watching films on tv vs watching films in the cinema

the purist in me would say that everything has to be seen on a big screen (on 35mm, naturally, although i care about that less these days, apart from when you see certain old films from digital 'restorations' which dont seem to always be done that well, like some of the eric rohmer films currently showing at the bfi in london). but i also think that even if cinema doesnt have the distractions that you get at home, watching a dvd/stream/whatever at home can allow for a closer viewing experience, something more intimate in a way, like listening to music with headphones perhaps. maybe im just looking for a way to feel better about missing lots of films in the cinema. but even if you dont have the experience of sharing a film with a big audience, you get something else, a tighter connection between the film and you, as there is no one else there in the audience to distract or have to consider (i dont necessarily mean a noisy audience here, even a very reverent crowd can have an effect).

I much prefer being able to pause and rewind.

I was close to a purist up till a couple of years ago. I still make an effort to see anything new I'm really interested in in a theatre--Inherent Vice, for example, I'd never watch something like that at home for the first time. But in general, I'm okay with watching stuff at home now, even new releases where my interest is middling (e.g., Listen Up Philip). 1) Getting a big-screen TV made a big difference. 2) I find it more of an ordeal to drive downtown, fight traffic, find parking, etc. 3) Audiences...are sometimes a problem. Not always.

Thread title could also include "vs watching in a tiny Youtube window" which I do on occasion when something's particulary obscure and difficult to get hold of.

I prefer the cinema and it amazes me that even going most weeks, it still retains that sense of occasion and slight excitement that it had when I was a kid.

The stuff I'm most interested in, old film noir, is fine on TV (although a treat when I can see it a repertory cinema.) If I'm ever gonna see new blockbuster fare like "Gravity"... yeah, theater or nothing.

I can get behind on a laptop with earphones plugged in and the lights off for most films too, particularly horror.

Honestly, as long as the screen is big enough and the sound is good enough, it doesn't really make that big of a difference. I also enjoy being able to drink a beer while watching a movie, which none of the movie theatres around here allow me to do.

problem with TV is sound levels so frequently being fucked and bad depending on the setup.