Premovie Ads Frustrate Viewers

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interesting..

Alan of LA 2:24PM July 26, 2008

I just found your blog by a random search for movies to download and came across it. I'm glad I did! Great site and love the nice clean design. Nice reading too.

I'll be a regular for sure :-)

DownloadWallE of AL 4:28AM July 12, 2008

stop going to theaters and supporting them - that is one of the prime reasons i stopped going to the movies, i pay enough to see crappy commercials on tv, i don't plan on doing it twice

wil of IN 12:19PM January 09, 2008

Although I don't go to the movies often,I haven't yet stopped going altogether. Yes, the people are horrid...cell phones, constant yakking during the movie, overpriced everything, uncomfortable seating, and always too cold, and that 30 minutes of adverts. My solution to that is to arrive 10 minutes after the start time. By the time I've gotten my tickets, and a drink, I'm left with about 5 minutes of pre-film crap.

Also...I go to weekend matinees for the most part. Cheaper, and normally

much less crowded.

Rob of PA 7:48AM January 05, 2008

I saw National Treasure: Book of Secrets this evening (my first theater visit in about a year) and I was reminded why I do not frequent the movie theater as I once did. First of all, I was floored when the box office kiddo said that my total was $19.00 for me and my wife. 19 bucks? What a ripoff. Then as I stood in the "goodies" line and complained to my wife about the prices, I was again gouged for $14 for a bag of popcorn and a coke. "Good Lord," I thought as we sat in our seat ready for the feature to begin. As the lights lowered and I anticipated my film, expecting a few previews, I was inundated with 15 minutes of local advertisements which I normally see on Television, THEN my two previews, only to be followed up with a short Disney Goofy flick about hooking up a home theater. I think cinemas are trying to subliminally tell us that it's impossible to set one up and they should continue to throw our wallets their way.

I will not subject myself to this anymore and will continue to wait until the DVD comes out and I can get it on Netflix. Movies come out faster nowadays on DVD than they used to anyway.

J Magee of OK 1:19AM January 05, 2008

I agree with the people who don't like the advertisements. If you pay to see a movie you shouldn't have to endure them. And trailers should be limited to 2 or 3 (10 minutes tops).

I grew up with double features and cartoons, so I really loved the "Goofy" cartoon they played before National Treasure. LMAO, actually.

I suppose it's all relative as my family recently moved fro Los Angeles to a small town in rural Colorado. But you could go to a matinée in LA and avoid some of the crowding and other related problems.

My biggest gripe is paying for a movie, only to find out that the preview scenes were the only ones worth watching (not the case for National Treasure) Paying 10 bucks for a wonderful performance, story line and plot is tolerable. Paying for some of the P.O.S. that Hollywood attempts to pass off as movies is not!

Cliffystones of CO 11:58PM January 04, 2008

I also gave up on movie theaters several years ago when full, odorific meals, loud cell phone calls, filth and violence became common place. The prevailing attiitude of entiltlement that allows these behaviours is as reprehensible as it is well known. I will concede that perhaps I am just in the age group that remembers movie going as a very different (and enjoyable) experience.

Yes the ads were sometimes a mild annoyance - but they had not de-evolved to the degree that you have described. Paying to see prolonged advertising that is supposed to inspire you to then pay for the product is not acceptable and akin to spam.

At least with a DVD you can just skip over them.

Cranky_Old_Batt of CA 4:46PM January 04, 2008

I'll go you one better: if you pay a hefty monthly fee for cable, why should you be subjected to commercials on television? If you pay for Sirius, as opposed to conventional radio, you aren't subjected to ads. Why is the cable company being paid twice--once by the advertisers and once by the beleagured public? Personally, this is why I don't have television; I'm innundated with enough advertising outside my home. I do my best to stop it at the door.

Stephanie of FL 11:27AM January 04, 2008

I gave up on movies years ago and this current problem just ensures that I will remain absent from theaters till the day they plant me in the grave! I'm not about to pay my hard-earned money and have some advertisement begin playing! I'm supposed to support advertisers by PAYING for the pleasure of seeing their ads? Yeah, right. Leave this madness up to the current generation that perhaps doesn't know any better.

Jason Carbolier of GA 11:23AM January 04, 2008

I share your frustration on the stated start times, but honestly, advertising is simply a fact of life. People who readily complain about pre-show ads are more than happy to shell out $50+ per month for cable or satellite television that subjects you to more advertising than do movie theatres.

$10 is cheap entertainment for 2 hours. Get over it.

Keith 3:56PM January 03, 2008

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Alpha Consumer

Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, is the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back. Send her your personal finance questions.


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