What A Concept: Make It Enjoyable To Go To The Movie Theater
from the good-news dept
For many years, plenty of folks have been trying to explain that it's not "piracy" that's a threat to the movie industry, but the fact that the movie-going experience sucks. The movie industry has always really provided a service, that of "entertaining people," and that has nothing to do with copyrights. If people want to enjoy a night out, they are more than willing to pay for the experience. Of course, rather than make the experience better, many in the movie industry have instead latched onto the "piracy" excuse to actually make the movie-going experience that much worse. They don't do a good job of policing troublemakers and they treat their customers like criminals to ward off this bogus "piracy" threat. In the end, that just makes it worse. If you know that you're going to be forced to hand over your cell phone because it has a camera in it before you go to the movies, you're less likely to bother. Luckily some theaters, mostly independent ones, have started figuring this out and worked to improve the movie going experience and actually provide positive incentives to get people to go out to theaters.Alex Billington writes in to point out his own analysis of Mark Cuban's attempt to make going to the movies an enjoyable experience again. Cuban's turning the latest theaters in the Landmark theater chain he owns into places adults want to go. No noisy arcades filled with kids, but nice upscale bars and lounges. He's also offering the ability to include food and snacks (higher end snacks) in the price of the ticket itself to avoid viewers feeling gouged when they see that they're paying $6 for $0.10 worth of popcorn. Finally, he's making the viewing experience even better -- putting in more comfortable and unique seating, including couches and even bean bags. The idea is to make it more like the home theater that so many people now claim is a better experience -- but doing so in a way that most people are unable to do with a home theater (bigger screen, better sound system, etc.). With so many examples of entrepreneurs making the movie experience better, why is it that the big studios and big movie chains still insist this is impossible?
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the movie "experience" still sucks in America
1. Noisy children, screaming babies and their indulgent parents (don't negotiate with them, drag their squalling asses out of the theater!)
2. Rowdy teens and other adolescents (mostly male, but the females are becoming a problem too)
3. Nasty low class trashy people (you know the type: mouth breathing, poor hygiene, looking for a fight types who treat the movie theater as a playground for their illegitimate, uneducated brats).
4. Arrogant cellphone users (someone please pour an overpriced soda over this douchebag's head)
5. Commercials (I pay $10 for commercials but can rent it for $4 and its commercial free - thanks to fast forward).
6. Gum, soda, popcorn in the seats
7. Gum, soda, popcorn overpriced at the concession
I could live with 5-7, but 1-4 (the human factor) makes the decision to avoid movie theaters a no brainer. People really do suck.
No wonder torrents are so popular.
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Re: the movie "experience" still sucks in America
Did you even read the article?
And regarding "torrents", it must be nice being 13 years old again... or at least acting that way.
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It must be nice being Anonymous Coward
Couldn't find yours, though...
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What's his problem?
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Re: What's his problem?
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Re: What's his problem?
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Re: What's his problem?
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That being said, only an idiot would think that piracy doesn't cost the movie industry money.
Oh, and most movie studios don't own the theaters.
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Re:
I don't know about you, but I've never downloaded a movie that I'd rather see in a theater. If it's a movie that I HAVE to see on a rather HUGE screen with an amazing sound system (Star Wars flicks for example) then I'll go the theater. Else, I wouldn't go anyway. I hate their communist prices. I hate the people that go. I hate going to a packed theater and having to sit in the very first row because, well because it's packed. If I can avoid the theater, I do. Essentially, they're not losing money because I wouldn't have gone in the first place.
And I don't know anyone who's said "I really want to see this movie when it comes out!" and then went and downloaded it. Doesn't make sense.
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Random indeed
Nobody said they did... but see John the Manager's comment below.
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Family of 5 $40 just for tickets, another $30 for junk food.
New Release DVD $17.99, Dinner
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Re:
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Another missed point
He is talking about value.
The movie going experience is, for most of us, a poor value.
I did not see a single movie in the theater in 2006. Does that mean I have six kids? No, it means that there was nothing that I felt that I had to watch in the theater.
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Downloads don't hurt the movie companies
Did i go to the movies instead? No!
I just watch TV. I went and saw the 300, which i would have watched in the movies anyways.
Did they lose revenue because i downloaded movies? No!
I don't go to the movies more often just because i stopped downloading.
