[corkoman]

Good points and I do recall those early projection wide screans. But one thing we are all going to miss is the experience of being in a movie theater reacting to the film. When something is very funny the collective laughter in the theater adds to the moment. Screams gasps and other shock noises from others also seems to add to the experience.

The Exorcist benefited from many people in the theater moaning or gasping in terror as bad stuff happened in the film. A complete stranger sitting next to me grabbed and held onto my arm for over 5 minutes - she apologized and then thanked me for not yanking it away.

Nowadays with kids glued to their glowing phones and talking during the movie that collective benefit is gone.

[cuban leaf]

You nailed the one part I miss. And that it isn’t there any more.

Once the theater lost the one advantage it still had, it became dead to me.

Do you remember “The Jerk”? The guys in the car suddenly realizing, “do you want to wait around for an oven mitt?” My wife and I notice a LOT of western culture is “waiting around for an oven mitt.” We choose to spend our time (and money) in other ways.