Things I Love About California: Arclight Cinemas

After my last post about Inception, I'd like to follow it up with my latest installment of: "Things I Love About California."  This week, I love Arclight Cinemas.... or put more simply: movie theatres with reservable seats!

Now... I'm pretty sure this isn't just in California anymore... but considering the movie-going experience that I had growing up in Michigan, having this option out here is pretty amazing. 

For those of you still back in the Midwest that don't understand what I'm talking about... consider this:  You know how when you buy tickets on Ticketmaster for a concert and they tell you what the best available seats are and you can see where you are sitting before you buy the tickets? ?  Imagine being able to do that for a movie!!!

You can log in to the Arclight website, check the various movie times, and then look at a layout of the theatre to see if its packed.  Then you can click on whatever available seats you like best and buy your tickets online.  So if you're one of those people who always like to sit in the back... or in the front... you've got that option.  You can buy your tickets days in advance and make plans around that movie for the night.  Just print the tickets from home, and you are good to go.  It's pretty awesome.  Best part... is if you are going to see a movie on opening night or opening weekend, before you would have to show up at least an hour ahead of time to buy your tickets and then wait in line to get a good seat.  Not anymore.  You can show up 10 minutes before the movie (or 15 in order to make sure you can get snacks!) and get right in. 

Another awesome thing about Arclight: you can't get into the movie once the movie begins... so you better be on time!  Its nice because it cuts down on people coming in late and crawling over you in the dark to find a seat.  Although this rule did bite us in the butt once when were late and had to forfeit our tickets... we learned our lesson and haven't done it since. 

OK... OK... so things aren't perfect with Arclight.  Of course the tickets are more expensive... but for the headache that it relieves, its pretty quick to get over the ticket price.  At most "regular" theatres out here in California, you are going to spend $12 to see a movie anyway... so whats the different to spend an extra $3.  For me, the convenience is worth it.