Nothing compares to taking a trip to a movie theater. Outside: the lights, shining bright, dazzle the eye from all around. Inside: the crowd is intense, each person waiting in line for an adventure like no other. There is so much to anticipate within a film- action, humor, horror, fantasy. But what do these excitements cost?
Movie ticket prices are currently the highest they have ever been, with the U.S average increasing from $7.50 to $7.89 in just one year.
And that's only the average. There are theaters, such as the Movieland 8 Theater in Cheektowaga, NY, that show movies roughly a month after their initial release. The cost at Movieland is $3.50 for an adult ticket, lower than half the national average.
I still attend the theater once a week. Movies are definitely what bring me the most enjoyment. The remarkable energy in watching a film unfold on a giant screen is all I need in my night. Watching the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight is still, and will forever remain, one of the most treasured moments of my simple life.
But many, perhaps most people, aren't movie-crazed like myself, and therefore don't find watching a film satisfactory enough to pay $10 at glamorized theaters such as Regal Cinema. Currently, Regal charges $10 for one adult ticket, and $8 for a matinee showing.
And that's just the beginning. You want a movie in 3-D? Tack on an extra two bills to that original price. The amount of 3-D movies is increasing annually, with no sign of slowing down. In 2010, there were 29 3-D films released in the U.S. By December of this year, there will be 40 such films released throughout 2011.
But isn't that good? 3-D films supposedly give more bang for your buck, allowing the audience to grab a greater feel for the film. Many people sadly fall into this farce, but not me. I personally get aggravated while watching a movie that pointlessly sticks 3-D at the end of the title. Certain films use 3-D for nothing but extra gross sales, as opposed to creating an aesthetic piece of art that flows properly.
Sure, seeing Avatar in IMAX 3-D was beyond words. A masterpiece of that magnitude deserved every cent that it earned. But finding out that Saw: The Final Chapter would be in 3-D created the worst feeling ever. I'm a die-hard fan of the Saw franchise, but defiling the final installment with this 3-D nonsense nearly ruined it for me.
My advice: don't let all of the hype persuade you. Use your judgment when deciding on going to see a 3-D movie. Avoid the extra surcharge whenever suitable. At Regal, an adult ticket for a 3-D movie will be $12 a person. Numbers add themselves up quickly, so please exercise your basic arithmetic.
Other known alternatives, like Redbox and Netflix, are amongst the most profound inventions of the current era. A movie for a buck? You can't beat that deal. Legally.
However, going to the theater is still a reasonable experience. Sitting and watching the cinematic events unfold before you is a remarkable thing. Movies are easy to relate to, as many people go to them.
Email: jacobkno@buffalo.edu
