Haven't done one of these for awhile...
This recent conversation got me thinking about the current state of movie theaters. Definitely a lot of options out there, but each one seems to have its proponents and detractors. For example, the idea of picking out your own reserved seat on a seat map seems really weird to me (love the idea for baseball games though). I really don't get out to the movies much, mainly because I don't feel the need to see things right after they come out, nor do I like the idea shelling out $40-50 to go see a movie.
My favorite theater? The $2 one by our old house (and still not too far away). It's got those reclining seats, cheap popcorn, and I don't care if I inevitably pass out at whatever boring kids movie I'm at (looking at you Good Dinosaur).
What's everyone else's favorite viewing experience?
Haven't seen any movies. Did finish Stranger Things, which was fun.
If I'm on a date to a movie with a lot of spectacle I prefer the nice theaters with reclining plush seats and restaurant. I go so rarely that I enjoy it that way.
However, I imagine when I start taking kids I'll want the cheap one.
Burned through the first 3 seasons of Silicon Valley, which is awesome (I don't know if I could love Jared more). Seen the first few episodes of the 4th, but need to catch up.
Was looking for something to watch while I folded laundry and I came across the old MST3K on NF. I thought, you know, I don't think I've seen as many of the these as I thought I have. Sure enough, the first one was one I hadn't: Manos: The Hands Of Fate. Wow. Fun fact: Torgo committed suicide before the film's debut.
Additional fun fact: It was likely due to pain from knee problems as a result of wearing the leg hardware backwards.
Additional additional fun fact: he wasn't supposed to wear them backwards, but no one corrected it. The result: he of the large knees.
Man, none of these facts are at all fun.
seems to be more fiction than truth...
huh.
The new Fate of the Furious movie was a definite step down from the last few. Still... It's beautiful people driving ridiculous cars very fast, and while there are about ten times a minute where you go "I don't think that would work, exactly..." it's still one of very few franchises that (mostly) chooses "insane, impossible fun" over "grimy 'realism'".
Horrible Bosses 2 was (in my opinion) better than the first. That's not really saying much, but Linds and I were in the right mood for it, so most of the cheap gags landed.
Did you know that they remade Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla in 2002? Neither did I! It's pretty silly, and really preachy, and only fun in fitful doses.
Saw Wonder Woman at our recently remodeled theatre. Large, cushy, reclining seats that can be reserved online. It is nice not having to fight for arm rests. The movie itself was fun. Great show with a bit of a silly ending.
If it's something I really want to see early on, I'll go with the expensive reserve seating. Otherwise, I head to Hopkins for $2.
Guardians 2 was fun. I think they are my favorite comic book movies. I loved the 3 Batman movies but now I'm getting tired of brooding super heroes.
Rectify - I'm on season 3. It's great but I need occasional breaks from it. Too heavy.
Handmade's Tale - I watched the first 2 episodes. I really like it but will probably put it off until I finish Rectify. I can't do 2 heavy shows at once.
Master of None - I blew through season 2. Better than the first. My only complaint is that it sounds like season 3 won't come for awhile.
Cheers - I had to find a new half hour show. Starting with season 1. It is still great.
I, for one, love the reserved seating. I keep my movie theater going experiences to Sunday mornings, though, when its $5.
Anyway, what did I see this month. I saw Guardians 2 opening weekend (for $5!) and I loved it. These are definitely my favorite comic book movies and its not even close.
I finished up season 2 of Into the Badlands, which I also loved, despite its iffy acting. The martial arts are great, so it gets a lot of leeway for other things.
I wanted to keep watching Legion after, but for some dumb reason episode 3 is not currently available on the FX Roku app. If I can find that, I'll get back into it.
Marcus Theaters (which I was familiar with going to movies while on business trips in Omaha) has bought out the Wehrenberg Theater chain in StL. I'm fine with this, as both were well run and the transition should be fine.
Speaking of, Marcus has $5 Tuesdays, so unless you're bringing the entire starting lineup, you shouldn't need to spend $40-$50 for a movie.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Wonder Woman were great entertainment. Pirates: Dead didn't break any new ground, but it also entertained.
The first 5 eps of Twin Peaks return pretty much pick up where the old one left off, although they're cramming more guest star appearances so the "action" is spread out more. I think the "Dougie" thread is a bit overly silly and unrealistic.
Runner daughter and I are maybe 1/3 through the MST3K: Moon 13 - The Moon eps, and they're a fine extension of the original. Cry Wilderness is still the favorite.
I have not been a fan of Archer: Dreamland season at all. Can't say specifically why, but it seems uninspired.
Guardians 2: flawed, but a pretty good successor to the original. The third act was meh, but there were some heart strings pulled (I'm a soft touch).
Snatched: dumb fun. Much better than I was expecting. Goldie Hawn was outstanding. More heart strings, and the slapstick violence was amusingly carried off. Also, Joan Cusack, Wanda Sykes and Chris Merloni were excellent in small supporting roles.
Wonder Woman: it delivers on pretty much everything. Suffers slightly from a standard, overblown fight with the Big Bad at the end (see, e.g., Guardians 2 above), but it establishes Gal Gadot as a star and the WW franchise as a major player. also, I'm kind of sad that we won't see more of her WWI sidekicks; they were shockingly well-realized characters. And we don't have to hear anymore that teh Wimmens Can't Direct Superhero Action Movies, do we? Moar, pleez.
Back when I went to movies, I really liked going to the Heights Theater and hearing the organ player before the movie.
