Movie theaters around the world

[The Burgomaster]

I have been to a few movie theaters outside of the United States. Here are some interesting things that I have noticed:

* PORTUGAL

1. I went to a theater that had assigned seating - my seat number was printed on my ticket, and the usher directed me to my seat

2. They didn't have a big MEGA SIZED popcorn for over-indulgent Americans. The largest size they had was smaller than a medium in the U.S.

3. You could order your popcorn two ways "doce" (sweet - with sugar on it) or "salgado" (salted). NO BUTTER OR CANOLA OIL.

* BRAZIL

1. As in Portugal, there was no MEGA SIZED popcorn.

2. You could get popcorn with REAL melted butter on it (but they only put a small amount)

3. The movies were in English, with Portuguese subtitles. They kept the volume fairly low, so I had to strain my ears to hear the dialogue.

What are your international movie-going experiences? Or even unusual experiences you have had in U.S. theaters?



Post Edited (08-07-03 10:01)

[dean]

over here in australia, i'm guessing its pretty much the same as in the US, except we pretty much have just one style popcorn, and probably alot less variety at the snack bar! :P

some places are allocated seating, some aint, depends on where you go, and some even have special seating for people who pay more: better seats and food and stuff. i don't know whether you have anything similar but im sure you would.

and when i was in indonesia once, i could have sworn i saw a guy in the cinema with his video camera....

[The Burgomaster]

dean wrote:

"some even have special seating for people who pay
more: better seats and food and stuff. i don't know whether you
have anything similar but im sure you would."

I don't know of any theaters in my area (Boston, Massachusetts) that have better seating and food for people who pay more. All of the theaters that I go to have the same seating and the same snack bar for everyone. You can get a pretty good variety of food though: nachos & cheese sauce; hot dogs; chicken wings; pizza; etc.

My wife & I usually just get a huge popcorn & a couple of drinks.

There are also a couple of nearby theaters that are set up like restaurants: you sit at a table and can eat a full meal. I haven't been there yet, but I hope to go soon.

[Neville]

The burgomaster wrote:

"1. I went to a theater that had assigned seating - my seat number was printed on my ticket, and the usher directed me to my seat"

Yep, that's also common in some Spanish theatres. They call it "numbered sessions", and why the heck they do it is something beyond me. I've even been to sessions where there was only like a dozen people and yet they kept it "numbered". Personally, I like to arrive early and seat wherever I feel like, and to have to abandon my seat in favour of people who arrive late makes me feel really angry sometimes.

"2. They didn't have a big MEGA SIZED popcorn for over-indulgent Americans. The largest size they had was smaller than a medium in the U.S."

I was quite surprised when I visited Ireland of how much food and drink people took with themselves. Here older places don't offer neither drinks or snacks, and others simply don't allow you to eat / drink in your seats. Newer places offer both, but there is not much variety compared with what I saw in Dublin.

[Ash]

Assigned seating...No thanks!

I would refuse to go to a movie that had assigned seating.

There's nothing worse than having to sit next to a complete stranger at a movie theater.
 It's very uncomfortable....unless it's a hot chick!



Post Edited (08-07-03 15:28)

[Gerry]

Here in Salt Lake City, we have Brewvies, which is a combination brew pub and movie theater.  You can buy any drinks and/or food you like.  Each seat in the theater has a narrow table/counter at about knee level where you can sit your food and drinks.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Only been once to a movie theater outside the U.S., and that was over 30 years ago, but, I still remember it.

Was stuck in a small village in England for two nights. Had my choice of "Chato's Land" or "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Saw "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" again.

Two ticket prices. Buy the cheaper ticket and sit downstairs with the unwashed masses, or buy a more expensive ticket and sit in the balcony with the upper crust. I bought the cheaper ticket.

The popcorn came already boxed, and one bought it at the ticket counter. I didn't buy any, but, I do believe the English sometimes also take it with sugar, instead of  salt.

If one wants to see what an English movie theatre looked like, or a "flea pit," as they called it, from almost 50 years ago, then check out "The Smallest Show on Earth" w/ Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Peter Sellers, and Margaret Rutherford.
It rates, as one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

[Fearless Freep]

There's nothing worse than having to sit next to a complete stranger at a movie theater.It's very uncomfortable....unless it's a hot chick!

But then, she's thinking that about having to sit next to you :)

Actually, most forms of pubilc entertainment have some sort of assigned seating (sports games, music concerts, etc..)

[NightFlight]

Liquor in a movie theatre.  That's cool.  I like the idea of those brewvies.    But I bet they jack the prices up big time.