Muvico Egyptian is da bomb diggity

Once again I am utterly baffled by something I read. Here's a post by Cory Doctorow, someone I usually agree with, btw, that sounds like it was written in an alternative universe. Its's about how some cinemas are changing their business model to try and get lost customers back in the theater. It says, in part:

For me, going to the movies has stopped being nearly as much fun because of the crummy movies, the door-searches, the camera-confiscations, the nonstop advertising, security guards scanning the audience with infrared goggles, and especially the dumb anti-piracy nag-PSAs (hint to cinema industry: if I'm spending £13 to get into the cinema, I'm not a pirate, I'm a customer).

Do what? I don't experience any of this. We usually go to Muvico Egyptian over to the super big mall because the seats are comfy for my big fat ass, it has stadium seating so I don't have to worry about not being able to see over the guy in front of me, and the screens are nice and large. I've checked out most of the chains around and this is my favorite, hands down.

I don't think movies are crummy. If you read my column, even a little bit now and then, you know I tend to really enjoy the films I see and I'm somewhat picky about the ones I choose. I most def won't be watching Flight 93 for instance, even though I hear it's "great." I see a lot of people I respect complaining about the state of film today and I have to wonder what it is they are watching. Is it a straight diet of House of Wax? I've no idea.

The only time I've ever been searched at the door was when we went to the special screening of Proof, with the ever so swoony Q and A with the director. This screening was in the MPAA building and yes, they were looking for cameras, not bombs. The regular movie theaters around here don't search you for anything. I suppose if you looked like you were bringing in a four course meal for the entire family they might stop you and if you have a cup or a sandwich actually in your hand they tell you that you can't take it in but that's hardly a search. Theaters make their money from their concession stands, or they did back in the 80's when my sister was running a theater in San Francisco.

Camera-confiscations - never seen it happen although it would have happened at Proof if we'd had one. Not even camera phones were allowed in. I thought it was silly but we were right in the heart of paranoia land so I wasn't exactly surprised.

Non-stop advertising - er trailers? I love trailers. I used to go down to the Strand in San Francisco (before they turned all porn all the time) when they had all trailer day. That was fun. Muvico probably does play a regular ad or two, like you would see on television but I don't remember them so they can't be much of an imposition. There is a slideshow of ads and trivia playing when you walk into the theatre but the lights are on and it's pretty darn easy to ignore. It also makes for excellent mocking fodder. Maybe it's different where Cory lives.

"security guards scanning the audience with infrared goggles" - wow, that sounds totally crazy. I've never even heard of this practice before. What on earth are they looking for? I shudder to think.

especially the dumb anti-piracy nag-PSAs (hint to cinema industry: if I'm spending £13 to get into the cinema, I'm not a pirate, I'm a customer).

I've only seen on PSA at Muvico. It's about turning off your cell phones and it's remarkably effective. As soon as it's over, or during, cell phones light up all over the theater as people shut them off. And I have never heard a cell phone go off a film at Muvico. When I see those phones turning off, I feel so proud, it's a kind of mom warmth like you get when your kid brings home an A on his spelling test.

The only other PSA I recall seeing is one about picking up your trash and throwing it away on your way out the door.

Cory pays quite a bit of money to go to the movies. I pay 10USD I think, somewhere around there, give or take fifty cents. If we go to a matinee it's less and I've discovered that for me, the Sunday matinee is the best time to go because it's not as crowded. I just found out that students are seven dollars, quite annoying since 75% of my family are students but the print was so small I could never read it before. Ah well, now I know and shan't throw my money away anymore.

Someone called Brian responded to Cory's original post but I stopped reading it right way because the person who sent it in pissed me off by saying that the most important thing about this theater is their penchant for discrimination:

One particularly good theatre ...The Drafthouse, first of all, bans children

You know what? Kids have a perfect right, and a biological imperative, to exist and to learn how to get along in society. You were a kid once. You were a beginner once. You did not spring Athena-like from your father's head all ready to go out drinking with your cronies. You had to practice by going out with family and friends and learning what was okay to do in public and what wasn't. Your bigotry against children is appalling, and in the end, you are the one who loses by writing off everyone under some arbitrary age as unfit for your company.