Adding Insult To Injury At The Box Office

[JR]

Every time I drive up to a toll booth, there are lines of cars at the 'cash' lanes, sometimes quite long ones. Barely moving. I would really love to know what they all think when they watch me - and other tag holders - just cruise though the EZPass-only lines - sometimes at full speed if there are express lanes.

That's me, in a rental car. I'm only there three or four times a year, wondering why you build roads with these massive obstructions!

JR

[LinuxRandal]

BDU's are great for the movies. (candy pockets) I had to start using up gift cards to the movies last year. Gave some to my mom to take the grandkids, and I kept a couple. I can name EVERY movie I have gone and seen since I decided movies sucked. THAT was 1987, when I went to see a movie called Ishtar.
My group of friends got together to go see the Matrix a few years ago now, that was the end of our group movie experience. They liked it, I said, it was just Terminator and Tron combined.

As Christmas is comming up, I will end up with another stupid movie gift card. That is the only reason they see my $$.

[Rob R]

about 2 years ago i was at a best buy and they had a credit card only lane.

i had a gift card i was using up and was allowed to use that lane for my transaction. i'm 32 and stated to the clerk "i never thought i would see this, i remember when there were 'cash only' lanes, but wow. credit only?"

her reply no lying:
"this lane is credit card only because i have a disability. i can't count change. if someone hands me money and my drawer opens, i'll just freeze and stare at it."

almost passed out cold.

at the time i was a retail store manager myself, and couldn't help but think she would be better off taking cardboard out to the dumpster, vacuuming floors, greeting customers on the way in, cleaning bathrooms, dusting shelves, answering the phones, filling the other register stations with bags, etc. i wanted to find the manager and slap him/her and ask him what he was thinking.


POINT:
maybe all the workers at said theater are: "disabled"


rob

[BobSch]

POINT:
maybe all the workers at said theater are: "disabled"


rob

Or the management is...

[messmaker]

Well at least you picked a good one for your money. I have been a Bond fan as long as I can remember and I thought the currrent one is one of if not the very best. If anyone is put off by the new Bond(Daniel Craig),He is going to be just fine. Some of the parts of the movie were so gripping, I could not get it out of my head for 3-4 days after I saw the movie.

[sacherjj]

I was shocked when weekend early prices moved. Now you have to see a movie before noon to get a discount. $8-10 a ticket. For two people to go, it is cheaper to get "behind" on movies and just by the DVD. Those are only $16-19 when they come out. If they would make movies with good CONTENT instead of movies with $100 million in actors and $200 million in special effects with NO CONTENT, then maybe we could afford ticket prices.

The one place we had been going pretty regular is the local drive-in. $9 a head, up to three movies (first run). And it is kind of fun.

[TheRic]

.... For two people to go, it is cheaper to get "behind" on movies and just by the DVD. Those are only $16-19 when they come out.....

I have been to a handfull of movies in the last 20 years. Let's see last movies I saw at a theater..
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
X-Files: The movie
Starwars 6: Return of the Jedi
....

I have a nice collection of VHS (300+) and now DVD (50+) movies. The local movie store sells movies that have already been watched, with a lifetime warranty, for anywhere from $15 for the latest good moves, down to $5.00 for a so-so one a couple of years old. I normally buy several when they have a 1/2 price sale, or buy two get two, etc. Sometimes I get them at Walmart discount bin.

Yea, I'm a tightA$$.

[25]

I was shocked when weekend early prices moved. Now you have to see a movie before noon to get a discount. $8-10 a ticket. For two people to go, it is cheaper to get "behind" on movies and just by the DVD. Those are only $16-19 when they come out. If they would make movies with good CONTENT instead of movies with $100 million in actors and $200 million in special effects with NO CONTENT, then maybe we could afford ticket prices.

The one place we had been going pretty regular is the local drive-in. $9 a head, up to three movies (first run). And it is kind of fun.

