much of a hassle. Now we usually wait for the Blockbuster video release unless it's a movie we're really looking forward to watching. I'll see the DaVinci Code tomorrow when Abby is in school.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

43. Same here...

It's easier to watch movies at home because of my son.

[derby378]

7. A word about concessions

I worked at a United Artists theater for one summer about 20 years ago, and concession prices were high then just as they're high today. But here's how the manager explained it.

Every movie studio (20th Century Fox, Paramount, MCA/Universal, etc.) charges a theater chain a fee for the privilege of showing the studio's movies on the chain's screens. Each theater chain employs film buyers who get first crack at the movies even before the critics do, and they make the determination as to which films they'll write the check for. By the time the film cannister is delivered to the local Dodecahedroplex, the contract with the studio itself mandates that 90 cents out of every dollar that comes into the box office goes right into the coffers of the studio itself, leaving the Dodecahedroplex with a measly 10 cents. Which means that the downtown Manhattan Dodecahedroplex that charges $10.00 per ticket only makes $1.00 off each ticket, which goes right into eletric bills, maintenance costs, etc. So where does the chain make its profits? At the concession stand, of course! Which also explains why theater managers push their concession stand workers to use "suggestive selling" to torque even more money out of your pocket. ("You know, 50 cents more will get you a better value on that popcorn tub...")

Hope that helps.

[LibDemAlways]

8. You left out an important option....

The majority of movies these days just plain suck.

[kwassa]

75. I agree. Most movies are stupid. Who wants to pay for that?

[CanuckAmok]

9. This is pathetic, but...

I just can't go to the movies alone. It's some sort of weird phobia I have; makes me uncomfortalbe, self-conscious, distracted and fidgety.

So I'll only go with someone else, and I'm seldom on the same time schedulw with anyone I know.

[Nikia]

19. I get nervous going to the theater even with my husband

I have anxiety disorders and I often get anxiety if I have to be anywhere and don't have the option of leaving or stepping out for a while.
I know that I actually have this option while at the theater, but when I pay $7.50/ticket and expensive snacks (although I don't anymore), I feel obligated to stay even if I am miserable feeling ill, and shaking. I go sometimes. The last movie we saw in theaters was V is for Vandetta in its third week. I am more comfortable seeing it in my own home when it comes out on dvd and renting it which is much cheaper than going to the theater.

[SmokingJacket]

49. I used to go alone a lot.

I'd be a bit self-conscious until the lights went down, and then it was great! All the popcorn for meeeeeeee....

But that was when tickets were cheap and I lived within walking distance of a great arthouse theater, and was single and childless. Popcorn with real butter too.

Those were great times.

[Mutley]

11. All of the above.

I need to really want to see a movie to see it in a theater.

[BigMcLargehuge]

13. other

I go, but maybe five times a year where before kids it was three or four times a month. But it's a combination of things -

Ticket prices
Concession prices
Babysitter prices
Pre-film commercials (like 15 or 20 minutes of the fucking things now)
Last five theater experiences have been very lackluster

[retrospective66]

14. For me, it's a toss up between the PJ ban and travel

Movies are just so much more fun in pajamas and a cat on my lap.
Also I live 22 miles from the closest theater.

[arwalden]

16. Hi...retrospective66

Yep... there are very few things better than stretching out on the sofa (or in the recliner) cuddling up under a blanket... with my dog on my lap too.

~Allen

PS: WELCOME TO DU!!

[retrospective66]

17. Thank You

It's nice to be here.

PS- My dog is jealous that the cat gets my lap, but logistically there is no other way. He's a German Shepard and weighs 118lbs. The vet says he needs to lose a few. (he and I both are starting our diets this week ;-) )

[YellowRubberDuckie]

45. Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[retrospective66]

65. Thank You

I like your DU name btw! :-)

[Wcross]

15. All of the above.

50" LCD & Netflix. Why would I even think about a movie theater?

[billyskank]

18. Other: nothing worth watching

Same reason I have no TV. Everything on it is crap.

[Orsino]

20. Bingo!

There have been a few movies I've wanted to see in recent years, and I've gone to the theater. Yes, the concessions are robbery, but other than that, the experience is okay. Most of what Hollywood churns out doesn't interest me.

[anarch]

29. yeah, definitely...but I voted for "ticket prices"

I see it as a combination of those two factors. If I have to pay that much to see it, it better be amazingly good. Not a lot of that going around these days.

[Lady Effingbroke]

21. noisy people.

I went to see the matinee showing of "V for Vendetta" in March, the first time I'd been to a theater since the first "Matrix" movie was released in 1999. There were about 10 other people in the theater with me, all of them at some point during the movie talking and laughing loudly about subjects having nothing to do with the movie, carrying on conversations on their cell phones, getting up and down repeatedly (and noisily) to visit the concession stand, etc.

Some people were so loud I had difficulty following the dialogue several times during the movie - this in a theater where the soundtrack volume is quite loud already!


