I know you could probably break theater types into 5 or 6 categories, but for the sake of silmplicity let me generalize it into 2 types.
1) The MEGAPlex Theater
You know the ones I’m talking about. They’re new. They have big cushioned seats and more leg room. They have huge screens and state of the art sound systems. They also have 700+ seats. Going there feels like you’re going to a football game with huge crowds and an “event” like atmosphere.
2) The Small Local Theater
These are typically the ones without 20 screens. They are smaller, a little out of the way. What it lacks in size it makes up for with a feeling of familiarity. You feel like you know the staff and the manager even recognizes you once in a while. It’s always cheaper and parking is never an issue. Inside the theater itself it feels more like a buddies huge living room than a football stadium. Smaller, more intimate.
Personally, I see great strengths in each of these options, and depending on the particular movie I may go back and for the between the two.
However, if I had to choose between the 2 I’d probably go with the smaller local theater. I just feel more at home in them. They feel more real to me.
So which kind of theater do you prefer? And more importantly… why? Give me your thoughts.
I miss those small local theaters, where only 2 movies at a time can be shown and are changed weekly. With the advent of malls where I originally came from having multiplexes as part of the structure is a must, so expect multiplexes in any malls you go to in the Philippines.
Here in the UK, I have only been to one local small theaters, and that was when I used to live in Llanelli in Wales. It had a bar but had poor sound quality. Since moving to London, there are a variety of multiplexes to choose from- UGC, Odeon, VUE, UCI, etc. It doesnt really bother me where to watch my films, but I would appreciate some cinema etiquette, which Richard has already brought out in an earlier topic.
I’m definitely a theater snob. There are many things to consider when choosing a theater:
Proximity to my house
Stadium Seating (a must have)
Screen Size (the bigger the better)
Crowd-size and type (I HATE going to a 3-week
old movie on a thursday night and the
theater is packed…grrr – the type of
people that frequent a certain theater may
alter my choice to go there)
Staff (there is one hi-tech theater in my area
where the staff are just retards..WILL NOT
go there; I’ll leave those stories for
another time)
Sound (most theaters now days all have digital
surround so not really an issue anymore)
Atmosphere (I do like the small theater feel,
but it just lacks other ammenties, such as
comfort)
Good Cupholders
Lighting (I hate bright floor lights or annoying
lighting that reflects on the screen)
Price (generally the same everywhere, but
still… love the discount theaters)
There is a lot more, but I’m a busy guy. Later!
http://www.moviepatron.com
I love interesting and unique cinemas (Rest in Peace Uptown theater Toronto, Ontario 2003).
This is from an old post on my blog.
The Highlands Cinema in rural Kinmount Ontario. The motto of the theatre is “You remember not only the movie, but the theatre.” And it is true. Easily the best place that I’ve seen a movie. The owner Keith Strata turned his house into a movie theatre, then started adding screens and memorabelia until he had a mounted a 5 screen multiplex in a town of 300 people (Trivia: Most theatre screens per capita in North America, he could pack the entire town several times over into his place). He has hundreds (yes hundreds of 8, 16 and 35mm projectors as well as countless movie posters, lobby cards, images of famous cinemas, props, even shipping cases for the film reels (one that stands out has the 2001: A Space Odyssey emblazoned on the side). All of the screens are decorated differently, with one with classic posters one art deco, one looks like a typical multiplex auditorium. The seats are all top quality seats taken from prestige movie houses that have been tragically demolished. The museum stuff which lines all the corridores between the screens is the central attraction for me, becuase it has to be one of the largest private collections in the world (I’m not exaggerating, seriously!), but for anyone looking for a film going experience like that of a bygone age (classic candy: liquorish whips!) with no Toyota advertisements, previews or Reward Club promos, the feature just starts when the lights go down, this is the place.
Cut and paste this (below) into google for more and select the SECOND link for more (the movie blog is blocking links):
Kurt Film Blog Interesting Cinemas
I love interesting and unique cinemas (Rest in Peace Uptown theater Toronto, Ontario 2003).
This is from an old post on my blog.
The Highlands Cinema in rural Kinmount Ontario. The motto of the theatre is “You remember not only the movie, but the theatre.” And it is true. Easily the best place that I’ve seen a movie. The owner Keith Strata turned his house into a movie theatre, then started adding screens and memorabelia until he had a mounted a 5 screen multiplex in a town of 300 people (Trivia: Most theatre screens per capita in North America, he could pack the entire town several times over into his place). He has hundreds (yes hundreds of 8, 16 and 35mm projectors as well as countless movie posters, lobby cards, images of famous cinemas, props, even shipping cases for the film reels (one that stands out has the 2001: A Space Odyssey emblazoned on the side). All of the screens are decorated differently, with one with classic posters one art deco, one looks like a typical multiplex auditorium. The seats are all top quality seats taken from prestige movie houses that have been tragically demolished. The museum stuff which lines all the corridores between the screens is the central attraction for me, becuase it has to be one of the largest private collections in the world (I’m not exaggerating, seriously!), but for anyone looking for a film going experience like that of a bygone age (classic candy: liquorish whips!) with no Toyota advertisements, previews or Reward Club promos, the feature just starts when the lights go down, this is the place.
