Movie theater experiences....good and bad....

jujube

jujube

SF VIP
Location
I think I'm in Florida, but I'm not sure any more.
I haven't been in a movie theater for well over two years, but Saturday I took the littles to see the new Wonka movie.

I was really surprised at how well everyone behaved at the move. I'm not talking about the littles, even though they behaved impeccably. I'm talking about the audience.

One of the reasons I quit going to theaters even before Covid was that it was so annoying how people behaved there. Talking loudly, receiving and making phone calls, messaging (beep-beep-beep-beep), kicking seats, getting up and down, spilling drinks and popcorn, babies crying and not being taken out. I can't imagine that they behave like that in their homes (but maybe they do?)......why behave like that in a theater.

Anyhow, it was a delight. I may go more often. While we were waiting for the movie to start, the 10-year-old asked me if I had ever seen anything strange happen in a theater. So, I told her a couple of stories.

There was a theater many years ago that I think was the oldest one in town. It was a one-screener, but it was HUGE! One night my late husband and I went to see a sci-fi movie there. As I remember it took place in an underwater mining facility and something slimy and watery was stalking people and the movie was pretty intense.

Besides us, the only people in the huge theater were a young couple with a toddler that they were letting wander around the place. We got to a very scary part and I was on the edge of my seat when YOW! something cold and sticky grabbed my ankle. I screamed and jumped up. It was the toddler who had crawled (YUK! that floor!) under my seat from behind and grabbed my ankle. I'm just glad I didn't kick him but I don't know which one of us were more scared. He was bawling and I almost peed my pants.

Another time, the only people in the theater were us and two young teenage girls. We were sitting up high and they were sitting down near the screen. A scruffy-looking older man came in and sat directly behind them. The girls got up and moved to the other side. He moved again to behind them and started talking to them. They moved again to the other side and, of course, he moved behind them again.

At that point, I got up, walked down to the girls and said, "Girls, I think it would be best if you moved up near to us." I snapped at the guy, "AND YOU! YOU SIT THERE AND DON'T MOVE!" He started to sputter at me and I said, "SIT! STAY! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT! DO YOU HEAR ME?" The girls moved up by us and he left the theater.

Once a fight broke out between two groups. I mean punching and shoving. The movie was stopped and the police called. We all got our money back and free tickets.

It's been so much better to stay home and watch movies in the comfort of my own lounger, but some movies are MEANT to be seen on the big screen. I just might start going again occasionally now that the experience is better....with comfortable reclining seats and IMAX screens.
 

jujube said:
I haven't been in a movie theater for well over two years, but Saturday I took the littles to see the new Wonka movie.

I was really surprised at how well everyone behaved at the move. I'm not talking about the littles, even though they behaved impeccably. I'm talking about the audience.

One of the reasons I quit going to theaters even before Covid was that it was so annoying how people behaved there. Talking loudly, receiving and making phone calls, messaging (beep-beep-beep-beep), kicking seats, getting up and down, spilling drinks and popcorn, babies crying and not being taken out. I can't imagine that they behave like that in their homes (but maybe they do?)......why behave like that in a theater.

Anyhow, it was a delight. I may go more often. While we were waiting for the movie to start, the 10-year-old asked me if I had ever seen anything strange happen in a theater. So, I told her a couple of stories.

There was a theater many years ago that I think was the oldest one in town. It was a one-screener, but it was HUGE! One night my late husband and I went to see a sci-fi movie there. As I remember it took place in an underwater mining facility and something slimy and watery was stalking people and the movie was pretty intense.

Besides us, the only people in the huge theater were a young couple with a toddler that they were letting wander around the place. We got to a very scary part and I was on the edge of my seat when YOW! something cold and sticky grabbed my ankle. I screamed and jumped up. It was the toddler who had crawled (YUK! that floor!) under my seat from behind and grabbed my ankle. I'm just glad I didn't kick him but I don't know which one of us were more scared. He was bawling and I almost peed my pants.

