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Movie-goers are an endangered species
siliconvalley.com — They need to be coaxed back into the dark, away from their computers and HD-TVs. Owners plan new amenities to lure back moviegoers.
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- inboxnews, on 10/12/2007, -5/+42I say: good luck! I love my 55", comfy couch, snack bar, and BT. Hey, let's face it, the price is right.
- btipling, on 10/12/2007, -1/+32They could charge less for food and candy. My wife and I now go to the theatre that plays the older movies. It costs $1 to get in.
- BioCS.Nerd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+30And how much did you pay for all of that?
I don't mind going out to see movies at all. I just resent paying to see ads. - DCJoeDog, on 10/12/2007, -3/+45hmm, let's compare
the movies:
10 dollars per person per movie = usually 40 bucks
about 30 bucks in snacks
and I HAVE to see ads until the movie begins
so going ot the theatre is 70 dollars with comercials
watching at home:
buy a dvd for 10-20 bucks
eat whatever the ***** I want to
skip right to the movie
when I'm done I switch the 52" inch hdtv to xbox in 1080i mode and game on
hmm, tough choice? lol - rewritable, on 10/12/2007, -7/+23The first time I went to a theater in 2 years was to see Silent Hill the other day and that will be the last time I EVER go. As mentioned it is not only the price and the ad's but the bitchy people that never shut the ***** up, uncomfortable seats and not being able to pause the movie to take a piss of get something to drink. I have a "52 WIDESCREEN hdtv, media center pc, soft recliner that has cup holders that I dont have to share, SO in the comfort of my home that I will watch pirated/rented movies on for now on. ***** YOU THEATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
- xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Ya your right man, 65 inch TV, 5 @ a time Neflix over 20 movies a month for 32 bucks ~ Vs 1 movie 9 for ticket and 9 for soda and popcorn+ Girlfriend $20 (or more) talking about 40 bucks to see 1 damn movie, that will more then likly suck.
- shawnanigans, on 10/12/2007, -2/+35You resent seeing ads? That nothing compared to those ***** guilt trip videos on how stealing movies makes writers cry and producers beat their children. I pay to see a movie and they show me a video about stealing movies? I get so mad I just want to storm out and find the narrator and punch him in the throat.
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21The idiots yelling at the screens, the crying babies, the immigrants translating the movie to their families AT A LOUD VOLUME (Que?), and the morons sucking on their popcorn like some kind of farm animals tend to ruin the movie experience for me. I've learned to move if a pathetic fat doofus with a bucket of popcorn big enough to feed a small Southeast Asian family for several days sits anywhere near me.
They should have some kind of button you can press to summon an usher death squad armed with cattle prods to remove the offending rabble from the theater. It might be worth going to the theater just to see that. - chappai, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38Things to fix to get more people back into the movie theaters:
1 - Ushers need to patrol for loud or unruly guests. The last five times I've been into a theater not once did an usher ever enter the room to check on anything until the end credits were rolling and it was time to clean. I used to be the Asst Mgr at a 12 screen complex and I required ushers to make a check of each theater, every 20 minutes. To prove they made the check they had three tasks to perform in the theater and then a log they had to sign by the rear exit.
2 - A cool idea they had at a Goodrich Theater was a Cry-Room for families with babies. This room was in the back of the auditorium and was sound-proof. They had nice speakers in there for high-quality sound but the patrons in the theater could not the baby wailing for 30 minute stretches at a time.
3 - They need to stop charging me $10 for a ticket and then subjecting me to 30 minutes of advertising from Pepsi, Nissan, and every other god damn company on the face of the Earth. Movie-goers are being promoted as a captive audience for this advertising horror we experience everytime we go into the theater. I want to see the ads for upcoming films. I don't want to see the ads for every product that I see at home already, and I don't want to see clever versions of them that do not air on television. If they are going to play these ads, my ticket could cost at least 50% less. I watch ads on television and TV is free (unless its cable of course).
4 - The price of concessions is sky high. Having worked in the business for 9 years, I understand why, but most people don't and its those people who keep your doors open. You can add video games, and IMAX screens, and cookie shops and hot dog stands and all manner of concession beast to try and get customers to come into the theater, but basically price is what is keeping them away. When I go on a date to the theater, between tickets (2 x $10 = $20 (and in Michigan you may soon have to pay an entertainment tax on your movie tickets)), concession stand visit (2 med drinks + large popcorn = $11.50) I've just spent $31.50 on my date and myself. For a two hour movie and two watered down sodas and pocorn that is not even HOT out of the popper, but air temperature out of the bin! Now if we decide to also purchase candy then raise the price another $10. For the price of a new DVD, I can sit home and watch a film from earlier in the year, make a decent dinner to serve, and still provide snacks for a lot less.
