There is a big debate going on among film fans: Ones say that it is better to watch movies in a movie theater, while others insist that movies are more suitable for a cozy atmosphere of your living room. To define my preferences, I have conducted an experiment and watched the same movie twice, both in a movie theater and on a television set.
This was a 2006 Zack Snyder movie 300, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same title. Although I enjoyed both experiences, watching the movie in a movie theater appeared to have a greater impact on me as compared to watching the movie on a television set.
When you consider going to a movie theater, the thing that sometimes stops you from doing so is the necessity to pay the entrance fee. When I went to see 300, I was ready to pay for the experience since I really wanted to see this production on the silver screen. The price of the tickets being moderate, I still consider seeing a movie on a television set a much more attractive deal.
Even though you burn some electricity and probably pick some snacks while you are watching a movie on a television set, a movie ticket and a bucket of popcorn would cost you much more. Watching a movie on a television screen is more advantageous in terms of cost.
As for convenience, the coziness of your living room cannot be beaten. All you have to do in order to watch a movie on a television set is switch your TV on at the right time and curl up in your favorite armchair.
There is no need to go out in unpredictable weather or to sit two hours on end, as you would normally do to watch a movie in a movie theater. Simply stay in and enjoy the movie in a relaxed manner, wrapped up in your favorite plaid with a cup of hot chocolate in your hands. Additionally, you do not need to queue for tickets when you choose to watch a movie on a television screen.
The environment you opt for plays an enormous role in your perception of the movie as well. For those who do not like big companies, watching a movie in a movie theater is no recommendation. On the one hand, you cannot express your emotional reactions to the fullest, since you need to respect the others.
Whether you want to shout out an unflattering word concerning one of the ‘bad’ movie characters, or to burst in tears at the sad end of the movie, you are prevented from doing so by rules of social conduct. On the other hand, some of the audience are not as tactful as you, and thus you have to put up with occasional outbursts of emotions from other viewers. This definitely distracts from watching the movie itself. At home you can do whatever you want and you are not distracted by anyone.
The general sensory experience in the movie theater was much more impactful as compared to viewing the movie on a television set. First, the massive battle scenes of the movie are especially spectacular on the enormous movie screen. The intimidating monsters and Xerxes’ enormous chariot appear at their best then. Second, the close-ups of the characters’ faces appear much more sculptured and expressive on a wide screen.
You can easily examine the scars on Leonidas’ face and spot the sparkle of desperate courage in his eyes as he faces the last battle. Third, the Dolby surround system of the movie theater secures an outstanding quality of sound that reverberates in your whole body. A presence effect is created, and you feel engulfed in the uproar of the battle. Naturally, all those wonderful effects are lost in the humble parameters of any television set.
Television is good for watching romantic comedies, since no large-scale events are depicted there. For heroic sagas, a movie screen is the perfect place. It allows the audience to perceive all the greatness of historical events and to access the physical and spiritual power of the heroes to the fullest.
Works Cited
Miller, Frank. 300 [Graphic novel]. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics, 1999. Print.
Snyder, Zack, dir. 300. Warner Bros, 2006. Film.