Brittney's Basics of Moviegoing

I love going to the movie theatre. You get to gorge yourself on popcorn and skittles, gasp at every completely unfamiliar plot twist, and if you're lucky, see it in 3D. They're the perfect social activity: you get a half hour or so to chat beforehand, then the opportunity to whisper witty one liners during the event, without the pessure to maintain constant witty banter, and afterwards, you have a new and exciting conversation topic.  Afterwards, you get to spread the buzz about particularly awesome movies and feel "in the know" when people reference it in conversation and others can only give a puzzled stare.

There is a downside to my beloved passtime, however. It's a major cash suck. My home theatre loving counterparts can easily pull off for five dollars  a slightly less exciting version of what cost me twenty. To that end, may I present Brittney's Basics of Moviegoing so fellow theatre lovers can get the most out of their money.

1) Choose your movie wisely.
Part of what makes going to the movie in theatres worth the extra cash is the opportunity to watch it on a big huge screen, cranked up loud. To take full advantage of the situation, I prefer a movie with at least one of the following criteria:

• an awesome soundtrack
• academy award nominations
• an explosion, a swordfight, or a car chase
• witty, fast moving dialogue (at home, people would talk over it more, causing you to miss parts)

I would recommend superhero flicks and thrillers, because they generally exhibit at least two of these criteria. Avoid romantic comedies, because, let's face it, who wants to watch twelve foot high people making out, getting in arguments and holding hands for two hours?!? Unless it has a very witty script and good actors to pull it off, being in a movie theatre adds nothing to the experience, so they are usually best viewed at home (I would argue not to watch them at all, but that's just me).

2) Nobody follows the "No outside food" rule.
Even though outside food is technically not allowed, most theatre staff will simply turn a blind eye as long as you're somewhat discreet about it. And it saves money. Bag of candy at a convienience store? $1.50. At the theatre's concession stand? $5.00. Of course, unless you're a pro, there are some things that should never be attempted for safety reasons. Like hot chocolate. Best to buy that when you get there. Popcorn is not easy to go all food ninja on and sneak in, so if you don't, make sure to buy some, because no movie is complete without it!

3) Find your "Movie Buddy"
Whether it's a spouse, significant other, or a good friend, everyone has at least one. You know, that person who has the same or similar taste in movies as you do, doesn't talk your ear off, but doesn't miss opportunities to whisper their best movie-related jokes in your ear, and likes to sit in the same section as you do. Ideally, you feel comfortable laughing, gasping, crying, and screaming and making your own witty remarks in front of this person, and can rely on them to give you a brief but concise synopsis of what you missed, should you require a bathroom break.

Having similar theatrical tastes as your Movie Buddy is the most essential of these traits, because the only thing worse than having to pay twenty bucks for a movie you didn't want to see in the first place is having to pay your friend's way because he or she didn't want to see your movie selection. This type of movie relationship only causes mutual pain.

So yeah. Those are the general rules I follow to get the most out of my moviegoing experience. Did I miss anything? If so, feel free to let me know! :)