Now Showing: "Highway Robbery!"

      Do you remember when going to the movies was a highly anticipated, much touted event?  You mentioned the movies and you'd see awe  reverence dawn in people's eyes as they realized you were going where magic things happened on the big screen, and where freshly popped popcorn was all the rage. (Years ago, pre-microwave days, when I'd have a taste for popcorn,  'the movies' was the place to go to satisfy my craving. 
      Nowadays you mention making a trek to the movies, and you hear: "I'll wait til it comes out on DVD", or "I'll get a bootleg copy," or "it costs too much", and/or "which payday advance office did you go to?" LOL! Cause you almost have to ransom your soul for the price of a movie ticket!
      I had the dubious pleasure of going to the picture show last Friday. You younger generation are probably saying, picture what? But you old timers know exactly what I'm referring to :-)! Anyway, I had discounted passes worth $12, so we got in on a humbug.  For our refreshments, we decided to get 2 small popcorn's, a small Icee, and small Dr. Pepper, all of which came to - $22.50!  Just for the two of us! What dies a family of 4 or 5 do? Mortgage the house? Or is this the type of family outing you scrimp and save for, for months?
      Used to be, you made sure you were in your seat by showtime, because you didn't want to miss any of the movie.  Today, you can get to the theater by showtime, add 30 minutes to that (at least), for previews, and not miss a beat.  Maybe that's why movie prices are so expensive, - theaters feel you're getting a two-fer, as you get the scheduled movie, plus scads of previews.
      I don't remember what I saw, so it wasn't memorable, nor Oscar quality fare, at least not to me.  And get your mind out of the gutter, - we were not sitting in the balcony, going at it, or slathering Ben Gay all over each other.  As a matter of fact, unfortunately we were sitting in front of a family with a kid who kicked my chair throughout. Why was the kid at an R rated movie anyway? Perhaps the parents felt if they could afford the exorbitant movie prices, they could bring whoever/whatever they wanted, even the dog, if they so chose ! There was even a crying baby somewhere.  Come on people, a little consideration... please. A baby?  I get that maybe you couldn't afford a babysitter AND a movie, but to inconvenience everyone else? Not fair!
      I think the next time I get a hankering to be entertained by Hollywood,  I'll nuke some Pop Secret popcorn, and stream Netflix on my blue ray player.  No babies, no kicking, no loan.  If I don't like the, movie, I'll give it a poor review, and it won't have cost me a thing!