To think the cinema is massively overrated?

[RagzRebooted]

Took the family to the cinema today. First time in years and actually the first time all 5 of us have gone together (2 adults, 3 12-15yr olds). Only did it because of the £3 Cineworld offer and brought our own snacks because OMG, the price of food and drink there is even more insane than I remember.

I'd been looking forward to it all week. Sat down and was initially impressed as they have built a new one in the town we went to and it's a much better layout, steeper seating (so no need to worry about view blocking) and more leg room, no flip down seats but big ones with headrests. Huge screen.

Here are my problems -
The picture quality is a lot worse than our TV. Obviously, as it's projected.
The screen is so big it's actually quite hard to look at.
The seats looked and felt comfy at first but my back was killing by the end of it.
Stank of various foods people were eating.
Full of people (kind of a given, but still a downside) all making various noises.
Can't just pause it, get up and have a wee, make a cuppa etc.

It was supposed to be a treat, but DH and I agree that we won't be doing it again!

The film was good, but I hadn't even heard of it before looking up what was on and would have been quite happy watching it next year on a streaming service. I can understand going to watch something highly anticipated if it's something you're really into (like Marvel or some other big serial thing), especially for teens. I'm just not that into films and happy to watch then a year later.

I just don't get the appeal of sitting and watching a film crammed in with a load of strangers. I feel like it's something other people do all the time and I'm just being wierd not liking it!

I only go to Everyman or indie cinemas with nice drinks or adults only showings now

I also generally don’t bother going to see a comedy or a drama- cinema is purely for ‘big screen’ films like disaster or space movies, or new anime releases.

@NotYourOscarSpeech

I adore the cinema, in fact I got back from seeing the Duke about an hour ago. However, I normally go to the Everyman which is lovely, and I go on my own and usually during the day or early evening. The screens are also smaller than eg the Odeon although that’s never been something I’ve given much thought to.

I got hooked on the cinema when I took DS1 at least once a week for baby cinema, now I’m pregnant with DS2 it’s something I’m really looking forward to for my next period of maternity leave.

Me too. I go to our local Everyman with my friend in the afternoons, take in a coffee ( theirs isn’t quite as good), curl up on a sofa each and drift into another world.

Didn't go for years but love it since the Everyman cinema arrived .....we always book the middle sofa on the back row ....we don't eat there...but always order 1 alcoholic drink which is brought to your sofa table....I have CEA card so its £14 for me and DP so not an overly expensive night out

I used to love taking the kids when they were little...however now that it's just the two of us we only go to our local Everyman cinemas.

I hate the cinema too. Worst thing is being trapped with a boring film when you have gone with other ppl so you can’t just get up and go home. A few times I have got up and gone out for a walk round the town while the others sat and watched the film in its entirety. The system is, you get up, go to the foyer and ask the staff what time the film finishes, then go for a walk and come back at the finish time to reunite with your mates. But enough is enough and after doing this a few times I just stopped going.

We only go to the cheap Saturday morning kids club cinema as I don’t think it’s worth paying a fortune for. Other people talking and moving around drives me mad!

I love the cinema. Maybe you're massively over-rated.

I have never felt the same about the cinema since I looked to my left (I was sitting in the back left hand corner as you look at the screen) and watched a rat nonchantly shin up the wall about 30cm away from me and into the ceiling panel. Clearly he would be having a great time once all the popcorn chompers had gone home. Equally clearly he had just run past my ankles.

This was a very mainstream cinema chain in a modern multiplex cinema. I just can't relax now once the lights go down. I was quite pleased when Covid put an end to cinema trips!

I used to love the cinema but I can't do it now. Other people seem incapable of sitting and watching. Up and down to the loo, on their phones, eating and talking away noisily.
I also find the film itself too loud.

YANBU, OP.

I used to go twice in a week back in the day. Saw some excellent movies in near empty flea pits because cinema fell out of fashion in the late 80's.

Haven't been now in years due to ghastly brats being allowed to whine and romp at will and other patron's constant noisy nose-bagging, broadcast volume conversations and flashing phones..

I now wait for the DVD or streaming release.

Darley368 - Peter Kay mentions problems with rats at the cinema, in his autobiography. He worked as an usher.

I hate the cinema. I'm properly antisocial wanker and my idea of hell is watching a film with the soundtrack of other people slurping and crunching and rustling packets.

