Theater vs. Home

[Darkrain]

Let's break it down, this is how Darkrain see's it.

Theater

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage to watching a movie in the theater is obviously the big screen. Certain movies are a lot more enjoyable on the big screen, at least I think so. This is the main reason why personally, I enjoy watching a movie in the theater over home.

Plus, you have a wider variety of snacks/beverages when you go to see a movie in the theater. That said, I rarely buy anything when I go (I just stop @ gas station before hand) because it's too damn expensive. But when I do buy something at the theater, I must admit their food is very good. Still not worth what they charge, though.

One of the disadvantages of going to see a movie in the theater is the people around you. I haven't had too many experiences whether other people have ruined the movie (talking, cell phones going off, ect.), but it has happended a couple of times.

Home

Watching a movie at home is almost as good as the theater. You're obviously in the privacy of your own home so you don't have to worry about anyone else ruining it. Plus, it's a bit easier to relax, You can lay down on the couch or your bed, can't really do that in the theater. And last but not least, it's not as expensive to watch a movie at home. Most people buy beverages/snacks at the movie theater, you can easily spend $10.00 on just soda and popcorn. Which is more than the damn movie ticket itself, that's ridiculous. Which is why I almost always sneak some food into the theater.

With all the Blu Ray and high def, add that to cheaper food and more comfort and 0 distractions, watch it whenever you want, however loud you want...pause to piss, watch again if you want.

Home Theatre by an absolute blowout.

Of course there are some exeptions, The Dark Knight I'd like to see at a Theater but only in Imax, not in a regular theatre.

[jonk]

depends on the film, like you said.

I like a first viewing in the cinema, but after that, you cant beat waking up on a sunday, staying in bed, and just popping a dvd in.

[PsYkOoOoO]

Some movies just work better in the theaters. The atmosphere is just different at home.

[JBond]

I refuse to answer the poll when I couldn't possibly do without one or the other. I don't care how good home theaters get (and mine's pretty sweet), I will always enjoy going to the theater to see a movie.

OK, fine, I'll answer theater.

[Necross]

I say theatre too, simply because I can watch the movies at home anytime I want to. Seeing a movie in the theatres is a limited experience, granted you can have awful times, but the great ones can't be had all the time like you can have at home.

[PsYkOoOoO]

At home, you get the freedom of when you want to watch it, how you want to watch it, who you want to watch it with and stuff like that. But aside from the big screen you get in the theaters, it's just a great opportunity to watch a movie with a whole bunch of different people and experience the same thing at the very same time. Like I said, the atmosphere is just different. You can't do with one without the other, definitely not.

[Frizzo the Clown]

I refuse to answer the poll when I couldn't possibly do without one or the other. I don't care how good home theaters get (and mine's pretty sweet), I will always enjoy going to the theater to see a movie.

OK, fine, I'll answer theater.
Way to stick your convictions of not answering.

[JBond]

I was too lazy to change my post.

[sshuttari]

some movies you want to experience in theaters with everyone else. ( insert Walle here)

And some you can wait to watch at your home system.

[DragnFire22]

I prefer the theatre. It's nice being able to pop a DVD in on an afternoon, but it's rare that I absolutely have to be alone while watching a movie. I'd rather see every movie in a theatre. Too bad it's not affordable (and theatres only play new releases) :(

[Knerys]

Nothing beats the theater.

Certain movies don't lose anything when translated to the small screen, but others demand the big screen. There is something nostalgic about it. I remember what a treat is was to see a movie in the theater when I was younger and I guess part of me still holds on to that.

Distractions and prices aside, I will always love going to the movie theater.

[iv3rdawG]

Theatre. At home you can get easily distracted by anything where at the theatre you're forced to watch it (in a good way). Simple as that.

[shained]

Theatre hands down. I watch a lot of films at home but if given the choice even on a film i'm not terribly interested in i'd always choose to go the pictures. As expensive as they can be its only money, at the end of the day it comes and goes but experiences stay with you

[Dhamon22]

Nothing wrong with watching movies in your own home theatre, but going to the movie theatre is still the best.

[brutus]

Due to the ridiculous prices, I only go to the theaters for the so called "hyped" or big budget movies like Dark Knight, Indy 4,Revenge of the Sith, Transformers,ect. Those type of movies have to be seen in theaters. Its also really fun to see scary movies in a packed theater. Makes it more fun. The only drawback in theaters that drives me NUTS is crying babies.

[Dracula]

Theater

People exaggerate the drawbacks of the theater experience. If you go to a matinee and don't drag anyone with you the ticket prices aren't that bad. I can live without the overpriced popcorn, I've gotten into the habit of not needing it and it's usually just a distraction. People talking do make me want to murder, but honestly it doesn't happen nearly as often to me as other people say it happens to them.

The benefits are also overwhelming. Firstly you have the simple advantage of seeing the movie while it's new and still a big part of public discourse. Also in the case of comedies the audience can be invaluable in setting the mood. Most importantly though, is the focus one gets sitting in a dark theater with no distractions around one's self, and no pause button.

[Tzarinna]

Theater.

I just watched "Dog Day Afternoon" in a theater in the National Portrait Gallery last night. I've seen it many times at home but it was great to watch it and hear peoples reaction to it that have never seen it.

[Knerys]

I just watch that for the movie club. Great movie. The would have been cool to see in the theater.

[SnoBorderZero]

The theater is the best no doubt. It's just more fun to watch a movie with others, especially ones that envoke reactions that make the overall experience more enjoyable. Also, some movies just demand to be seen on the big screen. Cloverfield is a great example of this, a movie that was amazing to see on the big screen but might just be a fun movie for someone watching at home.