Another time, the only people in the theater were us and two young teenage girls. We were sitting up high and they were sitting down near the screen. A scruffy-looking older man came in and sat directly behind them. The girls got up and moved to the other side. He moved again to behind them and started talking to them. They moved again to the other side and, of course, he moved behind them again.

At that point, I got up, walked down to the girls and said, "Girls, I think it would be best if you moved up near to us." I snapped at the guy, "AND YOU! YOU SIT THERE AND DON'T MOVE!" He started to sputter at me and I said, "SIT! STAY! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT! DO YOU HEAR ME?" The girls moved up by us and he left the theater.

Once a fight broke out between two groups. I mean punching and shoving. The movie was stopped and the police called. We all got our money back and free tickets.

It's been so much better to stay home and watch movies in the comfort of my own lounger, but some movies are MEANT to be seen on the big screen. I just might start going again occasionally now that the experience is better....with comfortable reclining seats and IMAX screens.
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Wow! What interesting stories! Thanks for sharing.
 
jujube said:
Up to $18 from what I could see. I unearthed some old passes that had to be at least 10 years old. The cashier had to call a manager to validate them but they worked.

And don't even ask about the cost of popcorn and sodas and candy...it would take your appetite away
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I know the 3D movies are more expensive than the regular prices. Do you ask for a senior discount? Our tickets average around 12-13 dollars.
 
I never had anything weird happen, but I really don't like the theater going experience. It costs a lot and doesn't deliver anything that justifies the price.

Even $12.00 is too much to pay.

Max Max Road Fury was the last movie I saw in theaters because it is a big screen type of movie.

Anything with a really good script is better seen at home on DVD and with the subtitles on.
 
palides2021 said:
I know the 3D movies are more expensive than the regular prices. Do you ask for a senior discount? Our tickets average around 12-13 dollars.
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I used the passes this time so didn't have to ask for a discount. I'll always ask for a senior discount anywhere.

I'm sure there are cheaper theaters. This was at the mall and they're the highest, well except for the ones in the tourist areas, Disney, etc. We used to have $1 movie houses all over the place but they're all gone....didn't survive Covid.
 
Sounds like an idea for a sweatshirt: "Eligible For Senior Discount" then no need to ask.

Hope no trickster makes the back with "Objects In The Rear May Be Larger Than They Appear."
 
jujube said:
I haven't been in a movie theater for well over two years, but Saturday I took the littles to see the new Wonka movie.

I was really surprised at how well everyone behaved at the move. I'm not talking about the littles, even though they behaved impeccably. I'm talking about the audience.

One of the reasons I quit going to theaters even before Covid was that it was so annoying how people behaved there. Talking loudly, receiving and making phone calls, messaging (beep-beep-beep-beep), kicking seats, getting up and down, spilling drinks and popcorn, babies crying and not being taken out. I can't imagine that they behave like that in their homes (but maybe they do?)......why behave like that in a theater.

Anyhow, it was a delight. I may go more often. While we were waiting for the movie to start, the 10-year-old asked me if I had ever seen anything strange happen in a theater. So, I told her a couple of stories.

There was a theater many years ago that I think was the oldest one in town. It was a one-screener, but it was HUGE! One night my late husband and I went to see a sci-fi movie there. As I remember it took place in an underwater mining facility and something slimy and watery was stalking people and the movie was pretty intense.

Besides us, the only people in the huge theater were a young couple with a toddler that they were letting wander around the place. We got to a very scary part and I was on the edge of my seat when YOW! something cold and sticky grabbed my ankle. I screamed and jumped up. It was the toddler who had crawled (YUK! that floor!) under my seat from behind and grabbed my ankle. I'm just glad I didn't kick him but I don't know which one of us were more scared. He was bawling and I almost peed my pants.

Another time, the only people in the theater were us and two young teenage girls. We were sitting up high and they were sitting down near the screen. A scruffy-looking older man came in and sat directly behind them. The girls got up and moved to the other side. He moved again to behind them and started talking to them. They moved again to the other side and, of course, he moved behind them again.

