Comments on: Andy Goes To The Movies

Are The Days Of Going To The Movies Over? Andy Doesn't Think So!

[timetrips1]

Sorry Andy but but I rent for several reasons:
1. Cost; My entire family and watch the movie for less than $10.00 (that counts popcorn, soda's and candy if wanted). To take my family to the movies and we do go 2 or 3 times a year, costs almost $50.00 if you want snacks for a family of four. (When we go we buy 1 large refillable popcorn and share it and sneak in bottles of water). I'm glad you make enough to afford the movies but for use it has to be a very special occassion.
2. Convience: We can watch it on our schedule and rewatch it if we like it enough.
3. No Distractions: I can tell my kids to be quite, not so easily done in an auditorium where most people have forgotten any manners they might have learned.

About four years ago I started writting down the names of the movies I would like to go see but elected not to. Those movies I purchase as soon as they come out. That costs me between $15 and $20. I then put $30.00 away (that's what I figure I saved). I found there were almost 20 movies I was tempted to see, of which we go to about three now. I have saved well over $1500 dollars and this christmas I'm taking that money and buying a Big Screen, HD TV. Now we can enjoy the theater experience at home!

[suiteo1]

I didn't do a count of "for" or "against" but it seems to me the majority of posts have a much different opinion to Andy Rooney. I agree with most of the posts that state good points for watching a movie at home. If I may add my two cents, I really hate inconsiderate jerks that have to come to the show sick and cough through the entire movie, NEVER covering their mouth and you can feel the air from that coughing on your neck! No wonder people get infected so easily. The other thing, that I didn't see posted, are the obnoxious idiots that have to laugh so loud, whether something was that funny or not, with such an un-natural sounding laugh that sounds forced and phony as if to draw attention to themselves. And let%u2019s not forget the OTHER inconsiderate jerks that HAVE to put their filthy feet up on top of the seat in front of them. They don't seem to THINK or CARE that someone, sooner or later, will be putting their head on that filth that was transferred from the dirty floor! You won't find THAT problem at my house with my chairs!

Find a way to get THESE JERKS to stay home or correct their behavior and more people would go to the movies! Right now, all they will do is laugh after reading this and most likely post some meaningless jibberish in retaliation, so come on, show us your ignorance.

[garfield177]

Not every one has $6.00-$8.00 to spend on a ticket and another $6.00 for pop corn. I love my Netflix, and it only costs me $10.00 a month for as many movies as I care to see

[imlibertaria]

Now that Mike Wallace has had the grace and intellignece to surrender his chair on 60 Minutes, maybe it's time that Mr. Rooney did the same. Not only is his observation this week sorely off-based and ill-informed, but to put it bluntly, WHO CARES what he thinks!

[sgraf3]

What a bunch of whiners. Going to any public gathering is going to have some distractions. Yes, sometimes people move about. Yes, sometimes you can hear someone talking. Yes, you can't go to the bathroom without missing a bit of the show (try going before it starts...now THERE'S an idea). I, for one (and Mr. Rooney), like the experience of "going to the movies". You whiners can stay home. See ya there next time, Andy !

[go_dogs_go]

I completely agree with you Mr Rooney. Theatres are great places to go see a movie.

My wife and I recently attended the showing of Casino Royale. And the best part of it? The fun I had as I smacked an empty popcorn box across the heads of 2 kids in front of me - as they rudely played ringtones on their cell phones!

I haven't had that much fun since helping my sister raise her kids; and It was well worth the price!

Coach Barry Jones
San Diego, CA

[modifiedbear]

Andy clearly doesn't have to go to a public movie theater. Probably private company screenings where people won't talk on their cell phone or bring their crying babies because they want to keep their job. Andy you were way out of touch with this one.

[modifiedbear]

Andy clearly doesn't have to go to a public movie theater. Probably private company screenings where people won't talk on their cell phone or bring their crying babies because they want to keep their job. Andy you were way out of touch with this one.

[linfinster]

Renting in cheaper (online service)
I can use closed captioning
I can have friends over if I want to bond
Popcorn is so much better with REAL butter on it
I have a better food choice at home
No whiney, snickering, loud mouthed people
Yes the seats are too small in a theater
I can pause to go to the bathroom
Would you use a bathroom at the theater?
I can watch it the next day if it was really good
Fast fwd thru the stupid previews

hmmm, probably more but you get the idea ..

[jeffbye7]

Oh Andy, this is how you know it's time to retire; When you start making observations that you think the rest of America will stop and say, "You know, that ole Andy's right," and then discover you couldn't be more wrong. I bet your piece on going to the movies receives countless howls of protests. Remember when your grandpa couldn't understand why folks were giving up their horse and buggy for those new-fangled au-to-mo-biles? That's how YOU sounded to this generation with your last segment. Only someone with too much money and too much time on their hands who can afford to go to a matinee in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, could say movie-going is still a pleasure.

[amy_florence]

I used to enjoy going to the movies with my friends. Now I rent, not so much for cost but because of the intensity of the surround-sound in most theaters and the amount of "shock-value" coming attractions which are shown. I know I'm not the only one who has the feeling they are about to have an anxiety attack between the sound and the in-your-face previews. When I go to the theater, I'm there to relax and enjoy myself and I can no longer do that in a movie house. As for the complaints about cell phones and rude behavior, have you been to the symphony or a musical or stage production lately? Many of those audiences are becoming just as bad. We've lost our manners I'm afraid.

