Movie Theaters

[ExFlyBoy5]

Oh, I loved that ad! I cheered out loud (for Alamo) the first time I heard it. And it's been years, because unfortunately the closest one isn't very close, but I thought they encouraged people to get their orders in before the lights went down, and the servers did a good job staying out of the way after the movie started.

Yep, it's been a while since I have been but it was a pretty good experience. The food wasn't fantastic, but suitable for the situation.

They used to do "theme" movies too, which were pretty fun and inexpensive. My favorite was a screening of "Office Space" where they had a couple of fax machines that movies goers could destroy out back after the movie was over.

 

[MichaelB]

Hmmm. Adding alcohol to an action flick. What could possibly go wrong.

Just about every film DW and I have seen in the cinema over the past 10 years has been in a theater that has reserved seating and serves alcohol. Most enjoyable, no problem, and I’ve not read of any issues.

Food is a different matter. Cooked to order food, serviced seat side along with the alcohol, has become quite popular here. We’ve tried it, and our adult children have as well, and we’ve all come to the same conclusion. Eating in the dark is just not enjoyable. In addition to being messy and somewhat uncomfortable, we’ve all found that we enjoy food more when we can see it, and that’s not easy in a dark theater.

 

[mountainsoft]

we have..maybe had, dunno...a theatre with at-seat food service. something new to try. it might have been convenient but it was terribly distracting. waiters walking in front of other patrons taking and delivering orders and about 20-min before the end if the film the staff start delivering the bills and taking payments. that was our one and only visit to that theatre.

We have one theater that operates like that locally and, I agree, it's a bit distracting. They're also rather expensive so we haven't been back in years.

Most of the theaters around here that serve food and alcohol have you order your food when you buy your tickets. Then they deliver it to your seat during the first 15-20 minutes while the pre-movie stuff is playing. There's very little interruption during the actual movie. Certainly no worse than people getting up to use the rest room or buy more concessions.

For us it's more about the experience. It's not the best food, the buildings are older and quirky, and movie watching is not without distractions. Still, it's like going out for dinner and a movie in one stop.

 

[mountainsoft]

we’ve all come to the same conclusion. Eating in the dark is just not enjoyable. In addition to being messy and somewhat uncomfortable, we’ve all found that we enjoy food more when we can see it, and that’s not easy in a dark theater.

Yeah, we've honed our food choices down to things that are easy to eat. Generally things like sandwiches or wraps. Even a burger is too awkward and messy to eat while watching a movie. With the right food choices, it can be a pleasant experience.

 

[Dtail]

Yeah, we've honed our food choices down to things that are easy to eat. Generally things like sandwiches or wraps. Even a burger is too awkward and messy to eat while watching a movie. With the right food choices, it can be a pleasant experience.

+1

 

[EastWest Gal]

The only movies we have seen in the last several years were movies with all kinds of special effects, and 3D movies. We saw the later Star Wars movies, the Harry Potter movies, and a few others such as Incredibles2 in 3D IMAX.

You can’t get that experience at home, even with our basement home theater.

We used to get a soft drink and share a popcorn. Now it’s just the smallest size soft drink, or nothing.

 

[Accidental Retiree]

We quit going to movies about seven years ago because of the at least half hour of commercials before the movie.

We quit going because of all the other people, with their chatter and their lit phone screens.

 

[Ready]

With the new CDC guidelines I’m assuming many theaters will drop the mask requirements, which will make theater going at least a little more appealing than it was previously. Now we just need to see if there are any movies worth seeing. It seems like movie production came to a crawl once theaters closed. Are there any big blockbusters coming out in the near future?

 

[Koolau]

With the new CDC guidelines I’m assuming many theaters will drop the mask requirements, which will make theater going at least a little more appealing than it was previously. Now we just need to see if there are any movies worth seeing. It seems like movie production came to a crawl once theaters closed. Are there any big blockbusters coming out in the near future?