I then remembered why I never go to the movies. :popcorn:

[LSdemocrat]

22. Other: My local theaters have failed to keep up with technology

In other words, my mid-upper range home theater system has better picture quality and sound than pretty much every theater in my area.

[misanthrope]

25. How about...

...equal measure being given to ticket prices, concession prices, the behavior of other patrons and lack of movies compelling enough to drive me through that gauntlet.

[riona]

26. Several reasons

They're too expensive, the concession stand is overpriced - and for pete's sake, you have to pay these ridiculous prices AND sit through a million ads! Knowing that many of the stars are paid millions for one movie doesn't help.

[Kellanved]

27. Oh, several reasons

First reason: dubbed movies. The American cinema is pretty far away, the ones closer tend to show dubbed versions.
Second reason: dubbed movies. Most studios launch the dubbed versions several months later, when the hype has already vanished. They hold back the original as well, to have matching national release dates.
third reason: dubbed movies. DVDs include the original version and can be ordered well before the movie is shown in cinemas.

[datasuspect]

28. because they are over-test marketed,

psychologically-engineered to provide more epiphanies per buck product placement vehicles

[Reciprocity]

36. Makes you wonder when these geniuses will figure out it's not working.

Attendance is way down.

[Q3JR4]

30. I don't know about the rest of ya all,

but the first thing I do when I move to a new place is check out the deals I can get on ticket prices. A lot of times, if you're willing to wait a couple of months after the movie comes out (for those movies in which you're not sure you'd actually want to see) sometimes you can get in (at least we can here in Boise, Idaho) for next to nothing.

I went to a movie yesterday and Friday night. It still costs ten dollars to get a bucket of popcorn and a package of m&m's, but if you don't buy anything like that and don't mind going at midnight on a Friday or Saturday night it's quite a deal at $1 ticket prices.
Every other day of the week it costs $2.

I saw V for Vendetta four months after it came out at a different theater. They charged us $3.00 to get in and gave us a ticket that was worth $3.00 of concession stand food (which amounts there to a medium coke and a small bag of popcorn--or tons of other foods at around $1.50). On certain days this theater only charges $.50 if you just want a theater ticket.

[HEyHEY]

31. The damned screen is too big

It gives me a headache.

[Oeditpus Rex]

32. All of the above

With the exception of the gas/parking thing. That's not a factor here.

The last movie at the local überplex that I actually wanted to see was F911. The rest are all Hollyweird crapola. We didn't even get "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Netflix, a 33-inch screen and three speakers do me just fine, thankyouverymuch.

[DainBramaged]

33. I decided I will make ONE exception this coming weekend

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/tls/trailer/large.html

[Reciprocity]

34. It cost my husband and I almost $25.00

At the matinee and that’s with us sharing the popcorn.

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. Clueless American shitbags who can't eaet silently, mostly.

But it's also partly because, let's face it, for the cost of two people to go to a movie I might as well wait for the DVD and own the damn thing. Buying the DVD has most times been less than seeing the movie.

Unless it's a movie that really needs the giant screen, I don't go to them. Not cuz of price, but because I know that the majority of Americans are too gaddamned stupid to chew with their mouth closed.

[NewJeffCT]

37. Other - "Fatherhood"

I used to go to see just about every big new movie... and, many small ones (except for chick flicks)

But, I can't just go out on a whim now that we have a 3 year old. Can't really bring her to R rated movies.

[hfojvt]

38. it is not so much ticket prices

as it is that a) people have home theaters with big screens and surround sound, and b) the value of a DVD is so much greater than the value of a movie ticket. Rent a DVD - $2. Four, five, six, eight people can watch it in a big living room without the drawbacks of overpriced snacks and obnoxious strangers. Four movie tickets - $24 or more.

[barb162]

39. went last night but go less often than a few yrs. ago

[ghostsofgiants]

40. Combination of ticket/concession price...

And the fact that there are rarely ever any movies I'm interested in seeing.

[Omphaloskepsis]

41. I was a projectionist for three years...

The last time I watched a movie in a theater I was paid for it. That was about eight years ago. Basically, I can't watch the movie anymore. I watch the film. I see every speck of dirt and every scratch and every bad splice and it makes me ill.

[Wetzelbill]

42. I get all the movies I want at Blockbuster for one price, no late fees

so I just wait until stuff comes out on video now.

[China_cat]

44. Nothing worth going out to see.

[uppityperson]

46. I need captioning, hard of hearing, and cost

Every now and then I still go see a movie on the big screen, really like the big screen, but I cannot hear what they are saying, so prefer at home with captions on. That way I can take a break too if I need to without disturbing more than my family.

[SnohoDem]

47. I hate the freaking commercials -

We have a nice home theater and rent DVDs.

