Do You Still Go to Movies (in theTheater)?

I just read an article in which Robert DeNiro credits Boomers for saving his career: Because we still are willing to go to a movie theater to watch a movie!

I was a bit surprised by this because -- being generous in my estimation -- I don't think I've been to a movie theater more than 3 times in the last 8 years.

Oh, I see the movie commercials on TV. But I really dn't ever anticipate actually going to the movie theater to see them. do you?

Especially since the advent of the downloading services available via Netflix and Amazon. Not to mention movies shown on premium TV channels like Showtime, HBO. And, maybe best of all, the movie services offered by Direct TV.

Here's an article that talks more about what Netflix is up to.

The last movie I think I saw at the theater was probably the first Hobbit movie, which came out just over I year ago, as I recall.

But here in the Holmes household, we have "movie night" every Saturday night, and invite friends to come over for dinner and to watch a movie on our flat screen TV. We all take turns providing the dinners -- nothing too special. Just good, quick food. A magnificent dessert is imperative, by the way...

What about you? Are you the Boomer theater goers DeNiro's so thankful for?

The only movies we go to see in the theater are Star Trek movies - just to get the big screen experience. Everything else we watch at home. Going to a movie has become too expensive for us; it's cheaper to watch on Amazon streaming, and if it's a movie we love, we watch for a deal on it at Costco - still cheaper than buying tickets.

We never go to the movie theater anymore, though I would like to, especially for the Star Trek movies.

Hubby's deaf in both ears and finds it very difficult to hear properly in the theater, even with his top-of-the-line hearing aids. And I have to run to the bathroom at least once, sometimes twice, during a 2-3 hour movie, and that's too inconvenient for me. Add the increasing costs of going, we just prefer to stay home and wait for the DVD's to come out. As Yonuh says, it's almost always cheaper to buy the DVD than to pay for two movie tickets.

(I had to add that I detest when someone behind us kicks the back of my seat, or talks throughout the movie...both happen on a regular basis to both of us, which makes home so much more appealing! We love watching TV from the comfort of our reclining chairs, snuggled into warm blankets, with crunchy chips (not allowed in most theaters now) between us.)

The only time WB and I go to a movie theater is when we're on vacation. We've been a few times while in Kissimmee, Florida. Celebration City has a cool theater that we enjoy. But otherwise, no. We watch "Pay-Per-View" or DVD's.

No longer! Way too many germs!!

I never thought that the Internet revolution might threaten the Hollywood movie stars.

Um....we went to a movie 12 months ago 'cause I won a pair of movie theatre tickets. The movie was boomerish, starring Judy Dench who discovers herself in India after an unexpected divorce.

Ahh, Orchid, you're talking about "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." We finally watched that, but at home. I guess we rented it from one of the places Steve uses to source movies to see at home.

I seem to recall that I thought it was entertaining, but not as good as all the hype had led met to think it would be. I do like Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Plus I think the young Indian hotel developer was playwed by Dev Patel, who made a name for himself with "Slumdog Millionaire."

So I'm curious what you thought about it. Maybe it is better on a bigger screen...

Anyway, enough people apparently liked it that they've decided to do a follow-up movie. I just read about that this morning. Here's the link that discusses the fact that Richard Gere has just signed on to be in the sequel.

We have been to the movie theater approx. twice in almost 35 years. I know!! In the very early years, money was tight and we couldn't afford to waste a single dime on things like that. After a while, Cable TV was introduced into our area and it was cheaper to have cable than go to the movies. Cable was ridiculously low in the beginning, plus we got all the movie channels without paying extra!

We don't have cable anymore, haven't for years. Now---we either rent movies or stream them in the comfort of our home. I can wear my jammies, pause the movie if I have to go to the bathroom, fix some popcorn, and back it up if I didn't hear what the actor said.

It was a good movie but like you, I didn't find it an oh wow type of movie. Or maybe because we're boomers who already discovered ourselves. Wonder what the sequel would be like.

I enjoyed that movie immensely. I thought it said a lot about how we view different cultures and how they view us, as well as how people come to terms with their own mortality. Making amends; standing up for what you believe in; I could go on and on about what I saw as themes in this movie. I didn't see it as a 'discovering' oneself movie at all.

Well the themes of cultural differences....were more secondary to me in the plot compared to the other themes.

