Movies; When to go?

[RobertScorpio]

It would be impossible, for most of us, to see every movie. There are so many, and, it can be expensive as hell! So what criteria do you use? Yes, I do see what a movie is getting on ROTTENTOMATOE's meter before I go. I do listen to friends.

But, by rule, unless a movie is in the 75% range on Rottentomatoes, I'll save it for a Blockbuster/Netflix showing.

Rob

 

[Owain Taggart]

I usually go when I feel really interested in it, or when it gets good word of mouth. I figure, if a movie appeals to me enough, I'll notice it and I'll want to go. If a trailer doesn't grab me, then I usually don't go, or I keep it for the cheaper theatre which shows movies after they've been at the cineplex and save my money. There are only so many movies a year that I'll actually pay to see at the cineplex and those tend to be during the Christmas and Summer seasons. I saw Avatar and Sherlock Holmes at the cineplex, and I'll see Ironman 2 there too. That's pretty much it so far. There are sometimes movies that will only appear at the cheaper theatre, as it's got an art house status, and when I see them listed and I really want to see it, I'll go.

 

[T'Baio]

But, by rule, unless a movie is in the 75% range on Rottentomatoes, I'll save it for a Blockbuster/Netflix showing.

Really!?! Wow, I find that really sad, actually.

I go if I find something...I know, this is crazy...interesting.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I will go if I find it interesting. But, being married, and with kids, I only get off that leash so many times a year. KICKASS was one I wanted to see no matter what it got on Tomatoes, and I went. TIME TRAVLER'S WIFE got so/so rating on Rotten and I went.

But, yeah, generally if its been off my radar and I don't know much about it, it has to have a 75 before I give it a thought...

Rob

 

[Timby]

Until recently, my wife and I basically saw whatever we wanted, as we had free admission and concessions at a local movie theater (there was a Star Cinema in the north end, and the locally owned theater on the other side of town, and as I made the Web site for the local theater, I had the run of the town).

Now, since we've moved about 90 miles north, it costs precisely $20 in admission to see a movie in the cheapest of our local first-run theaters, plus almost the same amount for two large sodas and a medium popcorn (our last total was $38.75). So we've suddenly become much more selective in our theatrical viewings. I doubt we'll be seeing anything but the biggest movies (e.g., Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3) outside of the home.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I glance at Rotten Tomatoes, watch the trailer, possibly ask the small handful of people whose opinions on film I respect. I'm a junkie for a movie surprising me though, so I try not to do too much research.

 

[Joeman]

It has to be something that I'm really excited about. I've been to an actual theater maybe 3 times in the last year.

I also cannot go anywhere near the time of opening day if it's even at least a fairly large release. One of my biggest fears is arriving late to a crowded theater and trying to find a seat in the dark. Odd, I know.

This extra cost for 3-D is really turning me off too. I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, and even though I was not disappointed in the movie, the $50+ price tag for two tickets, 2 popcorns, and a Coke was ludicrous. I am going to move more towards waiting for the DVD.

Theaters are pretty much a thing of the past for me. When I win the lottery, I'm building my own home theater. Then fuck all the theaters and all the bullshit that goes with them.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I wish they would let us pay to stay at home, if we wanted to, to watch new releases. My new tv, my popcorn, my drinks (okay, non soda variety) are all far better than their movie counterparts. And..AND..if I have to go pee? I can pause the movie...to hell with flying cars, give me STAY AT FIRST RUN MOVIES!

Rob

 

[T'Baio]

I feel, unfortunately, I'm a dying breed.

I like the movies as a special experience. A great film I buy and watch at home, yes. But I love film at the cinema most of all. I like going to a kiosk or counter and buying a ticket. I like standing in line. I like trying to get my favourite seats. I like seeing trailers. I like the excitement of the lights going down. I miss curtains in front of the screen. Whether for art, enlightenment or entertainment, I like the feeling of going and doing something special. There are downsides, yes. Jackals with their talking and their cell phones and their inability to chew with their mouths closed. But I still love the cinema.

If I've never experienced it at the theater, it's just a long episode of something. And truly, it saddens me that people would rather stay at home. The art and wonder and magic and uniqueness of the filmgoing experience is one that many people don't believe in anymore.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I've become pickier and pickier over the years. I physically cannot go see a movie anymore unless it gets A LOT of positive reviews first. I was inspired by 2006, when I went to see "X-Men: The Last Stand", "Superman Returns", AND "Clerks II" without carefully studying the consensus first. All big disappointments, and in my opinion, not worth going to the movies for.

I regretted not reading reviews in advance even more when I watched "Spider-Man 3" the following year. Never again. This year, I have not gone to the theatre since "Inglourious Basterds"! I did want to see "Zombieland", but I was too busy when it came out. I don't feel like I'm missing out. Life is too short to waste on bad or even mediocre modern movies when there are still so many classics to rent.

