I love watching movies. I make an effort to watch at least one movie a week. There is something just so incredibly special about so many different types of art being combined into one single medium. In the past, the easiest option has been a streaming service. Just to watch anything I can find in the comfort of my own home is a miracle in itself. However, there is no substitute on Earth that can replicate a movie theater. No level of surrounding sound or OLED TV could ever replace the experience of going to a theater and experiencing a movie as the creators intended.
Unfortunately, seeing movies has become a little annoying. The big shift for me, at least, was the cost of the ticket. Back at home, the average cost per movie was around $8. Granted, I didn’t have access to any special formats (IMAX, VistaVision, Dolby, etc.) but for less than $10 a movie, I’ll take that deal. Now that I am in Hoboken, the average price now sits at a calm $20. For someone who tries to make an effort to go at least twice a month, that’s an issue.
Enter AMC A-List. Subscription services suck but for only $15, I can see around 16 movies a month without paying a single cent more. Equipped with this, my dilemma was solved. Now I can either walk to Newport or tank the cost of the PATH and MTA and see a movie virtually at any time. Moral of the story: get A-List, the end.
Except, there’s a new problem. As far as I know, none of my other friends have A-List. Thus, it is much easier for me to say, “Hey, let’s go see a movie!” when the financial burden for me is $0 and $20 for my friends.
Now, I have no issue seeing movies alone. Some may consider it depressing or lonely, but there is a vast difference between being alone and being lonely. Every so often, seeing a movie alone is almost therapeutic. Even more so if you are the only one in the theater. It is just you and the movie. You can get completely immersed in the picture and hypnotized by the sound. Some people take walks to cool down; others run or swim. If I had a crappy day or experienced something I would be happier forgetting, I go to the movies.
But what if I don’t want to be alone? There is something to be said about getting out of the theater, grabbing a slice and talking to a friend about what you just experienced together. Similarly to how going to a movie alone is therapeutic I also consider going with a friend its own kind of therapy. Shared experiences are what bond us whether it’s sports, clubs, jobs or a hobby.
So where is the balance? I need to find a middle ground because right now, it’s either never seeing a movie with another person or, every time I open my mouth, my friends brace themselves to drop a minimum of $20. Maybe the solution is to see fewer movies? Or maybe rotate friends based on what movie I’m going to.
Or convince everyone that I know to get AMC A-List. Now that may sound crazy, and it definitely is, but hear me out. Once you get past the shock of the price tag, a whole new world opens up. If every movie is now free, you would see so many more movies that you wouldn’t see otherwise, thus expanding your taste and knowledge of film. And I would have more friends to go to the movies with. It’s a win-win! Moral of the story, get AMC A-List.
