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3) No blurry screens 4) No crappy audio These are the most important and frustrating points for me. What's the point of paying to use a professional set-up if

3) No blurry screens 4) No crappy audio These are the most important and frustrating points for me. What's the point of paying to use a professional set-up if it all goes to hell in a handbasket the minute the switch is flipped? I've sat in a cinema where the volume was so low, the audience could hardly hear a thing. A few shouts of "Turn it up!" went unanswered, and there wasn't an usher anywhere in sight. At the end, no-one went and complained. I'm just as guilty (my excuse: crushing social anxiety when it comes to complaining in a foreign language) for not doing so, but maybe this is why: not enough people complain/stop going/ask for refunds, and so the circus continues.

astrodust 14y ago
Ask for a refund. I've bailed on films where half the screen was out of focus or, inexplicably, they were using the wrong lens and everything was crunched. Sometimes all you have to do is point it out and they'll fix it, other times they'll refund it no questions asked. If they don't feel it financially, they won't care to fix it.
- mootothemax 14y ago
  Ask for a refund. Sometimes all you have to do is point it out and they'll fix it As I hinted, I would have done so at the time if I'd had the language skills to confidently say what was wrong (and understand their suggested resollution). (and if I'd been able to find an usher as well, for that matter).
  - paulhauggis 14y ago
    so...you went to one theater in a foreign country and couldn't complain about it and now all movies in all theaters have terrible quality? I see a new movie at least once/month and have had little issues with the audio or the screen.
    - mootothemax 14y ago
      so...you went to one theater in a foreign country and couldn't complain about it and now all movies in all theaters have terrible quality Nope - I go to many theatres here in Poland. Now I'm fine with complaining where necessary, but at the time my Polish wasn't up to it. The point I wanted - and failed - to illustrate was more that no-one complains, and so the cinemas get away with it far more often than they should.
ricardobeat 14y ago
Movie theaters are extremely expensive setups (proprietary digital projectors, playback/DRM systems, licensing) usually operating at cost - profit comes from those $10 popcorn bags. Along with digital projection (not much work to do), that means there might be one or two operators for a dozen screens. The projection room also has noise blocking, so no one is listening or looking when you shout. It's more likely that the ticket/security crew outside the door listens and calls the operators, but you have to shout really loud :)
lloeki 14y ago
> I've sat in a cinema where the volume was so low I've sat in a cinema where the volume was so high the audio setup was saturating unless that was a quiet, whispery scene. The film was really good, so we stayed. Although silent, I took action: it was the last time I went to a theatre since three years.

astrodust 14y ago

Ask for a refund. I've bailed on films where half the screen was out of focus or, inexplicably, they were using the wrong lens and everything was crunched. Sometimes all you have to do is point it out and they'll fix it, other times they'll refund it no questions asked. If they don't feel it financially, they won't care to fix it.

mootothemax 14y ago
Ask for a refund. Sometimes all you have to do is point it out and they'll fix it As I hinted, I would have done so at the time if I'd had the language skills to confidently say what was wrong (and understand their suggested resollution). (and if I'd been able to find an usher as well, for that matter).
- paulhauggis 14y ago
  so...you went to one theater in a foreign country and couldn't complain about it and now all movies in all theaters have terrible quality? I see a new movie at least once/month and have had little issues with the audio or the screen.
  - mootothemax 14y ago
    so...you went to one theater in a foreign country and couldn't complain about it and now all movies in all theaters have terrible quality Nope - I go to many theatres here in Poland. Now I'm fine with complaining where necessary, but at the time my Polish wasn't up to it. The point I wanted - and failed - to illustrate was more that no-one complains, and so the cinemas get away with it far more often than they should.

ricardobeat 14y ago

Movie theaters are extremely expensive setups (proprietary digital projectors, playback/DRM systems, licensing) usually operating at cost - profit comes from those $10 popcorn bags. Along with digital projection (not much work to do), that means there might be one or two operators for a dozen screens. The projection room also has noise blocking, so no one is listening or looking when you shout. It's more likely that the ticket/security crew outside the door listens and calls the operators, but you have to shout really loud :)

lloeki 14y ago

> I've sat in a cinema where the volume was so low I've sat in a cinema where the volume was so high the audio setup was saturating unless that was a quiet, whispery scene. The film was really good, so we stayed. Although silent, I took action: it was the last time I went to a theatre since three years.