Home Theater vs Cinema

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alkit

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Hi,

I recently bought a home cinema system (large 5.1 speakers+receiver, expensive 18 inch subwoofer, 1080p projector, htpc etc). I am now sharing my lounge with the HT equipment.
It was real awesome to have at first, and experiencing 'theater like' movies at home was cool. However, it now seems to be a bit of a waste for the following reasons:
1) All the new movies are on cinema. If you want to rent, you can only get older movies. This gets really irritating as I often try invite a few oaks over and many of them have seen the older (decent) movies already)
2) Price - renting a blu-ray/dvd is almost the same price as going to the cinema (especilly sine I'm on vitality and numetro have half price wednesdays)
3) It seems like spending thousands of rands to emulate a cinema is a bit of a waste. The cinema does have its flaws, but they have spent hundreds of thousands to make a proper movie watching experience which, unless you are also willing to spends tons of money (and get a dedicated room), you will not be able to match (and let's not even start with 3D).
4) I actually prefer the experience of 'going out' and just enjoying a movie at the cinema, rather than having to set up the cinema, rent the movie, return it the next day, make the popcorn etc etc.
5) Not everything can be watched on a Home Cinema system. Eg - if I wanna watch normal TV (or even a movie on TV) or a series etc, I use my normal LCD TV. It's just a waste to use a projector for those kinds of things - so at most, the projector/spekaers are being used only once a week. Maybe just getting a 51 inch plasma to do my own personal veiwing, and leaving the proper 'movie watching' to the cinemas is a better plan?

I've always had a passion to get an HT system, and that's why I bought myself one.
However, logic has now kicked in, and just wondering what the merits are of keeping my setup? Would love to hear other people's views before making a decision.

Thanks
 
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You're right, leave the cinema stuff to the cinema. It's awesome to have at home at first, but the novelty wears off. I'd keep the sound though.
 
Seems you have a bit of buyers remorse?

Anyway, i have a pretty decent media setup as well with large tv/projector and couldn't be happier. Watch all my new HD episodes

in comfort, not to mention movies. I find going to the cinema is a waste unless its a big budget action/scifi/superhero

film with effects or 3d in which case i will go see it for sure, otherwise i download my films in 1080p and watch it at home.

Last time i went to watch captain america at cavendish the cinema had not even been cleaned after the previous viewing and while i loved

the film, watching it in other peoples filth bothered me. Management blew me off when i complained. Experiences like this along with the

exorbitant prices put me off cinemas. Do you have uncapped internet to download the latest stuff? this is the only way to really get

the best out of your system. As far as inviting "oaks" over to watch stuff.... you will find that many guys are not discerning at all

when it comes to quality and end up watching the very firsts crappy cam/ts release of a movie, i will rather wait a month or

two for the hd release, my system is for the enjoyment of myself, SO and family. If i were you i would keep the setup, put it to work

if you find in a few months you unhappy with it maybe reconsider​
 
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Mike Hoxbig said:
You're right, leave the cinema stuff to the cinema. It's awesome to have at home at first, but the novelty wears off. I'd keep the sound though.
Click to expand...

Cinema quality is not always what it should be though, there have been times when i have watched a movie in the cinema and thought to myself. "Cant wait to rather watch this on my setup at home."
 
Guess it comes down to personal preference, I don't have an expensive HT setup. but I use it for watching TV shows, Movies, Playing games etc
 
Don't own a proper home cinema but I have a few problems with the real thing (from my experience):

- Technicians are almost never sitting in the projection booth, when something goes wrong you have to leave your seat to tell them.
- The concession stand is ridiculously over priced, I really want popcorn in a movie but why must it be R20 when it probably only cost R2 to make. And this even after paying a lot more for your ticket.
- Booking tickets on-line is fantastic except when you get there and a bunch of imbeciles are in the same queues to use the terminals where you need to collect yours. Separate collection and booking, the former takes seconds.

And the worst part about the real thing ... you can't pause to go to the toilet :D
 
stevenv said:
And the worst part about the real thing ... you can't pause to go to the toilet :D
Click to expand...

This is especially true if you have kids. People look at you like you're a pervert getting your jollies if you wait for your kids outside, otherwise you have to stand around looking lost.
 
alkit said:
...I often try invite a few oaks over ...
Click to expand...

How do you fit the trees through the door?


alkit said:
...I actually prefer the experience of 'going out' and just enjoying a movie at the cinema...
Click to expand...

