It makes me not want to go to the theater.

What really sucks is that ever since I heard that Toy Story 3 is coming out in 2010 I planned to make it Daniel's first movie in the theater. This was before I found out it was going to be in 3-D. I really don't want to pay all that extra money just because it's in 3-D. I'd rather just watch it in 2-D.

And that's why I love my cheap theater in La Mirada! Also, for those who live near Brea, they are renovating the Brea 5 into a discount theater that will show current releases. I'll be frequenting places like these more often for wide-release movies. For indies, I guess I'll just have to fork over the money, hit up the matinees, or wait for DVD. That's a bummer.

So ticket sales are dropping and the solution is...to raise prices. Yep, home theater for me.

Even our cheap theaters are a little pricier these days unless you wait a couple weeks to go see the newer movies. Maybe the next best option is to replace home TVs to give the theater experience at home?

As long as the La Mirada theater stays about the same (right now it's $2), I'll do my best to see as many movies as possible in the theater. Movies are made to be seen on a big screen, and one's experience at home is so different than in a theater.

I do think it would be interesting for them to do a study of what would happen if they lowered prices.

Jeri, I would definitely see more movies in the theater if they lowered prices. I only go to 1 or 2 a year now, compared to my 60-75 at home. I hate 3D technology. The glasses never fit my head and the seats are too small. I once had an usher tell me to put my feet down, and I told him I would as soon as they made more legroom to accomodate me. When teh manager came, I told him I paid the ticket price to be comfortable. After the show he refunded me my money, and then asked me to not come back! Screw theaters!

While I agree that movies are made to be seen in the theater, when you compare the rate of advancement in home theater technology, which continues to get cheaper, to the rate of advancement in movie theater technology, which is more and more expensive for the consumer, it's freaking nuts.

Yeah, my experience in a theater is waaay different. I have to put up with commercials, uncomfortable seats, jerks talking and texting the whole time, the inevitable child or baby who shouldn't be there, the outrageous prices. Yep, very different.

The jerks texting are an annoyance.
The families entering and parading through the theatre seats 20 minutes in are often irritating (especially when its a family of 20), and the people loudly talking are rough also.

However, there is an electricity which occurs at certain screenings, often premieres, which can only be experienced by sitting in a large theatre with friends and complete strangers, knowing that you're all eagerly awaiting and/or enjoying a really cool film. I think Inglorious Basterds was pretty cool in that regard. Star Trek was another. Especially genre films on opening night when you know that a good chunk of the audience (maybe 15-20%) is catching a lot of the in-jokes and references.

That's why I enjoy going to the movies.