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Sigh. So when "The Hobbit" FINALLY came out here in Australia, I wanted to go and see it. But because I knew my wallet would be slaughtered at the box office, I bought my own chocolate treats - same thing as they'd sell at the snack counter, and at supermarket prices, no less.

My mistake was to buy popcorn (which was $9??) and to ask for salt - so they put something they call "butter salt" on it. I said "No butter please" and they said "We can't do no butter, we can do butter AND salt or no salt at all". Talk about fattening the calf for the slaughter! Sheesh. Besides, "We can't do salt"? What, the cinema can't just buy some El Cheapo bags of salt from the supermarket, put the salt in a few glass containers from a Dollar Store, and just get the counter staff to sprinkle some salt on the popcorn? Or am I a genius for thinking of that?

But at least I got to bring my chocolates into the cinema, and at least the audience was well-behaved and watched the movie in appreciative silence. If there is a deity of good theatre behaviour: thanks, mate! I owe you a Coke.

Anyway, sorry for ranting. I feel better now.

The theaters here (and I'm assuming there, as well) have to send 98% of the ticket revenue to Hollywood, or practically everything; leaving only the concessions to cover the cost of labor, equipment, utilities, tax, etc. It's sad that the system is set up that way, but that's why you get gouged at the concession stand.

As much as I love seeing a movie at the cinema (and believe it almost always beats the home experience), it's no surprise why more people are staying home. A 60" LED, surround sound, a comfy couch, and a "Pause" button make for a pretty nice experience!

Did you see the movie in 2D or 3D? High frame rate?

Poor Rath. ^_^

How bout pop your own popcorn at home and smuggle it in under your coat?

My sisters and I smuggled in a ton of food in a theater one time because we didn't have time to eat beforehand. We snuck in two things of sushi, two bag of chips, a thing of edamame, two bottles of water, a container of veggies and another one of fruit. Luckily it was cold outside and we're skinny minnies so everything fit comfortably under our winter jackets. It was very awkward walking to say the least.

Clint, that makes more sense now. The theatres get gouged so they have to gouge the general public... blecch.

I agree that watching movies at home is a nice experience, but it's not the same as watching them on the big screen. Not sure how to explain. And yes, I watched it in 3D (and high frame-rate). Looked pretty good to me!

Jules, I think the guy at the cinema would notice the steam under my coat. Besides, why would I even wear a coat right now? It's 40 C (nearly 120 F) out there (!!), and excessively humid. Yuck!

Rath Darkblade wrote:Clint, that makes more sense now. The theatres get gouged so they have to gouge the general public... blecch.

Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of businesses, either through unfair deals made with larger corporations or even the government itself. Regardless, the one common theme is that in order to stay in business, a profit must be made and if that means overcharging the public (who seem to keep on purchasing the aforementioned overpriced food) they'll do it.

Rath Darkblade wrote: I agree that watching movies at home is a nice experience, but it's not the same as watching them on the big screen. Not sure how to explain. And yes, I watched it in 3D (and high frame-rate). Looked pretty good to me!

I think that unless the movie in question is an action film, there's really very little need to see it in a movie theater. A drama, for instance, is about the story and characters, so it doesn't matter if the screen you're watching on it is relatively small or an IMAX screen.

That said, The Hobbit seems like more of a fantasy-action flick, so I could see how watching it on "the big screen" is more fun.

One thing I really hate is all the 3D movies now. 3D movies have never worked right with my glasses. Maybe it's because I have a strong prescription and wear progressive lenses, but whatever the case, it never seems to work at best (and at worst, it simply gives me a migraine).

Rath Darkblade wrote:Jules, I think the guy at the cinema would notice the steam under my coat. Besides, why would I even wear a coat right now? It's 40 C (nearly 120 F) out there (!!), and excessively humid. Yuck!

How the hell is it that hot there right now? Where Maia and I live (Victoria, BC) the high is around 5C or 41F.

DeadPoolX wrote:How the hell is it that hot there right now? Where Maia and I live (Victoria, BC) the high is around 5C or 41F.

Rath is in Australia; it's summer there.

he Australian Bureau of Meteorology had to add two new heat zone colors for their heat maps because of how much temps have increased in summers there in the last few years.

http://nbharbinger.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... emp-zones/

The USDA has had to update their climate zone maps for here, as well, to reflect the shift northward the hardiness zones. These with the huge increase of frequency and severity of storms, big droughts, record losses in glaciers and sea ice (the Northwest Passage is no longer just a legend) are the beginning signs of climate change from global warming.

adeyke wrote:

DeadPoolX wrote:How the hell is it that hot there right now? Where Maia and I live (Victoria, BC) the high is around 5C or 41F.

Rath is in Australia; it's summer there.

Right. Somehow I forgot that...

Yep - I'm in Victoria, in Australia, where the temperatures range between the mid-20s C (77 F) and over 40 C (roughly 104 F). It's mid-summer here... summer finishes around about March, and we get spring. We only get winter around about mid-July or early August or thereabouts - right when NA has summer.