Why Go To The Cinema?

[NoshowJones]

Apart from having female company, why does anyone go to the cinema nowadays? If you are a film buff, would you not rather watch movies in your own home? You have all the home comforts, can buy widescreen monitors, and good sound equipment, download movies from the internet, watch them in your own time, pause them whenever you want, don't have to sit watching adverts.

Does anyone nowadays really go to the cinema on their own?

Edited August 2, 2021 by possum1931

[BritManToo]

I haven't been since 55" Tvs became cheap.

On to 65" now, If I live long enough (another 2-3 years) my next screen will be 75"

[CharlieH]

Nah, I think its dead now compared to years gone by. Then it was an experience seeing things on "the big screen" the great sound system and audience type atmospere etc.

With the advance of technology its dwindled to nothing.

 

I think it still remains special in the poorer parts of the world and for those that dont have or cant afford the home entertainment systems etc.

ti think it still remains a social thing for some too, something to go do and share, but not on the scale it once was.

 

Last time I went was over 20yrs ago and I  cant even remember what it was I went to see.

 

The last one I do remember going to was Titanic ! (1997) And yes it was with a woman....lol

[bbko]

It's an industry that's going downhill.  As more and more people get larger smart TVs and with all the streaming options, plus with Covid doing it's thing, watching movies at home is the preferred for many now. 

But like eating at home, watching movies at home can and will get stale for some and occasionally going to the movie is a way to break up the routine.

 

We recently bought a 72" TV and with my Netflix I may never go to the cinema again, 555.

Edited August 2, 2021 by bbko

[sungod]

I dont treat it as just watching a movie, more of a family outing with time in the amusement arcade before, and a nice meal after.

[CharlieH]

It will and is already becoming a " Netflix" world!

Any movie of any note goes that way now for release and the larger audience numbers.

[tonray]

4 minutes ago, sungod said:

I dont treat it as just watching a movie, more of a family outing with time in the amusement arcade before, and a nice meal after.

Exactly...when I used to live near the Mall Thaphra, used to meet GF after she got off from work, eat dinner at the mall and enjoy a movie before heading home. A lot better than sitting at home and watching TV...humans need a change of pace...a night out is what it's about...not even the movie  or the tech.

[Pravda]

Strange replies.

 

Considering most people live in condos/apartments do you really think it is practical to install the sound system that will annoy your neighbors? Not to mention a lot of people like myself really dislike clutter and unless you have a McMansion with American basement, I don't see how watching movies at home even remotely compares to watching movies in the cinema?

 

Also, lets say you are a fan of particular director like Christopher Nolan (which I am not, BTW), who is very anal about his sound mix. This can not be achieved on your Chinese made home theater. Also, many other things as previous posters mentioned. Fans of Star Wars, for example, will make this an event. I remember in 1999 when Phantom Menace opened the movie was a total <deleted>, yet the audience around in the theater made it 100% enjoyable. Try to get the same experience on Netflix. Impossible.

Edited August 2, 2021 by Pravda

[Henryford]

I have a 82in TV now and would never think of going to the cinema. Apart from the fact that most modern films are <deleted> and in Thailand they freeze you to death.

[Peterw42]

I agree its pretty easy to have a nice little home cinema set-up at home nowadays, but the cinema experience is still a step up and a unique experience. The screen will always be bigger and the sound better at the cinema.

 

There is also an aspect of watching with a crowd of people, the collective laughing, crying, cheer the good guy, boo the bad guy etc. You are immersed in the emotion of the movie with other people, and it becomes part of the experience.

 

Living in a condo, there is a limit to the volume of the surround sound, the neighbours dont appreciate the helicopter gunships storming the beach at 3am.

 

I am a huge movie buff, with a pretty good home setup, but still do the cinema a couple of times a month, especially for a movie I have been looking forward to.

[Ohyesuare]

The VIP cinemas are pretty nice, I also enjoy seeing movies in 4DX. Both experiences cannot be easily replicated by watching at home.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

About a year ago, wife and I saw Tenet at one of the fancy cinemas in one of those Phrom Phong malls, when everything was opening up, and everyone thought it'd soon be over.

 

I sprang for 1000 baht VIP tickets. Man, I haven't seen a good flick in forever, and was dying for a good experience. Buffet in their lounge area included. We made sure to pig out and get our money's worth. Haha. Then they guided us in to plush reclining chairs, and more free drinks.

 

Man, that soundtrack is great, and the sound system really did it justice. The whole place was rumbling and we felt like were we right in the middle of the action. A welcome escape from otherwise stressful emotions. Really glad we did it, who knows when we'll be able to again now.

[OneMoreFarang]

How much money do you have to spend to have a huge screen at home and a great sound system? A lot! And what about your neighbors when you crank up the sound?

 

Personally I like a huge screen and great sound in the cinema. And I don't mind the advertisement, some of it is entertaining. And if I wouldn't like the advertisement I could just walk in a little later.

 

 

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

How much money do you have to spend to have a huge screen at home and a great sound system? A lot! And what about your neighbors when you crank up the sound?

20Kbht gets you a 65" screen, and I wear bluetooth earbuds (150bht), it can be as loud as I can endure and nobody else can hear. Obviously a large Tv may not be practical for poor white folk living in a single room.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/lg-smart-tv-4k-uhd-65un7200-65-65un7200-2020-i2266016965-s7608289810.html

Edited August 2, 2021 by BritManToo

[Peterw42]

1 minute ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Man, that soundtrack is great, and the sound system really did it justice. The whole place was rumbling and we felt like were we right in the middle of the action. A welcome escape from otherwise stressful emotions. Really glad we did it, who knows when we'll be able to again now.

