Why do YOU not go to the movies anymore?

[AbeBeta]

you all are just going to the wrong kind of theaters -- find yourself a small, independent place that doesn't only show the big hollywood stuff. Also, at the small places you can usually bring in whatever you want. We always take beer, wine, a flask of whiskey, whatever you want.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

There are really only 3 reasons why I go to the movies now:

1) social excuse, something to do, dates, family, friends, etc.

2) huge cgi extravaganzas, if I'm going to watch a 100' screen with a million watt sound system, I want the movies that REALLY use it!

3) movies that are fun with crowds, I used to go see all of Schwarzenegger's premieres and you could always tell all his fans were there because we'd all cheer after each kill! comedies are great with the right crowds too

 

[Rack]

1. Prices for movies are getting more and more ridiculous.


2. Movies haven't been as good the past few years. Correction: There has been some good ones, just not as many as there used to be.


3. Hollywood is still making millions. All those actors, directors, producers, etc... need to shut their mouths and quit whining.

 

[HTownCowboysFan]

I got all the time. Of course, I don't pay for it, but I still go.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

Surprisingly, no one has mentioned about the one annoying person in the crowd. Either having their cell phone ringing over and over. The idiots that bring their very young baby that wants to cry continiously. The one with a bellowing laugh or scream. To keep out of trouble, I wait for the DVD or On-Demand.

As far as price, I live about 30 minutes from an old theatre that has the most current released movies but still charge the "good ole days" rates. When my wife and 2 kids go, a total cost of about $20.00. And thats with tickets, drinks, popcorn, and candy for all of them.

 

[Mavs Man]

From the time I was a HS freshman until my last year of college I averaged between 30-40 movies a year. In the year since I got married and moved to Long Island, my wife and I have seen about 12 movies. Why the decrease?

Simple math.

Before marriage/move: 1 ticket in suburban Texas @ $5.00 and no drinks/popcorn = $5.00 per movie
After marriage/move: 2 tickets near NYC @ $10.00 each plus 2 drinks ($8) and a medium bag of popcorn ($4) = $32.00 per movie

Good news - we're moving back to Texas soon.

 

[locked&loaded]

you can buy the movie on dvd for the price of two tickets.

the don't sell Jack Daniels at the concessions stand.

 

[Rack]

Good news - we're moving back to Texas soon.

You're gonna have to bathe in a pool of Pace Picante sauce to wash the Yankee Residue off your skin. You'll have to drink a case of bud light to wash out any yankeeness that has infected you internally.

 

[Crown Royal]

As far as movie quality, I disagree. Go to imdb.com. There have always been god awful movies peppered by a few good ones. This thread is wrought with good-ole-days syndrome.

That being said, I think my movie going will scale back in the next few years with a simple reason: the blockbuster doesn't have the same effect on me as it did when i was a kid. I prefer the more emotional drama these days.

Further - I really don't have much more to look forward to. The films I always wanted to see done (LOTR, another Superman, XMen) have been accomplished. Really, with the XMen movies, it's been downhill from there, as I had dreamed for a decade that they would make a quality film on this subject.

It will be tough to EVER top the LOTR series. LOTR is my generation's Star Wars. Star Trek's franchise is about to be restarted, but with rumors of an all new cast based on Kirk and Spock at Starfleet, I'm sceptical. Let the franchise die, folks - all good things.

I still enjoy some of the blockbusters - Pirates delivers, and I can't wait for the next one. V for Vendetta was really good. I am hoping for a new Sin City. Also, Batman was great. But I can see that they are slowing down. I don't think anything has changed in the movies, I think I am just getting older.

Whereas 10 years ago I was drawn to movies like ID4 or Jurassic Park, now I go toward movies like Donnie Darko, Crash or Brokeback Mountain. I am becoming a huge fan of Focus Studios - if you don't think good movies are being produced, look at the films they've been putting out for the last few years. I am also finding I enjoy foreign films (Amelie is one of the best movies EVER made. Run Lola Run is good, and Y Tu Mama Tambien is interesting). Finally, I am starting to get into Shakespeare in Film. Branagh's Othello is fantastic.

I think the majic in movies will completely end for me when John Williams passes. I am a big fan of the movie score. A big blow happened when Jerry Goldsmith died. He and Williams were the two biggest names, and thus, two of the better composers in the world for about 30 years. Right now it is John Williams at the top, with the second tier guys vieing to take his place as ruler of the Score here soon.

 

[ROMOSAPIEN9]

You're gonna have to bathe in a pool of Pace Picante sauce

Oh...now I see how it goes. No matter where I go, or what forum I visit...I can't get away from the TAUNT of Pace Picante Sauce!!

What's next? A good batch of chicken wings!?!

"Dear (whatever you believe in) please supply old Dan with some nice chicken wings, some Pace (medium) Picante sauce, and a doobie.)

Thanks for listening.......




