Why I Go to the Movies
With the rise of Netflix and the fast, inexpensive availability of DVDs, why do I go to the movies, especially now that I have two kids, and going with my husband involves paying a sitter?
I go because I like the experience (even when I don’t; more on that below) and because some movies are better in the theater. I saw Branagh’s Henry V at least four times in the theater (a really good one, too) and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it became one of my favorite films.
I recall reading (but can’t find a link after much searching) that the brain processes films and DVDs differently. Films are a string of images, and even though the break between frames happens so fast it’s impossible to see, our brain still experiences it and actively provides closure between frames. DVDs, though, are a steady stream of digital images, and the brain receives these passively.
From his review of Star Wars: Episode II, Roger Ebert has this to say about the difference between film and digital images:
Digital images contain less information than 35mm film images, and the more you test their limits, the more you see that. Two weeks ago I saw “Patton” shown in 70mm Dimension 150, and it was the most astonishing projection I had ever seen–absolute detail on a giant screen, which was 6,000 times larger than a frame of the 70mm film. That’s what large-format film can do, but it’s a standard Hollywood has abandoned (except for IMAX), and we are being asked to forget how good screen images can look–to accept the compromises. I am sure I will hear from countless fans who assure me that “Episode II” looks terrific, but it does not. At least, what I saw did not. It may look great in digital projection on multiplex-size screens, and I’m sure it will look great on DVD, but on a big screen it lacks the authority it needs.
That’s why I went to see Lawrence of Arabia last year when it was showing in a nearby revival. It was not meant to be seen on my television; it was meant to be seen on a big screen. It was a spectacle, and as such, it was spectacular.
There are films that are better at home. Comedy DVDs, with their extras, are especially fun. My husband and I watched Talladega Nights last week, and got several nights of enjoyment out of a friend’s DVD. Character-driven films, and films that were shot digitally, also benefit from small-screen viewings.
It’s not only the image that draws me to theaters for films. It’s the holistic experience. I know what the arguments are against theater going; I don’t disagree with most of them: dirty theaters and restrooms, overpriced and poor quality concessions, skyrocketing ticket prices, and, oh, the humanity–cell phones, conversations, small children in adult movies. Yes, these are hazards, and not uncommon ones.
One of my most disappointing experiences in recent years was going to see the movie Adaptation at The Lagoon theater. Tickets were $8 each, even though the movie was in the early afternoon (there had been a morning show). A 16-oz. bottle of water cost $3 (I’d purchased a 6-pack of 24-oz. bottles at Target the day before for $1.99). We paid for parking, and then I didn’t like the movie and the people behind us talked the whole time. I haven’t been back to the Lagoon since. Instead, I adjusted my movie practices and have had much better experiences, with only occasional annoyances ever since. Going to the movies has become an event, and an oasis of time to myself. I make the effort to minimize these potential pitfalls.
Dirt: if I go to older theaters, I bring anti-bacterial wipes and tissues. I seek out new stadium theaters that have not yet acquired the sticky patina of pop on the floor. The newer restrooms have hallway entrances, not doors, and automated soap, water, and flushing, so there are fewer contact surfaces.
Overpriced concessions: Theaters make their money here, not on tickets. I think it’s bad manners to bring stuff from home. But there are usually some lower-priced combos. I always buy the smallest size because it’s more than enough and it is cheaper, if not by much. I also seek out theaters that have good concessions. Three Twin Cities theaters with good popcorn and real butter are The Heights, The Riverview, and the GTI Roseville 4.
High ticket prices: I try to go to the cheapest show of the day, which is often the twilight show (about 4 to 6 p.m.), NOT the matinees. Don’t buy tickets online or on a credit card if you’re carrying a balance; the additional charges add up. Also, check out discount theaters. Paying $2 a ticket is a bargain, but there are hidden costs. I’ve found the crowds at discount theaters are less polite, and the last film I saw at one was out of focus.
Rude and stupid people: There’s no way to avoid them fully. Going to nicer, newer theaters and seeing non-blockbuster movies will reduce their incidence. While some people WILL bring children to adult movies (there were a few last week when my husband and I saw The Departed. I’m all for early education, but Scorsese is a bit much for the under-six crowd), I try to stem the tide of judgment and wonder if they can’t find childcare or can’t afford it. Finally, my best advice for avoiding talkers and other pests is to take the path of MOST resistance in the theater. If the door is on the left side, I cross over and sit on the right side. I don’t sit in the middle. I sit against the wall rather than on the aisle. If the person behind me talks, I move, since shushing them often doesn’t work.
Leaving the comfort of my home means taking some chances, and possibly spending more to do so. For me, seeing a movie is such an enjoyable event I think it’s worth the risk.