Drive ins were family entertainment for many of us in our era. Take your own snacks and drinks...a blanket to cover up with in the bed of a truck. Making out in the back seat as a teenager...oh lord, probably should delete that...but I won't
A large popcorn and large Coke is a nice, healthy snack (sort of. So is licorice. And, for what's it's worth, we think there are some darn good movies that are at theaters. Will admit, not many, but some. Is this one of those "controversial" Threads I done a Thread about (only kidding). Appears that there are only two of us members that still go to theaters.
We go maybe once a month, sometimes twice. If we have an appointment in Bangor early in the morning, we'll often stay in a hotel, and then we'll sometimes see a movie if there's anything playing. Although there are at least three movie theaters in the Bangor area, there are rarely more than six people watching whatever movie we watch, but then we usually go to an early showing, or on a weeknight, and it's not unusual for us to be the only ones there. Most of the medium to small sized towns in Maine have closed their movie theaters in the last few years. When we decided to open an Internet cafe instead, about fifteen years ago, a theater in Houlton, Maine was for sale at a ridiculously low price, something in the neighborhood of $20,000, and we considered it. Even Fort Kent, which has a college, closed its theater not long ago. After spending a great deal of money converting it to digital, they were unable to make back their investment. I think that a theater could still survive today, but they'd have to do something other than simply showing the latest movie releases. I have seen some that have done well by either owning or partnering with a regular restaurant to serve regular food, as opposed to concession stand stuff, and by running theme movies, such as all of the Beatles movies, or non-stop John Wayne movies. There was a restaurant next door; a regular restaurant that people would go into and eat, and they had opened up a counter between the two buildings so that movie-goers could order regular restaurant food, and the theater had tables and chairs rather than theater-style seating. Either way, it's a tough business to be in today, I fear.
We hadn't been to a movie house in 20 years, since we left the Phoenix area. Partly of necessity, the closest theater to our rural location in Missouri was 55 miles, one way. However, recently we did go to see "Sully", with Tom Hanks. I had heard several interviews conducted with Captain Sullenberger, and was totally impressed by the man! Frank
Have to change my mind, in a way, about most movies today. Last night we decided to go and see Snatched w/Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer. The trailer looked extremely funny, and the movie was, BUT the language and some scenes were pretty-to-mostly raunchy. Wish we would have looked at the rating before going. Was going to see Gifted, which is rated PG and we do want to see. Actually, the very first scene of Snatched was raunchy and it just got worse. Then, the previews for new movies coming out, a few are beyond "raunchy" as well. My wife talked to one young lady that told her that Amy Schumer has a pretty raunchy mouth onstage and young folks like her. Goldie Hawn was good. Funny, most of the people, out of some 25 in the theater, were older (our age) and apparently were there to see Goldie Hawn. What we really should have done is........during the first scene of language, we should have gotten up and left. Could have gone to the theater (same building) and seen Gifted. We like humor and some sarcasm in a movie, but the language (and some scenes) are ridiculous to watch/hear. So, really must say @ Babs Hunt, your are absolutely right!!
The minute you saw Amy Schumer's name, you should have known it would be raunchy...that's what's she's famous for. Okay, I just reread your post and saw that your wife was told that...so you didn't know. I've seen a few of her acts on netflix and even I thought they were pretty raunchy....and I don't have problems with things like that. I can watch anything and it doesn't phase me. I wouldn't act or talk like that myself but it really doesn't bother me...
One thing for sure, some folks are bother by things that other folks aren't. But, we say we are Christians and those kind of movies we really shouldn't be watching. IMO, that is. It's no wonder why so many people, young and old, use the "f" word today.
I don't use the f word and yet it doesn't bother me if others do...my kids don't use it and I don't hear in my circle but on TV or the movies...it doesn't bother me. I guess everyone is different...I get upset when I read a conspiracy theory...it upsets me to the point that I have to get away for awhile....and to hold my tongue and not respond. The f word has been around forever and I don't think it makes today's young people say it anymore then the previous generation. I think what you hear at home affects you more...and how you are taught. It's never been acceptable with my kids and their kids but I don't get bent out of shape when I hear it. I do use friggin a lot though. Also, guess I'm not Christian enough since it doesn't bother me. Also, many Christians do even worse then the f word. And to get back on topic I seldom go to the movies except for the children's ones with my grandsons...even that has lessened since it's only the 3 little ones in Illinois who still enjoy them. On a rare occasion I'll go see a chick flick with my daughter but that's about once a year. In Fresno the few movies I saw I can count on one hand...first one ever was with falcon..and that was Spanglish so you know how long ago that was. I saw a few with my ex and then a few with a date...also once when the grandsons were visiting I took them to a Harry Potter one but he was scared so we left. I have nothing against going to the movies ...I'm just not a big movie fan...never was.
Although my being a Christian does have a bearing on what I do or do not like, etc. I can say that even before I became a Christian I did not like raunchy movies. It just didn't seem to be necessary to me to put all those curse words or nudity, etc. in the movie and in fact "turned me off" to even wanting to watch it at all. I certainly think that spending our hard earned money on a movie filled with this is money wasted. My problem with most movies today not being worth the price of the ticket is because they just don't "make them like they used to" in my opinion. We all may have a different opinion about what "making them like they used to" means but to me the commercials I'm seeing and what I read about the movies they are making now days just hasn't (for the most part) made me want to go buy any tickets at the Theatre lately. There was "The Promise" a short while ago that I had hoped to see but something came up and it didn't happen...so I can't tell you if I would have thought it would be worth the ticket price or not.
@Babs Hunt - Pretty much all the same today aren't they, the same usual ingredients just for the sake of it no real purpose
In a movie, I am not particularly bothered by bad language when it fits. I wouldn't expect a gang member to talk like a Sunday School teacher, for example. I hate it when it's gratuitous though, and I wish there were more movies that didn't include sex and bad language.
That's the problem a lot of modern movies 'are' gratuitous Even when reading a book, sometimes a lot of swearing - why I don't know, but I don't continue with it I wouldn't curse saying that sentence - so they are forcing me to swear
I knew I'd be outnumbered with my view but doesn't matter. I'm not going to be a hypocrit and say it bothers me. Only time it does is when it's used constantly like Eddie Murphy used to in his comedy routines or Richard Pryor.
I don't mind being outnumbered Chrissy - its only people sharing views Its also like, say you liking a dish and me hating it - I think ...........