At that point, I got up, walked down to the girls and said, "Girls, I think it would be best if you moved up near to us." I snapped at the guy, "AND YOU! YOU SIT THERE AND DON'T MOVE!" He started to sputter at me and I said, "SIT! STAY! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT! DO YOU HEAR ME?" The girls moved up by us and he left the theater.

Once a fight broke out between two groups. I mean punching and shoving. The movie was stopped and the police called. We all got our money back and free tickets.

It's been so much better to stay home and watch movies in the comfort of my own lounger, but some movies are MEANT to be seen on the big screen. I just might start going again occasionally now that the experience is better....with comfortable reclining seats and IMAX screens.
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I go to movie theaters quite often when my partner is at work. But then I go during the week so there are very few people there. There was one movie I went to see where there were quite a few people. No one was talking and everyone shut off their phones when the movie started. I've never had any issues, even when theaters were full. We always sit in the very back row because most people tend to sit toward the middle.

The two of us also went to see Wonka today. We saw it in ScreenX, which is high def and also projects the movie on the side walls. The cinematography was amazing. The movie itself was what I expected. Charming and entertaining. Not the best movie I've seen this year but worth the price.
 
seadoug said:
I go to movie theaters quite often when my partner is at work. But then I go during the week so there are very few people there. There was one movie I went to see where there were quite a few people. No one was talking and everyone shut off their phones when the movie started. I've never had any issues, even when theaters were full. We always sit in the very back row because most people tend to sit toward the middle.

The two of us also went to see Wonka today. We saw it in ScreenX, which is high def and also projects the movie on the side walls. The cinematography was amazing. The movie itself was what I expected. Charming and entertaining. Not the best movie I've seen this year but worth the price.
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We plan to see Wonka soon. I am curious why you didn't rate it as "the best movie" you've seen this year. What took away from having that distinction? Just curious.
 
palides2021 said:
We plan to see Wonka soon. I am curious why you didn't rate it as "the best movie" you've seen this year. What took away from having that distinction? Just curious.
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I just didn't think it had much substance, but it was entertaining, visually interesting and fun to watch. It is pretty much like the previous Willie Wonka movies. Spoiler alert... Hugh Grant is hilarious as an Oompa-Loompa.

I actually prefer more thought-provoking movies. My favorite of the year was Godzilla, which has been discussed in an earlier thread, and the Holdovers.

I would say it is still worth watching. It gives you a few giggles and tugs at your heart strings at times.
 
When I was about 9 years old I opened the doors and entered the theater. It was dark and I couldn't see. Just as I was getting my vision a teenager barfs all over the front of me. Really. I sat through the movie....(after getting cleaned up ). It didn't give me PTSD. :)
 
To be honest, I'm not awed by a big movie screen. To get the same effect, just sit closer to your TV. Yeah, the audience's reactions do add to the experience-maybe. And the audience has grown up about making distractive noises. I started going back to the movies. Turns out there are only two kinds of movies- action flicks for 14 year old boys, and chick flicks for 20+ women. The movies are technologically great- well filmed, well acted, but really short on a good story. They've got 22 minutes of story in a two and a half hour flick, so they stuff it with something-anything
 
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Some of the movie theaters in our area have these beautiful chairs that are like lounge chairs where you can lean back and lift your feet (recliner seats). It makes for comfortable viewing. Also, the visual and audio experience is unmatched. I cannot get this at home. I like the experience also, because I get to see previews for the next movies, which is nice. I don't do it often, but going to the theater is usually reserved for a holiday or special treat.
 
I remember when I was living in New York City, I would go to a double feature at one of those cheap Times Square theaters. People would always talk during the movies. If you complained, someone would curse at you and told you that they paid for their ticket, so they can do or say what they want. It got to a point where I started paying more money to go to a theater with a better class of people.
 
Remember what going to the movies was like "back then"?

Newsreels, cartoons, maybe a drawing, and then TWO features....the main one and a b-movie or a re-run.

Nobody cared how long you stayed. When it got killing hot outside, people would head for the theaters and stay all day. You got your money's worth.
 

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