Movie Theater Experiences

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flyonthewall2983 · Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:55 pm

A question on OkCupid reminded me of the time my mother's first date was with someone who brought all of his kids with them, and they went to see the Mel Gibson movie Payback. My brother tagged along, and I wisely stayed behind.

Movie-Brat · #477 Post by **Movie-Brat** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:33 pm

flyonthewall2983 wrote:A question on OkCupid reminded me of the time my mother's first date was with someone who brought all of his kids with them, and they went to see the Mel Gibson movie Payback. My brother tagged along, and I wisely stayed behind.

I can only imagine how that turned out given the circumstances.

flyonthewall2983 · Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:04 pm

Movie-Brat · #479 Post by **Movie-Brat** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:39 pm

More like wanting the need to smack the parents upside the head.

HitchcockLang · #480 Post by **HitchcockLang** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 12:02 am

We have a little second run budget theater in town where the tickets are only $2 and the movies come through right around the same time they come out on BD/DVD. The best thing about it though was that it was the only theater anywhere nearby that still showed real films through a film projector.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I took some friends there, bragging about how this place that was too cheap to "upgrade" to digital was the last place around to see real films and when we sat down to see Spike Jonze's Her, we were treated to 3 or 4 separate announcements: "Now equipped with the latest in DIGITAL theater technology." The line that really got me was, "It's BETTER in digital."

I feel really sad that my little film theater has finally gone the way of converting to all digital projection (but I guess it was inevitable). None of my friends understand...

sir_luke · #481 Post by **sir_luke** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:16 am

In Tulsa, OK, last night there was a special tribute to the films of Wes Anderson at the Philbrook museum, with a few hundred people turning out (many in costumes!). Matt Zoller Seitz was the guest speaker (he's a very likeable guy; funny, extremely knowledgeable, and easygoing), and the evening ended with a screening of Bottle Rocket at Circle Cinema, our only independent theatre.
I know the forum has mixed feelings about the film. I love it, flaws and all, and have always counted it among Wes Anderson's best works. But the screening was one of the most enjoyable I've been to in recent months, because the theatre (though relatively small) was packed with people who really knew and revered Anderson's work, and I think most knew this particular film very well. There was no talking, no distractions, just 70 or so people intently watching the screen. Lots of loud, genuine laughter at all the right moments. I can't imagine that the film has ever had a better audience. It's only a pity the man himself wasn't there to experience it.

#482 Post by **mfunk9786** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:30 pm

I have to give a very unexpected thumbs-up to AMC's new line of dine-in theaters. There's one of these near us now (the closest movie theater to where my wife and I live, in fact) and despite the slightly increased cost for evening shows, it's an insane value for matinees [and Mondays are matinee prices all day], as they're still cheaper than Regal matinees despite the 21+ only "Cinema Suites" auditoriums featuring recliners (full out La-Z-Boy recliners) and the ability to (shockingly quietly/undistractingly) order food and drinks from your seat. There's nothing quite like drinking a tall glass of local beer in a reclining chair and watching a first run movie with a 21+ age restriction for other people in the auditorium.

Ours is a 9 screen theater: 3 are regular auditoriums with upgraded seats, 3 are "Fork and Screen" (all ages if accompanied by an adult, no reclining seats but at-seat food and drink service), and 3 are "Cinema Suites" (the ones I described above). I was skeptical at first for obvious reasons, but I'm a believer for anything that's not a really serious film that I want to be able to give 100% of my attention to at every moment. It was a lot of fun to see stuff like Edge of Tomorrow and 22 Jump Street there, and I'll certainly be going back.

sir_luke · #483 Post by **sir_luke** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:40 am

The AMC close to me has undergone a pretty impressive renovation. We haven't gotten the dine-in service (which sounds great) but all of the screens now feature the recliners. As someone whose near-biggest complaint about theaters has always been the uncomfortable seating, this is really, really nice.

#484 Post by **Jeff** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:54 am

There was actually an article about the recent AMC upgrades at The Dissolve today. There's one not far from me with the full food and beverage service and reclining seats, but I haven't had an opportunity to check it out yet.

