If you think you need to invest in an 80" HDTV and an elaborate surround sound system to have an enjoyable at-home movie experience — you're wrong. Turns out there are small things you can do to improve the mood of your media room and make it perfect for movie watching.
Here's my top 10:
- Improve sight lines: Everyone has a "favorite spot" at the movie theater. Mine is approximately four rows from the top, center. Think about your favorite spot and then determine how you can recreate that same sight line at home. It may mean your TV is too far away or too far to the left of your ideal seating location. Now, problem solve by moving your furniture or television.
- Forget the "no food" rules for a day: Growing up, we had a pretty strict "no food rule" in the living room. At least, until the movies came on. Try to let your desire for a clean home go and pop an outrageous amount of popcorn. What are dogs and vacuums for anyway, right?
- Pick your flick with care: This is my worst nightmare: I've invited my dad to watch a movie with my boyfriend and me and things are going great. That is, until a totally unexpected sex scene pops up. I know I'm not alone in this. Pick a couple movies in advance and read the reviews, even Google the movie title with terms like "sex scene" or "inappropriate for family viewing" to see if anyone else has already experienced this unfortunate fate.
- Schedule an intermission: Refill snacks, use the bathroom and get the desire to chat out.
- Ask guests to bring extra pillows and blankets: Comfort is key, but if you're having friends over, no host could possibly have enough blankets and pillows for everyone.
- Break out the disposables: A few recycled paper bags for the popcorn and treats will save you hours of cleaning later.
- Go for bottled beverages: Congrats on allowing food on your couch. Allowing people to drink beverages on your expensive furniture requires a lot of trust, so in this case, splurge for bottled beverages and avoid disaster.
- Make it a marathon: A late evening movie leaves plenty of time afterwards for a double feature. This works especially well with trilogies.
- If you're going to upgrade one thing, make it a sound bar: A full surround sound setup can be expensive, but most sound bars start in the mid to high $100s and are typically paired with a wireless subwoofer. It's a lot of extra sound quality without making a huge investment. For example, the VIZIO VSB211 32-Inch Sound Bar with Subwoofer starts at $163.95 on Amazon.
- Turn off the lights (and lighted devices): It's easy to turn off lamps, but if your family and friends are constant phone checkers, here's a game to play. Make everyone turn off their phones and put the phones in a bowl in the middle of the room. The first person to break and reach for their phone has to do snack refilling duty the rest of the night. Texting at the movies is unacceptable — same goes for home movies.
(Images: 1. Pontus's Tech Tour, 2. I'mNotJack on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons, 3. Graeme and Megan's House Tour, 4. Vizio via Amazon.)
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I like the idea of having people bring a blanket/pillow. Most of my friends are only too happy to share, but I still never have quite enough if I have more than 2 or 3 people over.
I like! One thing that was mentioned last, but should be No.2 is lighting. But don't turn off all the lights: have some light shining from behind the TV if possible. A rope light behind the screen is all you need. It Reduces the contrast of bright screen to dark wall, making viewing easier on the eyes.
One thing not mentioned but should have been: video adjustment for the TV. It'll make the picture more like the original and easier on the eyes (again). Many websites with instructions.
As for sound, a soundbar is an improvement, but a small receiver with small bookshelf speakers will blow soundbars out of the water for only "a few dollars more" (so says the Man with No Name).
Lol @ #10. Curious, how does that lil game work for ya? My experience is that those who are attached at the hip to their electronics are like toddlers who will weigh the consequences and decide it's worth the risk. After much trial & error, I've finally discovered a tactic which is [moderately] successful when we host movie nights. I control the remote.and if I'm distracted by an *addicted one*, I'll pause the movie & turn on the overhead light as I say in my most polite MIss Manners voice, "Oh, I'm sorry! But so-and-so has a text." The collective groan that follows usually resolves the issue...at least for the remainder of the evening.
Nothing under a 100" will do. HD projector and screen is the only way I roll on movie night at my house.
