Comment by TheOtherHobbes
4 hours ago
My ideal movie experience is to go during the day towards the end of a run when there's a fair chance the theatre will either be empty or almost empty.
But I haven't even done that for a while.
If it's going to be crowded - no thanks.
Tangentially, because my gf works in opera I've been to some productions, and real theatre - a real stage, with real people, and real stage effects - can have a presence and magic that cinema can't touch.
So I'd much rather spend money on that now. It's physically less comfortable because of the seats, but as an experience it's so much more hands-on, hand-made, and satisfying, and creatively it leaves so much more space for atmosphere and implication.
I live in NYC and go to some form of Broadway production about once a year, primarily because my mom really likes it and so it's something to do when she comes to visit
I don't dislike it, but it's also pretty expensive and it's not something I'm terribly passionate about. I agree that it's a little different though; each production is a little unique, and seeing it in person is a bit more of a visceral experience.