Denver has several dine-in theaters, with the Alamo Drafthouse being my favorite model. It's distraction free, a cinematic church. The food is pretty good for bar food (everything from scratch in house), and the tap selection is fantastic.

I think that we're going to see a lot more theaters moving to this model. In the 50s, studios and exhibitors turned to 3-D and Cinemascope to lure viewers away from that kooky new television fad. Now that home theaters are so sophisticated, they're going to be looking for new ways to make the cinema experience special.

#485 Post by **domino harvey** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:27 am

In the G+T class in middle school we had to design and floorplan a building and I envisioned a movie theater with recliners and food service and a bar and so on and the whole class spent all period tearing it apart and talking about how stupid and impractical it was. Finally, vindication!

#486 Post by **domino harvey** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:29 am

Also, I would pay a surcharge to go see a movie at a no cell phones or talking enforced theater. Like the quiet trains on an Amtrak. People would presumably feel the pressure to live up to the bargain by paying more themselves and being surrounded by others who also did, and surely such audiences would turn on any transgressors much faster as well.

#487 Post by **mfunk9786** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:42 am

It's quite amazing the effect that the 21+ dine in has on cell phone use and talking - the staff skulking around, carefully crouched and speaking at a decibel level below a whisper - seems to get other people to do the same - and seats are so far apart from one another that minor checking of a cell phone or a whisper between two people (let alone eating a cheeseburger and fries) isn't even noticeable over the sound of the movie once it's started. The trailers play with the lights up and initial orders being quietly finalized, but after that it's all business. LQ remarked that the atmosphere is that of visiting a very wealthy friend's home theater - everyone's sort of on their best behavior - and even if there's a bit of activity, the surroundings absorb it in a way that a theater where everyone is on top of each other wouldn't.

#488 Post by **Jeff** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:44 am

domino harvey wrote:Also, I would pay a surcharge to go see a movie at a no cell phones or talking enforced theater.

Alamo will throw your ass out. Here's one of the trailers they've run before shows. (NSFW: Language)

Professor Wagstaff · Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:13 am

I'm not sure where that'll leave you if you want to see a kids movie. I hadn't been to a dine-in theatre until I moved down to the DFW region of Texas. I went to this chain called The Movie Tavern and found the experience a mixed bag. Tickets are more cost effective, but when I went to see The LEGO Movie and Muppets Most Wanted, parents treated the theatre like a Chuck-E-Cheese with their kids running and screaming through the aisles while a bunch more children ran up to the screen to dance to songs.

In the fall I went to an AMC dine-in for a pre-Thanksgiving marathon I do every year and I must admit the digs were pretty nice and the staff first rate, but the prices were brutal even for the matinee. As a loan viewer who didn't eat or drink anything, the whole venture was a costly day, particularly when the movies I went to see were only in limited release and they'd only play them in the expensive auditoriums. Prices are relatively affordable in my part of Texas, so I can only imagine what that will mean for my home state of NJ where I paid $15 to see The Wolf of Wall Street and the idea of matinee prices simply don't exist at most places. I'd rather save a few bucks and risk a crowded theatre where I might have to yell at someone to stop texting, but I didn't even have the option.

#490 Post by **swo17** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:26 am

Comfortable reclining chairs have their downside though. I don't care what you're watching--the urge to take a brisk catnap can sometimes be very difficult to resist!

#491 Post by **mfunk9786** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:50 am

Professor Wagstaff wrote:I'm not sure where that'll leave you if you want to see a kids movie. I hadn't been to a dine-in theatre until I moved down to the DFW region of Texas. I went to this chain called The Movie Tavern and found the experience a mixed bag. Tickets are more cost effective, but when I went to see The LEGO Movie and Muppets Most Wanted, parents treated the theatre like a Chuck-E-Cheese with their kids running and screaming through the aisles while a bunch more children ran up to the screen to dance to songs.

