Does the Theater make the movie?

[Neon Noodle]

I just saw the Matrix Reloaded for the 2rd time (I know, overrated, but it's still cool) and I realized something: The first time I saw it, it was in a big theater with a sold out crowd and I really enjoyed the experience.
The second time I saw it, it was an 11:15p showing, and it was the smallest theater. There were about 25-40 people total, the stereo system wasn't as boomin' as the first theater, and one guy was falling asleep during the Zion sequence (but then again, that was a pretty boring part anyway).

I have seen the following movies in the dreaded "smallest space": Highlander 2, Virtuosity, Mortal Kombat 2, and Unbreakable. While I freely admit most of these movies weren't that great, having them in the small space seemed to make the experience less enjoyable, and it was easier to find things wrong with those movies.

Why is there even a smallest space? it doesn't seem fair for the average moviegoer to feel cramped while watching a movie....

[ErikJ]

My question is a little different than yours but maybe you've noticed this too. I saw Daredevil in the theater the second week it was out. Now I wouldn't say it was a great film but it wasn't bad. Now a few weeks later when X2 opened up we went to the local drive-in to see it along with Daredevil for the second time. What floored me was there were scenes that I never remembered seeing before. Stuff that made the movie flow better and made more sense of the ending. My question is do theaters cut stuff from film do to length of running time just to get in an extra showing? It would make sense but why destroy a film that many people may love and pay to see again?(I'm glad I saw it the second time. Again not a great movie but better than my first impression)

[Brother Ragnarok]

The 2nd and 3rd times I saw House of 1000 Corpses were in a place called the Crossroads 12 in Waterloo.  The theater had about 20 seats and felt like a New York porno theater.  Made the movie that much more greasy and despicable, which is to say, made it better.

Brother R

[The Burgomaster]

Actually, in the old days, drive-ins used to cut scenes to make movies shorter. I remember seeing a few triple features where the movies were cut. One was FRIDAY THE 13th, parts I, II and III. The drive-in cut about 15 minutes out of each movie. And they didn't do it in a "clever" way, either. They merely chopped an entire 15 minute segment out of the middle of each movie. The plot just jumped ahead 15 minutes, and it was VERY obvious!

[JohnL]

>Why is there even a smallest space? it doesn't seem fair for the average
>moviegoer to feel cramped while watching a movie....

I've noticed the same thing. When I went to see Jurassic Park II, I wanted to see the special effects on the big screen. The theater was playing it on two 'screens' and not knowing any better, I bought a ticket for the next showing. It turned out to be one of those small theaters. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two, which were both on BIG screens.

>I saw Daredevil in the theater the second week it was out. Now I wouldn't say it
>was a great film but it wasn't bad. Now a few weeks later when X2 opened up we
>went to the local drive-in to see it along with Daredevil for the second time. What
>floored me was there were scenes that I never remembered seeing before.

Studios have been known to tinker with films after they're been released, depending on the public's reaction.