I dunno. The movie cultural clashes seemed so pale to real life stuff I've been through. (And it's not over.) Cultural clashes which involve linguistic problems, meaning one party not knowing language of the other, take on a different spin when lived for many years.

For myself, having a mother who doesn't speak much English and unable to convey all a mother wants to her adult children, causes all sorts of real life (dramatic) and heart-tearing situations.

This is a more positive spin where I don't discuss the pain /serious conflicts here: http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/asia-in-my-dreams-romanticizing-the-east/

Imagine if Judy's character fell in love with an East Indian guy..now THAT might have been a real story spinner.

I still love watching movies on the big screen. I admit, I get up and go to the early morning matinee (10 or 11 am). No crowds, the theater is clean, tickets are a little cheaper, and I am not hungry - so I skip the food. I still love a large screen.

I follow #cinematreasures which is someone (or group) collection of old movie theaters and artifacts and with many renovated. A few near me show favorite older movies that are fun to see. Last year I saw an old 1944 American film noir directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, and Richard Whorf. It was before Gene Kelly was really famous. He was so young.

This Christmas holiday, at one (they are trying to save called The Retro Dome), obtained Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. It was so fun to see it on a large screen again.

Interesting idea, Orchid. Of course, we've all seen that happen in real life, with people in their 20s. Especially after WWII and the VietNam wars, but it WOULD add a new and tantalizing twist, if it were to happen with people of retirement age.

Maybe the sequel will get into a story line of that type...

dwsun, we have an old renovated Art Deco movie theater here that shows old movies periodically. They also have concerts and stuff there - saw Joan Baez there, and Arlo Guthrie, and a few others - it's a great venue for that.

yonuh, This is cool. It is great to see the other uses they may have.

I am curious, has anyone seen August: Osage County? Any thoughts about it?

Donna, I have not yet seen it, but I am planing to. Can't miss it, since so many of my favorite actresses are in it. This despite the fact that the reviews I've read of it are not all that positive...

The reviews I've read seem to indicate that all the actors try hard, but that it s just too much: too many famous actors, too many plot lines, too much screaming...

So what did you think? I seriously want to know what a "real person," not an "official reviewer" would say about it.

Usually when the reviewers/critics say a movie is no good, I will love it. I'm not sure about this one though because of the subject matter.

Thank you Anne and Yonuh. I am not sure I understand it, and I am hoping others will give some points of views too.

Because I am from proudly from central USA - KC, Mo, I hope that people do not think this is the way family life is in this region. Because it is not.

Anyway, the actors did fairly well in portraying their roles of this dysfunctional family. There was quite a bit going on though. I love both Streep and Roberts - they always do well with their characters. It is a dark humor movie though. And, the dinner table scene went on a bit too long.

I wondered if reading a book might be better to get a better understanding of the story, I was left hanging-wondering in the end.

After a nights sleep. Is this movie about strong women, a little deeper, what really makes these women strong? Past experiences?

I did enjoy the seeing the region in the background because it is where I am from.

I live in Oklahoma. There are plenty of dysfunctional families here, just like there are everywhere else. I suspect, though, that this movie is Hollywood dysfunctional, so it's extra over-the-top.

Since I already live here, the last thing I need to do is go see a movie set here. Plus, I have no interest in yet another setting of drunken, screaming women. I have seen that before and just get tired of it. If others enjoy the movie, good for you. I'll give it a pass.

dwsun, Haven't seen the movie you're referring to but desperately want to see it. Perhaps while we're in Celebration City I can catch it. Streep is a fav; love her acting. As far as dysfunctional, they don't come more dysfunctional than my birth family.

HAH! You and I may have to have a contest one of these days to determine who has the greatest number of crazies! (We seem to specialize in mental illness and people who cannot get along with humans.)

Needless to say, you have my sympathies. I think that's actually one of the reasons why a movie like this doesn't hold much appeal for me. I have already had all the screaming, crazy e-mails, and stomping out to last me forever. Unless it's a comedy, movies like this just seem like yet another crazy relative wanting to spend time here.

Good points Eilemm! Maybe reasons why I left. I did have a good family history though. The reason I left was the crazy weather I wanted to escape. I do hear crazy family stories in every region.

Movie I saw yesterday, Philomena, is a definite thumbs up. Great story and storytelling. Scenery great. My opinion, it is my favorite from all year.