Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[El Grupo]

Since we are speaking of movies. I don't see very many. I hardly ever watch one on TV. I lose patience with them and end up doing something else half way through. However, last January when I visited Universal and went to the Despicable Me ride, I had never seen the original movie but I found that I really enjoyed the ride in spite of not having the background story.

Anyway, I noticed that Despicable Me was on a cable channel so I DVR'd it. Today I watched it and to my surprise, it was a pretty good movie, but that isn't what I noticed the most. It was playing on ABC Family. Isn't that a Disney owned channel? Through-out the movie they showed trailers for Despicable Me 2 coming out on the 3rd of July. I don't know if Disney is trying to be open minded and run the competition or if they are so blissfully ignorant of the threat that they represent that they don't see any reason to not take money from Universal to promote the competition. Disney and Universal are both releasing movies this week. I don't really care, it just struck me as odd that this would happen.

Could be mistaken, but I believe NBC Universal airs Disney movies/commercials on their networks/cable channels. Just part of the business. Comcast will gladly take Disney's ad dollars and Disney will do the same.

 

[El Grupo]

When AMC was in Canada you could get $6 pre-noon showings, but now it's back to $12 regular, $15 3D and $18 IMAX for me. Tuesday's are discounted by $5 basically.

I try to avoid too much consessions, but I find I always need at least soemthing to drink, which even AMC was charging $4 for.

Here in Denver, AMC matinees go into the late afternoon and are still $5 for non-3D features.

I've become a bit more frugal in my middle age years when it comes to concessions. The wife just tosses a couple of bottled Cokes and boxes of candy in her backpack. The AMC attendants never ask to check the bag.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Could be mistaken, but I believe NBC Universal airs Disney movies/commercials on their networks/cable channels. Just part of the business. Comcast will gladly take Disney's ad dollars and Disney will do the same.

Well, like I said, I don't watch many movies so it just surprised me. If you say that they are all mutually doing this..then who am I to question it. Rock on!

 

[WDWFigment]

When AMC was in Canada you could get $6 pre-noon showings, but now it's back to $12 regular, $15 3D and $18 IMAX for me. Tuesday's are discounted by $5 basically, however those showings are often packed with cheap, poorly behaved teens.

I try to avoid too much consessions, but I find I always need at least soemthing to drink, which even AMC was charging $4 for water.

Those prices are just insane. I'm way too cheap to pay those kind of prices when Redbox will have the movie for $1.50 a few months later.

I love the theater experience (and that my wife can't turn down the volume there!), but not that much. I'd never go see anything for those prices...

 

[Californian Elitist]

You guys should know better. Buy your snacks and drinks at your local liquor store, then sneak them in.

Anyone have dollar movie theaters in their city? Save you lots of money.

 

[englanddg]

You guys should know better. Buy your snacks and drinks at your local liquor store, then sneak them in.

Anyone have dollar movie theaters in their city? Save you lots of money.

We used to have 99 cent theaters...haven't seen one in years.

 

[Clamman73]

We used to have 99 cent theaters...haven't seen one in years.

They used to have those on 42nd street too, but haven't seen one in years!

 

[Nemo14]

You guys should know better. Buy your snacks and drinks at your local liquor store, then sneak them in.

Anyone have dollar movie theaters in their city? Save you lots of money.

we have one, except that it's a buck and a half now.

 

[crispy]

I had two free movie passes so Monsters University was pretty cheap for me and my two daughters. Otherwise, the matinee for the three of us would have been $26 for tickets alone. That's why we see maybe one or two new releases a year. Our local Regal cinema has $1 summer movies the we go to several times during the summer, but they are all older movies like Rio and Yogi Bear.

 

[Californian Elitist]

We used to have 99 cent theaters...haven't seen one in years.

That really sucks. They've been disappearing in LA as well.

 

[Californian Elitist]

we have one, except that it's a buck and a half now.