5 - HIre staff who know what they are doing in the projection booth. I had the pleasure/misfortune of going to see SCARY MOVIE 4 the day after it opened. The film had been ruined after one day of screenings. It had yellow scratches in the emulsion running through the far left side of the screen. This happens when someone misses a roller when threading the film up for presentation. You don't get yellow scratches on DVDs and you don't get them on digital projection systems. Hire the staff who can pay attention and maintain the equipment, and quit making them usher and concession supervisors. The movie going experience depends a lot on who you have in the projection booth. If its a supervisior who has to always be down on the floor, you are asking for major presentation issues in the booth.
6 - Nowadays people are too used to having those lifelines with them at all times... CELL PHONES. When I go out to a movie with my best friend, as soon as we are out of the car, he will ask if my phone is off, and I will check to make sure its off before we even enter the lobby. Then I will ask the same of him. Its a nice little system that works well for us as we usually go see new films together. This ensures that we have turned our phones off and that we won't be disturbing others. I don't have a problem with them blocking cell signals in theaters. I've been rudely disturbed by people who get their little calls then hold a ten minute conversation in the row in front of me. I remember going to a show one time where that happened and my friend CL, got so mad when they kept talking that he grabbed their cell phone, said into it they will call you back when the show is over and then tossed to the front of the theater.
I can keep going on about crap like this for another hour, but the bottom line is theater owners, as a rule treat their patrons like cattle and think they can implement any outrage on us within the walls of the cinema because we have paid to be in there. Well, they are wrong. Instead of spending my money in a high priced movie theater, I can spend the time at home with a great television, great sound, the latest films on DVD and inexpensive food, snacks and drinks. And whether its two people or 20, I still spend less at home than I do in the theater. - Rosco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well said chappai,
You hit all of the points I've been complaining about going to the theatre for years except for one. If we do have to pay so much money for the entertainment, they should at least release a decent film that is worth the price of admission. Maybe one of the reasons nobody is going anymore is because a large portion of the movies released just plain suck? - Harmless, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I wouldn't mind them lowering the prices. They seem a little out of hand. But more importantly, MUCH more importantly, in fact, when then lights go down, and I'm all ready to go, and a television comercial comes on followed by 4 or 5 more comercials, I get really really pissed.
Comercials preceding the trailers, preceding the movie is the reason I have stepped back from seeing as many movies as I used it. - olliholliday, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4i went to the cinema for the first time in about 4 years last week...
1) it was 7 quid.... that's like $12 for you USA folks - is this normal?
2) the seat looked great but was remarkably uncomfortable, like having a car seat on full lumbar support or smt.
3) for the first 15 minutes the projection was over the curtain by 1' at one end and the top and bottom of the picture was cut off! presumably they chose the wrong aspect ratio or something? god knows. some guy had to go complain before it was fixed
4) there was a sign at the front "no food or drinks that were not purchased on the premises may be consumed within the theatre" - i mean wtf!?!?!!??!?!!??!?! i nearly asked for a refund on the spot, the cheeky basts.
5) we had to sit through 2 minutes of FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) blurb about recording equipment, only an idiot would try and make a cam of a film in the UK cos we're about 6 months behind the USA - there were decent rips out for the film ages before - surely all they're doing is advertising the fact that yes you can get films elsewhere :)
6) the "manager" was very aggressive in telling me i should have got my parking voucher when i paid instead of at the end of the film, tho his staff made no effort whatsoever to inform me of this and there were no signs at all.
and this is in "Cineworld" in Bradford, a massive multiplex not some dodgy little back-street theatre.
i seriously think it might be the last time i ever bother to go to any cinema, it seemed like the biggest rip off ever. - Dog_Paddle, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4I'm usually with the group of obnoxious kids in the very front. I myself don't talk THAT nuch, and when I do, it's during a part of the movie that isn't important. My friends though, could give a ***** less what everyone else in theater thinks of them. SO I do agree that there should be ushers.
Cell Phones are okay, just talk in a low voice, and keep it to 3 minutes or less. Or just text them.
Food is way to expensive for low quality popcorn. It's just better to sneak in your own stuff inside your pants.
For the people who say, "Oh well I have a 55 inch TV and Surround sound and I have my own seats blah blah blah I'm a rich *****"... shutup. The average person just has about a 25" screen in their living room, with nothing but the speakers on the TV. The theater is a thrilling experience for them, and you shouldn't complain about something that doesn't apply to you.
As for babies crying.. get them the hell out. Babies can't even comprehend what a movie is. Just leave them with g-ma or something. - tony23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@chappai -
All valid complaints, but none of which address the main problem:
Hollywood keeps turning out crappy movies.
Clooney aside - how "out of touch" must the film industry be when they think a remake of "King Kong" marks the salvation of the industry?
Come on, now - can't they figure out that the generall public is getting just a bit tired of seeing "Dukes of Hazzard", "Poseidon", "King Kong", "MI: ad nauseam", and all the rest of the remakes that Hollywood has been inundating us with for years?
