Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Peter Thompson4 said:And from what I can see, whenever I check the AMC theater pricing, it’s pretty much the exact same everywhere you look, so yeah, the prices are identical whether you're in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or even Phoenix.

Well, that's actually the whole point of what I was getting at.
You just can't have identical pricing in New York and some small town in middle America. I mean, sure, you *could*—but if you do, you'll end up with half-empty theaters and a bankruptcy filing within five years.

Robin Fox2 said:I never bother with Wednesdays; I usually stick to the weekends—Friday through Sunday—and that's when the crowds show up. Occasionally a theater is slammed, like it was for FF7, but most of the time it's just half-full, which is really about as much as you can hope for...

I don't frequent those indie theaters showing alternative junk, so I wouldn't know how things look over there...

And to what Amanda Evans2 was saying, if people are buying tickets last minute, it feels like you have to live at the cinema just to catch anything. I go quite often, yet even then, I average maybe once a month since the movies I actually care about aren't released that frequently; after FF, the next thing on my list is Mad Max, and that isn't for another month...

Though I did catch a trailer for a decent comedy during my last visit, so perhaps it might be worth a trip...😬

Look, I'm strictly talking about AMC Theaters. I'll book tickets if there are more than three of us just so we aren't standing in the aisle.

Eric Fox7 said:$10 is a Wednesday, so prices are usually lower then.
Personally, I can afford it, but a lot of people—the typical American average, excluding folks living in places like NYC or LA—probably can't.

I think you're totally wrong about the ticket prices. 🤷

I know theaters in NYC are packed, but it's the same story here.
Especially on Wednesdays and weekends.

It obviously depends on what's playing, but this winter has been busy, particularly for the big blockbusters.

Looking back a few years, we have six theaters running daily now, whereas we used to have just one that was half-empty with unpredictable hours. I assume that shift toward more consistency is happening everywhere to drive up attendance.

Peter Thompson4 said:I really can't get on board with this idea that tickets are overpriced. I mean, sure, if you're looking at it strictly through the lens of our local cost of living, maybe they seem steep, but once you compare them to what people are paying overseas, we honestly don't have much ground to stand on. For instance, I’ve heard that ticket prices in places like Phoenix are basically in the same ballpark as they are here in the States—can someone from the Southwest chime in or let me know if that's true? And don't even get me started on how much more expensive things get in countries I've traveled to, like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, or even parts of the US where I've been. On top of that, to be totally blunt, most of the theaters I've visited abroad were actually worse than Cinemark back home. I just didn't feel comfortable in them, and they definitely weren't nearly as nice or well-maintained. It seems like they just have a lot of privately owned spots over there, which probably explains why they feel so run-down compared to what we have.

Alright, I'll stop rambling now, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that as I've gotten older, I'd much rather spend my time catching a great movie in a decent theater than just blowing my whole weekend out partying.

That’s true, Cinemark theaters are top-tier, not just in Europe but globally too. I was actually talking to a guy who worked for the company when it first started—we used to play soccer together—and he mentioned they decided to invest in premium equipment right from the jump.

I've been to theaters in America, Canada, Korea, Sweden, the UK, and more, and I haven't found many places where the auditorium quality matches Cinemark. I mean, the new multiplexes in Korea are similar, but maybe not better. You just don't find those massive seats everywhere, or that perfect seating height where you aren't bumping heads with the person in front of you.

But then again, tickets are overpriced everywhere. In the UK, a ticket for some junk movie in a suburban area is at least 11 or 12 pounds. In Sweden, you won't find a movie for less than $33, and over half the theaters there are just outdated relics. And don't even get me started on the popcorn and soda; they absolutely fleece you.

I guess there is just one thing we could try occasionally here. In California, at a theater we visited, they didn't use reserved seating. Whoever gets to the auditorium first just sits wherever they want. That way, you don't have people jumping over seats once everyone finally settles in.

Canada, Korea, Sweden? Not bad 👍
I was actually planning on hitting up Korea and Canada, but honestly, I haven't given much thought to Sweden unless some crazy opportunity just falls into my lap. What's it actually like over there? Give me the lowdown, because I’m seriously curious about all three countries

So, this GQ guy has basically traveled halfway around the world 🙏🙏

Tell me, if you don't mind me asking, is most of that travel for business or just personal trips?

Watching Braveheart or 300... hmm...

As for 300, those Scots proved they were nothing more than cowards, so there’s really no point in revisiting that film...☕

Robin Fox2 said:Watching Braveheart or 300... hmm...

