The Theater Experience

[Shorty]

How important is the theater experience to you? Do you think that watching a film on a big screen with high resolution projection and premier sound effects can alter your opinion of the film itself?

Seeing films like The Avengers and Avatar in theaters was worth it to me because I don't think I'd have cared about them nearly enough to watch them at home. Some films like The Hobbit and The Dark Knight Rises I would have liked to see either way, but obviously the theater provides a more enjoyable setting. I don't think I'd have cared about Flight as much if I didn't see it in a theater.

I suppose for me, being in a theater leaves much less room for distraction during a film and that's a problem for me in a non-theater setting.

What about you? Important or not?

[Jinx]

I honestly don't care, as long as I get to the theatre on time to see previews.

[Araciel]

Must go to theatre for big releases - anything fantasy/sci fi and big budget i gotta go and see.

comedies etc i will NOT go to theatre for... It just seems silly.

[Ouch!]

I have a 5.1 surround sound system and a 40" TV at home. I would much prefer to sit on my couch and watch a movie than deal with theater distractions (get the fuck off your cell phone). I can pause the movie at home if I have to go to the bathroom. I can eat whatever I damn well please and don't have to pay absurd concessions or try to sneak it in (easier said than done as a man without a purse or a bag on me at all times). I can adjust the volume, rewind, and in all ways be entirely in control of my viewing experience. I would gladly trade away a larger screen and more impressive sound system for this type of enjoyment.

As I have many friends currently in the film industry, you may not be surprised to hear that movies are big discussion topic in a number of my circles. I enjoy participating in these discussions, but that generally means that I can't wait for things to come out on Blu-Ray. So long as theaters get movies several months in advance of a home release, I will continue to begrudgingly attend theaters.

[Formalhaut]

When you said theatre I was think "Oh, fine, real-time acting in plays, great". Then I realised for some people theatre = cinema...

For me, I always prefer a film on the big screen, I just really enjoy the experience of surround sound, a dark large room, popcorn etc. I hardly ever watch films at home, mainly because to really enjoy the film, you need peace and quiet, something you rarely get in a house with people in it. Besides, watching a film by yourself is terrible, and no-one ever bothers watching films in my family anyway...

[Sephex]

I am going to say this before anyone else does, but I know I have the opposite opinion on this issue than most people.

Clapping during a movie.

Doesn't bother me. In fact, people who are irate about are usually the annoying ones to me. "The movie can't hear you!" No ****! You have to be a moron to think people are clapping thinking the makers of the movie are going to hear them. They are showing signs of appreciation towards the medium. That's it.

I get that if clapping combined with cheering can get out of hand and you may miss a line or two, but try not going to the midnight show. But if you feel that you want to see the midnight show (or just be there during a busy time/opening weekend), then be prepared to deal with rowdy people off all races and cultures packed together in a single room.

Basic. ****ing. Logic.

This message has been brought to you by Sephex's bad day at work.

[Pumpkin]

It doesn't change the movie for me. I just like going to the theatre for the experience of it all. Not just the movie.

1. I don't go very often, so when I do, it makes it special for me.
2. I get all dressed up and excited to go. Then I get to feel pretty.
3. It gets me out of the house.
4. Movie theatre popcorn, which most people don't like but I absolutely love.
5. Cuddling in a dark theatre.
6. It's pretty neat to see the movie on that big of a screen, with the surround sound.

There are advantages to staying home too, like it's cheaper if you're streaming it on Netflix or catching it on TV, you can pause for bathroom breaks, you can stay in your PJs, and have a blanket and pillow for comfort. You can make a frozen pizza or your own popcorn which makes the whole experience cheaper.

So either way, I enjoy myself.

[Clo]

I like it when everyone gasps at the same time, or laughs at the same, or oohs at the same time. I get a kick out of that shit.

This stems from an event from when I first saw Spiderman in theatres; this old man got hella excited and yelled out, "GET HIM SPIDERMAN!" during a fight scene.

[Shorty]

Aww, that's actually adorable.

I cheered pretty loudly in the theater when a certain face reprised in DKR that I was not expecting to see.

[Shauna]

I love going to the cinema. :D It's a hugely different experience than just sitting on the couch at home, for me at least. :)

[Chris]

I actually timed how long it took from the moment the previews and commercials started, to the moment the actual movie began. 17 minutes! Is that crazy or what? 17 minutes of previews and commercials. I love going to the movies, but what a pain in my rockin' ass.

[Quindiana Jones]

I thoroughly dislike IMAX. It's too big, and I don't like it. :colbert:

I watch films at the cinema with friends as a social experience first, and to fulfil the desire to watch a particular film second. I'll watch pretty much anything in the cinema.

[Shlup]

The only time I care about going to the theater is when I'm so anxious to see a movie that I have to see it ASAP. If I could watch it at home that soon, I would. Though I still insist on watching them in HD.

[Formalhaut]

The only time I care about going to the theater is when I'm so anxious to see a movie that I have to see it ASAP. If I could watch it at home that soon, I would. Though I still insist on watching them in HD.

I don't think I've ever known a film I was desperate to see.