The real solution is to start bringing us original movies that people want to see.
Why do I not see that happening? - gromnie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@Dog_Paddle:
Guess what, sunshine: You are exactly as much of an inconsiderate ***** problem as your friends. Shut off your ***** phone (and by the way, that special ring tone you bought is not cute, it's not clever, and it won't get you laid), shut your ***** mouth and watch the damned movie.
And if you've got something better to do, like talk with (or text, or whatever) your friends, go somewhere ***** else.
Like the bottom of a river. - newevilmind, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My Last Theatre Experience:
The Devils Rejects.
someone sat two rows in front of me and actually sprayed perfume on herself minutes after sitting down. I heard a guys phone ring, and he actually answered it and carried on a long and detailed conversation. not to mention big fat loud hillbillies.
I thought any minute a pizza delivery boy will walk in and say "who ordered the pizza?"
I swear someone was having a full on birthday party in there, singing "happy birthday" cutting cake etc.
- evolseven, on 10/12/2007, -1/+46I love my home theatre, but recently I saw V is for Vendetta in IMAX, and i will say that there is no way that my home theatre could ever rival the movie experience IMAX provides, incredibly good sound reproduction, and a huge 8 story screen.. I personally would go see more movies if they were released in IMAX.. so maybe they need to focus on doing things you cant reproduce at home. I can bring beer to my home theatre, I can have dinner in my home theatre, hell I have reserved seating there as well.. Get me a nice recliner in a theatre, and an 8 story screen with 12,000 watts of audio power and I will definitely go see more movies at the theatre.. well at least if they start making some decent movies.
- jpwhitmore, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19V for Vendetta was the last movie I saw in theaters and will probably stay that way for some time. I just can't justify spending almost $9 at the local theater when most movies suck. I would gladly use the current facilities if Hollywood would just get off their asses and make better movies. It isn't the theaters fault that their product is junk.
- jpt62089, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17I would use our Imax but the seats are absolutely HORRIBLE! 5 minutes in those things will give you ass blisters!
- datagod, on 10/12/2007, -26/+9jpt62089, are you sure you went to the movies?? You might have ended up at MJ's house...
- skydivingdutch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is why I will only give up my old student ID card when they pry it from my cold dead fingers
- veloscaper, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1don't know where you live but around here student IDs save you a big $1. Though perhaps after a lifetime that might add up to a few hundred bucks...which by then might pay for a few old people diapers.
- shortkid422, on 10/12/2007, -5/+26"For those willing to pay a slighter higher admission price ($11 to $14), movies at the ArcLight come with reserved seating and the promise of no commercials."
$14 for no trailers and "reserved" seating??? I don't know about everyone else, but that is probably why there is a drop in sales. Seriously, for $0, I get reserved seating and no trailers at my own home theater (as does evolseven ^ ). The reason why noone is going is becuase the product is not worth what they are asking. Drop the price by about half, kick out the screaming babies, remove the abnoxious teenagers, increase seat comfortability, enhance the movie image quality, make good movies for once, and you know what would happen? People would actually care to go to the theaters. Until then, I prefer my nice recliner with 5.1 THX Cert Surround Sound, 36" TV, pause capability, and free food. Oh yeah, and the chance to use my cell phone when I want.
end rant- sulaco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+59Amen.
1) Do not bring your baby to the theater. It makes you a bad parent.
2) Do not use your cell phone in the theater. It shows you were not taught any manners and reflects badly on YOUR parents. - alex.will, on 10/12/2007, -24/+11>Seriously, for $0, I get reserved seating and no trailers at my own home theater (as does evolseven ^ ).
For $0??? Try dividing the cost of your home theater system, recliner and Netflix account by the amount of movies you watch on it and I think you'll find the quotient to be a far higher number than '1'. Not to mention that you'll have to wait 6 months to get your movie of choice on DVD. - JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"So for now, exhibitors will continue to rely on public-service announcements. If this doesn't work, NATO will petition the Federal Communications Commission for new legislation."
... or you kick people out who's cell phone keeps ringing or decide to carry on a conversation in the theater.
"remove the abnoxious teenagers"
What? I thought you asked for individual pieces of popcorn and skittles. - RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10@alex
I don't think he's waiting 6 months for new releases... nor do I think he was talking about NetFlix... but maybe he should factor in the cost of hs broadband connection... if you want to go with your line of thinking. - datagod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Who needs reserved seating?? The theatres where I live are mostly empty whenever I go...I am always the first to sit down, and by the time the commercials stop there are maybe 15 other people there...
- rdominick, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5And "no cell phone use" includes looking at the backlit screen, people. I recently went to see Silent Hill, and nobody's cell actually went off -- amazingly enough -- but it was like ***** Christmas or something what with all the twinkling as folks checked the time, whether they had any messages, or whatever it wasy they were looking at on their phones. Just a bit distracting.
