by Dean Traylor

Created on: August 21, 2009   Last Updated: December 23, 2010

There's something magical about a movie theater. Once the curtain rises and the lights dim, the collective masses of movie-goers stop talking, rush to their seats, and cast their eyes upon the giant screen. Then, when a stream of projector light hits the screen's silver surface, everyone in the theater is transported to another world.

The audience watches intensely. They forgo bathroom breaks, cut the chit-chat and make sure the cell-phones are turned off. Nobody wants to miss one second of the movie. The THX surround sound may make it feel like some of the conversations or sound effects - such as explosion - are happening in the theater. A few will look around; just to be sure it was the movie, not someone or something for real. And then, after two hours of facing the screen in the dark, the audience - exhausted and exhilarated - files out of the building, still talking about the movie or reliving the exciting scenes in their heads, well after the magic is over.

Seeing a movie at home can be exciting, as well. Technology has made it possible for one to see a movie in Blu-Ray on HD TV while blasting surround sound from the home theater system. However, everyday life doesn't stop for the two hours it takes to see a movie on DVD. The phone may ring, the door will be knocked and nature's calling is strong enough to pull you away from the screen.

There's really no comparison between watching a movie at the theater and watching it at home. One feels more like an experience while the other is more like a chore. The movie theater experience allows one to escape the burden of life for a few hours. And, it does so, despite the inflated price, the crowds, and the occasional stale popcorn.

So how do movie theaters create its magic? It starts with the screen. It's massive, imposing, and occupies the the room. It's the first thing a movie-goer will see when they enter the theater. All seats are faced toward it. In stadium seating, everyone can see it.

The use of sound in a theater plays a crucial role. Surround sound heightens the experience. Also, the advent of THX has helped make the sound much more crisp and realistic. A good theater's design will also help with sound, creating the ideal acoustics to carry the sound to the public in attendance. And, those sound effects help take the movie-goer deeper into the movie's world, for it surroundsthem in every direction.

Another thing to consider is how the theater operates. Darkness is needed to project the image onto the

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