All I Want to Know Is When We Get Ours
It seems that Regal Cinemas is testing out a new way to get asses in seats, and it starts with having some customer control over what’s going on in the theater.
Have a problem with the focus?
Push a button.
Dude in front of you talking to the screen?
Push a button.
Baby crying because their parents just had to see the newest horror movie on opening weekend?
Push a button.
While it’s only in 13 cities now, if testing goes well, hopefully the scope will widen quickly and include Portland, especially since most of the first-run theaters in the metro area are Regals. Knowing this was in use would make my going to the movies more likely, that’s for sure, even if they don’t give me the clicker. Give me the clicker!
Thanks to cinematical for the link.
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Can I put in a request for a few additional buttons?
- A “Quit showing me commercials and start the damned movie” button;
- A “Reduce the price of popcorn, candy and soda by 75%” button;
- A “Holy Crap, that’s too loud!” button;
and last but not least
- A “Make this movie worth watching” button.
my guess is they won’t be quite as responsive to those suggestions, as good as they all are:)
The Laurelhurst could install a “more beer” button
As a former movie theater employee and avid movie goer, I applaud Regal for this decision.
Regarding the high candy prices, movie theaters don’t make their money on ticket sales. Concessions are expensive to off-set the losses theaters take at the box office.
If you want cheap food, do what my wife and I do, sneak in your favorite contraband in your bag. However, hipsters, leave the alcohol at home okay. It stinks.
As a former movie theater employee and avid movie goer, I applaud Regal for this decision.
Regarding the high candy prices, movie theaters don’t make their money on ticket sales. Concessions are expensive to off-set the losses theaters take at the box office.
If you want cheap food, do what my wife and I do, sneak in your favorite contraband in your bag. However, hipsters, leave the alcohol at home okay. It stinks.
I agree: something like that would definitely be a deciding factor when choosing between different theaters. There used to be a time when ushers would routinely walk up and down the aisles in the theater to make sure things were ok. I haven’t seen that happen in at least a decade. Hopefully, this response system is the first step in getting back to good service.
Murray, I understand why the concessions cost as much as they do. That doesn’t remove it from the lengthy list of reasons why going to theaters is a terrible experience.
I discovered that at some point in the last decade or so, all of the stuff you have to put up with (prices, ads, audience, etc.) puts em in such a foul mood that by the time the movie starts, I already hate it no matter how good it may be. For a long time, I though I really hated the movie itself, until I noticed that when I watched the same movie at home, they were much better.
That’s why I never go to movie theaters anymore. I like movies too much.
Regal’s approach is gee-whiz, but addresses none of the things that makes the theater experience so unpleasant.
I am compelled to give my favorite theaters some credit: Century 16 Eastport (THX Certified, no tv ads before the movie) and my recent discovery of Cinetopia in The Couv. They don’t really address the “obnoxious jackass sitting behind you” sitch, but they DO manage to sort out things like sound quality, comfy seats, things are maintained, and at Eastport you have bulk candy bins, so if you want 27 and ONLY 27 M&Ms, then 27 M&Ms you shall have. (:
I’m surprised they aren’t trying this system in Portland. When they stopped showing the spawn of satan-I mean, the stupid Pepsi girl advertisements, one of the things they listed was protest in places, like here.
well, and i’ll give a shoutout to the laurelhurst and the mcmenamins theaters, especially the laurelhurst, where, as long as you’re willing to wait for a month or so, you get cheap tix, cheap food, beer, no commercials and i’ve never had a problem with focus or a crappy print there either. for less money than 2 tix at regal or century or especially the cinetopia, you get dinner AND a movie.
and if you don’t want to wait for second-run, the st johns twin in st. johns (duh) has first-run movies for cheap ($3.75), though i’ve had some issues with their actual prints at times.
Let us not forget the joy that is the Academy Theater. Not only do they have fantastic pizza from Flying Pie, great beer, and awesome service, but the level of comfort in a theater seat that only the multiplexes have provided us. Because really…I’m not that pleased by the “hip” furniture that McMenamins provides from the early 19th century.
i used to love the mcmenamins, but their beer is just so sub par now. haven’t actaully been to a movie in awhile, but we enjoy going to Pioneer Place. It always seems empty. as far as concessions go - i just suck it up and pay for the wife to have her pop. it’s easy. also, i talk on my cell phone loudly during the commercials..(just joking)
regarding cinetopia- someone is building one like that in downtown - the old Panorama building I believe up by Powells.