That's good. Still beats ten bucks.

 

[englanddg]

That really sucks. They've been disappearing in LA as well.

Probably because people keep sneaking in refreshments! <grin>

Not that I've never done that...no...never...

<looks around>

 

[Nemo14]

Sure does! It's a little on the sceevy side, but we only go in the daytime.

 

[ScoutN]

Those prices are just insane. I'm way too cheap to pay those kind of prices when Redbox will have the movie for $1.50 a few months later.

I love the theater experience (and that my wife can't turn down the volume there!), but not that much. I'd never go see anything for those prices...

Exactly. That is what we have adopted. Or someone in the family (big family) will buy it when it comes and it gets passed around. Alternate who usually buys it. Saves money too. Since last summer I have seen five movies total.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Those prices are just insane. I'm way too cheap to pay those kind of prices when Redbox will have the movie for $1.50 a few months later.

I love the theater experience (and that my wife can't turn down the volume there!), but not that much. I'd never go see anything for those prices...

As I said in my rant in the Chit Chat section, Cineplex basically owns a monopoly on movie theatres in this country and Empire (the second largest chain) charges the same and is far fewer in number. You may find second-run, one-screen theatres, but the selection is obviously limited.

I'm pretty much forced to pay those prices or deal with poorly-behaved cheap teens once a week, which is why I don't go so often to the movies.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Probably because people keep sneaking in refreshments! <grin>

Not that I've never done that...no...never...

<looks around>

Times are hard, I can't afford to pay fifteen bucks for popcorn, a hot dog and a drink! Lol ain't gonna happen.

I've snuck into a few movies... That's worse than sneaking snacks.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

On a different note, remember the days when you'd have to pay legit theatre prices to go see a "Roadshow" release and get reserved seats? Makes paying $10 look like a steal.

 

[flynnibus]

Those prices are just insane. I'm way too cheap to pay those kind of prices when Redbox will have the movie for $1.50 a few months later.

I love the theater experience (and that my wife can't turn down the volume there!), but not that much. I'd never go see anything for those prices...

Which is why I can't take the family often.. over $60 just to get in the door.

And we have the premium movie experiences around here now too... Draft House theaters, reserved seating, d-box, etc.. base tickets are as high as $24 in some situations!

 

[englanddg]

Times are hard, I can't afford to pay fifteen bucks for popcorn, a hot dog and a drink! Lol ain't gonna happen.

I've snuck into a few movies... That's worse than sneaking snacks.

Never snuck into a movie, I have snuck in bottle sodas...but that's as far as I'll go.

But, I do miss the days when I worked in food service...

I would regularly trade out passes for my location with the local AMC or Regal managers for free passes.

Generally I'd use them as CM incentives (yeah, we called our employees CMs as well), like a reward for a suggestive sale contest would be a free dinner for two at Applebees or TGI Fridays and a pair of free movie passes...for that I'd trade a pass worth a Large Pizza, four drinks and 30 game tokens for them to also use as employee incentive.

However, I can't always say that I never used one of those free movie passes myself!

Also, getting friendly with Managers at theaters, you get invited to their employee showings, etc. I remember seeing Godzilla on opening night (for free), and it was a BIG deal. Whomever handled the marketing for that had made sure that even smaller theaters had big opening night festivities. It was tons of fun. Same for the LoTR trilogy, which I got into employee showings for all but the first. List goes on.

 

[englanddg]

Which is why I can't take the family often.. over $60 just to get in the door.

And we have the premium movie experiences around here now too... Draft House theaters, reserved seating, d-box, etc.. base tickets are as high as $24 in some situations!

Our fork and screens (AMC and Studio Movie Grill) both charge normal ($10 - $12 non matinee) prices for tickets. They make the money in booze and food sales.

For me to go alone to a movie to Studio Movie (which is my normal haunt if I go) costs around $25...including ticket, which I think is a reasonable price. Especially since I only go a few times a year.