Movies Should Be Free

Yep. Couldn't agree more, Marine. I don't even mind a few movie trailers, but 14 is crazy. All the reasons you mentioned is why I wait for them to hit my local video store. It's cheaper and more comfortable. I can sit in my livingroom, never have to listen to loud mouths near me who have no respect for the other people who paid money to see the show and eat better and cheaper in the process. It's a win-win, really.

LOL...good read. You're right about all the previews before the movie is actually shown. My son goes to the movies at least once a week (he's a huge movie buff)....I don't know how he tolerates it. I'm like Grisham....I'd rather wait for a movie to come out on DVD.

I agree. In the good old days, they showed cartoons before the movie started. If I'm paying for the ticket, I shouldn't have to watch ads - or the theater should show the time the actual feature starts, so you can come in at the right time.

I actually look forward to movie previews, but 14? Of course, how big of a gap was there between the scheduled start time of the movie and when you go to your set? Because I typically get a set 15-30 minutes before the scheduled start time (that start time does include 3-4 previews), but for that 15-30 minute waiting period, I really would not mind watching 15 previews.

I usually eat before I get to the theater, but I typically get a small soda to support the theater.

I prefer to see a movie the day or weekend it comes out, because I enjoy being surround by individuals who are also looking forward to the movie. I enjoy sharing the experience with others.

"Why not get cheaper actors, writers, etc.?"

The entertainment business is based on supply and demand, just as any other capitalist industry. Lets take Black Swan as an example. The movie was horrible. It was a complete melodrama. And at times, I had to stifle laughs. However, Natalie Portman is HOT right now. Although the plot sounded very intriguing, she was the initial reason this movie got any attention, and the reason why people loved it. If they has hired a "cheaper actor" to play her role, i promise the movie would have flopped.
It is NOT fair to anybody, I agree. As an actress, I can think of many examples where an unknown actress could have done a phenomenal job in a role that a big name stunk up (anything with Miley Cyrus.) As we speak there are plans to remake the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. The two names rumored to be offered the title role? Megan Fox and Vanessa Hudgens. Hiring one of these actresses will bring in a younger and larger demographic (and alienate loyal Buffy fans.) Also, Joss Whedon, the man who CREATED the Buffy universe, has not been invited onto the project. They ARE going for a cheaper, unknown writer and people are furious about it.

All of this really just goes to say; its not as simple as free tickets and no previews. This is how people make their living, or don't. If you feel so strongly about it, try the dollar theaters. There are some good ones.

PS. Free popcorn tricks: Buy a small, eat half of it, crunch it up and go complain about it and ask for more.
OR get to the theatre before they clean it from the last movie. Search for larges, clean them out, and ask for a free refill.

one word for you. Arclight Cinemas. It's how movie theaters should be run! My wife and I won't go anywhere else.

You can buy the tickets online. It's assigned seating (not general admission). The movie time listed is the time the film's first frame starts playing. You can show up one minute before the movie starts, and your seat is ready and waiting for you. Ushers stay in the theater throughout the show to ensure picture and sound are correct and also escort anyone causing disturbances OUT, without waiting for other movie-goers to complain.

the seats are wider than normal theaters and more padded, the armrests are twice as wide (and fold up) compared to normal theaters and there is something like 6 or 8" more space between rows compared to normal theaters. And all the theaters are stadium seating.

Each arclight has a restaurant in it, and when you are seated they ask what show time you have. They make sure all your food and check come out in time for you to finish eating and make it to the show. For those that drink alcohol, there is a full bar in the restaurant plus they have 21+ showings of films in the theater(s) right next to the bar. The whole area is roped off and you can bring your drinks into the theater with you.

All the theaters have digital projection and great digital sound systems. All the theaters are also acoustically treated, which means they sound GOOD.

Best of all, the Arclight in Hollywood (if you are ever in hollywood) has the "cineramadome" theater. It's a roughly 800 seat movie theater with a dome ceiling and a HUGE (something like 80ft) screen. The sound system is incredible there too, it has around 50 speakers, with all the surround speakers' placements calculated by computer. Action movies are awesome in there. I highly recommend it.

https://www.arclightcinemas.com/

If you are an avid movie-goer and don't have an arclight near you, you should write to them and tell them they should open one in your area. They have been expanding and taking over some Showtime and AMC theaters around LA. They do display ads and movie trailers, but since seating is assigned, you don't have to sit through the ads and trailers to ensure you got the seat you wanted. When you buy the tickets (either online or at the ticket counter) you see a map/seating chart of the theater and can see which seats are open (just like buying tickets for a sports game or concert). You could wait and just show up right when the movie starts, or hang out at the restaurant or bar until the movie start time. It's great!

I love going to the movies. Nothing is better than sitting in a comfortable seat and seeing the big screen. Some of the advertisements are pretty good and we get confused with adds and previews. Then the movie comes on and what happens next? Someone sits nearby with a large popcorn that smells so good and I am starving for some. but weighing the cost of popcorn and drinks, I couldn't afford to buy it. they would sell a lot more if they lowered the prices. I just can't see paying for my ticket (senior discount) and spending $13 or $14 for snacks. Sometimes I think the film producers should get the actors for a cheaper rate. If they offered $2 million and the actress or actor wanted $20 million and a cut of the profits, then just go somewhere else.

You know you could simply go to the library and check out a movie it is free after all plus you don;t have to watch to watch the previews if you don't want.

Who goes to movies to watch the movies, anyway?

No one who's been at the theater the last couple of times I've been, anyway.

Screw'em. Theaters have had the last of the money I've spent on their product.