Sun Tzu

The next time you see a movie at the theater pay attention to how dirty the film is. Usually it’s not something the eye picks unless it’s specifically looking for it. Once you notice the dust scratches and other cinematic reel dings, you truly see how damaged the film is. Even new releases are full of visual impurities. If you haven’t noticed what I’m talking about forget I ever said anything because I don’t want to ruin your movie going experience. Once I was told about it I understood I probably haven’t seen a truly clear movie ever at theaters.

The first quarter of my freshman year in high school was spent working part time at an AMC Cinema. We wore these huge goofy buttons that said we won’t go over 5 dollars in price. Well obviously things have changed. As with everything the ticket, snacks, and drinks have all went up. These two drawbacks and others like them: theater too full, loud people, etc are elements we all are willing to endure to enjoy seeing a movie. THX certainly compensates in sound, and with new technology like RealD 3D on the rise the trip to the cinema may have new twists in the future.

Do they really have a future though? I understand there are the gems that will come along like the Dark Knight and still rake in millions. Will those far and few between be enough to keep theatres of the future in business? Does Blue-Ray on 60+ inch HDTVs spell the end?

As home theatres become increasingly more sophisticated they continue to drop in price. Will the experience of watching a movie at home with a better picture and sound replace the drive to go see it on a big screen? What ramifications could this have for Hollywood? Hopefully not a surge of Sci Channel original movie like tomatoes.

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Cynthetiq

maybe.

but having seen many movies in digital projection.... it's incredibly clean. I love it! I love seeing a digital version of a movie on the large screen. Why? Because it's a HUGE freakin' screen that I cannot ever have in my home.

I can see details that aren't visible even on a 60" HD screen.

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Redjake

The only thing keeping me going back to the theater is to see a movie at the earliest possible point because I'm excited to see it. If they released simultaneously on DVD/Bluray, it would be gameover - I'd be renting the disc. People at movie theaters are douchebags.

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Fremen

I hadn't been to a movie theater from the late 80's till I went to see The Phantom Menace in '99.

I remember thinking they had really let their screen get into disrepair.

I haven't been back since then, but they still seem to be doing well, judging by attendance.
I'd go back if other issues didn't keep me away.

I don't think theaters have much to worry about in that respect.

Be cool if we could reintroduce drive-in theaters, though.

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Grancey

I love "going to the movies". The experience, however, is not as it used to be. I now have to endure endless talking beginning with the previews and continuing on...., hecklers on the back rows, babies screaming, perfume overloads, ringing cell phones, texting by my neighbors sometimes through the entire film and dirty films and screens. I know there were irritants years ago, but I don' think they were as evident or as extreme. I hope my movie going will not end, but Red is pushing for a home theater....

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Reese

The movie theater won't die until films get released on home media format the same day and that's not going to happen any time soon because the movie industry makes WAY too much money with the current setup. There's something about watching a movie on opening night though. Especially a midnight showing. I think that has more to do with seeing it when it's brand new versus hearing about it for 6 months and seeing 10+ minutes worth of the movie via trailers before it makes it to Blu-ray.

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Willravel

I've never seen movie popcorn reproduced successfully. I've even tried making it myself, to no avail. As long as I can get a small popcorn with butter, I'll be going to the theater.

And like Cynth said, DLP is really a fantastic option (and it's spreading like wildfire). I know of at least a half a dozen theaters in my area that offer it. Star Wars 3 was really breathtaking.

JStrider

I'm in the planning stages of setting up a room in my house as a movie theatre room.

once I've got it setup I dont plan on going to the theater except in special cases for movies I just have to see ASAP

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Cynthetiq

Naks Pak Complete Kits For use in 4oz Poppers

problem is that you're trying to use consumer grade popcorn packages.

I guarantee that if you use this, you'll find it tastes just like movie popcorn.

you could of course use the same oil and use regular consumer bags of popcorn and you'll be golden.

Naks Pop Coconut Oil Bars

but whatever you do don't look at the nutritional value of movie popcorn... ever.

April 24-30; How About Some Popcorn With Your Fat? - New York Times

I find that DLP screens, it's like watching DVD on a giant screen, no noise, dirt, hair, pops, lines, scratches...

there was one time when we saw Phantom Menace in DLP and it was not voice synced for the first few tries. They had to keep rebooting the system. The projectionist felt bad about the whole deal and saw that many of us were techies so he invited us up to the projection booth. I got to see hold the DLP chip in my hand, the digital projection system, see Sony SRS, Dolby Digital systems and of course the huge reel projectors. It was rather cool.

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ASU2003

I'm so far behind and don't watch commercials (and don't talk to people who would tell me about a movie), that by the time they get released on DVD (... HD-DVD, or HD download) I can make some time to see it.