Cut and paste this link for more:
http://kurtscomment.blogspot.com/2004/10/interesting-cinemas.html
I prefer the megaplexes…but the smaller theatres in the megaplexes. I don’t like the super large ones because I do feel lost. However, the megaplexes tend to have much better screens, seats and sound.
The last older cinema I went into had broken chairs, horrible-poppy sound and it smelled…and it was just an older theatre. If they were to build newer ones with the same small-theatre feel, I’d go.
I also do not go to the movies on the weekends because if I do, there will be throngs of people I’d rather not encounter. I go on days and at times when people would most likely not go to the theatre.
Megaplex for sure. As much as I like not having too many people around during a movie that might distract me , it still beats my ass falling asleep on crappy seats 5 minutes into the movie.
Megaplex for sure. As much as I like not having too many people around during a movie that might distract me , it still beats my ass fall asleeping on crappy seats 5 minutes into the movie.
If I had my way the nice little indie/foreign films would show at the big “stadium” theatres. Thankfully the local small theatre has gone a ways to meet this need by building a nicer, mid-size more modern theatre, that shows the good major releases along with potentially “popular” foreign/indie flicks. And it’s still small enough to feel “intimate”, I think.
the closed one. no idiotic “cinema goers” then.
popcorn does not a movie make. nor conversation.
I prefer small theaters because people that usually go to the big ones are always commenting in the middle of the movie o kicking your seats, somehow I beleive that small theather is for people willing to enjoy the movie and the experience. Too bad that in my country there are only big theaters.
My Home theater is a good option too, but i still have to do something about the seating.
The bigger theaters tend to bother me, because for some reason, no matter how much leg room, some a-hole always manages to kick my seat.
a big empty theater. too many people around ruin the movie for me. too many people = too many talkers.
It really depends on the movie. If the movie is a big summer blockbusters or an epic LotR type movie I’m going to want to see it with the best audio possible, the best video possible, the biggest screen possible, the most comfortable chairs, etc. However if it’s a comedy or a smaller movie where the audio doesn’t need to knock me out of my seat and there aren’t swooping crain shots I’d much prefer the intimate setting of the single screen.
More and more though I find myself waiting for a movie I’d see in the multiplex because I have a good surround sound system, a nice TV, a comfortable lay-z-boy, and cheaper/better popcorn all in my apartment not a 15-20 minute drive away. Since there’s a single screen theater less than a mile away from me and a two screener a mile past that one where at both you can buy a ticket, a large soda, and a large popcorn or nachos for just about ten dollars I’ll still go to one of those two places for the smaller movie or comedy.
My theater is kind of between the two, about the size of the smaller one, but right on Main St. so it gets a lot of traffic (except during matinees which is all I go to), I generally go there because of two reasons, 1. Best Selection of Movies, 2. I can sound off Full Metal Jacket quotes really loudly in the halls and they don’t stop me. Case in point:
Screaming ‘I will unscrew your head and sh*t down your neck.’ at the janitor and ticket master, they think it’s funny, so as long as there aren√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t any kids around they don’t care.
And the soda machine is broken, if you kick it enough it’ll drop free soda. That’s a plus.
There isn’t much choice in my area anymore. We have 1 smaller movie theater about 10 minutes from me and they only play movies, which have been out for a while. Needless to say they are perfect for a movie I might want to see before DVD, but I don’t want to pay mega theater prices.
If I travel 20 – 30 miles I have a few more choices, but these theaters are reserved for Independant films, which is great when I’m interested in a movie that is only limited release.
If I had to choose? I would have to go with the newer megaplex because the older theaters that do exist haven’t been very well maintained.
It depends on the movie, and even on the mood. But, had I the choice (LOL), the Megaplex is my favourite. I like all megas muahahaha.
I prefer my Home Theater, actually. I can pause the movie and take a wizz. I can go downstairs and mix a drink. My theater chairs are more comfy that the local multiplex. And I don’t have some kid kicking my seat the whole movie, a baby crying, and my shoe sticking to the floor.
While it doesn’t have the best sound or screen projection, I still try to support our old single screen theatre Studio35 (http://www.studio35.com/).
I’d hate to see it close because of Multiplex mania. Of course, we have about 6 deserted and empty multiplex remains around town too.
You are correct though. The type of film dictates a lot. I’ve got tickets for Star Wars at a small multi -screen upscale theatre called the Arena Grand just because I’d rather see this film in THX and so forth.
But most films? Meh! I’m happy at Studio 35.