The optimal viewing experience (barring the theater): your ritual and practices.

Ignore the cruminess of the title.

Optimally, I like to watch 'big' movies on the television w. the surround sound flipped up, half-watching and half-doing something else with which I can distract myself during the (inevitably) boring bits. Often this is during breadmaking, but occasionally I'll half-read.

For smaller movies (a.k.a. the movies I like) I'll sit in my bed with the lights out and watch the film on my laptop, resting against the headboard. I've got really nice headphones and a mini-amp so I get classy-sounding audio. I'll close and lock the door, and turn out the lights. And though I don't eat (eating during movies bothers me), I'll almost always have a lot of (mostly non-alcoholic) beverages near me: a six-pack of tonic, a gallon of water, bottle of coke, couple of coffees, pitcher of sangria, flask of sake, some beers. I'll pick and chose these as I watch. I only interrupt to go pee, and I like to watch right before bed, so I can sleep on a film and think about it first thing in the morning.

I don't have the greatest television set in the world, so I make do with what I got. Otherwise, I'm very very anal about my viewing experience. Door locked, lights off, phone off, and no stopping the movie unless absolutely necessary. Also, I must have had at least seven hours of sleep the night before, or I'll take a nap before watching, that way I can be completely focused. And always, ALWAYS watch the film from beginning to end. Lately, I've been taking a few minutes before starting the movie to relax myself and put myself in the right mindset depending on what kind of film I'm going to be watching.

Thank you for creating this thread, Remy. I know fully understand what a complete nerd I am.

Prefer night, lights off, phone ringer off (unless, y'know, someone's in the hospital). I'll pause for a bathroom break.

Morbius, OTM, although sometimes I like to get up really early on say, Sunday morning, and watch something. Something about the stillness outside helps achieve the necessary relaxed focus.

I watch way fewer movies than I want to because I'm picky. Lights off, no interruptions or interference, on a TV set better than what I have (but I deal with it). I love it when my parents go out of town, as I go over and use their 46" widescreen TV instead of my little TV.

I was watching Spanking the Monkey last night and found the strangest urge to start cleaning the house instead 2/3 of the way through.

I bought a decent surround-sound system last year and this has hugely added to home enjoyment of films that have good sound design (LOTR, Master & Commander, Signs etc). Widescreen TV has been a joy too and I'll actively hunt a decent anamorphic transfer on dvd.

Otherwise, the main ritual is to have just an uplighter in the corner on (so the room is dim, but not eye-strainingly dark) and a suitable beverage to hand. Maybe some savouries, but food is not essential. On first-viewings I'll stick the phone on silent and ignore texts. No qualms about pausing for bathroom breaks, especially if it's Andrei Rublev or somesuch.

>sometimes I like to get up really early on say, Sunday morning, and watch something.

A solitary early morning viewing sometimes yields huge dividends. First time I saw Buffalo '66 was it was on video at 0700hrs on a Saturday morning - a hazy, autumnal morning outside seemed to really complement the film and I'm sure it added to my enjoyment. And if there was ever a Sunday afternoon choice then mine would be Magnolia, with a few cups of tea.

This topic came up whilst in the pub, and a friend mentioned his current stipulations for home-viewing:

1. On his own
2. Lights off
3. Bottle of red wine costing no less than 15 quid.
4. Weed.

His girlfriend confirmed that if she calls him up when he's got a "film night" planned he'll forbid her from coming over...

See, 3 & 4 make too many crap films seem good.

After almost keeling over with laughter when I first saw Freddy Got Fingered whilst enjoying both 3 and 4, I can only agree Morbius...

My chum swears by this routine though. Bear in mind that his all time favourite film is Braveheart.

I would argue it's 4 that ruins it, but maybe just for me. I get a bit more sentimental with 3 (I could at least tolerate "Forget Paris" with some vino in me) but 4 just completely clouds the judgement. That could easily have to do with the fact that I do 4 once a year & 3, well, almost every night...

My mind tends to wander anyway, add alcohol and dope and I wouldn't last 15 minutes at anything.

In the back yard, with the projector borrowed from work, and the full stereo setup carried laboriously down the treacherous back stairs, on the couch with two strong friends who carried the couch out, with the barbecue going.

i hardly watch movies non-sober, if so, then the movie is most likely funny or boring (and gets funnier because of my state)

i usually kill all the lights, sometimes i leave a small one on.
i cover all lights of the TV, computer, DVD Player, whatsoever. i cant stand a red LED shining in my face.

if im not watching a movie w other ppl and allowed to talk id rather be doing something else at this pt

moves are a ouija board guys! its tv w more stars!

arent, i meant, are not a ouija board

also, movies jesus sorry