In the fall I went to an AMC dine-in for a pre-Thanksgiving marathon I do every year and I must admit the digs were pretty nice and the staff first rate, but the prices were brutal even for the matinee. As a loan viewer who didn't eat or drink anything, the whole venture was a costly day, particularly when the movies I went to see were only in limited release and they'd only play them in the expensive auditoriums. Prices are relatively affordable in my part of Texas, so I can only imagine what that will mean for my home state of NJ where I paid $15 to see The Wolf of Wall Street and the idea of matinee prices simply don't exist at most places. I'd rather save a few bucks and risk a crowded theatre where I might have to yell at someone to stop texting, but I didn't even have the option.

Wow, dine-in matinee prices at my local AMC are $7 (or $10 for the Cinema Suites). In the evening, it's $11 and $13 (I believe). As for the kids' movies - of course - I can't imagine ever rolling the dice on seeing a kids' film in one of the Fork and Screen (18+ unless accompanied by an adult) auditoriums. But then again, I'm a grown man and they're children's films - it's a bit unrealistic for me to expect a quiet filmgoing experience when surrounded by children that aren't mine, so if I really need to see a film like that (it's been a while), I'll go to the latest show possible.

wattsup32 · #492 Post by **wattsup32** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 12:28 pm

I'm glad you're having luck with the Dine-In theaters at AMC. You're near or in Philly, no? I'll have to try that one out. The three I've tried in central Jersey have been great for taking my kids to as I don't generally care much about the movies we're seeing and they love the novelty of ordering and eating full meals in the movie (and the food is OK for the most part). I've seen a couple of movies there without the kids and haven't enjoyed them as much because the food ordering and bustle of the waitstaff is very distracting. Also, they keep the theater pretty bright so that waitstaff can see. There are lights--bright ones--right on each seat.

I generally like AMC quite a bit. They're tough to beat for the best mainstream fare, or the indie that makes it into multiplexes for some reason (and near NYC, the AMCs will often reserve a screen or two for these types of movies). The seats, screens, and sound are all really good (though the sound can be deafening at times). The matinee prices are terrific and the reward program is amazing (for 25 dollars in membership fees over the last two years, we've gotten over $200 in rewards, online fees waived, and concession upgrades).

I would kill for an Alamo Drafthouse here in Jersey. I'm not sure how much more I'd be willing to pay for a talking/texting free experience, but it would be a lot. I am not ashamed to admit I was brought up and partook in a violent and volatile environment, but I am ashamed to admit that in my adult, cushy, safe suburban existence I've almost come to blows 5-10 times--every one of those due to someone not exercising common courtesy (or following the stated rules) in a movie theater and then reacting poorly when I (always, at first, politely) call them out on it.

One of the most remarkable things I experience is that, in a mixed ages crowd, the adults are invariably worse behaved than the children and react with less civility than children when asked to behave properly.

#493 Post by **cdnchris** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 1:05 pm

swo17 wrote:Comfortable reclining chairs have their downside though. I don't care what you're watching--the urge to take a brisk catnap can sometimes be very difficult to resist!

This proves to be a problem for other reasons for me (there's one close to where I live.) Not that it was a good film by any measure, but I took my wife to see that Elizabeth Olson horror film with the "one long take" (too lazy to look up title) and people were falling asleep in the seats and snoring. Aggravatingly dull movie only made more aggravating by that.

Also, my father-in-law came along with us to see Drive and since he has trouble staying awake during stuff like Edge of Tomorrow he naturally kept nodding off more so than usual and I'm sure it had to do with the seats. He kept snoring and my wife had to wake him up constantly.

Oddly he actually liked the movie.

#494 Post by **mfunk9786** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:03 pm

wattsup32 wrote:I've seen a couple of movies there without the kids and haven't enjoyed them as much because the food ordering and bustle of the waitstaff is very distracting. Also, they keep the theater pretty bright so that waitstaff can see. There are lights--bright ones--right on each seat.

