Pesky pre-movie ads

Do you hate seeing ads for diet-cherry-no carb-caffeine-free soda before your movie starts? I do. Well, Loews theaters are spelling out the obvious for us: they will advertise that their movies start about fifteen minutes after the times listed in the papers. I already do the math at most places and assume that the movie won't start until well after that 7:15 showtime, but still it's nice to see some truth in advertising. It won't be happening here, though. There are no Loews theaters in Minnesota.

I'd like to point out that some theaters are not playing ads before movies. Independent places like the Oak Street don't and others, like Brooklyn Center 20, put all their ads in the 20 minutes BEFORE the start time. You do have to sit through features about the Today Show, but at least it's before the movie is scheduled to start. If you see them, it's your own fault. You arrived a little early.

Distressingly, I went to see "Hitchhiker's Guide" this weekend at Brooklyn Center and my party arrived a little early. Those 20 minutes of ads were playing and it killed all conversation. Any image up there on screen distracts me, even a five minute commercial for a Nickelodeon show that I have no intention of ever watching because I am not 7 years old. My family and I sat next to each other staring at the screen, in the grip of corporate marketeers.

A final note, I don't consider previews to be ads. I love them. If they promised me 30 minutes of previews before movies, I would go. If you are one of those people who consider previews to be commercials - I don't understand you. I even choose to watch them online. Something I would never do for a diet-cherry-no carb-caffeine-free soda commercial.

I hate ads, I love previews. The AMC in Eden Prairie always seems to start the movie a good 10 to 15 minutes late after the previews end but I'm pretty sure there weren't 15 minutes of previews. I just worry that I'm going to arrive a little bit late thinking I'm okay and miss part of the movie. Well, that and having to sit in the corner of the theatre.

I love the Loews idea, but barring that all I ask for is an accurate showtime. If a theater wants to run a half hour of advertising between showing I have no problem with that as long as the advertisement stops at the time the movie is supposed to begin.

I'm also a big fan of the previews, but can't stand all the ads. I can deal with dancing popcorn and pop, but the whole diet-this, no-card-that ads I can't take.

So, you're also a fan of the previews online? Which site do you like? I'm a quicktime viewer myself.