My take on my new blu-ray experience vs. "The Big Screen"

[jjklongisland]

OK, I thought I would start a thread regarding blu ray owners and their feelings about comparing there home theatres and going to the actual movie theater.

Last night I went to the movies to see Valkyrie which is the first time I have gone to the theaters since I have hooked up my Blu-Ray. First let me start by saying I was practically raised in a movie theater. My dad, his father and two brothers are in the movie industry so it was always a family affair. My grandfather who at one time was VP of Projection and Sound for Paramount Pictures had a real movie theater in his basement. Not what we have today, He had an actual film projector and monster screen with the latest audio and visual technology at the time. It was insane. I have still yet to see a home theater that could surpass his. He actually had his house raised 2 feet to allow for a 12' basement. My father who worked for United Artist at the time, had access to almost any movie print so we would watch them at my grandfathers house since they were both qualified projectionists. So as you can see, my thirty years on this earth had alot to do with the movies. I think I saw almost every movie of the late 80's all the way through the late 90's until I was old enough to go the bars...lol. My two Uncles own a lighting, projection and sound company that installs that newest form of projectors and sound in these theaters today. As you can see my experience with the movie world is quite large.

Now that the preamble is over, getting back to my thread; I went to the movies last night and immediately started comparing the picture quality of the movie house versus my home theater. Now I know alot of home theater nits would rather watch a movie in there own home in which they have invested alot of money into but the "Big Screen" is still an experience in its own right. While the sound quality of a good movie house is hard to surpass with its 15 speakers on either side and rack systems with digital amplifiers etc, I think the visual end of things are not as good as my blu-ray.

I guess what I am trying to conclude is, the movies at the theaters are no longer superior to the technology now offered to the consumer. This frightens me. Will the movie industry eventually die out? Probably not for a long while but with the prices of going to the movies today, (now I still get in for free) but to most people its awefully pricey. It cost me $17 for a medium soda, medium popcorn, and a pack of twizzlers. Absolutely ridiculous.

It is of my opinion that residential home theaters can now actually surpass the big screen.

On a last note, to all you Blu Ray junkies out there, Valkyie if you havent scene it, will most likely be the "Top Gun" of blu ray. I mean basically that the opening scene of the movie just like in top gun, is audio and vissually a masterpiece that will show off your expensive systems to there greatest potential.

I guess now that my rant/rave/blog is done I am curious to hear your opinions regarding the "Big Screen".