My wife and I started buying movies when we realized that. Also started renting again to save a little on movies that we don't think we will ever watch again. I don't know how many of yall have heard of the Red-Box DVD rentals, but it's nice, $1 a night. You don't even have to deal with anyone but the other people trying to rent from it.

[LarryG]

Unfortunately I don't see the content vs special effects situation changing. These days they're making movies primarily for the generation raised on MTV's rapid-fire style of music video editing, and for the Playstation/XBox/Nintendo crowd.

Not that I mind special effects; I love them, actually. What I object to is the directors and producers filling a film with unnecessary and overdone fx for no reason other than Because They Can. Computer technology can be mis-used as easily as any other technology. The three Star Wars "prequel" movies are prime examples of what I'm talking about. There's so much going on, so rapidly, that it's virtually impossible to take it all in even with repeated viewings. The ironic thing is that if you watch the original SW trilogy after seeing their more modern counterparts, you realize that those were far, FAR better movies despite the stone-age technology used for the effects.

[JR]

Wotta buncha curmudgeons!!!

Lighten up. Enjoy the experience. Movies are fun. Movie theaters are better than ever - better sound, better quality film, better seating.

The quality of Hollywood films is outstanding. Sure, there are dogs. Yes, some movies pander to those less who are less discerning. So make a different selection. The choices are greater than ever.

Sheesh.

JR

[vaking]

Usually the new movie shows up in the theaters, somewhat later it comes up for sale on DVD and then it comes to TV screens on premium channels first and on basic after. The time between theater release and DVD release is getting shorter by the minute and the TV is getting closer too. Going to the movies to see the picture is losing any sense. It is more expensive, it is less comfortable than resting on your own couch, it is annoying to listen to your neigbor chewing popcorn, etc. If I want to see the movie really bad - I will buy a DVD, if I can stand to wait a little longer - I will record it on my Media Center PC off the cable. Most movies are not worth watching even for free. I buy 1 or 2 DVD a year nowdays and record some on MCE but my overall time in front of the screen is probably down to less than 2 hours a week on average.

[LarryG]

Movies are fun. Movie theaters are better than ever - better sound, better quality film, better seating.

That's exactly what some of are saying, JR. The movie experience is better than ever, but the movies themselves are not.

If you want two hours of mindless escapism -- and there's nothing wrong with that -- then the multiplex is a great place to be. But movies that truly grab your heart, or that challenge you to think, are increasingly harder to find.

[Rob R]

if you hate the sticker shock of going to the theater and can't stand rubbing elbows with someone smacking thier popcorn butter encrusted lips, but love watching movies, especially on the big screen you should buy one of these:

IN72 from www.infocus.com

it's about 600$ and comes with a screen. a 92" screen. the wife let me pull the trigger on one of these and in installed it the friday after thanksgiving. all i can say is WOW. crappy movies never looked so good! LOL

as far as dvds go, i usually rent them from the library. it's a buck, and you keep if for a week. the local video store is 1.49 but you keep it for "2 nights" which look suspiciously like one day.

FWIW

[onedash]

I know a lot of people who think $20 is to much for a couple people to see a movie but out of all the people who complain a lot of them are people who go to bars or clubs. And the price of drink at a bar in two hours is a lot more than a movie and snack. Last time I did it was at a bowling alley which is cheaper than most clubs but good god. Talk about expensive. Then you are supposed to tip the bartender for every round???I bet they make more money than I do at a lot of these places. And maybe those prices are necessary to stay in business I dont know.
I go to a movie almost every week and buy a lot too. 600 +

[vaking]

Scorpio,
You are correct about EZ-Pass that it is faster and more convinient than paying cash. But there is also a downside to it. EZ-Pass records and reports all your tolls and is extermely convinient for Big Brother to watch after you. If you have a college student son - put EZ-pass on his car and you will instantly know about all his travels. Or how would you like to receive a speeding ticket by mail because EZ-Pass reported that you covered a distance from one highway toll to another in a time that is less than it takes at 65mph? No radars required. These tickets already exist.
This is one more thing that used to be private but stopped being such.