I agree,  a big part of the cinema experience is the sound, its a massive part of movie production nowadays, with a big part of the production going to the immersive sound scape. Something you cant reproduce at home.

[OneMoreFarang]

20 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Fans of Star Wars, for example, will make this an event. I remember in 1999 when Phantom Menace opened

I remember triple feature Star Wars 1, 2, 3 in a row in a huge cinema (not in Thailand). Those were the times (long before they renamed them to 4-6).

And another day was Indiana Jones 1, 2, 3. ???? 

 

 

[pkrv]

Call me old fashioned but seeing a movie at the cinema is really the best way to experience a film. And like mentioned before it should be an occasion (under ideal circumstances, Covid notwithstanding).

Get together with friends or a loved one for the event, enjoy the trailers and ads (no Pearl & Dean here unfortunately), see the movie on the big screen with the big sound and the big popcorn. And then have a meal after and talk over the film with everyone.

Perhaps the heydays are gone, but for me I still love seeing a movie that way and try to partake of the cinema screening for a movie I want to see whenever I can.

[OneMoreFarang]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I wear bluetooth earbuds (150bht)

And you think that is great sound? Think again! 

[bobandyson]

15 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Apart from the fact that most modern films are <deleted> and in Thailand they freeze you to death.

Last film I saw at a cinema I fell asleep around halfway through because the aircon was on the 'Blizzard' setting. Can't remember the year but the movie was 'The Kingdom'.

 

Besides, I don't like the sound systems, too much bass. i.e. a character gets thrown against a wall and there's an almighty 'BOOOM!!'. I've heard cars crashing in real life and there is no loud mega bassy boom-bada-boom sound as the cars impact and rolls over.

 

[eyup]

If the movie is kerap you have wasted your time and money going to the cinema. Watch one at home, if it's kerap switch it off and try another one.

[Peterw42]

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

20Kbht gets you a 65" screen, and I wear bluetooth earbuds (150bht), it can be as loud as I can endure and nobody else can hear. Obviously a large Tv may not be practical for poor white folk living in a single room.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/lg-smart-tv-4k-uhd-65un7200-65-65un7200-2020-i2266016965-s7608289810.html

Its not just volume, movies have multi channel immersive sound tracks.

The bullet whizzes past your ear, a door creaks over you left shoulder, you feel the gunshot as the hero gets shot, you can hear the blood dripping on the floor as we find the body. The doppler effect as the train goes by

You cant recreate that with bluetooth headphones.

Edited August 2, 2021 by Peterw42

[phetphet]

I like going to the cinema. Even though I have a fairly new 65" Samsung QLED TV., the surround sound system is far better than I have at home and I find the experience more immersive. Apart from those people that don't silence their phones. 

The only problem now is that due to both covid restrictions and  a lack of tourists, my local cinemas are either closed or no longer showing films with english language. when they are open.

i did used to find it amusing sometimes to be in an almost empty cinema. Only two or three people. yet everyone still stood for the anthem.

 

[bkk6060]

Why go to a bar when you can drink at home with your favorite friend?

 

It is actually an enjoyable reason to leave your house for a few hours and go to the movie.

Add, nothing like a big screen experience and theater sound system would much rather see first run movies out.

[HappyExpat57]

8 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And you think that is great sound? Think again! 

Gotta brag, I have a real nice Sennheiser "over the ears" headphone setup. THAT'S a great sound.

 

When theaters were open in Pattaya, I would download the movie, watch it at home, then decide if it was worth the trip. It's all about the popcorn, baby!

[ArcticFox]

I stopped years ago.  The Thai cinema's are obnoxiously loud to the point that I had to use earplugs.  Absolutely ridiculous.  And honestly, most films nowadays are utter trash and pablum.  Really good movies are rare.  I'm beyond tired where plot, good scripts, and excellent acting is replaced by CGI, massive amounts of noise, and dazzling flash that follow one of a handful of cookie-cutter plot lines.  There are occasional good movies.  I'm fine with watching those on a computer at home.

Edited August 2, 2021 by ArcticFox

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 minutes ago, ArcticFox said:

Absolutely ridiculous.  And honestly, most films nowadays are utter trash and pablum.  Really good movies are rare.  I'm beyond tired where plot, good scripts, and excellent acting is replaced by CGI, massive amounts of noise, and dazzling flash the follow one of a handful of cookie-cutter plot lines. 

So  True yet another  bluddy "marvel"  <deleted> fest

[ArcticFox]

27 minutes ago, bobandyson said:

Last film I saw at a cinema I fell asleep around halfway through because the aircon was on the 'Blizzard' setting. Can't remember the year but the movie was 'The Kingdom'.

 

Besides, I don't like the sound systems, too much bass. i.e. a character gets thrown against a wall and there's an almighty 'BOOOM!!'. I've heard cars crashing in real life and there is no loud mega bassy boom-bada-boom sound as the cars impact and rolls over.

 

Oh - that to.  Thai theaters have one aircon setting - Deep Freeze. There is something wrong when I have to wear a coat inside to stay comfortable.

[tonray]

52 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I have a 82in TV now and would never think of going to the cinema. Apart from the fact that most modern films are <deleted> and in Thailand they freeze you to death.

I think I'd need a bigger house

[Peterw42]

Living in Pattaya, its a great place to go to the movies, there is a multiplex in every mall and 4-5 malls. There are literally 20-25 purpose built cinemas, and a big choice of soundtrack and subs, English sound/Thai subs or Thai/English.

My only complaint is the don't sell choctops (an ice cream that they sell in Australian cinemas)

[tonray]

26 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

The bullet whizzes past your ear, a door creaks over you left shoulder

In America.. The bullets might not be from the sound system either.