TV commercials in movie theaters???

[Mark Harris]

My rule is, if it's not worth seeing at the Cinerama here in Seattle, it's not worth going. Obvious exceptions... there is a small theater chain here that has an open bar and will deliver drinks to your seat (whiskey and Cokes were the only way I was able to make it through Borat), or if going with a group of friends. But unless I'm going to have a significantly better experience from seeing it on a ridiculously huge screen with a killer sound system, then I can just wait for DVD. Or better yet I have Zune and Netflix for Xbox Live with a 50" DLP and decent surround sound. And for slightly more than the cost of a trip to the theater, I can just buy the Blu-Ray and get a pizza.

I saw both a re-release of Lawrence of Arabia AND Jurassic Park opening day at that very Cinerama.

 

[Batutta]

I saw both a re-release of Lawrence of Arabia AND Jurassic Park opening day at that very Cinerama.

That theater is awesome, I had a film festival screening there. It's pretty similar to the Cinerama dome in Los Angeles, where I also saw Lawrence...I'm not as irritated by all the nonsense at the movie theaters as others. It's still a pretty good bargain for a night's entertainment, especially considering you're only paying 10-12 bucks to experience something that cost somebody 100 million dollars plus to make. That's like paying 10 bucks to get a ride in a fighter jet. Commercials, eh, that's why I bring a book, or where having an iphone comes in handy...Now if they start having commercial breaks in the middle of movies, then I'll grab my pitchfork.

 

[Mike Harvey]

I saw both a re-release of Lawrence of Arabia AND Jurassic Park opening day at that very Cinerama.

Paul Allen bought it a little over 12 years ago and completely revamped and updated it with a new sound and projection system. Seriously, it is THE only place to see any sort of big budget blockbuster... I can't go any where else (unless it has an open bar :beer. People camped outside for months to be first in line for the Star Wars prequals and the Lord of the Rings movies.

 

[William_Robinette]

We have a theater that opened in town that is part of a chain called Bow Tie Cinemas. This particular one is pretty OK. Tickets and food are outrageous of course, but they don't show anything before the previews and over-all it is a very nice space. Some great digital projection too.

My problem is the size of the screens. Because they have to fit like 15 theaters into the space, the screens are so freaking small. They fill the same field of view as my TV at home does so at a point I have to ask, it is worth it?

I'm all for second run theaters though. We also have one of those in town, The Byrd. Build in the early 20th century (actually at a cinema) it oozes class, has real butter popcorn, and costs two dollars a seat. No commercials, no previews and a nice sized screen. Can't beat it!