How movie theaters should be again.
When I go to commercial movie theaters like AMC Theaters or Regal, I estimate the previews that about 20 minutes or more. We also get pre-shows in which the theaters would gloat about digital projectors and Nicole Kidman cameos. And each time, I beg for the movie to begin, because I have a life outside the cinema.
I would send a message to AMC Theaters, but they don’t care about our problems, as far as I’m concerned. So, all I can do is write this article about how the movie going experience should be enjoyable, not time consuming. And I’m sure a number of you would agree with me on the following topics.
I’ve been noticing that the printed tickets aren’t very clear on what theater number the specific movie is playing at or the seat number. Instead, we mostly see codes and logos. What it should be is the theater name, the theater number, and the seat number as big of a font as the ticket can hold. Because people do get lost from time to time, and not everyone has good eyes. There are elderly people in the audience, too.
Here’s another concern of mine. Lately, movies that are currently in theaters have been releasing on streaming services a few weeks later, which is totally threatening the theater industry. They should come out on DVD, Blu-Ray, or whatever streaming service will hold them a few months later. We may live in a time of Netflix and Hulu, but movie theaters are still full of memorable and exciting moments. We need to get out more often and broaden our tastes.
The only few times is when I’m glad previews are 20-minutes long are if I was running late because I would consider that a security blanket. But in most cases, I still think they should be shorter. Ten or fifteen minutes of previews should be enough to warm people up for upcoming films, but we don’t care about the theater promos which are self-congratulatory.
I’m sure most of you are also aware of the fact that “A Minecraft Movie” has started a nationwide theater reaction trend on social media. This regards to fans making disruptive speeches as the film was beginning, and to a scene when Jack Black’s character says “Chicken Jockey.” That quote has sparked youngsters to throw popcorn and make noise in an intense manner. This subject matter has to do with you movie goers. Some of us want to watch the movie and not a fiasco. And the theater employees are humans and not slaves.
And most chain movie theaters have popcorn sizes in either medium or large. And the only way you can get a small popcorn is if you buy the kids pack. And there are smaller theaters that have all sizes, including small. I understand that concessions are what helps make the movie industry, but some of us don’t want too much popcorn.
There are many things that make the movie going experience enjoyable, and long previews, rambunctious “Minecraft” fans, and poorly printed tickets are not among them. As a film critic, I’m glad I get to go to press screenings with no previews. But as a person, I think you can agree with me on all the things I’ve mentioned. I can’t really speak about prices, because you know how the economy is these days, but I can sympathize with you who deserve a great theater experience.