As for 300, those Scots proved they were nothing more than cowards, so there’s really no point in revisiting that film...☕

I'd much rather you read Gates of Fire by Pressfield, preferably in English.

I'm just not feeling this Frank Miller comic adaptation, and honestly, they completely messed up Sin City 2 too...

So, you're saying Sin City 2 isn't any good?
The first one was great in my opinion.

boldfox88 said:So, this GQ guy has basically traveled halfway around the world 🙏🙏

Tell me, if you don't mind me asking, is most of that travel for business or just personal trips?

Both of those options seem okay, I guess. Things might settle down a bit soon, though I did end up taking out a loan. 😂 Aside from maybe Egypt, I don't really have much of a fascination with other countries anymore. I've seen just about everything and spent plenty of money to see it all, but you eventually realize it's mostly just variations on the same theme. Mass tourism has become so huge that it feels like you can hardly find anything truly original. You can find uniqueness in those remote, wild places, but then you run into a hundred other hassles there. From now on, I think I'll spend my travel budget mostly on skiing instead; that seems like the best way to go. You can head to Colorado or Utah for relatively little money and actually spend your time doing something healthy out in nature.

So, I was out in Los Angeles today, and the tourists are already starting to swarm. I actually spotted someone using one of those selfie sticks for the first time. Honestly, I can't help but wonder why anyone would bother with those. I guess I was taking selfies way before smartphones were even a thing, though back then it was more of a joke. It feels like there are so many visitors wandering around the city with these sticks just to get some mediocre phone shots. I'm not entirely sure if that's worse than seeing people try to take photos with tablets, but it’s definitely something. Maybe it's just another reason why tourism feels like it's losing its soul lately. A selfie stick really feels like the low point of the 21st century.

The selfie stick was actually invented by folks in Japan about twenty years ago. 😂

I honestly don't get this obsession with photographing every single little thing while you're supposed to be on vacation. Is this some kind of delayed gratification tactic? You spend the whole time posing and snapping shots of everything in real-time just so you can sit around looking at them when you finally get back home? What on earth is the point...

It’s like when some tourist flies all the way from Tokyo to New York just to take a picture of the Federal Reserve building. What an absolute waste of time...

I have no idea.
I don't take photos when I'm traveling like that. I feel like I'd miss half the experience if I was focused on photography instead of just being in the moment.

Exactly. A woman posts some random nonsense photo here and there, but it never even crossed my mind to go back and scrutinize those pictures. What actually matters is what I choose to carry in my memory, and what isn't... honestly, I couldn't care less about the rest.

I feel like some Eastern cultures are just conditioned to follow the herd without really thinking for themselves. For example, maybe five or six years ago, nobody in South Korea really cared about hiking—they basically viewed it as some silly hobby for white people. But then someone influential pushed it, it became a massive trend, and now every single woman isn't just climbing hills, she's decked out in the most expensive gear imaginable. We're talking boots, pants, jackets, trekking poles, hats, sunglasses... they might as well be wearing scuba fins at this point. I went there during a holiday to hike a peak that’s maybe a little steeper than something you'd find near a local park in the Midwest; you can reach the summit in two hours just by walking. There are a few narrow paths and some metal cables near the top to hold onto, but it's nothing compared to a standard trail you'd find outside of Chicago. Yet, the crowd doing this "ascent" is wearing gear worth $2,000 per person. Everyone has it; I don't think I saw a single person who looked like me, just wearing a tracksuit and sneakers. It's like these clones are all identical, carrying their sticks and posing for photos in front of every single pastry shop they pass.

Ever been to North Korea?
That’s my number one destination on the bucket list.

I stepped into it, and I guess it was just such a wonderful experience.

Zachary Nguyen2 said:So, you're saying Sin City 2 isn't any good?
The first one was great in my opinion.

I watched the first part twice, but I couldn't even finish the second one after thirty minutes. Honestly, casting Gordon Lewitt in a movie like this—he just doesn't have the charisma...

And Josh Brolin isn't exactly a perfect replacement for Owen either...

The cast is much weaker, the plot is messy... they really botched the sequel I'd been waiting for so long...

I won't even bother checking the others then.

Someone was asking about Chinese smartphones earlier; I saw a shop open up here in town selling brands I’ve never even heard of, probably some cheap knockoffs from overseas... 🤷 they're priced between $600 and $3,000, running Android.