"EDIT:" Ya know Juke, there is plenty of room at the top of my sig-pic to put the words..."HELP ME."

 

[Secondary2None3141]

Growing up, my parents owned and operated movie theatres. I would spend almost all my time at the movies.

So the movie theatre atmosphere is just something I love, and going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do.

That said, it happens quite often when I ask my wife if she wants to go, and we look on line at Fandango, and I nothing that they are showing is even remotely appealing to me.

Also, as many have mentioned, the prices are ridiculous. We went on Saturday afternoon to see Talladega Nights and it cost around $40 for two people.

Tickets - $17
Small popcorn, small nachos, large drink - $18.50

And to make matters worse....the nachos were almost stale, the cheese was horrible, and the popcorn almost made you sick after you finished half the bag.

 

[Chief]

I think the good-old-days syndrome is legit.

For example, I enjoy Westerns. I'm SOL these days.

I honestly believe the overall quality has dropped dramatically in the last 10 years. I'm not talking about the acting, directing, etc. I'm talking about the stories. It's like they're running out of ideas and they're getting lazy.

IMO, much of Hollywood is out of touch with main stream society. They're arrogant and clueless. There is a huge portion of society that NEVER goes to the movies. And they have money. They would probably like to, but they're not going to fuel an industry that is hell-bent on producing crapola.

I go occasionally because my girlfriend or my kids are dying to go ... not because I want to.

The last really good movie I saw was "Cinderella Man."

 

[ZeroClub]

We go to the movies about once a month. Mostly it is an excuse to get out of the house.

We go to a local DVD rental place probably two to three times a month and typically rent more than one movie at a time. I like the DVD rentals more because they are cheaper and because of the selection (foreign and/or limited release movies).

 

[Vintage]

you can buy the movie on dvd for the price of two tickets.

the don't sell Jack Daniels at the concessions stand.

Is it that hard to sneak alcohol into theatres?

Lame.

I bring beer to the movies all the time.

 

[txlonghorn14]

i've only been to like 3 or 4 movies in the past year in the theatres. i live in new york city so the friggin tickets are like $10.50 at the door just to get in, then a soda or popcorn is like another five. its just not worth it, and i haven't been that excited for anything to hit the screen lately, so i just wait for it to come out on dvd. the only time i usually go to the movies is when i go back to maryland where everything is cheaper. last good movies i saw in the theatre were jarhead, walk the line, and larry the cable guy's movie.

 

[LatinMind]

because im a pirating SOB..and i have dvd quality movies withing 2 days of the movie being out..all the thanks to my good friend hockney from demonoid.com..the guy is truely a genius

 

[royhitshard]

The remakes of old tv shows don't help either. They have all been bad.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think what folks are missing here is that it isn't that movies are worse. The real problem is that theaters are now all owned by a handful of major corporations who feed the same 5-10 films into EVERY one of their theaters -- so you get fewer options. Still tons of great films, just fewer screens where they show.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I think the good-old-days syndrome is legit.

For example, I enjoy Westerns. I'm SOL these days.

I honestly believe the overall quality has dropped dramatically in the last 10 years. I'm not talking about the acting, directing, etc. I'm talking about the stories. It's like they're running out of ideas and they're getting lazy.

IMO, much of Hollywood is out of touch with main stream society. They're arrogant and clueless. There is a huge portion of society that NEVER goes to the movies. And they have money. They would probably like to, but they're not going to fuel an industry that is hell-bent on producing crapola. Hell, when Clint Eastwood dies, there goes half the westerns Hollywood funds these days.

I go occasionally because my girlfriend or my kids are dying to go ... not because I want to.

The last really good movie I saw was "Cinderella Man."

Agree on the westerns. I'm also a big fan of 'em. Whenever a quality western comes out (last one I remember was that Duvall/Costner flick 'Open Range') I'm always stoked becaues I know it may be a few years before Hollywood decides to try a serious legit entry in the western genre again.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

Plus Hollywood has gotten lazy and tries to cash in on crap geared towards teens now. The only movies I am looking forward to the rest of this year are CASINO ROYALE, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, and that Mel Gibson movie.

The last great movie I saw, THE PROPOSITION, was in limited release and already out on DVD in the UK, so I imported it the day after I saw it in theaters.

Jew hater he may be, but I'm still really looking forward to that next Mel Gibson movie too. IMO, ALL historical movies should be filmed in their original language. It makes the movie feel so much more authentic. A good one I saw last year was that German movie Downfall about the Third Reich's last days. Those German actors nailed the role of Hitler, Goebbels and others. (BTW, if you're a WW2 fan and have not seen this movie, GO GET IT NOW! You will NOT be disappointed!) Gibson's next movie is either going to be another Shamyalan movie like Lady in the Water (i.e. a guy that has had too much go to his head and thinks any type of movie can fly, and can find someone willing to fund it) or it's going to be a unique piece on a period we rarely ever see covered in the cinema.