Mid-summer has arrived and perhaps the initial excitement of the seasons is wearing a bit thin. Maybe the kids are starting to get antsy or perhaps your planned family vacation isn’t soon enough– or even worse it’s already over. A great escape for the entire family that takes little effort and planning is an outing to your local movie theatre to see a really great summer blockbuster.
The latest edition of Transformers was released this past week and soon the film Zookeeper as well as the latest (and last) of the Harry Potter films will be coming to a theatre near you. These are all movies you are going to want to see come alive on the big screen. If you still aren’t convinced that going out to the movies should be on your summertime agenda, here is our list of 10 reasons why it should be!
Unparalleled picture size and Surround Sound: The most obvious reason to see a movie in the theatre is to see the film up on the big screen. There really is no other way to feel as wrapped up in the film as you will by seeing the movie up on the largest screen available. The sound system is always going to be incredible and will enhance the movie to perfection. All films are most enjoyably seen in the theatre but in particular, some films are almost considered “must sees” in this fashion. Your favorite action films that are filled with mesmerizing special effects would be the obvious front-runners for large screen theatre viewing.
Audience reactions: Although there is always the risk that you will have someone kicking your seat or talking loudly at inappropriate times, generally speaking, having a large audience makes movie –watching much more exciting. The laughs are more raucous, the sighs become quite audible and the screams are louder than ever–making your whole movie experience much more thrilling. Having a packed movie theatre to share in your movie viewing experience is bound to create a contagious excitement and will add to the fun.
Snacks: As soon as you walk into a movie theatre you can smell the buttered popcorn. There is something about movie popcorn that is unlike popcorn made anywhere else. Movie theatres have a full staff at your disposal to prepare and serve you not only crunchy popcorn, but gooey, cheesy nachos as well as hot dogs with all trimmings. Don’t forget a really big drink to wash it all down and of course, something chocolate.
Getting out of the house: There is something about getting out of the house that can give you a nice psychological boost. Watching a movie in a theatre feels more like an event than watching one at home while plopped on the couch. Taking some time away from your phone, computer, work and front doorbell is a good mental break. Of course once you walk into the movie theatre don’t forget to turn your cell phone off to complete your communication silence!
Still a bargain: Even though the cost of going to the movies has continued to rise, it is still a bargain compared to other social outings. Live theatre tickets, concerts, etc. are still much more expensive than attending a movie which still is considered by most to be affordable. Matinee show times are often discounted, so if your budget is restricted, attend your favorite movie during the daytime.
Previews: Most people forget about these until they are sitting in the theatre waiting for the show to begin. Watching clips of upcoming films is an unexpected treat that can get you really excited about what is new and exciting in the world of film. Previews can also give you some ideas about what movies you’d like to see on your next outing. Obviously previews are designed to get movie-goer’s intrigued and enthused about what’s going to be coming out in the near future so you definitely won’t want to miss out on these if you are a real movie buff. On the flip side, sometimes a preview will give you enough information about a movie so that you can actually decide to pass if a particular show isn’t for you.
Easing first date jitters: Although we are generally not an advocates of going to the movies on a first date, sometimes if you are very young or extremely nervous, going to a movie for a date is the perfect solution to getting through the experience in one piece. Sitting in silence in a movie theatre isn’t awkward like it may be in other circumstances and you won’t have to force any small talk. Watching a film with a date (whether it’s good or bad) will give you something to talk about afterward and hopefully by that point you will be more relaxed and into a date night groove.
Selection: All you have to do is look at the marquis at your local cinema to see that there are many choices and types of movies to go and see. If your family is not necessarily in total agreement you may even be able to coordinate your viewing so that you can split up and see different movies at the same time. At your local theatre right now there is something for everyone as well as many choices that the entire family will enjoy together.
Water cooler conversation: If you want to see the latest and the greatest movies out there, you are going to have to see them in the theatre. By the time most films come out on DVD they are fairly old and nearly considered yesterday’s news. People are always going to be super excited and will clamor to see the big movie blockbusters every season. Going to the theatre to see the latest films ensures that you are going to know what all the fuss is about in the media as well as having something fun to discuss at the water cooler. Hitting the theatre ensures that you will be one of the first to see what everyone is talking about when it comes to a new movie.
Cure for the summertime blues: Hopefully by now you are convinced that going out to the movies is a great idea and could be the perfect break up of any summertime monotony you are experiencing. If your kids are hot, tired, bored and restless a movie break might be just the perfect thing to improve everyone’s mood as well as their frame of mind.
With so many exciting summer movies in the theatres, now’s the time to get out of the heat and head to the nearest air-conditioned theatre for a few hours of really great entertainment. See you at the movies!
PS: Be sure to cast your vote in our Summer Movie Blockbuster contest! You could win a $250 online shopping spree just in time for Halloween.
The Fourth of July can sneak up on us without much warning. Just as all the school graduation ceremonies and Father’s day activities are winding down, another holiday weekend is here. Because the 4th is at the beginning of the month, sometimes it’s easy to forget to make your plans ahead of time. If you start now you can make your plans for a weekend that has great holiday potential. The Fourth of July occurs on a Monday this year, which also means a 3-day weekend for most people. Make sure your Fourth of July is filled with all sorts of good patriotic summer fun. Here’s 6 great ideas to get your Fourth of July holiday started. 
Wiener or Weiner? Regardless of how you spell it, there’s no escaping it. It certainly seems that you can’t go online, open a newspaper or watch TV without hearing about wieners. Suddenly hot dogs, sausages, Bratwursts and yes, wieners— are virtually everywhere—and some of them are apparently behaving rather badly. Quite a bit has been said in the media in regards to the posting of “wiener” pictures and other “wiener-related” adventures online. We have a few thoughts of our own on this slightly doggy topic.