Home theater vs. movie theater
by Richard Lawler 
posted Apr 11th 2006 at 10:11AM
First M Night Shyamalan, and
now this
guy. Going on and on about "the theater experience" and what viewing movies at home can't hope to match.
There's always somebody who (to me at least) feels their theater going way of life is threatened by HDTV, home theaters
and the like. As a result, there is a list of reasons why movie theaters rock. I was quite unsatisfied with his list so
of course, I made my own.Why home theaters rock:
- The little
screen: No bad seats in the house. Last time I went to see a movie on opening night, I showed up late and
ended up in the first row needing a neck brace. No such thing here, my favorite seat is always available and perfectly
positioned the way I want it. Someday all theaters will have digital projectors for a consistently high quality show,
but not yet. If you need something larger, grab a projector and find the largest wall you have, problem solved.
- No interruptions (unless I want there to be):: If a cellphone goes off during a movie at home, I don't have to wonder what idiot forgot to turn his phone off, I know who it was and I can answer it if I want, the movie goes on pause and waits dutifully for my return. Try getting the projector operator to back up a few minutes because your mom wanted to know how you're doing and why you never call.
- Big sound: I've got big speakers and a little apartment. Only the best theater systems rumble the seats in a similar fashion (with bonus banging from my downstairs neighbors). Ok seriously, this is at best a push, movie theaters may have better sound systems, but mine is personally calibrated to my liking and I can usually get a DVD commentary or two.
