Inspired by this post, I thought I’d share a little bit about going to the theater.
When I go to see a movie at a theater, I ONLY go because it is the only place that I can see the movie. Theaters are preconditions for seeing new movies. The trouble is, they are completely unnecessary. Theaters provide no value, and thus, are dieing, especially with the coming of ultra-convenient ways of getting movies like Netflix.
A typical theater experience probably starts with an annoying wait at the ticket line. Around Pittsburgh, the tickets cost between 8 and 10 dollars, depending on where you go. If I want a drink and a snack, I have to pay about $3 per item; one drink and snack each, thats $12. So far, I’m just about at $30 for a movie that I have no idea if I will enjoy. Once I get into the theater, I will not be able to get a seat that I want. There is spilled soda and spilled popcorn by my feet. There is at least one loud person in the crowd that is there to annoy me. Finally, as I leave the theater, I’ll be stuck in traffic. For whatever reason, as soon as people finish watching a movie, they forget how to drive.
Complain, complain, complain, you say. I say this: all of these issues add up to me not wanting to see movies. Times have changed. Netflix makes getting all of the movies that I want painless. I can sit at home, have three movies to pick from, and eat or drink whatever I want, all for less than ~$25 per month.
Notice that I NEVER said that I don’t like going to theaters because I can download the movie illegally anyway. Unless it is an old movie (IE a dvd rip), the movie will have horrible quality. If it is an old one, when I do download it, there is the problem of getting it from my computer to my TV. While I’m downloading it, there is a high chance that I will not actually get the movie that I thought I was. Downloading movies illegally sucks.
I don’t mind paying for things that I want. I just hate paying for things that I don’t want.
How to convince ME to go to the theaters:
- Make good movies. That way, I’ll be sure to enjoy whatever movie that I’m going to see.
- Give me cheaper concessions. McDonalds can make money by selling soda much cheaper than you, so why don’t you? Know what happens whenever you charge as much as you do for food? I do not buy it. That is 0 profit. IF I want something, I’ll just sneak it in.
- Clean the theaters well.
- Reduce crowds.
Notice that I did not ask that the tickets be cheaper. I think they are high, but I’m not opposed to paying high prices for good services (Lowes theaters: I do not mean that I want to pay 14$ for premium seats, you cheap jerks).
Point is, stop blaming the downloaders. You, the collective media system, are killing yourselves.
March 21, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I totally agree with you here. I personally enjoy the theater experience, I grew up going to movies, something about getting some friends together, possibly a girl you’re into, and all going to the theater for a night of film is a fun experience. Like you said, I don’t mind the high ticket prices, I’m paying for the experience. I particularly enjoy the insanely huge screen, the surround sound and general atmosphere. But a movie experience is easily destroyed by loud morons or a dark screen or sound that isn’t loud enough.
And I can’t remember the last time I paid for concessions at a movie. I think the only reason anyone would is to impress a girlfriend. Like, “Yeah, check out the bills I’m droppin’ on this Cherry Coke and Sour Patch Kids bitch. What.”