[12] The Upcoming Adult Presents: 18 Favourite Movie Theatre Experiences

"The theatre. That's what movies are made for", says a German ad that has been trying to get people away from streaming movies on their sofas into the actual movie theaters for years now. I have no idea whether it's working, but it's widely known that we don't go to the movie theatre as often as people did back in the industries beginnings. 

There are some good reasons for that - we have television (actually we have foreign tv shows on the internet - German tv truly sucks), we have DVDs, we have iTunes and various more or less illegal ways to watch movies. Why go to the cinema?

I've been trying to go to the cinema more often since I started getting more interested in movies, and it has worked out well so far. Nevertheless, watching movies on the silver screen is insultingly expensive, unless you go to the repertory which only shows two different movies a week... so if you want to watch the latest big movie, you have to go to the multiplex. Which is pretty big where I live, but also pretty much sucks because a) it's expensive and b) they don't show many of the movies I want to see. C) counts for both cinemas in my town: the movies are dubbed. 

But all of this doesn't stop my going to the cinema at least once a month, preferably once a week or once every fortnight. Because watching a movie on the silver screen is not comparable to even watching it on a good beamer. So it's still true: the theatre. That's what movies are made for!

Here's a selection of my favourite experiences of film in its natural habitat:

Drive

Home, repertory.

I never had such a bad conscience laughing in a theatre - it was very hard to say whether it was morally acceptable. But all the blood!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

London, Odeon at Leicester Square. 

My first time in a movie theatre outside my home countries - without any dubbing or subtitles. It rocked! - And I cried for about half an hour of the movie.

You and Me Forever

Roskilde Music Festival, cinema tent.

We mainly just went to see it because it was so hot outside - and despite the shade it was even hotter in the cinema tent. Well, we had a good laugh at the horrible acting. Never felt that the audience agreed about everything - before this or after this.

Tarzan

Home, cinema that doesn't exist anymore.

 One of the first cinema experiences I remember... I wasn't allowed into one of the cinemas we tried, because I was under 6!

Breaking Dawn: Part Two

Home, multiplex.

 Shoot me, but I find Twilight entertaining. Not because it's particularly good - at all - but it just doesn't pretend I guess. It's enjoyable for all its faults, and the fourth part ended the franchise quite elegantly.

Finding Nemo

Small town I don't remember.

I remember the movie stopping halfway through and we had to wait for what felt like eternity. But this movie and the beautiful theatre are a wonderful memory of my childhood. 

Avatar

Varde (DK), small cinema and 2nd time home, multiplex.

Shoot me again, but I like Avatar. When I left the cinema, I swear, I had no idea where I was and what I was doing and what I wanted to do with my life.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Home, multiplex.

The first Harry Potter film I watched in cinema - after reading the first three books and realizing they weren't boys' movies/ books. Freaked out every time the trailer was on tv... makes me nostalgic to think of that. 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Home, multiplex.

The first LOTR franchise movie I watched in cinema so yeah I was pretty excited. So it wasn't as good as LOTR - whatever? It stands on its own as an entertaining piece of movie and I can't wait to see the others.

My Name Is Khan

Hamburg, Abaton.

A lot of first-timers here - this was the first Indian movie I saw in a theatre. That might be the reason for my thoughtless praising of it because I can become really enthusiastic about movies I watched in the theatre. 

The Avengers

Roskilde Music Festival, cinema tent.

Best movie party ever. People were just screaming and applauding and celebrating this movie! 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Home, multiplex.

One of my dearest memories of watching a movie on the silver screen... and the first time I really allowed myself to cry in public. It also made me start taking ballet classes and... becoming more interested in movies! 

Liberal Arts

London, Odeon at Leicester Square.

Not only because of the fact that I met Abhay Deol, Arjun Rampal and Prakash Jha due to this one, it was a great movie indeed. Funny, inspiring and entertaining.

Hanyeo (The Housemaid)

Hamburg, Abaton.

The first time I went to the theatre on my own! This movie was quite disturbing, so I felt a little depressed after watching it... but it was still worth it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Varde (DK), small cinema.

I was heartbroken by the fact that I couldn't see this with my fellow potterhead friend and that it was the last movie - but that's what made it so special too, right? 

The Hangover, Part II

Home, multiplex.

Don't get me wrong: I don't like this movie. It was really disappointing. But watching it on the premiere night, with all of my friends, in a jam-packed cinema, after staying awake and watching movies the night before? Awesome. 

The Last Station

Home, multiplex.

The first and only time I saw James McAhhhhvoy on screen. Sometimes I'm glad the lights are out in cinema, so nobody sees you blushing. 

Hysteria/ Intouchables

Home, repertory.

First double bill - a great thing to do by the way! Except for the back aches.

What are some of your favourite movie theatre experiences?