I go maybe once or twice a year, usually around Christmas and July 4th.

I've watched Lord of the Rings in the Theater and in HD on my HD projector (~120") at home, and I like my lazy-boy chair better. Their screen my be 6 times as big, but I am sitting 6 times as close to my screen. And the pure digital picture is great. I also find that the movie theater picture looks a little blurry, like they tried to blow it up too big or something. But it is probably the fact that they aren't using a true digital source and digital projector.

pan6467

I worked at a cinema also in high school, great times, made it to assistant manager {General Cinemas here}.

I like the new stadium seatings and other than the cheap cinemas and the "dog house" rooms the screens I've seen are always well maintained. The film quality is much better today than it was 20+ years ago, when you'd have breaks or burn outs. The only thing I ever notice is the dot that tells them to switch projectors and now that most are computerized that really doesn't happen often.

I love seeing good movies on the big screen with sound systems that blow away anything I can ever afford in my home. LS and I have a decent system, but even with surround and a nice large flat screen it still misses that "feel" in some movies.

The popcorn is always a plus along with the artificial butter flavoring.

The only minuses for me are the prices, but having worked in the field and in management, I know the profit does not come from he movies but the concessions, hence the prices. Unless it has changed, most "blockbuster" movies the house gets a very very small percentage of the gate for the first 4 weeks, then it builds up. The longer a movie stays the more percentage you keep. So, they make it up in the concessions. That large soda costs them about 25 cents, the large popcorn about a dime, maybe more on the popcorn but not much more. 20 some years ago a large popcorn cost was about 3 cents and we sold it for 3 - 3.25.

I don't see the cinemas going out. If anything I see them becoming more profitable in the future. With technology improving to where they will be able to show live events, there will be a new boom in the industry.The Cinemarks around here are getting the "theatre release" only concerts and pay per views and holding business conferences there.

I can see a time when quite possibly, WWE, MMA and even so on may get exclusive contracts and start showing their pay per views there. And I'd probably be willing to go.

Hell, go see a Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, a concert where the band is playing limited cities but will have a one off pay per view at the local cinema, the Browns play on a huge screen live.... I could handle that.

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snowy

The big theater here is all DLP, and it's not dirty at all. In fact, it's beautiful. Plus it has stadium seating. There are definitely movies I look forward to seeing in DLP because I know I won't ever see them in that kind of size or detail again. I was disappointed when The Dark Knight was being played at the theater without DLP. It didn't look nearly as good as it could have.

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Ayashe

I will be honest with you, I rarely see a movie ever, and would much prefer to watch it at home under most circumstances. Then again, I never watch television either, so I do not catch the previews to even know what I am missing out on.

ryfo

went to the movies for the first time in 15 years to see the dark knight. IMO the film seemed blurry and sound way too high. Also there was only 4 people (including me and SO) so I felt a bit silly sitting in an empty room.

kutulu

I haven't seen a movie in a theater in over four years. Most of this is because I don't want to take my 4 and 1 year old to a theater but the costs are crazy. Even for a matinee a family of four is out $25 bucks when you walk in the door. Get a couple of drinks and snacks and they could easily spend over $60 total. Add in the gas, the lines and the distractions and it is too expensive for a family on a budget. It's ridiculous. I'd much rather be able to buy first-run movies than go to the theater.

Charlatan

I am way too nostalgic. I just prefer the theatre over home. I like the smell. I like the sticky floors. I like smell of the popcorn.

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Fremen

You sure you weren't thinking of the porno theaters of your youth?

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spindles

Still one operating in Sydney (Blacktown), if you want to indulge in some reminiscing...

Drive-ins Downunder - Australian Drive-ins

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Catdaddy33

I remember back in the 80s they were worried that Premium Cable stations (HBO, Showtime) and VHS rentals would be the end of movie theaters, but they survived many due to the "theater experience". The audience can make a funny movie funnier or a scary movie scarier, and some movie like LoTR has to be seen on a big screen.

Drive-in are making comebacks in rural areas here in TN, I know of 2 that opened in the past few years. The first time I saw Jaws was at a drive-in...awesome!!

StephenSa

I hope to never set foot in a theatre again. First, as mentioned the food is expensive and not really very good. Two, people are cretins. If you put your feet up on the seat in front of you at the theatre then you deserve to have them sliced off and fed to you I don't want my head resting where some crude goons dirty shoes have been. Also, people talk, fidget , operate cell phones and generally make nuisances of themselves. As if that isn't enough you also get to play the "who's going to get the arm rest" game with some stranger. I have a home theatre with great surround sound and a 12 foot screen and thats works perfectly for me. I do though think theatres will survive.

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