I guess I'm getting old, but I gave up on movies long before Covid. Still, I'm glad for almost any sign that we may be finally emerging from this long nightmare. I have a friend with cancer who just called me with his "good news" that he'd finally been able to get someplace to receive his first dose of Covid vaccine. He can no longer drive and is dependent on one of those handy vans for all his appointments.

These days, we take our good news where we can find it I suppose. Good news indeed, though YMMV.

 

[meleana]

We rarely went to the movies except for block busters. But when we moved just prior to COVID I was looking forward to being 10 minutes away from a movie theater as opposed to a half hour. Not to mention being retired and able to do a matinee once in a while like on a rainy day.


Well the theater is still closed, but there is a live theatre place about a half hour from here that also shows movies. They show films like silent films, or films like The Courier that you could probably stream, but we have gone just to have the theatre/big screen experience and they do not require masks and distance the seating. In fact, we saw two live comedy shows there and will be attending some live musical performances as well.



There are other venues here for plays, movies and live shows that require masks while watching the performances and we will not be going to those places until they lift that requirement. I can watch a movie at home for that matter without a mask and will not pay money to be entertained anywhere that requires wearing a mask for a long period of time.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

Are there any big blockbusters coming out in the near future?

Everything I want to potentially see is coming out late in 2021.

I'm planning to go see Top Gun 2: Maverick in the theatres when it comes out in the late fall, mainly for nostalglia as I can't see it being good as the original. Thought the action sequences will likely be great on the big screen. I'm also enough of a fan to have dragged the missus to a number of the locations in the movie when in San Diego a few years back.

I'll likely go see Matrix 4 too which is scheduled for xmas release.

 

[gayl]

With all the streaming, I wonder if theaters will go they way of drive in movies.

We still have 1 of those in Concord CA. Very popular these days.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Mid-Willamette Valley Oregon (most) theaters have still not opened.

I never went to theaters that often, but when they open again (if any are still in business), and some interesting movies come along, I will go.

My bigger question is, will Hollywood be putting out something good anytime soon?

 

[MichealKnight]

I love movies, and going to movies . . although nowadays I find that the stuff made by the Instagram world to be not always of my liking. Most of the stuff is impersonal, not that funny, many times a political agenda, great with special effects but void of richness - though everyone has their preferences. Also, there's too many remakes, reboots, refreshes, remakes of the refreshes. I am indeed looking forward to the next Top Gun.

But then again I'm 46, and at 8am daily I watch Beaver Cleaver.

Maybe instead of the movies, I should just buy a lawn, and tell people to get off of it

 

[Koolau]

Maybe it's just me but I find it difficult to care about any of the characters in recent movies (those that have hit TV as I rarely go to a movie theater.)

Our cable that comes with our HOA dues is sort of "middle of the road" in that it doesn't carry all the premium channels but has lots of movies - fairly recent vintage - last 10 years, anyway. I find myself watching the first 10 or 15 minutes and then deleting them from the DVR. Maybe I'm entering my second childhood, but if a movie doesn't grab me in the first few minutes, I'm done with it. No, it doesn't have to be slam-bam, but I have to care what happens to the people. Call me old fashioned and yes, YMMV.

 

[freedomatlast]

Haven't been to a movie theater since we bought a house with a theater room. Picture and sound are phenominal and no need to put up with rude people, overly loud audio or cold temperatures again. May never go to a commercial theater ever again.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I love movies, and going to movies . . although nowadays I find that the stuff made by the Instagram world to be not always of my liking. Most of the stuff is impersonal, not that funny, many times a political agenda, great with special effects but void of richness - though everyone has their preferences. Also, there's too many remakes, reboots, refreshes, remakes of the refreshes. I am indeed looking forward to the next Top Gun.

But then again I'm 46, and at 8am daily I watch Beaver Cleaver.

Maybe instead of the movies, I should just buy a lawn, and tell people to get off of it

You comment resonates with me. I am almost 47 and have been watching "Hazel" recently.

I am also tired of the remakes and incessant "comic" movies...they are so underwhelming. But, I look forward to seeing TG2, it should be awesome (at least the cinematography but the story line? Probably meh.)