[u4ic]

48. They're crap

:D

(I will go and watch documentaries at the local indie theatre, however)

[mvd]

50. Just aren't that many that I can't wait for

Usually I have to have a particular interest in the subject (like with the Harry Potter movies) or to make a point (like with Fahrenheit 9/11) in order not to wait for the DVD.

[AngryAmish]

51. The theater manager said nobody there wanted to see my genitals

So did the cops, the judge....

[SethInUpstateNY]

52. Mainly because most of the movies

are crap. Any movies that interest me, I'll just wait for it to come out on DVD and usually rent it at Blockbuster.

[sarge43]

53. All the above

Outside of the rare film like LOTR which is best seen on a wide screen, I prefer to rent and watch the thing in comfort. I can go back and catch a bit, hit pause and get some more munchies or use the can. Most importantly, I don't have to listen to the mindless dibble of the jerk two rows in front.

If I really like it; I'll buy it.

[951-Riverside]

54. Its filthy, people talk over the movie and the prices are WAAY too high

[trof]

55. Other: All of the above.

[mdmc]

56. lousy tripe!

:mad: at hollywood

[Placebo]

57. Because I can own the movie in 3 months!

It's very rare that I'm in a big rush to see a movie and can't wait to just buy it.

>$20 to own the DVD or <$20 to go see it with a bunch of annoying idiots.

[Skittles]

58. I go once, sometimes twice a week

yup

[GalleryGod]

70. Good for you! We see about 20 movies a year!

Of course, the Ritz 16 offers lots of movies that are "alternative" in nature...lots of Miramax,etc.

[beyurslf]

59. I still go. I enjoy movies.

[reyd reid reed]

60. Part of it's the kids

When they were little, they were little. I took the kids to see Mulan and had to leave because the baby (he was still little then) was afraid. Then it was because it was expensive. Now it's because no one can agree on what to see, everyone wants to watch something different (and it's even More expensive).

[StellaBlue]

61. Other:

SHITTY MOVIES

[Digit]

62. Other - Can't mute the commercials

...and if they are going to MAKE me listen to the damn commercials, they would have to drop the ticket price substantially.

The sloped ailes are a killer on my bad knee as well.

[Dave Reynolds]

63. Too much money.

I hit a matinee not too long ago, though.

[NMMNG]

64. A combination of factors

1. Working seven days a week I really don't have time to squeeze in several hours at a theater.
2. Price. Add a ticket, drink and snack and I could easily have the price of a DVD which I could watch forever rather than once.
3. Obnoxious patrons who can't keep quiet and therefore ruin the experience for others.
4. Convenience. If I just wait for the DVD I can watch it at home, make my own snacks and watch it at my convenience complete with bathroom breaks, the ability to do laundry during the movie, etc. The same can't be said of going to the theater.

[ScreamingMeemie]

66. I would rather cuddle up on my own couch in a blankie and watch

with all the food stuffs available (at less than theater prices). Every once in a while, going to the movies is fun, but it's way too expensive for our family of four. Last time we went, with popocorn and drinks, it was almost $75. That's really sad.

[LynneSin]

67. Without a doubt talkers

Anymore I'll see about 10 movies a year in the theater but only for those movies that I know I really want to see. I'm tired of having the color commentary throughout the movies by some asshole sitting behind me. But I will have to admit it was a pretty quiet group when I saw "The DaVinci Code" this weekend

[GalleryGod]

68. We Still go. Of course, we have the RITZ 16..an island of civility

and maturity ...where NObody UNDER 17 is permitted !

Saw "The Code" yesterday...really enjoyed it!

[nickgutierrez]

71. Other - the movies suck, with few exceptions.

:popcorn:

[blindpig]

76. Yep

The last half dozen times I've been to the movies in the same numbers of years I've been very disappointed with the exception of Farenheit 911. I guess I have unrealistic expectations, I expect movies to be as good as books.

[CBHagman]

72. Other (Though I still go to the movies sometimes).

There are simply fewer movies that strike me as being worth catching in the theater. I went to the movies constantly during the '90s, for a variety reasons -- things I didn't want to miss, free passes to things I thought were interesting, and of course I had a couple of friends with whom I saw a lot of movies.

But now time constraints and hesistancy to see a fair amount of what's offered have stopped me from going.

I did see Brokeback Mountain on the big screen (mustn't waste all that good scenery), as well as Good Night and Good Luck, Capote, Wah Wah, and a couple of other recent titles.

[bikebloke]

73. Talkers

I used to go to the movies all the time. But with time, I grew tired of people running their gobs. To quote a line from Firefly, "There's a special place in Hell for people who molest children and talk in the theater." I have patience, and will wait for the DVD.

[Seabiscuit]

74. The theaters are full of... "Fucking Groupies!"

[mduffy31]

77. By the time I pay for parking, tickets and popcorn...

...I could have bought the DVD. I only go to movies that need to be seen on the "big screen." Movies like Star Wars etc, otherwise they can wait.