- nstrupp2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I've seen movies in many parts of the world. They are the most expensive, by far, in the US.
I paid about 2USD for a movie in Malaysia. It had no commercials (or so few that I don't remember them) and reserved seating. In Mexico the movie was about 5USD with no reserved seating, but the snacks were pretty inexpensive (they had awesome caramel popcorn).
Both these movies were in a mall and included everything you'd expect from a modern US theater. Stadium seating, pay by credit card, snack bar, large screens, digital sound, etc. Yes, the movies were in English with subtitles in the local language. - jambarama, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When the printing press came out, the churches freaked out - why go to church when you can have the bible at home? When the player piano came out, musicians freaked out - why go to a concert when you can have a concert in any bar?
When the radio came out, musicians freaked out - why buy music when you have it sent to you for free?
When the internet & p2p came out, the RIAA freaked out - why buy music when you can get it for free?
Essentially this is the same thing. People still go to church, concerts, they still buy music and they'll still go to theaters. Theaters are only losing a bit of their movie goers, not everyone wants to wait 6 months to see a movie and fewer still have nice home theaters to watch them in.
- sulaco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+59Amen.
- JoeRandom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Even if the theatre sucked, I think people would go to see a movie they really wanted to see slightly before they could buy it on dvd. Its just that nearly no movies released are worth seeing.
- tobias1482, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I agree. There's very little mainstream stuff being made that is good and worth it. I used to work for SOE and every year they'd set us up to see all of the previews for upcoming movies that Sony had coming out. We'd roll in pain watching the trailers. Stealth? Come on! It was Flight of the Navigator meets Frankenstein meets a tiny bit of the end of Jaws. Lightning triggering AI? ***** that. It was pretty fun though because we were actually able to ask questions such as "why did you green light that?"
In their defense, ghost rider looked descent.
And don't post any SOE game dissing. The people that make those games are all really talented. It's just the higher-ups (like Smed) that ***** it all over. - soogy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good movies are an endangered species.
- tobias1482, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I agree. There's very little mainstream stuff being made that is good and worth it. I used to work for SOE and every year they'd set us up to see all of the previews for upcoming movies that Sony had coming out. We'd roll in pain watching the trailers. Stealth? Come on! It was Flight of the Navigator meets Frankenstein meets a tiny bit of the end of Jaws. Lightning triggering AI? ***** that. It was pretty fun though because we were actually able to ask questions such as "why did you green light that?"
- sert, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34What do you expect? Netflix is 20 bucks a month for dozens of movies vs. 15 bucks for a single flick for one day.
- born, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12And how about the point: good movies? I'm not paying to see a mediocre movie for $15 if I can rent it for a fraction of that.
- mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18Well thats what they get from charging 5$ for a small plate of nachos.
- wtf00, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11this *****' hollywood ***** dont understand...
going to movies is not the same anymore is expensive, *****' ads up your ass, and annoying other movie goers either on there damn cellphone or talking or ***** blocking my view or moving to much i prefer stay home with my 27 inch tv and my 200 dollar 5.1 and on my boxers. - chris86wm, on 10/12/2007, -6/+24I cant remember the last time I went to a movie.
Why?
1) I download them off the net for free
2) Most movies being put out these days are crap
3) It costs $15 to go to the stinking thing
4) I like my movies without kids screaming, people talking, cell phones ringing, and assholes kicking my seat!- wicked6, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Absolute, across the board agreement. :)
- gahal, on 10/12/2007, -5/+28Lets see, theater experience:
Overpriced, high chance of annoying people being around, can't smoke, can't have a beer while watching, sticky floor, can't pause or rewind, crappy seats, mass amounts of craptastic movies comming out.
Gee, whats not to love.- gahal, on 10/12/2007, -2/+35I should add that there was a wonderful theater where I used to live.
They ran older movies, but only charged like a dollar or two for a ticket. The best part was the setup inside.
You could sit at tables while you watched the movies, they had smoking sections, served beer, and had a full menu.
That's right, it was like a restaurant with a screen. Just ask for a menu, order a meal and enjoy.
They worked with some of the restaurants around them so you could get anything from pizza to mexican food.
Now that was an enjoyable movie going experience. Man I miss that place. - ultimathule, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15What's not to love? I'd say the theatrical experience of a smoke-free and alcoholic-free environment is something to love.
- haxx4, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14Having people smoke or drink in the theater would make it somewhere to outright avoid.
- Cthalupa, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Right, because a movie theater that serves booze and food is going to have such an alcoholic problem. I go to restraunts that serve alcohol all the time, and have never once had my dinner ruined by an alcoholic. Just because beer is sold doesn't mean that it's going to be full of drunks making a racket.