I think you have to go in with the expectation that the waitstaff is going to be walking around - but at least near us, they're incredibly well prepared for their jobs, keeping their bodies low to the ground and moving quickly, and speaking very softly. The theater is kept bright until the film starts, and then it's perhaps not quite as dark as an arthouse theater gets, but is about on par with a typical multiplex auditorium, maybe slightly brighter. But you sort of have to go in expecting that you're not going to be able to give 100% attention to the film at every moment - I expect that in a normal theatrical atmosphere, but not if I know that 20 minutes in, I'm going to be quickly asked if I want another beer (yes, I do). I'll take 99% attention to a somewhat more lightweight film and the ability to get actual reasonably priced, decent tasting food and alcohol served to me at my seat over 100% attention and $12 pretzel bites with nacho cheese after a long wait in line at the concession stand any day.

Like I keep saying [sorry]: I wouldn't expect to see Boyhood or Inherent Vice or whathaveyou there for the first time and be entirely satisfied with that experience. But 22 Jump Street? Sure!

colinr0380 · #495 Post by **colinr0380** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:52 pm

cdnchris wrote:This proves to be a problem for other reasons for me (there's one close to where I live.) Not that it was a good film by any measure, but I took my wife to see that Elizabeth Olson horror film with the "one long take" (too lazy to look up title) and people were falling asleep in the seats and snoring. Aggravatingly dull movie only made more aggravating by that.

Silent House (My developing one-take reaction to that film!: :-s

](*,) :^o

)

misterjunior · #496 Post by **misterjunior** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:14 pm

I went to see L'avventura at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD with my mother a couple of weeks ago. It's about a two hour drive from where we live but the opportunity to see such a beautiful film on the big screen was too good to pass up. It's one of my favorite Antonionis, while she had never seen it. Of Antonioni's work she had only seen Blow-Up previously; she's a Baby Boomer and told me that while she was in college it was a minor sensation among some of the more "high-minded" of her peers. As I suppose is the case with a lot of people who see movies they've enjoyed previously on some home video format at a theater, the experience was revelatory. I wouldn't go so far as saying it was like seeing the film for the first time, but it was more immersive and hypnotic in that setting. I only wish we'd been able to catch one or two of the other Antonioni films they were screening that month.

My main reason for posting, though, is to give the AFI Silver Theater my whole-hearted recommendation. Beyond the fact that they show an incredible number of great films, the theater itself is wonderful: huge, comfortable seats with plenty of space between the rows, large trays between seats with cupholders that are actually large enough to accomodate the massive sodas that theaters sell and a selection of food and beverages that extends beyond the usual soda/popcorn/candy fare. We have a Bowtie Cinemas theater in our town, but the Silver Theater surpasses even that in terms of comfort and overall presentation.

It's not exactly a hop, skip and a jump for me to get there, as I said, and doing so involves traveling up 95 and dealing with DC/NVA traffic, but I'll definitely be making some more trips up there from time to time, perhaps as soon as later this month to see Anthony Mann's The Fall of the Roman Empire.

D50 · #497 Post by **D50** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:47 am

Went to see Calvary the other week. Sparse attendance, maybe a half dozen. I sat in the lower third, aisle. After the film starts, out of the corner of my eye, I see someone walk along the right wall to the front and stop right under the screen, turn on their flashlight (cinema employee), turn around and walk back out. Alrighty. This was after the opening. He does this again after the half way mark.

After the showing the Manger is right there at the concession register so I mention it to him. He is totally indifferent. The next day I typed up a letter to Regal Entertainment Group in Knoxville TN. Got the reply today apologizing and saying they will have a word with the Manager. They included two tickets (also for 3D or any special showing) with 2099 expiration dates.

CSM126 · #498 Post by **CSM126** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:39 pm

The flashlight thing is an issue for me too. The local regal has apparently posted sign-off sheets right under the screens in each auditorium, so every time the usher walks through they have to stop, take out a flashlight and pen, and initial the damn thing. Why it couldn't be in a less noticeable area is beyond me.

flyonthewall2983 · Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:44 pm

It's amazing what can still get done if people write letters.

#500 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:57 pm

Cinemas in France have pulled Annabelle from theatrical release due to riots occurring at screenings

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