[krushgroove19]

after watching ferris bueller's day off probably thirty times at home over the last twenty years, i finally got a chance to see it in a cheap theater about a month ago, and the atmosphere alone made the movie more enjoyable than it usually already is.. the theater wins hands down.

[sshuttari]

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY is the only movie I know that I want to experience in theatres with a crowd.

What an amazing film.

[Tzarinna]

I just watch that for the movie club. Great movie. The would have been cool to see in the theater.

I joined like 3 movie groups, I'm such a dork. I found them on meetup.com, pretty cool site. This last group goes to free movies at museums in DC. Sunday we'll be seeing a Russian film from the late 50's.

What's your movie club?

[JBond]

I joined like 3 movie groups, I'm such a dork. I found them on meetup.com, pretty cool site. This last group goes to free movies at museums in DC. Sunday we'll be seeing a Russian film from the late 50's.

What's your movie club?

http://forums.comingsoon.net/showthread.php?t=45724

[Tzarinna]

I thought so. :)

[moviefan456]

I say home, even though both are good. I prefer laying on the couch, or having a rowdy party, and I can do that at home. Theaters are more fun when your seeing a really scary movie.:)

[EnderDeschain]

Firstly you have the simple advantage of seeing the movie while it's new and still a big part of public discourse.

Very good point, and a huge factor for me personally. There was a point in time, quite a few years ago, when I saw literally every single movie that came to the theaters. It was right around '03 - '04, when I was still in the Navy, and my reputation was that of "movie guy". It was cool being movie guy, and I sort of miss it. No matter what it was, The Black Knight or Fahrenheit 9/11 or On The Line, people came to me for my opinion on movies the day they opened, and I loved it. It's quite a bit different in Internetland, where everyone has seen everything. But being movie guy in the real world, particularly a real world like mine full of people who aren't very avid movie-goers and don't know much about them, is awesome. I still am to some extent, but not anywhere near what I was.

Oh yeah, thread topic. I prefer the theater as well for many reasons, the above quote being one of them, also this:
There is something nostalgic about it. I remember what a treat is was to see a movie in the theater when I was younger and I guess part of me still holds on to that.

That is a very good point, one I would never have been able to articulate if you hadn't done it first. There was a feeling I'd get in the theater as a youngster, seeing things like Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Shocker (which I had to sneak into), that was almost like magic, corny and cliche as that is. Every movie was an event movie, every trip to the theater was a special occasion. There's something about the smell of a theater and the way the seats feel and the lighting and all, that sometimes takes me back to that. That feeling is indescribable, dorky as it sounds.

I've often wondered, if I were a billionaire and could buy my own theater where I could go see movies by myself, would I? Or would I still go to the normal theater? I think I'd still go to the normal theater, and I can't even say why. Even the lines and the people, pain in the ass though they sometimes are, are a vital part of the experience, and I wouldn't want to do without them if I could.

[Ashift30]

I am old school. When I was a kid in the 60's, going to the theater on Monster Movie Saturday afternoon was so much fun. They played the old black and white monster movies and some usher put on a zombie rag and scared everybody during the death scenes. It was 50 cents to get in and another 50 cents for drink and popcorn.

As I started to drive, watching a movie at the drive-in with your friends or date was the absolute funnest thing on a saturday night. It was a social event. Drop the tailgate and set up the lawn chairs with the coolers, and occassionaly fogged a few windows. Those are my fondest movie memories growing up that attracted me to the theater.

Now I watch fewer at the theaters because of costs, cell phone interuptions, and constant talking. I have hearing loss and side noises drown out the movie dialogue. I miss to much of the movie when people talk during the movie. If it is a large scale visual cinematic flick or subtitles, I want the theater all the way with an adult crowd. Big screen action where you can't here the talking is great too.

But the movies that require thought and attention, I watch at home - uninterupted. After watching a good movie, I immediately watch the Director's comments to learn more about the intent and editing. After that, I will usually watch it a third time the next night while watching all the little things I missed before.

So bottom line for me - Theaters when hearing doesn't matter, home when it does. Theaters for visuals, and home for learning more about the movie from the dirctors cut and alternate endings.

My 2 cents.

[Escape]

One of the disadvantages of going to see a movie in the theater is the people around you. I haven't had too many experiences whether other people have ruined the movie (talking, cell phones going off, ect.), but it has happended a couple of times.
I've never thought of that as a disadvantage but an atmospheric bonus. Maybe cause I've never had many bad experiences there. Depends on the individual I'm sure.

I vote theatre cause of that especially and of course the big screen.

I'm sure though if I had a 60 inch lcd full high def t.v. with a kick ass surround sound system I'd be watching more films at home........maybe. I'd probably be too impatient to wait 3 or 4 months till it arrived on DVD though. :rolleyes:

[sshuttari]

Theatre experience wins especially if I can get a Midnight premiere for a flick.

[Andrey83]

I prefer home. The sound is better, the TV is big enough (42 HD), i have all the space I need and I have the option to light up a fat one.

Home>>>>>Theater

[Escape]

Theatre experience wins especially if I can get a Midnight premiere for a flick.
Never been to one of those.

[pinkalex]

Some movies just work better in the theaters. The atmosphere is just different at home.

Yup, I agree. For me, it feels more exciting to watch movies in the big screen in theaters and the atmosphere is different than in home.

[ViRUs]

It's hard to say, I guess home. I really only get out to see the really big movies, or ones I want to see. Like Iron Man, Hulk, Dark Knight, the ones where I dont really want to wait three or four months for the DVD. Plus it also makes it so much more funner to watch it with the huge screen. So its tough, but home just slightly more.