[Raistlin]

I generally only go to theaters if I really want to see a movie. Seeing something in theaters is nice, and the atmosphere and quality does add something, but it's not very important to me. Hell, most of my TV/movie watching is done on my laptop (I have an HDTV now, but don't always bother hooking up the HDMI cable to watch stuff on that).

[Shlup]

The only time I care about going to the theater is when I'm so anxious to see a movie that I have to see it ASAP. If I could watch it at home that soon, I would. Though I still insist on watching them in HD.

I don't think I've ever known a film I was desperate to see.

I don't even know how to live a life like that. I love a well-told story.

[blackmage_nuke]

I hate loud children at the movies, or anyone talking above a whisper.
I love the way the room vibrates with the sound.
As stated before I love when everyone laughs or gasps at the same time.
I hate when Im the only one who laughs out loud at an onscreen joke.
I hate Australia's delayed release dates.
I hate the lack of captions.
I dislike not being able to rewind if I missed something or I want to check something that happened before that mightve been foreshadowing or a clue

So pretty much I just go to the cinema if theres something I want to see in 3D or I just want to hang out with my friends.

Speaking of friends I hate when my friends try to make me leave before the credits are finished.

[Faris]

I don't like going to the cinema unless it's empty and no one is sitting near me. There are a few films that I absolutely must see in theatres but I tend to wait at least a month or so before going when the crowds die down.

[Aulayna]

The cinema experience for me is the people I go with - as we nearly always go to a restaurant afterward and having that after film banter is great. When I lived in London I had a movie friend and we used to go to the cinema every week and saw some pretty bad films in the process but still had an entertaining time whispering remarks about the film to each other.

I do much prefer it when the room is fairly empty though. I find it harder to concentrate if it's packed full of people as I'm consciously aware of it. Whereas if it's empty I end up getting lost in the medium.

But overall I'm happy watching stuff in the cinema or at home.

[Franjopz]

every movie becomes more enjoyable and interesting to look in theaters. on big screen with 3D images and high quality sounds the movie becomes more amazing to look it at...............

[Madame Adequate]

I cheered pretty loudly in the theater when a certain face reprised in DKR that I was not expecting to see.

Actually, believe it or not, Diddy Kong Racing came out before Banjo-Kazooie, so the role wasn't a reprise for him!

Also playing DKR on the big screen must be awesome.

I like going to the movies for the most part, but due to my cataracts I can't go see 3D movies; they don't work right and just give me a headache. This can be a bit of a pain although most places tend to have both 3D and non-gimmick versions of the movie playing so it's not often a big deal.

[Formalhaut]

we used to go to the cinema every week

Every week?! I'd be lucky to go to the cinema once every 4-5 months on average. Hell, last year, I went to the cinema only once. I forget the film though :|

Oh wait, Ted. Yeah. Only film I saw in the cinema in 2012. Guess it was worth it.

[Mercen-X]

There's something about being in a huge dimly lit room in front of a massive wall displaying a good movie. Especially when you have company to socialize with. Strangers... not so much. Definitely an altogether separate experience from watching it at home. Unless you live in a mansion with a built-in theater.

[NinjaCoachZ]

I cheered pretty loudly in the theater when a certain face reprised in DKR that I was not expecting to see.

Actually, believe it or not, Diddy Kong Racing came out before Banjo-Kazooie, so the role wasn't a reprise for him!

Also playing DKR on the big screen must be awesome.

That Diddy Kong Racing reference put a big smile on my face. +1 to you.

Back to the topic at hand, I personally prefer seeing movies in the theatres. I'm very easily distracted, so unless it's a movie that I really, really like, when I'm at home it's hard to concentrate on the movie and not feel tempted to pull out my laptop or 3DS or whatever. In the theatre, I'm basically forced to focus on the movie, so I end up enjoying it more.

[Bubba]

Must go to theatre for big releases - anything fantasy/sci fi and big budget i gotta go and see.

comedies etc i will NOT go to theatre for... It just seems silly.

Pretty much this. Any huge release that is going to look awesome on a big screen I will head to the cinema to watch. Anything else I'll just wait for the Blu-Ray.

I've actually got it pretty sweet at the minute. My girlfriend's family is pretty wealthy and they've got an amazing cinema room at their house with a huge HD projector and surround sound. I had an awesome time watching LOTR at her house last weekend. I would live in that room if I could...

[Mercen-X]

Back to the topic at hand, I personally prefer seeing movies in the theatres. I'm very easily distracted, so unless it's a movie that I really, really like, when I'm at home it's hard to concentrate on the movie and not feel tempted to pull out my laptop or 3DS or whatever. In the theatre, I'm basically forced to focus on the movie, so I end up enjoying it more.Good point. I know people who struggle to watch movies at home while they cook or clean or eat or take long-ass bathroom breaks because the food they just ate didn't agree with them which really wouldn't happen in a theater because their selection is limited and you should go in knowing what's gonna fry your digestive system otherwise it's your own fault when you miss something for having to run out and no one's gonna pause or rewind the movie for your stupid decision.

[Denmark]

i hate people let me watch movie in my room alone please