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Well I for one love the movies. While I dont go quite as often as I use to I do enjoy going. Usually its something me and son like to do together. Go to the movies...grab some popcorn and enjoy. Yes it not cheap especially when getting concessions. But my son likes it and he doesnt ask for much so IMHO its money well spent. Im thinking of the memories and not so much the money spent.

Now with that said Im picky on where I go to the movies. I use to go to the Grapevine AMC at Grapevine MIlls Mall. While I dont enter the mall due to being posted 30.06 I would go to AMC which is outside. Now AMC is posted although its not a proper 30.06 sign. SO I would go in and see my movie and leave. Its a nice theater. I just got tired of the parking lot, the thuggy kids hanging out. For a mall that has security and police I never saw them. When I did go if I didnt get a close parking spot I just left.

I started going to Harkins in Southlake. While there are teenagers about the kids are usually conducting business of some kind like eating, seeing a movie, walking around various shops. So far my experience has been nice. Police patrol the area. I even like going to the last show.

Some movies i will wait for on DVD. But some things I want to see in the theater. Like it was tradition to stand in line to see the Star Wars films. Worth it too for me. :)

maximus2161 wrote: For a mall that has security and police I never saw them.

Generally security has a small presence until 6-7PM outside, when they post a few officers in the courtyard to break up groups of people who aren't waiting for movies. I don't know if they've changed since I quit working security there a couple of years ago (I was the night supervisor so I didn't do much crowd control). Police were RARELY out during that time.

I started going to Harkins in Southlake. While there are teenagers about the kids are usually conducting business of some kind like eating, seeing a movie, walking around various shops. So far my experience has been nice. Police patrol the area. I even like going to the last show.

Harkins is great! It's just more expensive and farther away than the TInseltown theater, which is right across 121 from me. The area of Southlake around Harkins is beautiful at night and I've always felt pretty safe there. I wouldn't stop carrying, though... lol.

VMI77 wrote:

lowonair wrote:

VMI77 wrote:

Abraham wrote:
Cell phone calls being taken WHILE THE MOVIE's IN PROGRESS. (Of course, this common miscreant behavior has become a plague almost everywhere - no matter the circumstances, because hey, the cell phone obsessive/cretin CAN'T be expected to turn off his phone under any circumstances, good lord, he's an important person)

The inconsiderate who converse throughout the course of the movie as if they were in their own living room.

The continuous pushing on your chair back as the dolt positioned directly behind you adjusts his feet or knees on it without any regard for you.

At one time ushers helped insure the enjoyment of the movie going experience, but those days are long gone. Ushers have gone the way of the buffalo...

Today, a movie theatre is a cretin's anarchical paradise.

Too, I wonder about those who continue to attend specific movie theatre's that're expressly known to appeal to the criminal/gang banger class.

I'm a big movie buff and ever since I set up a dedicated home theater with a projector and about a 9 foot wide screen, I stopped going to movie theaters --for all the reasons you mention, plus some others.

when do you sell tickets?

That would be illegal. I'd have to let you watch for free.

now thats a plan! i would have to bring you something though. not much of a moocher.

MadMonkey wrote: Harkins is great! It's just more expensive and farther away than the TInseltown theater, which is right across 121 from me. The area of Southlake around Harkins is beautiful at night and I've always felt pretty safe there. I wouldn't stop carrying, though... lol.

I havent been to Tinseltown in a while but I like that theater too. Harkins is just a lot closer. I went to Rave a few times at NE Mall. That was ok. Its a shame tho I like AMC at Grapevine. The problem you run into at Harkins in Southlake is if you go on the weekend its really crowded or if you go during the week around dinner time. Usually I will go during the week early or late.

I go 3 or 4 times a year. Some films just aren't the same as watching at home.

Seeing Avatar in 3D at the theater isn't just seeing a movie it's an experience.
Sometimes the movie experience is enhanced because of the audience. Shoot 'em up at home is Ok, but seen int theater to share the laughs and groans with all those around you is a different experiance.

Those who have watched Backdraft on a DVD will never enjoy it as much as when I hot to join a hundred or more firefighters and familys seeing it at the theater.

Most theaters are pretty gun friendly, and while I have a nice TV netflix and bluray to watch at home sometimes the theater exerience makes a big difference. Besides the popcorn is somehow just better at the movies.

Liberty wrote:Besides the popcorn is somehow just better at the movies.

Yeah, they use coconut oil to pop it in. Much worse for you, but sure tastes better!!!

On the original topic, I just hate the prices these days. I am not a real big movie fan anyway, so not a major hit to my lifestyle. I haven't been to a theater in a couple of years, and when I went before that, it was with a work group or other group of people for some organized function (like Sunday School class dinner night and a movie.)

My daughter used to go frequently, but that was due to her best friend working at the theater and getting to use the 'friend and family' passes that they get.