The "no lighted screens" seems a bit control-freaky to me... why agree as a group to turn the brightness on everyone's phone screens all the way down? (Or maybe do like i do at the movies when i slip my phone into my hoodie and any texts get sent/read by sticking my face down into my neck hole...
My tip: If your friends are prone to the occasional impromptu sleepover, and you have the floor space, it can also be nice to just drag out the air mattress for people to lounge on while watching the movie.
Ahem. Dedicated home theater, with a 110" 3-d/HD projection screen. 7 channel surround sound. Acoustically planned. Total blackout space, day or night. Universal remote that controls all the usual stuff AND the dimmers for the can lights.Two seating tiers, with 7 leather recliners with serape blankets on each. (So far we have never had an 8th person, but if we do a big family movie with friends and their kids, we will have to improvise -- maybe bring in the futon cushion for the floor.) Food and drinks permitted, old time popcorn wagon in the back, but it's too hard to clean, so we just keep it as decoration... although friends are eager enough to try it that they SAY they will clean it after! We may see!) Blu-ray, 3-D, HD disc collection in the hundreds, plus all the downloadable services. Etc.
We are the place our agoraphobic friend likes to see movies. And everyone else we know, too! (Currently we are doing a Harry Potter marathon over the next few weeks mainly for a friend who never saw them. Then a Lord of the Rings marathon before The Hobbit is released.)
SherryBinNH is putting me to shame. I only have my 40 inch Sony W series but as long as I can eat GOOD popcorn that doesn't cost $4.00 I'm happy. $40 for me and my niece to catch a flick. $40. Two tickets, two sodas, and a popcorn. You have got to be kidding.
I still live with the old style TV, probably 27" screen (and of course it's not flat). I will have it as long as it works, I don't mind one bit.
All I need is to have my grehounds curled around me, one on each side, and I am happy.
Re: #3, try looking things up on one of the parental guide sites. I love movies, so I tend to show them when I have hosting duties for the kids at church, and wide though my knowledge of movies may be (ahem!), it's been a real blessing to have other, very detail oriented eyes to check over something I may have blocked...
also re: #3 -- I remember my wife and I of making the mistake of watching Last Tango in Paris with my in-laws. They didn't make it through the entire movie. Apparently, they have something against butter...
popcorn in a bag? how offensive! I am the laziest host of all time but I can't imagine not putting it in a nice bowl or bowls.
You need these snacks...it will make everyone happy!
http://www.jacolynmurphy.com/2010/09/movie-munchie-madness.html
A good source for movies is the oscar.com website. Rent the nominees for best foreign films. Also the documentaries.
Can anyone tell me where those tall and small candle holders are from?
Thanks to all for the comments ....we will be changing the appointments on the sound system when we move out of state to a retirement community in Florida. We have oversize speakers x4 sitting around the room. Nice sound ...too much space grappling. So the suggestion for new sound was well taken. Still have to review the light suggestion ..I'm going to try what has been noted..observe what works.
Now, the movies,popcorn ,BOPB,is a great idea..we will have to start (have grand kids night) doing that. They can go to the bathroom by themselves !
OK...the phone "problem" is right out rudeness. Like the suggestion to stop the movie.after a while that person may not be invited nor come again . So be it.
We have a popcorn stand..enjoy using it..have people who come regularly.help clean it up.no harder than the old roasting pans,etc. from yrs. ago.
New thought: I just went from watching all movies on my laptop to watching them on my new roomie's 96 (or something) inch 3D HDTV with surround sound. He also owns over 1,000 DVDs, which dwarfs my collection that I recently weeded down to under 200. It's a nice experience for sure, but not really worth the money to me--specially since more people have seen it since I moved in in August than the entire year he had it before I showed up. I'm definitely enjoying for the duration of our lease, but it won't be too hard to let go of when I move.
Very cute idea for hosting a movie night without ruining your furniture!