About three years ago, several members in our family gave us very generous gift certificates to Regal and Consolidated Theaters. We were looking forward to seeing some movies but then COVID hit and we were MUCH too nervous to go anywhere a lot of people might congregate. Besides, you'd have to take off your mask to eat the popcorn which is half the reason for going to the theater to see a movie.
However, then my brother and sister-in-law went to see a movie a while ago. Then our friends went. And then we heard that several Regal Theaters had closed. Uh oh... We needed to use our gift certificates! 😲
They'd all gone to see Avatar. My brother and sister-in-law weren’t impressed with Avatar. They felt it was more of the same sort of plot as the first one (which I can hardly remember anyway). But then our good friend said he loved it.
Art loves science fiction so we decided to risk it.
We chose a Tuesday when kids would be in school. There's a whole routine to our going to a movie. We brought our extra shirts in case the theater was too cold. We planned to get the largest popcorn size that would allow us to get a refill to take home.
Although there were a number of people there, it wasn't crowded. We wore our masks although we saw that most people don't wear them anymore.
The friendly girl at the refreshment counter even gave us a box to put the overflow of popcorn into it, making it easier for us to share during the movie. We also got one drink and one hot dog to share. This would be our lunch.
When we entered the theater where Avatar was playing we saw only two people there. Another couple came in later, but that was it. Just 6 people in the entire place. And then the two ladies behind us called out and asked if we go to tai chi. Good grief! They were from our tai chi class!!! What are the chances of that coincidence happening? They reminded us that we needed to go and get the 3D 😎 glasses to see the movie. We'd TOTALLY forgotten that you need the glasses! Sheesh!
Before leaving the theater we remembered to get our refill of popcorn. Perhaps it was because there weren't very many people at the theater, the friendly fellow at the refreshment counter REALLY overflowed our popcorn. When we got home, we had it with our dinner and then had left over popcorn for two more lunches. I'd stored the popcorn in an airtight jar and it was perfect.
Did I forget anything?
Oh... the movie?
Art loved it! He really loved it!
I was OK with it. I thought the 3D was really a lot of fun. The underwater scenes were awesome.
I'm all for going to see another movie. I want to get more popcorn. 😁
Popcorn is a must at the cinema. We certainly don't get refills and all the refreshments are very expensive and not very good - typical British rip-off! The last film I saw was Mary Poppins Returns - or whatever it was called. I went with my daughter and her son and that was a few years ago now. Most of my cinema-going has revolved around children.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a fan of popcorn at the cinema- we’re a bit tight and take snacks and water from home. We’re planning to see ‘What’s love got to do with it’ - British rom/com about modern day arranged marriages. Possibly next week sometime…..like many of us it’ll be a first for a few years.
ReplyDeleteI asked my Larry what was the last movie we saw at a theater...Lolol...maybe 20 years ago??? Star Trek...
ReplyDeleteLove the popcorn though!
hugs
Donna
I've never been one for popcorn.
ReplyDeleteGood for you & Art for going, glad he loved it! I miss going to the movies (I think); my local theater closed 10 years ago and was replaced with a darn dollar store. And one of those 'chain theatres' are 15-20 driving minutes away and when you don't have a car and live alone...growing up, some of my happiest memories were going to the movies. At least we have tvs that more resemble movie screens now. :^)
ReplyDeleteIt has been years since I have been to a movie...before the pandemic for sure. And I am not Anonymous..I am Margie from Margie's Musings
ReplyDeleteI don’t think we would do that, but good for you, and that showing seemed about as safe as could be.
ReplyDeleteMovie popcorn is the best! I read somewhere that theaters make no money on tickets and count on concession purchases to make a profit.
ReplyDeleteI have pretty much stopped going to movie theaters well before Covid. They were crowded, noisy, and perhaps worse in my eyes, all the phones shining backwards all the time as people texted and surfed the internet during the movie. I decided I could save a lot a money by just getting the DVD mailed to my home and watch it at my leisure with non of those other things. I did get roped into one movie at a theater post covid and saw that they had replaced all the seats with large individual recliners so it felt much less crowded, because about a third of the previous number could have a place to sit and only if they reserved it ahead of time, but the phone backlights, crinkling of candy wrappers, coughing, etc. were still too distracting for my taste.
ReplyDeleteI did not care for the first Avatar movie but you made this sound wonderful. The 3D had to make it great and that popcorn deal was one I have never heard of but will go for it completely.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't crazy about Avatar 1 but would love to go back to the movies as it is a overall experience--just to get out and have a "date."
ReplyDeleteYep, I've gone to movies just because of the popcorn. By choosing mid-day and mid-week, there aren't many folks in the theatres, so it's less risky. I still wear a mask except when eating or drinking. The AMC around here has cheaper tickets for seniors, but they just raised their prices. I think Elvis was the most recent one I saw. The weirdest part-time job my husband and I had in the '70s was cleaning theatres at night after the last movie. Mopping the floors around all of the seats was not fun. I don't think people are as messy at theatres anymore because I've seen most put their trash in the bins when exiting. Maybe concessions now cost so much, that folks don't drop them in the floor. I like how I can look and pretend to choose seats online. Then I go to the theatre and buy my ticket there to avoid the stupid online fees. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice having those recliner seats and a place to put your drinks. I'm still amazed there were only 6 people for the Avatar showing.
DeleteWe also saw Avatar and loved it! And like you, it is not really my thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing! You and your popcorn. We haven't been to a movie theater yet either and now I'll wait for sure until after my surgery and recovery.
ReplyDeleteWe never buy snacks at the movies. I guess we're odd that way, and probably in many other ways too.
That sounds like a fun experience. I saw the first one but not this one yet. Like Art, I enjoy science fiction and have done since I was young watching shows like Dr. Who :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun! So do you put the extra (fake) butter on your popcorn? Good to know that popcorn will last in an air tight container. I love popcorn.
ReplyDeleteWe asked them not to put butter on the popcorn because then our fingers would be sticky. That hotdog we shared was half the size of Costco and cost $2.20. The 20 oz. soda was $6.29. Sheesh! The popcorn was $5 for the large (it must have been a sale or something) size.
DeleteI last went to the movies two or three years ago. before Covid. I can't remember what we saw.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been to theater since MCO..but we are going this weekend to watch "KITA" a documentary produced by the locals.
ReplyDeleteI saw "Everything Everywhere" at the movie theater last year, but I didn't feel comfortable at all and have not returned. I loved the first Avatar and suspect I'll love this one,too.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't ones for buying food at the movies but then we haven't gone for ages for the very reasons above. But I always make popcorn when we watch the Academy Awards at home!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to remember the last time I went to the theater. I am pretty sure that it was to see And They Shall Not Grow Old. It was a 3D movie too. It was also about 4 years ago, at Christmas time. Not a Christmas movie, but so very, very powerful.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been to a movie since we were married. 20 years. We both cannot stand crowds. I am happy you had fun!
ReplyDeleteOur first back was the Honest Thief in 2020
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