There's a place in a neighboring city that plays new movies and also does other events, like football games, and every saturday at midnight they have The Rocky Horror Show. They offer beer and a decent sized dinner menu, though it's limited more to pizza/burgers/hot dogs and so on. With gas prices being so high, I haven't really gone there much recently... Too far out of the way. I love the place, though. - ultimathule, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1"restraunts" and The Rocky Horror Picture Show; the mark of a weiner!
It's obvious that, ahem, RESTAURANTS, would doubtless accept local drunkards, but that's an entirely different ENVIRONMENT. Unfortunately, you thought I had stumbled upon a sweeping generalization in my first remark. You thought wrong. - Cthalupa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Ah, excuse me for being less than completely coherent at 2am after having a few beers myself. Next time, I'll go through and make sure everything is 100% correct as to not dissapoint you. I also didn't even use environment, misspelled or otherwise.
Or I could continue my not caring, and let you prove just how weak your arguement is that you have to take shots at typos and me leaving out the Picture in the movie's title. Of course, I suppose a lack of intelligent debate was to be expected.
If you're ever in Austin, go to the Alamo Drafthouse. It's one of the most well known and successful theatres following this bussiness model, and it's a very fun place to go. Granted, I've only been there three times, so I can't say they never ever have a problem with drunks being obnoxious, but they didn't while I was there. Actually go to a place using these ideas before you make comments about 'em. Smoking, I can understand. That actually can affect you. But some guy having a Bud or two with his pizza isn't going to ruin the place. - sert, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1seriously though ultimathule, did you really lack a point so much that the only thing you could use in your retort was him misspelling resterawnt? immediately resorting to such petty grammar/spelling nazism as the main point in your reply just shows that you really had nothing valuable to say.
- gahal, on 10/12/2007, -2/+35I should add that there was a wonderful theater where I used to live.
- Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Technology has overrun the box office. I'd much rather watch something in MY controlled environment than THEIRS. Cost of food, setting my own audience participation and rules, knowing for absolutely certain that no whining babies will be attending, in a world where the only cellphone that has the potential to interrupt the movie is my own...
The HD TV and DVD is an investment, one that can easily pay for itself in hassle reduction.- cmdrwhitewolf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually, I wouldn't call THEIRS a controlled environment.
Crying babies, people yaking on their cellphone, people kicking the back of your seat, Kids literally springboarding themselves around in the front seats, loud teenagers shouting to each other on opposite sides of the theater...
That is why I prefer watching the shows at home, other than the price for a lousy remake.
- cmdrwhitewolf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually, I wouldn't call THEIRS a controlled environment.
- Bostonsox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Drop the price, simple economics. It is a hassle to download movies illegally, compared to shelling out money to go watch them. That is what they need to get people to pay for, the ease of seeing it. When you have to pay $10 to see every movie you want to see of course you are going to see alot fewer movies. Also, lower the hassle, suddenly your hassled with annoying crowds and commercials, another push towards downloading.
Also, make it cheaper so I don't need to download movies for my parents. - MugatuOT, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I don't want amenities - if I go to the theatre I simply want a clean and quiet experience and the movie to start on time instead of lame commercials. And reasonable prices but that's another story.
- tobias1482, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2commercials are ***** and piss me off.
- Cybert, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2I'd watch a 4K movie from that Red camera in a theater!
- Kolar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Besides something good on iMax I don't bother. As for an "amenity" of sorts I would like... not paying 40 freaking dollars to see one movie + getting food.
- mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1The last movie I saw had people talking while it was going on
- daRoach, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1The last one I saw was a silent film so I can't relate.
- wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Aside from guys who can't think of anything else to do on a date, movies are in trouble. They need to change their business model, and there are some theaters that are doing it, but most are just bitching about "those kids and their pirated movies". Yea, right.
No, the problem is that I can get something close (not the same, but close) to theater quality for less (for rental) or slightly more (for 2) if I buy. I can watch it in comfort at home, drink quality beer, wine, soda, or whatever, eat hot pizza, and hit pause if the phone rings or I want to go outside for a smoke.
If there was a place around here that had (for instance) movies in a pub atmosphere (table service, served beer), I'd go. There are places like that, and they are making lots of money. The old model is dead. Get a clue, theater owners. - bpapa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9It sounds like they are taking a step in the right direction. If I can go to a movie, get some additional entertainment, some better food, and not have to deal with some idiot behind me talking on the phone every few minutes, I'll probably start going more often. Oh yeah and of course better movies too.
I can't believe how infrequently I go the the theaters now... and I don't even DL/bootleg movies, I just don't watch them. - eclectro, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Let's start with enforceable no cell phone rules.
- JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+101 Free Ring. Once is understandable....
*ring ring* "Oh *****... I forgot to turn it on silent"
After that, the manager has the right to ask you to leave without any refund.
No Conversations during the movie. Go outside, you lazy ass bastard. - diggscreenname, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2When they start jamming cell phones then they will lose my business. That's the reason I have a cell phone, so I can be reached away from my computer or phone in case of an emergency. Its a shame that so many rude morons out there don't put there phone on vibrate and take the call in the lobby.