Yeah, the dirty seats and sticky floors are fantastic...the idiots talking throughout (some on cell phones) and the crappy picture quality is a bonus.
 
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Indeed watching a latest release on the big screen does have its perks,but that can all change when the arrogant couple behind you can't shut the fu ck up.
 
stevenv said:
Don't own a proper home cinema but I have a few problems with the real thing (from my experience):

- Technicians are almost never sitting in the projection booth, when something goes wrong you have to leave your seat to tell them.
- The concession stand is ridiculously over priced, I really want popcorn in a movie but why must it be R20 when it probably only cost R2 to make. And this even after paying a lot more for your ticket.
- Booking tickets on-line is fantastic except when you get there and a bunch of imbeciles are in the same queues to use the terminals where you need to collect yours. Separate collection and booking, the former takes seconds.

And the worst part about the real thing ... you can't pause to go to the toilet :D
Click to expand...

You also can't rewind if you mishear something :)

satanboy said:
How do you fit the trees through the door?




Yeah, the dirty seats and sticky floors are fantastic...the idiots talking throughout (some on cell phones) and the crappy picture quality is a bonus.
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing about the trees :D

Ahh but the talking people just adds to the experience -_-
Don't forget about the kiddies BBMing each other during the entire duration of the movie.
 
Thanks guys for all the responses so far.
Seems like most people have had absoletely aweful cinema watching experiences. I've never had an issue with noise or cell phones during a movie, nor have I ever sat in a dirty/sticky seat. I go to Greenstone, Sandton, Rosebank and Emporers, and haven't had a bad experience in any of them.

PS - I have a big door ;)
 
stevenv said:
- The concession stand is ridiculously over priced, I really want popcorn in a movie but why must it be R20 when it probably only cost R2 to make. And this even after paying a lot more for your ticket.
Click to expand...
I no longer buy popcorn or coke at the movies after finding out how it's 'made'. Let's just say that Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro are doing their part for the environment by recycling.
 
alkit said:
Thanks guys for all the responses so far.
Seems like most people have had absoletely aweful cinema watching experiences. I've never had an issue with noise or cell phones during a movie, nor have I ever sat in a dirty/sticky seat. I go to Greenstone, Sandton, Rosebank and Emporers, and haven't had a bad experience in any of them.

PS - I have a big door ;)
Click to expand...

I once went to the movies and the seat next to mine was full of salt (or salt and vinegar, couldn't tell). It was as if someone took the shaker and poured the stuff onto the seat. Wasn't cool.

It's good that you haven't had an unpleasant experience at the movies before :) especially with respect to people making a noise during the movie. It is so rude that they do that! Greenstone movies are nice, I've been a handful of times :) Sandton and Rosebank when I was younger.

I recently went to the Eastgate and Bedford Centre movies. Not too bad, except for the noise factor. Don't let your 14 year old go see an age restricted movie because I don't want to hear their sound effects of disgust, especially when there's a sex/nudity scene and what not... "Oh em gee that's soooo gross!" :erm:

LOL at the big door :D

Mike Hoxbig said:
I no longer buy popcorn or coke at the movies after finding out how it's 'made'. Let's just say that Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro are doing their part for the environment by recycling.
Click to expand...

:sick:

Now I don't want to get anything from there ever again.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
I no longer buy popcorn or coke at the movies after finding out how it's 'made'. Let's just say that Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro are doing their part for the environment by recycling.
Click to expand...

Might as well spill it.
 
I can't give full details as people I know can get into sh*t for telling me. But employees have been reprimanded for recycling the popcorn and cokes that people leave behind in the cinemas.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
I can't give full details as people I know can get into sh*t for telling me. But employees have been reprimanded for recycling the popcorn and cokes that people leave behind in the cinemas.
Click to expand...

It all makes sense now... Why sometimes my popcorn used to taste like... Well... Random flavours other than the salt I thought I had just put on it :/

Ugh. So disgusting :sick:

Thank goodness I am not allowed to drink carbonated drinks. Bottled water ftw! Though the water is probably not from the mountains of pureness... At least it is (hopefully) not a recycled product from a previous patron.
 
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PapercutPrincess said:
It all makes sense now... Why sometimes my popcorn used to taste like... Well... Random flavours other than the salt I thought I had just put on it :/

Ugh. So disgusting :sick:
Click to expand...

that must have been mine.I like putting random flavours in my popcorn,but can never finish it.
 
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