My question here is, is the experience going downhill, or is there other factors there that affect your viewing that are not controlled by the management.
We all like to go out, and many moons ago now I used to love going to my local cinema to see the latest releases. However I now go very rarely, and started to think to myself, why is that?
Well, its a combination of bad experience, and bad releases that are to blame for me. Most things that tend to go wrong at the cinema are not controlled by the cinema themselves. You know what I mean, the guy who doesn't switch off his mobile, and it rings in the middle of the film, which coincidentally happened the last time I went to the cinema to see the Order of the Pheonix. This really annoyed me as I had looked forward to seeing this for ages, having gone to watch all the other Potter movies. I know that at the start they put on the screen to switch them off, but they did nothing to enforce it, and this was what got me most. It seems to me that once they get you through that door, they lose interest, having stung you for your hard earned cash.
Another example of this is when I took my kids to see Happy Feet when it first came out (do not reccomend by the way!), and a black line appeared all over the screen. This gradually moved lower until eventually the top two thirds of the screen were covered! I had to get up and complain to the management, before they fixed it (it took all of two seconds by the way!). Not an apology, nor even a kind look! It shows that no-one was watching to make sure everything was OK. As far as I am concerned, this is not recieving the service that you pay for. Part of the cinema experince is that you dont have to do anything, just enjoy the film.
It is also very noticeable to me that a lot less people are going to the cinema these days. It used to be a great part of the experience, especially during a comedy, or scary film. The audience reactions were great, as long as you didnt get stuck beside the person who continually narrates the film as you go (what lies beneath). Even at the latest Harry Potter film, on the opening day, I went and the cinema was not even half full!
Together with the lower standards the cinemas seem to have these days, I would have to say that the price is a factor too. Now, dont get me wrong, the ticket prices generally are quite reasonable, but it's the extortionate pricing of the snacks, and drinks that is the killer. To take my wife, and son to the cinema to see Harry Potter was 10.50, but to get snacks (we did not go overboard by any means) was another 12.50! More than the price of the tickets themselves! I appreciate that they are trying to make money, but I think that it is going a bit far now, and they are not getting the trade they used to because of it.
So far we have looked at the following items, of which some are the responsibility of the cinema and some are not:
1. poor releases
2. poor standards
3. technical difficulties
4. customer behaviour
5. prices of snacks
6. lack of atmosphere without a crowd
7. lack of care for the customer
It looks bad for the cinema, and really it seems that they are not doing anything to help it. Notice on entry the complementary "I don't want to be here" look the staff give you. Also take in the added crunch factor given by the popcorn not cleaned off you seat properly (Star Wars episode 3), and sit back and enjoy the film, to the tune of a Nokia going off somewhere, just out of punching distance!
Another factor in all this has to be the real improvement in home cinema technology. It is becoming more apparent that it is getting better to stay at home with a widescreen telly, and a few choice mates, and wait for the DVD coming out. Maybe people will see it before you, but then again maybe you will get the more enjoyment.
In conclusion then, I have to say that the cinema experience is going badly downhill in comparison to about ten years ago. Not all the problems are the fault of the cinemas themselves, but the major thing is that they do not appear to care at all!
Take a tip from me and stay in, and watch the film when it comes out on DVD. Save a packet, and get more out of the film itself. No annoyances, no hassle.