The 30 minutes of commercials have to go too. I didn't pay $20 to watch a bunch of commercials.
- JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+101 Free Ring. Once is understandable....
- Lostangel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10It's fairly simple. Don't charge $10 to watch a movie, and $6 for a popcorn, and $4 for a drink. The movie's are usually full of ads now (can skip them at home), the popcorn is dry and the butter is fake (I can make better at home), and my shoes stick to the floor which is covered in wet candy, spilled soda and odd reflective slippery substances. I'm pretty sure I can get a better experience with a hooker on Hollywood Blvd in my own car for $20. And she'll even clean up between customers.
- daRoach, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2And they try to kick you out when you bring in a burger.
- synaesthesia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11I'd visit a movie theatre for, say, five dollars. I accept either cash or paypal.
- PantherX, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Here's a better plan.
EXTRA TRAILERS (and no commercials) that start 30 minutes before the film... for those of us who love to find out what's coming out in the future... real movie buffs.
But before that, how about $5 or (*gasp*) less for admission? Perhaps charging a fair price for concessions?
THAT will get me back in the seats.
Back when movies were $5 I used to go EVERY weekend even if there wasn't a movie I wanted to see... I'd just go see something I had already seen and liked. $5 for two hours of entertainment is a good deal. And hell, I might buy a Coke and some candy... $2 each... (still high, but reasonable) and they got $9 from me... and the person I went with. Multiply that by the hundreds of people that still go, plus the hundreds of people that would go back and you're making quite a bit of money.
Movie theaters are a VOLUME business... and they seem to have forgotten this. Cheaper prices means more movie goers.
Corporate America: Put people who LOVE movies in charge of your theaters. You will see people flock back.- BioCS.Nerd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"Corporate America: Put people who LOVE movies in charge of your theaters. You will see people flock back"
Interesting fact for you. My local music chain recently began to hire people who clearly are not music lovers. Why? The muckity mucks believe these people alienate the customers. Perhaps music lovers tend to alienate customers, but what it does mean is that you have passionless drones working cash registers instead of passionate people pushing your product.
- BioCS.Nerd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"Corporate America: Put people who LOVE movies in charge of your theaters. You will see people flock back"
- bloodguard, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25The only thing that will lure me back are Ushers armed with tasers and pepper spray to take out:
Parents who bring small children to evening movies.
Talkers.
People who can't figure out how to turn off their cell phones.
Talkers.
People who eat with with their mouths open or chew ice.
Talkers.- BlindIrishman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19You forget the obnoxious pre-teen female that screams at every little thing to impress her friends demographic
- Lindquist, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I'll admit there's still a certain appeal to ripping on movies as you're walking out of the theater to your car and then on the way home. Theaters still seem like more of an "event" to remember than any home theater experience even if the movie did suck.
- Cymrubeats, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Better food and more than 7mm for your legs and 1mm for elbow room. Oh, and less ***** films.
- truebullfan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Why give coupons when you buy tix at a movie theater? So when you buy a ticket you get a $2 off your next one or some kind of card where after watching a 3-4 movies at the same theater your 5th when is on the house?
The #1 reason I dont go watch movies as much is b/c its expensive. Its like 40 bucks for a family of 4 to go and watch a movie. With that money you could pay netflix for four months. - TheGalacticFork, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Theatres:
1. Install cell-phone signal blocking paint.
2. Get rid of pre-show ads, bring back movie trivia
3. Make prices affordable
4. Start showing anime since it's a current trend in American teen culture.
5. Beer in the theatre....sounds like it could make movies far more interesting....
Hollywood:
1. Start writing interesting movies
2. Stop relying on pure special effects and sensory overload
3. Start making adult/teen oriented animated movies(See Final Fantasy movie...minus the end).- JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14"Start showing anime since it's a current trend in American teen culture."
You don't see how it works... the film industry pays these people to show ***** films with plotlines we've all seen before... it's like the music industry. - MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3everyone's talking about bringing beer into the theatre but getting rid of annoying people. what you lack the vision to see is when these annoying people are ineffectively weeded out and now have access to beer.
i think the best solution is crowd voting. it would be like americas funniest home vidoes minus bob sagat - just vote for the annoying person's chair number and the movie will be paused (a good time to take a piss) and that person will be removed by a nazi trooper and beaten to death at the front of the theatre room. there will then be a brief rush to the front to steal his wallet and clothes - that person will be disposed of - then the movie will resume and we can all have a great time..
no? - cmdrwhitewolf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0BTW - Anime & Final Fantasy are really lousy examples of how to make things better in the theaters... I mean, If Hollywood actually followed that particular piece of advice, I'd *definitely* have no reason to ever return to the theaters again!
- JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14"Start showing anime since it's a current trend in American teen culture."
- bebop717, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9If you ask the MPAA it's because people are stealing movies from the internet, if you ask me it's cause there is nothing playing at the movies that is worth $1.00 let alone $10.00.
- RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I've often wondered about the ethics of downloading a movie - but buying a ticket online for a non-busy time and then watching it at home instead of in a theater. Yes - it is illegal. But is it immoral? Doesn't the studio get it's cut still?
- Kamatz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6That's what you get when the environment is expensive and the species are annoying and inconsiderate.
- alex.will, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3People seem to be forgetting that going to a movie at home isn't 'free'. You have to pay large sums of money for your home theater set-up, movies (if you don't download them), recliner, and food.
- joelito, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Well, a basic home theater setup where I live cost $300 dollars one time, plus a video store rental of $4 the seats about $600/one time and about $10 in food for four. When you scale up to watching one movie every week means that you pay $208 in movies every year and $520 in movie food every year for a total of $1628 with new equipment and seats in the first year. In the movies you would spend $15 for each person every week, scale it up for a year and that amounts to $3120 without counting the ever increasing fuel prices and assuming spending $10 admision fee and $5 for food
- joelito, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Anyway my point is that it's still cheaper to rent movies and watching them at home. And it's even better if you were going to buy the seats and the home theater anyway. Or if it's your second year when you wouldn't have to replace them anyway. That's even assuming lower movie tickets like at $5.00 each person
- Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Wow, are the movie companies just plan retarded? Raised prices = bad. If they just lower ticket prices and consessions prices, people will flock back to the theatre. The movie studios need to go to a second-run movie theatre and see how packed it gets. I went to see Syrianna at a second-run movie theatre on a weeknight, and the place was plum full of people!! And all I paid overall was $10....$1.50 for the admission, and the rest was for concessions. I was kinda put off by the expensive consessions prices, but the cheap admission price made up for it.
The moviegoers are still there, they just don't want to spend a ***** of money, they can't put entertainment first all the time. I just read survey result where people stopped going because of the high concession prices. So movie theatres themselves are too blame as well.
So long story short, I love going to second-run theatres. - geeke, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I haven't been to the movies since 1999 "The Sixth Sense" was the last movie I have seen, I just use netflix now way way cheaper.
- FreyrVanir, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Didn't mean to post here sorry >.
- everfalling, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7lower snack prices. i'd pay 6 bucks to see a movie if i didn't have to pay 20 bucks in refreshments.
- tedddee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I agree, the RETARDED prices on food/snacks/drinks is the main reason I do not go.
- bmobile, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4i would almost agree if it werent for the fact that i work at a theater...we honestly make most of our money from concessions. its hard to run a company JUST off concession sales, so don't just blame this on the theater chains, part of the blame needs to rest on the movie studios who request such a LARGE percentage of the box office grosses.
- TheFoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I don't watch movies in theaters anymore. It's too much of a pain to spend $10 bucks to sit in a dirty theater and then be forced to watch 30 minutes of commercials and previews. And then most of the movies are usually remakes, sequels or based on an already established storyline (example: Silent Hill) so I know how most of the story goes anyway. And THEN I have to deal with ringing cellphones and PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ANSWER THEM IN THE THEATER. Sorry, I think I just had a Caps Lock malfunction there for a minute.
Suffice it to say, the last movie I saw in a theater was Wedding Crashers and in hindsight I should have just waited for the DVD. - RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3This summer, I am going to have my butt in a movie seat about twice as often as last summer...
1. MI-3 2. Da Vinci Code 3. Superman Returns 4. Xmen III 5. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 6. Snakes on a Plane (j/k). 6. The Lake House (my wife wants to see it)
Maybe if hollywood had every summer look as good going into it as this summer does - Movie theaters wouldn't have to find cheap tricks to get us to go.- 0x20boy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'll just wait for them to come out on video, and take the money and buy a new Mac :)
- bossm4n, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2They would have to pay me and offer free food for me to sit through MI3. They still owe me for the first two pieces of ***** that wasted my time and money.
- sonoca, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Its not that people dont want to go to the movies but there have been no good movies out at all. Going out Find parking paying 10 buck, buying really expensive, sitting through 15 to 20 mins of comercials then seeing an ok movie. Or just sit at home and watch the crap they have on there.
- rocketnick, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10If the movie theaters want to get their business back all they need to do is put customer service back as the #1 priority, I am an assistant manager at a movie theater in AZ, and we have seen our business decline significantly due to a huge megaplex opening nearby, however we are able to keep our attendance up, even on movies that are ALREADY OUT ON DVD, due to the fact that we actually treat our customers like humans. We kick out loud teenagers, we try to keep a lid on the screaming babies, and most importantly, we don't ***** people over on food prices
- Leonaken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4My local theater megaplex charges $8 for a student ticket; $10 for regular adults. For a typical movie ticket, pretty good. But it's still pretty expensive, especially when you have more and more people getting home solutions and being a lot more comfortable in their homes and not in a theater full of strangers.
