by B. L. Babb

Created on: May 17, 2010

Many years ago, we decided to see the latest Harry Potter movie in the local theater.  We drove to the mall, fighting the traffic and parking issues and arrived in time for the pre-movie hype hubbub.  This movie was "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."  Yes, it has been awhile since my last trip to a movie theater.

After purchasing the high-priced tickets, even back then, as well as a drink and popcorn, the expense total climbed even higher. 

Once it was time to enter the theater, we presented our tickets and proceeded into the theater recently vacated by the previous movie-goers. 

Due to the desire to run the movie as much as possible, the theater folks didn't have time to give the theater a proper going over.  Popcorn littered the floor, spilled soda puddles dotting the area, orphaned pieces of candy, wrappers, and other debris visible most everywhere.

After dealing with kids running up and down the aisles, later-comers trying to find a place for a crowd of them to sit together (impossible if you arrive late), and a host of other inconveniences, the beginning propaganda videos began running.  You know these, they are the "turn your cell phones off, take the screaming brats out of the theater to allow other movie-goers a chance to enjoy the film, and do not talk loudly during the film."  In between were the ads for the overpriced refreshments they sell out front.

These are followed by previews of several movies scheduled for release in the upcoming months to the theaters.

Eventually, the movie finally begins and, if all goes well, the children brought in have settled down.

The movie begins, and in my case, midway through, the theater, projector, lights and all went dark.  Now this is not the fault of the theater, however, we have seen half a movie and cannot possibly finish it that day.  After an hour or so waiting, we were finally sent away with free tickets for another showing in the future.

Admirable for the theater to do so, considering it wasn't their fault, but that means another drive, traffic, parking, etc.

It wasn't that long ago that movies were released into theaters, followed by pay-per-view, then movie rental places, before finally, maybe a year later, onto VHS/BETA video for consumer purchase.

Today, the movie leaves the theater and is basically released to Pay-per-view and DVD/Blu-Ray and movie rental places simultaneously.  The long wait to see the movie has evaporated.

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