Debate: Movie Theaters Vs. DVD Rental

Personally, I think the experience of seeing movies in theaters is highly overrated. First of all, the expense of seeing one film is so far beyond outrageous that it's positively insulting. By the time that you figure in the cost of the gas used to get there, the cost of the tickets, and the cost of refreshments, your total for a single evening of entertainment suddenly seems to bear a striking resemblance to the national debt; not to mention the fact that you often have to deal with large crowds and congested parking lots that sometimes take forever to get out of afterward!

Also, there are just too many distracting things that go on in movie theaters. If you're like me, you wind up sitting right in front of some very inconsiderate pair who love to talk through the entire picture. Then there are the folks who are constantly getting up to go to the restroom or the concession stand every five minutes, blocking your view of the screen in the process. In addition, there is always at least one person in the room who forgets to turn off their cell phone or pager, despite being reminded repeatedly. And as if all that weren't enough to ruin your enjoyment of the movie, there are often young children to contend with...and we all know that for kids, the theatrical experience has very little to do with actually watching the film. I could write an entire book based on that complaint alone, but I digress!

Why put yourself through that when you can simply pop a disc into a machine, sit in your favorite comfy chair and watch without all the aggravation, while munching homemade fresh popcorn that tastes far better than the stale cardboard that you pay a fortune for? You can even watch in your pajamas, while you cuddle up with that special someone if you so desire.

As we all know, DVD rental is far easier on the wallet as well. You can watch several DVDs for the price of a single movie ticket. All you need is an inexpensive membership at your local video store, or on Netflix, and you're all set! Also, the DVD gives you the ability to pause the film. If nature calls, or the phone rings, or if you simply feel the urge to grab a snack, you don't have to miss out on anything. In my opinion, DVD offers far more interesting viewing anyway, considering all the special bonus features that they often contain. You get interesting commentary on the film from it's cast and crew, behind-the-scenes footage, and sometimes even an outtake reel, which are always a scream to watch.

So as far as I am concerned, the advantages of DVD are clear. When we have all the technology we need to have a theatrical experience right in our homes, I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to go through all the hassles that have to be endured in a movie theater; to me, it just isn't worth it anymore!