After 13 years I went to the movies

[George Bellefontaine]

And boy, was I diappointed !

This theater had what they called stadium seating.
No drapes covering the screen, which was about a 30 footer in 1:85 aspect ratio, and even though my love and I sat at the very top row, we were about 50 feet from the screen. Sound was not Dolby Digital and was loud and harsh. The film was THE OTHERS and very dark, but I could see light from the projection window on the screen. There were also two annoying blobs on the right, one near the top and the other near the bottom.
I just couldn't believe this is what has happened to the good old cinema. I now have a new appreciation of my Home Theater.
Will I go to the movies again in the next 13 years or so ? I dunno. I just dunno.




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[Bing Fung]

Wow, that is a long time between theater goings....

We don't have the new cinemas in Toon town, but I have went to them in Edmonton & Calgary, I haven't been disapointed yet. They could use a bit more bass though :B

Sorry, you had a weak experiance.




Bing

[George Bellefontaine]

It may be that I live in a small population area (approx 19,000)and the cineplexes here are just not up to scratch.Halifax, a large city about a 2 hour drive from here, has a lot of theater complexes, including an IMAX theater. Perhaps things are better there. Just don't know I want to drive 2 hours, watch a movie, then drive 2 hours home.It takes me a few seconds to walk down to my HT.




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[John Holmes]

Sorry to hear that my friend. It is a hard thing to swallow, when the theater is not up to snuff.

I was quite surprised to find a "quality" theater six blocks from my home, in this sad city of Baton Rouge. It really has a good A/V presentation.

Before you give up, you may want to try the big city one that you mentioned. It is worth it when it is done right!!




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[Andrew Pratt]

I am lucky enough to have several nice new theaters within a few minutes drive from my place but I rarely go to them. If I go the the movies its usually to the cheap theater that charges $2. They have crappy image and only stereo sound but for the price its cheaper then renting and I get to see a lot more movies. We did go to see Shrek this weekend at the good theater but after spending the equvilent of the DVD purchase price I was left wondering why I bothered...just wait and buy it Thats the nice thing about the cheap theater...if I like the movie there then it stands a better chance that I'll buy it

[Trevor Schell]

I haven't been to the Theater for a while myself. Actually the last movie that I can recall was Disney's Dinosaur in which we took the kids to see.

I would really like to take in a movie at the SilverCity's Theaters. I just have a hunch that they would be a good experience, however I am really enjoying my own set-up at the moment.
Just need that FPTV to finish it off.




Trevor
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[ChristianT]

I took my wife and kids to see the IMAX movie "Dolphins" in Galveston on Monday. Wow what a huge screen! An amazing experience. The sound system in there was spectacular. The surround speakers in the rear of the theater had to be 15 feet tall, 15 feet wide, and covered in an ugly grey carpet. No fewer than 24 drivers and horns apiece. They were suspended from the ceiling in the rear corners. By far the best sound I have ever heard in a commercial theater, not to mention that the movie was masterfully produced. There are some spectacular underwater scenes to be found.

I did point out to my "I don't understand why your speakers have to be seen" wife that I could build a couple like the ones in the rear of the theater and she just gave me a funny scowl.

I plan on taking the kids back for a 3D movie next weekend. They are showing a movie called Cyberworld that has the Simpsons and Antz cameos in it. Looks like fun.
http://www.moodygardens.com/cgi-bin/imax3d_home.cfm

I'm definitely going to have a harder time waiting in line to see regular movies now. With my home system ranked second to the IMAX, I'm not sure if I can allow a third runner up to go to the normal cinemas.

Christian

[George Bellefontaine]

I'm certainly glad to hear that there are still some well presented theaters still out there. A lot of my movie going was during my teens and early twenties ( that'd be 1950/1960s)and started to drop off somewhat once I was in my thirties, but I would still go two or three times a month.I was spoiled by those grand old theaters they used to have in Halifax, with the fancy balconys, plush carpeting, and reams of expensive draperies front and center.That to me was a true movie going experience. Now it seems(at least the ones here) that all the theater owners want is a stark small auditorium setting with basic sound, and probably one poor projectionist running two or three plexes , which is why the start times seem to be staggered by a half hour or so for each theater within the cineplex building.Anyway, I'll probably go again. I was just diappointed in what happened to what used to be the grand old cinema.




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[KennyG]

George, perhaps you and your sweetie could do "a weekend in the big city?"
One evening at the nice theater (to calibrate the eyes) and an evening at a play, or live music...a couple evenings like that make four hours of driving worth it.
Lord of the Rings might be worth it

[George Bellefontaine]

That's a good suggestion,Kenny. And yes, Lord Of The Rings would be well worth the drive.
Re:calibrating the eyes.It was good to look at film after a long long time, and realize that the picture I was getting on my projectors at home were pretty darn good. Not film, mind you, but pretty darn good.




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