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I would be interested to hear how you think going to a movie theatre (a totally voluntary act)is ripping you off and particularly your thoughts on how it might enslave you.

I dislike the movies of today. But, my babe loves them.

sigh.........

I am enslaved! Prisoner to the movies, I tell ya! Movies are more enjoyable when being restrained anyway. [\sarcasm]

I do not go to the movies unless I get a large buttered (that fake stuff) popcorn and a large drink. It's just not going to the movies without them.

What gets me are the pre-show adds. I like the previews but the adds just chap my butt.

I've now become very selective on what I go see at the theater. 4-5 years ago I'd take the kids and we'd kill an afternoon at the theater.

Now we're much more likely to wait until it comes out on DVD. And on that subject, now we pass on the first addition and just wait 2 months until the directors cut/extended version comes out.

The theaters could add yet another revenue stream if there were a gift shop/kiosk in the multi-plex selling merchandise for current and past movies. The licensing agreements could be built into the contracts to show the movies. Is this a no brainer, or I'm I way off base here?

I believe that is the ultimate goal, they want to take as big a chunk of the prosperity of the masses. I agree "enslavement" is too strong of a word except maybe in the cases of banks, insurance, and credit card companies. So many industries don't have any "real alternatives" because the industry members tend to operate in collusion with one another in an attempt to fleece customers. Independent theaters are far and in-between which gives you no choice but the same ticket prices and the same concession prices throughout. Now this isn't slavery but is a Hobson’s choice for consumers. A good example is the rises cost of health care. I get notified every year that due to the rising cost of Health care my premiums are going up, my co-payments are going up yet it seems that I get less and less benefit overall. The company justifies this by saying that this is what all companies are doing and it is in line with national trends. Where is the capitalism and push back telling insurance companies that the prices are unreasonable? There is none only useless Democrats talking about getting rid of what little choice there is for consumers by Nationalizing Health care. Now Healthcare is by far more serious than watching a movie because not watching movies does not affect one's personal wellbeing.
I think what irks me is that I see this trend being pushed in every industry except retail shopping (Wal-Mart) where companies, especially service oriented ones, whine and cry and remain unresponsive to consumers and take huge, dare I say "shameful", profits. I'm not even talking Oil which we pay a pittance for. I just think there is something wrong with a system where all the players collude against the consumer with acts like the DMCA and local monopolies. I think it is time for more consumer activism to force more responsiveness.

Some things I'd like to see:

1. I'd like to see all business entities exempted from taxes.

2. I'd like to see all laws providing special subsidies for businesses repealed.

3. I'd like a Consumer Rights Act ammended to the Constitution guaranteeing the rights of the consumer not to be deceived when purchasing goods and services and making illegal for any entity to ask a citizen to sign exclusive contracts restricting the rights of a citizen's freedom of speech, freedom of volition (to live and travel at will), and ability to work where they wish. All non competition contracts would become unconstitutional and all contracts would become at will.

4. I want to see the FTC empowered to take on the increasingly deceptive marketing practices.

5. Also consumers should be given a guarantee that before anything can be added to their credit reports that they have a right to be notified and have the option to ask for an independent government entity to review each individual case before information can be added. Today the system is guilty until proven innocent and that is the reverse of how a system that plays such a huge role in ones ability to live life and make purchases.

These are but a few of the things that would improve the balance between consumers and businesses. Changing it to more of a partnership than the often oneside situation most are left with today.

And lying about the start time, just to get a captive audience for ads?

That's not "voluntary". That's fraud and deceit.