[cullinand17]

for Mr Andy Rooney,I am one of the biggest movie fans and go often, but the reason i dont go as much now is all the reason's you said you go.I dont have to wait in line, and pay well over 25.00 with popcorn and candy,no one sits in front of me at home, no one talks or gets up every 5 mins, no cell phones at home,and my chair is 100% more comfortable and I have a big screen and seround sound, I dont think you have been to someone's house who has a big screen and a top entertainment center.This is why the box office is hurting plus they are not making great movies like they used to . Yes going to the movies was a great past time to do but all of us who has a big tv and seround sound are getting everything you get at the movies but without getting in my car.Maybe santa will bring you a big screen with 'hd'and all the works and than you will See what Im talking about.

[rufusmin]

After sending e-mail re this subject, I finally found the comment section. I agree with all the foregoing comments about the disadvantages of watching movies in movie theaters. No, nothing is like it used to be. Maybe it's just because I'm getting old, but I do like to be able to hear the dialog, and replay it if necessary. And sometimes a scene in a movie really catches your eye or risibility so it's great to be able to reply to your heart's content. Andy, I most always agree with your comments. And my husband, when he was still alive, enjoyed them too. But then he is a Capricorn also. Andy, you and my husband have been my favorite curmudgeons. Keep up the good work.

[butcherman1s]

Yes, the movies are great but if you are deaf, there is no CC-closed captioned in the theater. So to enjoy a movie for the deaf people watching it at home is the only a deaf person can really understand the movie.
Thank you,
Mr. Milton Blake
Married to a deaf LADY!!!

[lucimeeko]

I don't know what movie theater you go to, Mr. Rooney, but the ones I attend don't consist of the type of people I want to bond with, let alone sit 2 to 3 hours with. It's usually a movie theater filled with a bunch of antsy, loud and obnoxious youngsters coupled with a lot of wanna-be-grown teenagers. And why would I want to try to bond with a lot of strangers, anyway? They almost never laugh when I laugh and definitely never cry when I cry. They always seem to just laugh and cry right when I'm trying to listen to the best part of movie.

[lucimeeko]

I don't know what movie theater you go to, Mr. Rooney, but the ones I attend don't consist of the type of people I want to bond with, let alone sit 2 to 3 hours with. It's usually a movie theater filled with a bunch of antsy, loud and obnoxious youngsters coupled with a lot of wanna-be-grown teenagers. And why would I want to try to bond with a lot of strangers, anyway? They almost never laugh when I laugh and definitely never cry when I cry. They always seem to just laugh and cry right when I'm trying to listen to the best part of movie.

Hail to NETFLIX!

[lucimeeko]

"Going to the movies" means something special, alright and it most definitely IS NOT anything at all like watching a movie at home. It's 100 times better! There are all sorts of good things about NOT going to a theater. Your phone doesn%u2019t ring during the movie because everybody else's is ringing instead. No one starts talking to you about President Bush during an exciting part of the show, they just start talking behind or in front of you about something totally irrelevant to life only to make you miss the best part of the movie. The seats are NOT as comfortable as the chair in your living room. Plus, if there's someone too tall in front of you, you CANNOT move over a couple of seats because the movie theater is usually so overly crowded that you are stuck throughout the entire movie with the tall person in front of you with no choice but to lean your head to the side to watch the movie.

[lucimeeko]

Mr. Rooney - I am so glad you started your segment with "I may be wrong but..." because you could not be more wrong about how Americans enjoy watching movies in this day and age. Renting movies to watch at home has been the 2nd greatest thing since sliced bread and it is extremely understandable why Netflix made $688M last year. The only correct statement you made was "you can't rent the popcorn". Who would want to - it's usually too expensive and too stale! $8.00 for the ticket and $5.00 for the popcorn - what about the $6.00 for the overly sweet fountain drink to wash down that expensive, stale popcorn?

[lalondee]

Delayed by the football game, Sixty Minutes was cut off tonight in Detroit in favour of "Survivor". Frankly I don't know why I bother to watch 60 minutes anymore. It gets postponed by football, then cut off by the following show. I would love to have seen Andy's piece, but no luck - reading it on the website is not the same. Do us a favour, willya? Either cut into the football game at 7:00, or let "Survivor" wait the fifteen minutes it takes to get my Andy fix!!!

[apb1006]

Just watched Andy Rooney's commentary on going to the movies vs. renting them to view at home. Going to the theater can be fun - sometimes. But it's ALWAYS expensive. Last night, in fact, my husband and I treated my two teens and three friends to the movies (Casino Royale)and the tickets alone came to $70.00. After a few snacks and drinks, we spent over $100.00 for the "privilege" of seeing a movie in a theater! Naturally, I am very selective about which movies I'll invest my money in to see in a theater.

Consequently, I am a big fan of Netflix. Depending on how many movies I see during a month, I can see a movie for as little as $3.00 per movie(with the whole family watching)and I never feel shafted if the movie is a bomb. In fact, with all the garbage Hollywood puts out, if it wasn't for Netflix, I probably wouldn't see any movies at all. Go Netflix!!!!!