I know a lot of people that are just big screen buffs, love to see the movies when they first come out, want the 3D effects and like the atmosphere, so that is cool. But with me, with the $1 movies at Redbox, or the Netflix capabilities these days, unless you are just really into the above, you can have plenty to watch without spending the big bucks.

When I was a kid my dad and I used to go to the movies every saturday. It cost 50 cents for him and 15 cents for me. Popcorn & drink 10 cents. Later on in life I stood in line for hours to see The Jerk. Last time I went to the movie theater was to see Crocodile Dundee. Being able to rent movies put an end to me going to the regular movie theater. I never had any bad experiences with the other patrions just like watching movies in my own home.

Keith B wrote:Yeah, they use coconut oil to pop it in. Much worse for you, but sure tastes better!!!

Many theaters don't use coconut oil any more so it doesn't taste as good as it used to. I have actually bought coconut oil to cook popcorn at home.

seniorshooteress wrote:I never had any bad experiences with the other patrions just like watching movies in my own home.

I have never had any real bad experiences at the movies. Just the normal annoying people who talk too loud or kick the back of the seats. When I go, it usually during an "off time" so the theater is pretty empty so I can move around to get a good seat away from distracting people.

Other than the high-priced concession food, the watered-down drinks, the main disadvantage of the movies versus home theater is that you can't press the pause button when you want to go to the bathroom. Also you can't rewind, if you missed something important.

I don't need the garbage from Hollywood to be entertained, so they just don't get my money. I have a group of about a dozen hunting/shooting/fishing buddies (and their wives) that get together for cook-outs 6-8 times a year (usually at my place. Now, that's what I call a social event. Just my opinion, but I really believe that we have become addicted to constant entertainment as if it's a "human right", or some type of entitlement. We use so many diversions (kinda like this forum) in our daily lives to help us escape reality (I don't consider this forum to be an escape from reality), that we, as a society, tend to subconsiously blur the line between truth and fiction soometimes. Having hobbies that require active participation are much healthier for mind, body and spirit than passively sitting and being deludged with hollywood drivel. If I want passive entertainment, I find it much more relaxing to sit in the shade of my own back yard and watch the weeds grow in the yard of the now vacant house next door than to spend $20-40 to go to a "pichershow".

I'm not getting old..... I've always been like this


surv

My comment about the movies being a "social event" was kind of tongue and cheek. It isn't like a party, a picnic or family reunion, but sometimes, when you see a movie with family or a group of friends it can be a different experience. During a particular scene when the whole audience laughs, claps, cheers or gasps can add to the overall experience of watching a movie.

WildBill wrote:

Keith B wrote:Yeah, they use coconut oil to pop it in. Much worse for you, but sure tastes better!!!

Many theaters don't use coconut oil any more so it doesn't taste as good as it used to. I have actually bought coconut oil to cook popcorn at home.

Virgin coconut oil is good for you. Stay away from the hydrogenated stuff. Almost all oil used commercially is at least partially hydrogenated. They can claim 0 transfats on the label if the amount is below 1 (ever notice how small the serving size is on a lot of things), but if it has says hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated, run away.

davidtx wrote:

WildBill wrote:

Keith B wrote:Yeah, they use coconut oil to pop it in. Much worse for you, but sure tastes better!!!

Many theaters don't use coconut oil any more so it doesn't taste as good as it used to. I have actually bought coconut oil to cook popcorn at home.

Virgin coconut oil is good for you. Stay away from the hydrogenated stuff. Almost all oil used commercially is at least partially hydrogenated. They can claim 0 transfats on the label if the amount is below 1 (ever notice how small the serving size is on a lot of things), but if it has says hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated, run away.

Health food stores and [usually cheaper] Indian groceries carry the virgin [non-hydrogenated] coconut oil.

Being retired now, I go to the movies during weekdays to avoid crowds and cell phone abusing aholes. I have seen 1st run movies where I was the only one in the theater. I can always find seats away from others. I still enjoy the bigscreen experience.

Mars & I haven't been to a movie since before Baby Pax was born; however, we used to enjoy going. We finally quit going to the AMC at night since they appeared to be offering gang members a group discount at that time. We started going to either matinees at the AMC, or we (more often) woudl go to the Movie Tavern, which seemed to have a more family-friendly clientele. (When Mars was in a wheelchair, I also had an easier time finding a handicapped parking space at Movie Tavern, or atleast something close enough so that I didn't have to push a wheelchair all the way through the mall just to get to the elevator.)

We don't have cable, nor do we have a big tv; that kind of thing just isn't a priority for us right now. Sometimes, it's nice to watch something on the big screen.

We went to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice this past weekend and it was good. The only sign at this Cinemark theater said, "No Firearems Allowed." Cool, no BG with guns. Well, probably not.