I once got to see an extended version of Monty Python And The Holy Grail there. That was cool.
Also, it was across the street from my childhood dentist's office.
I'm a few episodes into season 3 of Bojack Horseman and it is so simultaneously silly, hilarious, and poignant that I'm in awe.
This season of Fargo has been a step down, but I enjoyed the Peter and the Wolf episode when they brought back Billy Bob to narrate.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Season 3 - Took a bit longer to hit its stride than previous seasons. Not all the way through the season, but it's still pretty darn solid. That said, the second season, and this one too, almost feel like they don't quite know where they're going with the show, and are just careening from one silly idea to another. That's fine for some shows, but when you introduce arcs that don't return characters to the same place they started, it helps to have some idea where you want those arcs to end, instead of just seeing where they happen to go.
Sherlock - 4 episodes in, and holy crap this is good. Completely messed with my dreams the last few nights, since it's such a convincing world. They made Sherlock a bit too much of a dick, I think, but the show is so well executed, and moves quickly enough that I think we can get past that.
If Sherlock is a bit too much of a dick, what does that make House? I feel like his attitude works for me.
Yeah, I've only watched the first few, but it hangs on the character well.
My favorite way to see a movie with kids: the drive in!
We have one not too far from us that runs double features. If everything works out perfectly, we can get a pairing where the first show is a movie the kids want to see, and the second one is one they could watch, but don't actually care about, and they'll go to sleep. The downside is in the summer they start so late that it means a really late night for everyone. In the (Southern California) winter time, when it's a bit cooler and the sun sets earlier, it's just about perfect.
I remember watching a double feature of Speed and True Lies at a drive-in theater many years ago.
If you're interested, the one we go to is Mission Tiki in Montclair. Bit more of a hike for you, but tickets are cheap, especially considering you get two movies for that price ($9 for adults and kids 10 and up, $1 for kids 5-9), concessions are cheap, and you can bring your own food in.
Anyone watching American Gods on Starz? I'm two episodes behind but am trying to catch up. It's pretty trippy the way its filmed and presented and follows the book decently enough without any major changes. It's not appointment TV for me but I think I'll keep on following for now.
Watched the pilot. Looking forward to more, but the Mrs won't watch again.
I don't have Stars, but will track this show down at some point. Am. Gods is a Neil Gaimann-citizen referral of the first order for little old me.
We started but the wife isn't really into it.
We finally finished Parks and Recreation. Great fun and ended strong.
The wife needed a break from moving stress, so we watched all of The Great British Bake-Off. Perfect show for peaceful background watching.
I really enjoy The Great British Bake-Off. It strikes the right balance between being a serious competition--that is, a competition that the contestants legitimately want to win--and light-hearted fun. I am so over the forced "I'm here to win at all costs" and "this is my dream and I'm here to make it happen" reality TV plot lines. Get over yourselves.
Similarly, I think this is the difference between the good and meh or bad episodes of Top Gear--that show is at it's best when the producers are able to get the hosts to focus just enough on a particular challenge that they take it seriously but still give the three enough room to joke around like three guys just trying to have a good time. I think on Grand Tour, the producers (at least so far) have given the hosts a little bit too much leash to screw around and it loses a bit.
The other great thing about The Great British Bake-Off is that the judges do such a good job of compartmentalizing their criticism--someone could have completely failed in one aspect, say their cake didn't rise or something, but they'll still be able to praise the taste or something else if it has other merits.
Yeah, that's the one reason I give up on most competition shows is the un-nuanced critiques of the judges. I realize a lot of that is probably for the sake of conflict (this is just terrible! is better drama), but it doesn't impress me. I liked Gordon Ramsay for a few minutes but the shows I've watched of his seem so scripted and fake.
I did really enjoy Man Versus Food as it was just Adam Richman having a good time eating amazing food; on principle I abhor eating contests, but Adam's personality made it watchable.
The best way to watch movies is to have a key to a lecture hall and project the movies using the overhead projector on Sunday nights. Not I ever participated in such an activity during grad school or anything.
I have a hard time with movie theaters because I have such a low tolerance for bad behavior. It's partly my own fault that I get distracted so much by it, but it's just easier to watch at home where at least if there is a distraction I can rewind and catch what I missed. I also value my hearing and movie theaters can be ear-achingly loud these days. I know, I know #oldmancomplaints. Even at home, I feel like the music-to-speech mix gets off often enough that we just watch with captions most of the time.
Theaters can be too loud at times. I don't mind the theme song to Star Wars blaring out, but not every breath needs to rattle my ear drums.
I've been fortunate lately...I honestly cannot remember the last time I've been annoyed by other people at the theater. No crying babies (except once during a G film, which is expected and fine), people talking on their phone, kicking my seat.
Agreed, I haven't had a disturbance in ages. And I prefer louder than not, although I can't remember a show that's been too loud lately.
Look at you two, being all positive and reasonable. Apparently, I am just a crank. 🙂
Probably I am just looking for excuses since the prospect of paying $20/hr for a sitter to go out to a movie makes the whole thing seem awfully cost prohibitive.
well, you got us there
The hilarious thing at this point in our kid's life is that by the time we would actually be at the movie, 99% of the time, our kid is just going to be sleeping contently, so it's basically just paying someone to sit around and be available in case something super unlikely happens.
There might be a business opportunity here--cleaners should offer sitting/cleaning services where they clean the house while your kids are sleeping. It would be more expensive, but I might actually get something useful out of it.
If the sitter's any good, they should be doing some light cleaning after the kid is in bed.