The last movie I saw in a theater

Friday, May 11, 2007 by Dave Winer.

A few weeks ago I got a new sound system for my home theater. It makes a huge difference in the experience. I've been going back and watching old favorites to see what they're like now that the sound is better than the picture. I haven't found a way to describe in words how much richer it is.  

My screen isn't as big as the screens in theaters, but the quality is much higher, and I sit 8 feet from the screen so in effect my screen is bigger. 

Then early this week, went to see SpiderMan 3 at the AMC Bay Street, a relatively new theater, which should have the latest screening equipment. The movie had just come out, so it seems the print should be in good shape. This is the first time I've been to a theater seen since upgrading my sound system, and while I had always been impressed with the sound at theaters in the past, this time I was surprised to hear how bad their system is. The one I have at home is thrilling, theirs is mushy. And the film had all kinds of defects that I never would have noticed before, but now I'm spoiled by HD. However, even normal movies that I screen at home from an ordinary DVD are better quality than what they show at a theater. I wonder why? 

One reason I mention this is to point out, in my own humble way, an opportunity for the movie industry, to turn theaters into fantastic movie-viewing venues, with the best equipment, cranked up for maximum effect. Honestly, I think they're going to have to do that to compete with the equipment that's making its way into the home these days. Sure I spent a fair amount of money on my setup, but if there's one thing we know for sure, the prices in home electronics go down very quickly these days.