Reel Life - How do you feel about cinemas?

Ania123 · Movie Extra

Reel Life - How do you feel about cinemas?

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Hello there my dear glad to see you joined up. Everybody, this is our newest columnst Ania.

Anyway in answer to your question, yes so much so there are certain cinemas I won't go to most notably Showcase cinemas. The last time I went ot one (Bluewater) We went to see a movie on a sturday night. Now you have to take into account that movies in multiplexes usually have a 10-20 minute turnaround before the next screening e.g. plenty of time I found myself in their main showing of the vening sitting in a sea of popcorn spilt all over the floor. The teenage grunt in charge didn't care and replied 'we were busy' to which I wrote and complained and never got a reply. Also, thier projection standards are appaling due to not having a projection team other than a projection manager so the Cinema duty managers and floor staff set the films up (Lacing Up). So you get very quickly damaged prints. Sound problems (Like the continual clicking caused due to static on the print) which they don't know how to deal with (All you do is place a bucket of water underneath the cakestand).

Basically appaling service. Cineworld are marginally better although problems with my cineworld card and payments have been untold. The best of recent trips is and pretty much always has been the Odeon chain. Although I'm sure it depends on which staff work at which particular venue.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Welcome Ania. You should post a full "Hello" in the Introduce Yourself" thread. :smile;

I've not had many issues with cinemas except for the small seating spaces. Being 6'4 I need my leg room and a lot of cinemas don't allow for that. Other than the extortionate prices for food and drink I've not really had cause for complaint.

Jay · B List Star

Too expensive and I can see new movies on the internet.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Man In Black wrote:

Welcome Ania. You should post a full "Hello" in the Introduce Yourself" thread. :smile;

I've not had many issues with cinemas except for the small seating spaces. Being 6'4 I need my leg room and a lot of cinemas don't allow for that. Other than the extortionate prices for food and drink I've not really had cause for complaint.

I can answer that one. The reason for the high prices other than captive market. It's because with most movies the cinemas make no money on Box Office (It all goes to the movie companies or at least 70% depending on what the film is. Something Like Star Wars or Pirates of the Carribean would be 100% + a percentage of the food and drink. So they hike the prices to keep themselves in business.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Then the cinemas should go on strike for a better deal. No distribution means no profits for the film companies.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

But also, you refuse a film like Star Wars on it's opening week or PotC because of a disagreement with the distribultor then bye bye profits...

David McKinney · 500 Club Member

I usually go to the cinema about once a month, and I hate to say it, but my experiece depends on the quality of the movie. I usually don't buy things like food or drink, because I go out to dinner first, so things like that don't affect me. As far as the quality goes, I have only experienced a poor quality cinema once, and I didn't go back there. I have never experienced a dirty theater, but I imagine that I would not go back to a cinema with one...

neuman · A List Star

my local cinema back home used to be quite iffy. alot of the seats had armrests ripped off, and that makes it not overly comfortable to sit in, so if you were lucky then you would get a seat with both armrests. The reason the cinema was still in business when i still lived over there (It has since closed sometime after i moved to the UK) was the admission price was only $5 a ticket, any movie any time. This was good considering the normal Cinema prices were nearing $15 a ticket, so a third of the price, and it was local, I used to partake of the cinema more often :)

braxious · 500 Club Member

im of an age when going to the cinema was more then just the main feature,

there was a short programm these were 15 - 20 minunte films by new directors,

then there was commercials normally Pearl & Dean

then whats coming soon

then the main feature

a good day out and this was when it cost £2.50 and there was no multi plexes.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Same here.

Sometimes there would be a full 90 minute feature (or B-Movie as they called them in the golden days of Hollywood) to precede the main feature. And the best part was that if you came in half way though the film, you could stay in the cinema and wait for the film to come around again then leave at the point you came in at!

My local cinema shut down in 1983 and part of the fun for me as a child was seeing what the new film was every Friday!

Pointless trivia note: the business music company I used to work for owns the publishing rights to the track "Asteroid" by Pete Moore (the Pearl & Dean" theme!

Symphony Of Destruction · Metal Mod

I used to love going to the cinema. But my local Cineworld happens to be in the Ghetto and it's about £5.70 (luckally I don't usually pay because I drink with like 3 or 4 of the staff that work there) The food is Vulgar (Who's heard of nachos wih no damned cheese?) and the price for a slush puppy is more than it costs for 2 pints a my local.

Other than that one we have an Odeon in the city centre but it's like £6 to watch a film on a really small screen and he only other one I know of is in Cribbs Causewa like 20 miles away from humanity.

so like I'll go but only if everyone else I know asks me to. I wouldn't go out of my way to go.

Ania123 · Movie Extra

Thanks for your comments guys, all very useful and will definitely help me with my next article!

biggrin

David McKinney · 500 Club Member

Ooooh...this column should be good. LOL...any chance I can get quoted in there?

DoctorOfDesire · 500 Club Member

I really like going to the cinema. The only cinema near me is an Odeon Multiplex, and other than being a bit expensive, its pretty good. Good selection of films, large screens, good food and snacks and a pleasant experience all round usually. My only gripe about them is the recent introduction of 'Premier Seats' which are in the favourite seating place (about two thirds of the way up) but you have to pay an extra pound per person to sit in them, which is a bit of a rip-off!

mrsmiley · On The Casting Couch

I love going to the movies.
If anything,the biggest problem I have is with other audience members.I try to never go on opening night.Everyone is on their cell phones and acting like their 5 years old.

One thing I have noticed though,is that most theatres I go to seem to be in need of some maintnance,and need to lower the prices at the consession stand.I can't believe people will pay large sums of money for small boxes of milk duds!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

What the hell are milk duds?

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

I think they are yank sweeties Like those chewy milky bottles we have...?

EDIT++++

Just googled them here they are:

braxious · 500 Club Member

i do love going out to see a movie, i mainly go to see the big blockbusters, you have to see them on a BIG screen.

the only down side is the genearl shabbyness of the venues and cost.

take your own drinks and sweets.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

I havent been to the movies for a while in England. Last time i went to one was a few years back and it was impossible to watch the movie due to the kids running up and down in the aisles, generally messing around and people talking over the movie, plust the seats were dirty and a mess with food all over the shop..In japan, the cinema is expensive to go to but the quality is immense, food coasters, excellent leg room, comfy seats and the audience is quiet and respectful until the very last end of the credits. Far superior to where iv been here thats for sure!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Maybe you should watch films with a higher rating so kids don't attend them Totty!

mrsmiley · On The Casting Couch

Darth Mattitude wrote:

I think they are yank sweeties Like those chewy milky bottles we have...?

EDIT++++

Just googled them here they are:

They are gooooooooooooooooooooooood................... smile