If they lower the price of admission to, say, $6 for a ticket, I'll have more incentive to head out for a night at the theater. Right now, as a college student gasping for money as it is, it's just too expensive for me to just choose to go to see a movie. They can either not get $8 plus snack money from me or do get $5-$6 plus a popcorn. The latter involves more money in their register. - leftnutz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1We Promise, no comercials. . . *****. Some movies pimp out advertisements so bad it's like watching a damn commercial. Prime Example is The Benchwarmers and the blatent Pizza Hut references within. And as mediocre as that was, it's one of the few original looking movies out there that looked somewhat interesting.
With Gas prices the way they are, the high prices on tickets and snacks, trying to find a sitter, dealing with parking, dealing with the projectionist at times, dealing with 200 other people all with their own quirks, Why would I want to go out when I can see the movie I want in the comfort of my own home, have a beer if I want, PAUSE the movie if I need to take a leak or get something to eat, REWIND if I missed something, etc., And I can get to see the movie I want in a 6-month (or less) turnaround?
Not to mention, some theaters don't carry the movie I want to see. What If I want to see Zatoichi, or an unedited movie?
It's no contest. Especially if you have a big television and a very nice sound system. Sure, Maybe it's not as nice as the theater's picture and sound, but the benefits of in home far outweigh the negatives of the theater. - Tiggs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I did the math, and every time I personally walk in to the theatre, I blow a lot of dollars. Why? Sure, tickets are $7, but then you have to get a drink. Or maybe a popcorn. Or some something to munch on. By that time, I could have just waited for the movie to come out at Walmart on DVD, bought a metric ton of popcorn and candy and though I would have to battle soccer moms to the check out line, I know that when I get home at least I'll have the enviorment that I want.
- SectorNation, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Just goes to show you that the theater owners and Hollywood have no clue. Why would I want to pay a huge amount of money (compared to a rental, anyway) for a sub par experience? Sure the screen is big and the audio is good, but what good are those things when my reclining seat back is constantly being kicked by some idiot, theres talking during the movie, cell phones ringing, people playing with laser pointers, etc.
- radu79, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Maybe I will go to see movies more often when:
1. MPAA will cut the crap and stop suing people.
2. The movies will be actually worth seeing. - EnronFever, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2yeah....i agree with radu.
as i'm sure some wizen old guy once said: if you make non-***** movies, they will come... - Phil246, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3so they'll be tackling :
1) watered down and overpriced drinks
2) bland and expensive snacks
3) overpriced tickets
4) rediculous amount of adverts before the film
5) the sticky floors and uncomfortable chairs in theatres
6) lacklustre films with abysmal plots being shown
7) other members of the public who disrupt the film by talking, cell phones etc
boy they've got their work cut out for them. - nesagwa, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Its 6 dollars to see a movie on any given afternoon. 8 or so at night and on the weekend. Maybe if people quit going to high priced Movico's and 60 screen AMC's they wouldnt complain so much.
You dont need to stuff yourself full of popcorn and soda and snowcaps.
There will never be a replacement for theaters. - eadnams, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Sadly, nothing can duplicate the energy of a full theater... Which is why I go. Also, because nothing can dublicate a 30 foot screen :)
Theres still good movies being made, or at the very least, fun ones. they just arent the money makers. - jbus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7No Joke... I went to see Silent Hill & during the movie a scuffle broke out a few rows in front of us because some group of obnoxious teens were talking during the movie... Then about 20 minutes later some chic vomited all over the floor in the row right in front of us. Clearly going to the movie theater is not worth it even if a movie does turn out to be good.
I would pay $30 a pop to get DRMed to heck HD pay per views of a newly released movies in my home any day than to put up with BS like this. - gladding, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Here's an idea... start coming up with original movies. Instead of a third comic book sequel, oh, I dunno, make a movie about something that I've never heard of.
- eadnams, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Of course, you'll never hear about it if they made it ;). Studios (both TV and film) can't sell anything to save their lives unless it has a specific mass-target maket.
- diggduggjoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0There were less movies made in the past, so most people watched the same movie and talked about it at home and at work. Seeing the movie assisted you socially.
Now, they make tons of mediocre films and the universitality of a film is deminished. Aside from your friends possibly not seeing the film you saw, it sucked so bad you are trying to forget you blew your hard earned cash on it. Missing a movie saves you time and money.
But, remember, piracy is the root of all movie studio problems.
- Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think the movie studios overplayed their hand by raising ticket prices, and movie theatre owners overplayed theirs by raising concession prices.
- GamemasterB, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2The only reason movie goers are "endangered" are because the directiors keep making damn remakes!
- eadnams, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5you mean executive producers and studio execs... Directors... not so much.
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