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Re: Downloads don't hurt the movie companies
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Re: Re: Downloads don't hurt the movie companies
By the way, if you let your buddy borrow your DVD for free, then is he a pirate? (he didnt pay for the movie and still saw it)
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Re: Re: Downloads don't hurt the movie companies
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Re: Re: Re: Downloads don't hurt the movie compani
Point proved
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Re: Re: Downloads don't hurt the movie companies
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And I have seen at most 2 movies in which some idiot talked loud enough for me to hear, and no I am not hearing-impaired.
I still don't get why this blog is noting the absolute opposite.
And if the experience is SO unenjoyable, I don't think movies theaters would still be around.
Well, I do live in San Diego...
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I am a frequent movie goer and from my experience.
I NEVER buy food in a theater.
Last time I went (Saw Spiderman 3), I noticed a Coca-cola machine selling 20oz bottles for $3.50. wow, I mean WOW!
Never buy food in a movie theater.
Go out to eat later.
I am not clear on how piracy of DVDs affect the movie going experience, explain to me again, how illegal downloads of movies affects my movie going experience?
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Pirated movies should make movie going better beca
I have to agree with "tim stevens";
If theaters lowered the prices and kept the roar to a minimum, I would go to movies a lot more often.
Its still the classic date: movie and a dinner (in that order).
Go to the movie first then you have converstation for dinner.
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Quality of movies.
1. The quality of movies coming out these days doesn't thrill me like in my college or school days in the 80's and early 90's. They are just not up to par.
2. Some of the really good movies are never on the big screen, you need to get a DVD or download it.
3. The inconsiderate losers who patronize the cinema make me run the other way. I used to get into arguments with boorish cellphone users, but I just got too sick and tired of it.
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It's Not The Product It's The People
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anyways, i would start sympathizing with movie companies once actors and others stop making millions and millions of dollars that i consider undeserved. some people complain about doctor bills which i agree are usually absurd, but they are much deserved profits than that of a fricking movie, so some person spent six months partaking in the movie...they really deserve 20-30 million dollars? give me a break, when i see ads showing keygrips complaining that their jobs are at stake because of piracy, just ask keanu to take a $10k cut so you can keep your job doing whatever it is you do to make $15+ an hour, i'll be at taco bell working a whole day just to take a girl on a cheap date, geez what a bunch of garbage, want to blame someone, blame the greedy...
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What I want from a theater experience.
1. A less expensive night.
2. Dinner and a movie at the same location.
3. More comfortable seats.
4. The ability to pause and rewind the show. (TIVO Baby)
5. I want the ability to watch a new release in my home, through a satellite or cable link. I would be willing to pay the same as a theater ticket, but I want it in my home where I can control my experience.
That is not asking too much is it? And oh, they never lost money on me, if I liked a movie I had downloaded, I bought it.
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I used to be a manager at AMC...
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Re: I used to be a manager at AMC...
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McMenamins' Brewpub/Theaters
I left Portland about ten years ago, at which time the McMenamins had two or maybe three such theaters. Checking their Web site, I found that they have eight of them now...it appears that the idea has some merit.
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No "Right Way"?
There is no "right way" to manufacture buggy whips. Or 8-track tapes or Polaroid cameras. The markets are simply dead.
I see no viable "moviegoing experience" that could ever compete with my 40" plasma tv, surround-sound system, Netflix subscription / VOD, leather couch and refrigerator.
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yeah I prefer watching movie home, but sometime like getting out the house into theater because kill the bored and get to check out girl asses and wife is not around lol
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I personally only go to the movies if something really good action/sci-fi movie comes out. You can't reproduce the surround sound a movie theater has at home. But other than a couple of movies a year (3-4) it's not worth it. There too many cons that overweight(high prices,ignorant people, time and gas wasted going back and forth) the pros(sound/picture).
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Paying $30+ dollars for two people to "enjoy" a movie where people constantly talk [if I return to theaters I will end up in a fight I'm almost certain], I feel violated paying for pop corn and a drink [a cup of yogurt = $10]
Movie going experience = worst value for my dollar I can think of. Why theaters don't hear their customers on this boggles my mind
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Now if I'm in the mood for a movie I will go to a Bollywood movie. There are so few patrons there that it is a guaranteed good time. Plus 3 or more hours of entertainment for the same price.
So from 50 movies a year, I might now only see one.
The Gold Class cinemas, twice the price but for large reclining seats, limited patrons, food service, and a far better experience are booked out most of the time and are difficult for me to get to. Now if they had one nearby I would be going to the movies at least 20 times a year again.
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worst comivie theater
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look how fast they work????
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