Have you seen Jurassic World?

[thistlechaser]

I never, ever go see movies in the theater. It's been more than five years since I've last gone. One of the big reasons is the cost of tickets around here.

There are a few movies I'd make exceptions for, and the Jurassic Park series is one of them. (The next Avatar movie will probably be the next one I see in a theater.) Seeing the first Jurassic Park movie was one of my top movie-going experiences ever -- "real" dinosaurs! So lifelike! Magical and amazing! As soon as I heard Jurassic World was coming out, I knew I'd be seeing it in the theater.

So now I'm sitting here, trying to pick a time. I knew the ticket costs would be high, but once I decided on a time and theater, I clicked just because I was curious about the cost.

$17. For one single adult ticket. Noon showtime.

My god. Okay, that's 3D IMAX, but plain 3D is $11, and non-3D is $7. Such insane prices! Gah!

But I still mostly want to go. I know I'll kick myself if I don't see this movie on a big screen, so I guess I will go. But how should I see it?

[Poll #2014084]
Edit: BLAH! I messed up that last poll answer, and you can't edit it once it's posted. Should be "Skip it seeing it now and wait for it to come out on video".

Edit 2: To put the cost in perspective: The new FFXIV expansion cost less than $40. I'll get more than a full year of entertainment from that, many, many, many hours a day every single day. Compare that to $17 for a 2 hour movie...

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Movie prices are totally ridiculous. I intentionally avoid 3D (I have to sort of squint through the glasses, which isn't fun for 2 hours) and prefer matinee showtimes, and whenever we go see a movie, the four of us, it's like $40 just for tickets. Blech.

That said, since this is a rare splurge, you might as well go all the way, if you can stomach the idea of paying $17 for a ticket. That's, what, the cost of a discounted hardcover book, or a mid-range lunch with a drink, so not necessarily too far off in terms of return on investment if you compare to other things that don't last very long. But, really, anything from 3D IMAX to plain ol' 2D could work, I think -- it's just, are you more likely to regret NOT splurging on the full experience or paying $17 for a ticket? Probably the former, since objectively it's not a lot of money.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said. I'm still balking at the idea (how in the world can they even feel okay with charging that much?), but like you said, this is a rare splurge for me. Not just splurge movie-wise, but I don't splurge in general.

Agreed that your guess of 'former' is likely the right one. Months from now, I won't feel the loss of that $17 (plus popcorn!), but hopefully I'll remember what it was like seeing giant, 3D dinosaurs.

I feel so bad for you and others who have to buy multiple tickets when you go!

[tersa.livejournal.com]

I saw it in IMAX 3D, but I don't necessarily think it added anything to the experience. I voted to see it in 2D.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh that's good to know. I thought (hoped!) it would be like Avatar, where 3D would make all the difference.

Thanks!

[hamsterwoman]

It's probably still comparable to the cost of a meal out, but with multiple people, once you compare it to the cost of seeing it at home on video, the differences are just so ridiculous. Like, do I want to spend $50 to see this movie in theaters, or $1.50 a few months later to see it at home, at my convenience? There are not a lot of movies where seeing it on the big screen or a few months sooner is worth 30x as much to me... :P

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep! Plus at home you can pause it to run to the bathroom or whatever. Or watch it more than once! I'd generally much rather watch things at home.

[mayanas.livejournal.com]

Well, you're paying for the experience which is definitely not the same as just waiting and seeing it on the small screen. I don't know which ticket I think you should choose though...

For what it's worth ticket prices here are even higher and that's the little local cinema which is quite fancy for the town but not compared to the ones in the city (Copenhagen). $14 for plain 2D in the afternoon and $17 for regular 3D 6.30 pm (the only 3D showing). I think my Hobbit tickets cost even more. Pretty sure it was around $22 and I wouldn't have missed Hobbit for the world. I missed the second movie and I so regret it! I hardly ever go to the movies either (Lotr, the five Harry last Potters, and then Hobbits). There are just some things I must watch. Also it annoys to be out of the loop about things that really interest me when the whole internet is talking about them!

I do get the FFXIV comparison. When I feel bad about buying myself more puzzles to solve (which happens occasionally or not so often) I think it's terribly expensive though I also know that if I was out and about and wanted to stop somewhere for coffee or whatever just the cup of coffee would probably cost more. Makes me not want to stop for coffee anywhere because that's a week's worth of puzzles I'm squandering!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Eek! I'm always sorry to hear when people have to pay even more than I do. (I'm in one of the most expensive places in the US.)

For me, I think a big part of it is that I'm just not that into movies. I'll put one on in the background at home while I'm doing other things, but I never just sit and watch them. I'd rather not have the theater experience if possible! (If only I were rich and could have my own little theater at home, maybe I'd watch them slightly more often. Heh!)

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

I wait and see everything on blu ray now. The cost of fuel for a 4 hour round trip to Spokane, plus movie and snack prices, plus couple meals out for 3 people...It gets pretty ridiculous. I can buy an armload of DVDs and Blu Rays for the price.

But you are one person in the city. I say go watch it on the big screen!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah! In this case, you have the worst of all all: Long drive and multiple people. (Worthy tradeoff though, for where you get to live!)

I'm still leaning back and forth on how I'll see it (3D/2D/IMAX), though it is narrowed down to the big screen.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I hate 3D, I only see movies in 2D. The cost is ridiculous and 3D doesn't add anything to the story or acting. If it's a good movie, it doesn't need the gimmick. Plus, $7 is at last more logical than $17 I meant WTF.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

In Avatar, the 3D mattered, but I don't think there's been a movie since then were it really did. This evening I've been leaning back towards 2D.

By the time Thursday comes, I'll be so annoyed at having thought about this so much, I won't want to go anymore. :P

[wizardelfgirl.livejournal.com]

I'd go for the 3D experience. It's kind of in the middle of your options. You get the 3D, which I'm told makes the movie quite entertaining (haven't watched it myself yet, but some friends have), but I don't think the IMAX is necessary or adds to the movie in any significant way.

I too rarely go to the movies, though in my case it's more because of lack of time than lack of interest. I love going to the movies. Prices tend to vary a lot depending on the area of the city (in my area 3D costs around 9 dlls, but downtown area theatres offer tickets at 6 dlls). Thing is, when a movie really interests me I make a point to go watch it in theatres because, if I don't, for some weird reason I later lose all interest in it. A friend theorizes that, because my work involves watching a lot of movies in a small screen at home, to me watching a movie on TV, even a movie I highly anticipated, has lost its appeal because it resembles work. Going out, buying snacks that I usually never eat, and watching a movie in a huge screen surrounded by people is the total opposite to work and thus unconsciously appeals more to me.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I think your friend hit it on the head: It's probably too much like your work on a small screen.

Thanks for the thoughts!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Movies like that just aren't the same on the small screen.
See it in sensoround on a wide screen!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Some form of big screen, for sure!

[doxxxicle.livejournal.com]

For comparison: At our preferred venue, the "UltraAVX 3D" option, which is a fancier cinema with better seats and sound and you can book specific seat positions, costs C$17.50 per adult including tax for a 7:30pm show today. The "D-BOX" option, which are special seats in the UltraAVX cinemas that move and vibrate with the action on the screen, costs C$23.50. The "IMAX 3D" is C$19.50. The 2D show (only one!) costs is C$12.50.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, vibrating seats! That could be amusing. Imagine them moving when a dinosaur walks. :D

Your prices are darned high, too!