I have an amazing excuse now as I need a wheelchair AND have a poorly neck and shoulder so can't cope with the stupid disabled area which is about a foot from the screen so you have to crane your neck for the entire film. Bahahaha.

I send DH with DD now and have a nice quiet night in and a Chinese 😂

I hate the cinema, it's expensive, cold, uncomfortable, too loud and full of annoying people. I pretty much never go unless forced.

YADBU. You started a thread that basically details the worst aspects of the cinema experience versus watching streaming services at home. Of course there are advantages to the latter. But Netflix and the like keep you stuck ever more inside the four walls you do everything else in, while the cinema gets you out into the world of other people and reminds you that they live and breathe just like you.

They also want to watch films with other people beyond their own family, to share something quite unique as social experiences go. A ritual that often has significant emotional power enhanced by its public setting. (Being thrilled is emotional!) You get incredible sound in the vast majority of modern cinemas, a screen that does a good job of filling your field of vision, and if you take kids they generally feel taken out of themselves in a public space and afterwards experience 'coming back to the world' in an environment that often includes a large number of people from other families also waking from the shared spell. Going to and from the cinema you might encounter incidental things like the weather, exercise and fresh air, impromptu visits to cafes to kill a bit of time, a sense of anticipation of an infrequent treat.

In my opinion, 'home cinema' has a place of course. But there's a massive cultural history and tradition of joining large audiences to sit in a public space while you all enjoy some entertainment. Cinema is one of the ways that often happens in a positive and reliable way. Like anything else, it sometimes disappoints, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Tellingly, you say you and DH agreed not to go again. Did you listen to your kids' opinions in the matter? Maybe they were also disenchanted, in which case that's a pity. But chances are they'll go back because over the coming years they'll do so in various social arrangements, from couples to groups, and most likely have some great experiences. Meanwhile, you and DH may have militantly let that opportunity go in favour of sitting on the couch being streamed to.

I love the cinema!!
But I rarely go due to the cost.
If I do go I don’t usually buy food or drink as it’s extortionate.

I used to love the cinema but I took DS to see Sing 2 recently at one of the chains and OMG the sound was far, far too loud especially for a children's film - my ears were ringing after it which is not a good sign. So I won't be going back.

@switswoo81

I absolutely love the cinema. I find when I'm at home watching a.movie I'm easily distracted. I'll pick up a phone, fall asleep, put on washing machine etc whereas in the cinema I get totally transfixed by the movie.

Exactly this. I love the cinema. I sit down, properly relax & lose myself in the film. Even if it's not great.

It's one of the activities that I find DC & I properly enjoy without someone getting grumpy.

YANBU The cinema chains like Vue aren’t worth bothering with IMO. There’s a small independent cinema near me that shows a more interesting mix of films, has sofas to sit on and serves cocktails.That’s quite alright really but at £10 per ticket with no concessions and drinks / snacks extra, it’s an occasional treat.

I’d never heard of Everyman cinemas until this thread so I’ve just googled it and they look amazing!!

I absolutely love the cinema, I've been three times this week (I have an unlimited card for cineworld). I tend to go in the afternoon and am often the only person in there, its fab!

@2022HereWeCome

I used to love the cinema but I took DS to see Sing 2 recently at one of the chains and OMG the sound was far, far too loud especially for a children's film - my ears were ringing after it which is not a good sign. So I won't be going back.

It has to be loud to drown out all the talking and chewing I think. I find it way too loud and uncomfortable.

35andThriving I did think about the poor staff having to clean in there.Who would want to be the first one in and have to watch the rodents scatter? yuk!

I love the cinema but that’s because I used to work in one and used to watch multiple films a week. We drive further out of the city though to go to a quieter one. Don’t go on weekends, only week days and don’t go when a film has just come out (we’ve only just watched Spider-Man!) because we hate all the loud kids there. Early morning showings are quiet, as are late night ones usually- horror is usually an exception.

Talkers and more people usually sit at the back so we tend to sit three rows from the front.

@OldTinHat

I absolutely love the cinema, I've been three times this week (I have an unlimited card for cineworld). I tend to go in the afternoon and am often the only person in there, its fab!

I love it when I get the screen to myself, 9-10 on a Monday night is great for it.

DM and I went to the community cinema offering tonight £5 each. Film was good. What ruined it for me was the incessant munching, rustling and loud whispering sound fx.