 

[Starbreaker]

I would go more often if there was stuff I actually wanted to see. No interest at all in movies until the summer and then December.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

If I'm interested in it, and it's obscure and won't make it to second run dollar cinemas, then I will go see it, maybe opening weekend. I saw DAY BREAKERS for that reason, DOOMSDAY, and a few others...some were good, others not as much (The Spirit).

Big movies, I'll hold off until after opening weekend, because crowds and people are the part of the theater-going experience I hate.

If it's popular but I'm only vaguely interested in it, I'll wait to see if it goes second run. I see a lot of movies I'd never see otherwise, because I just don't rent movies.

 

[Owain Taggart]

This extra cost for 3-D is really turning me off too. I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, and even though I was not disappointed in the movie, the $50+ price tag for two tickets, 2 popcorns, and a Coke was ludicrous.

I've weaned myself off popcorn. Nowadays, I don't eat popcorn at the movies. Only rarely do I ever do that. Don't eat popcorn, and you don't get thirsty, which will save you a lot of money. Besides which, theater popcorn is heavily salted, so they're counting on you getting thirsty. It's how they make most of their money.

 

[Joeman]

This extra cost for 3-D is really turning me off too. I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, and even though I was not disappointed in the movie, the $50+ price tag for two tickets, 2 popcorns, and a Coke was ludicrous.

I've weaned myself off popcorn. Nowadays, I don't eat popcorn at the movies. Only rarely do I ever do that. Don't eat popcorn, and you don't get thirsty, which will save you a lot of money. Besides which, theater popcorn is heavily salted, so they're counting on you getting thirsty. It's how they make most of their money.

The problem is for me, that popcorn is pretty much the whole reason for going to the theater. If I don't get popcorn, then why bother?

 

[Kirby]

I typically look at all my choices, read up about what movies sound interesting, and weigh the pros and cons about a movie that may profoundly affect my soul vs. what will just merely be a fun romp and nice distraction from a difficult day. After that, I let out a big sigh and plunk down my hard earned cash for tickets to Hotel For Dogs, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2, or some other shitty movie because I have young kids.

Once or twice a year I get to see a movie that I really want to see. Everything else has to wait until it comes to Netflix and even then it usually takes more than 1 day to watch.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It's gotta be 3.5 stars on Netflix or above, or else have some unique attractive quality.

 

[judge alba]

It has to0 have some pretty good reviews or at least something me and my partner would be intreasted in.
our local cinema's too expensive and it dose seem to be more selective then the one up in Ipswitch.
Most of the time we just rent/buy the film on dvd at home.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I try to go the the cinema each fortnight.

I generally go on Tuesdays mornings when the price is the cheapest ($AUD11), unless it is a 3D which aren't cheaper on a Tuesday. I do not buy anything to eat or drink at the cinema, instead I take something in my handbag to nibble on.

Unfortunately I haven't very well of late so I haven't been going. I have only managed 5 movies this year - The Lovely Bones, The Road, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief,
Alice in Wonderland 3D and How to Train Your Dragon. This compares to a total of 25 movies in 2009 and 29 in 2008.

I get slightly annoyed if there isn't a morning showing of a movie. I tend to be in less pain in the mornings.

 

[barnaclelapse]

This extra cost for 3-D is really turning me off too. I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, and even though I was not disappointed in the movie, the $50+ price tag for two tickets, 2 popcorns, and a Coke was ludicrous.

I've weaned myself off popcorn. Nowadays, I don't eat popcorn at the movies. Only rarely do I ever do that. Don't eat popcorn, and you don't get thirsty, which will save you a lot of money. Besides which, theater popcorn is heavily salted, so they're counting on you getting thirsty. It's how they make most of their money.

I usually eat a big meal before I go to the movies these days. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I buy popcorn in a given year and still have fingers left over.

 

[Owain Taggart]

This extra cost for 3-D is really turning me off too. I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, and even though I was not disappointed in the movie, the $50+ price tag for two tickets, 2 popcorns, and a Coke was ludicrous.

I've weaned myself off popcorn. Nowadays, I don't eat popcorn at the movies. Only rarely do I ever do that. Don't eat popcorn, and you don't get thirsty, which will save you a lot of money. Besides which, theater popcorn is heavily salted, so they're counting on you getting thirsty. It's how they make most of their money.

I usually eat a big meal before I go to the movies these days. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I buy popcorn in a given year and still have fingers left over.

Yeah, exactly. I turned it into a state of mind. The theatre thinks I need popcorn, but what do they know? I tuned it out to the point that popcorn is no longer integral to my experience at the movies. I go for the movie itself. And in the end, I feel much better about doing so.

I don't even eat popcorn at home anymore either. The last time I did, I incurred the wrath of my dentist because I had a popcorn kernel stuck in a tooth and I didn't even know about it until I went for my cleaning. It had caused an absess. And not because I wasn't brushing, because I was, but because I couldn't see it or feel it in there.