It’s just not a movie theatre if by the end of the feature film, your feet aren’t eternally glued to the multiple layers of spilled soda and crunched popcorn kernels on the floor.

That’s what I loved about the Lougheed Mall and New Westminster Cinemas. Back in my day, (or at least a period of time about 10 years ago that I consider to be “my day”) those drab movie theatres were my home for a few hours every week.

Showing up 10 minutes after the scheduled showtime still allowed you to secure the best seat in the almost completely empty, sticky-floored house, all for only $2.

But alas, “The times, they are a-changin.’”

Last night, I spent over an hour in line to barely snag a neck-craning front-row seat to stare up at Daniel Radcliffe’s chin in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for two and a half hours. Popcorn, a bucket of pop, and two admissions ran close to $40.

Going to the movie theatre has been turned into a spectacle. The lobby has fancy lights, a large video game arcade, movie memorabilia, and is constantly busy.

Has this been done to get you to spend more money while there? Definitely.

To cover up the general lack of movies with any sort of substance?

Probably.

Yes, there have been some decent movies this summer, but it’s doubtful anyone would be deeply emotionally moved by Optimus Prime’s portrayal in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

What’s my point? Well, with the joys of the Internet, and knowing the right places to look, I can get all these movies on my computer.

Saving $40 and not having to get out of my comfy computer chair? Sounds like a great plan to me.

Well, maybe not.

After all, what’s $40 anyways?

Going out for dinner with a few friends, you can easily get close to this amount, and the dinner won’t last as long.

Maybe you’re on the third date, already having aced the first and second, but have exhausted your list of things to talk about and are looking for a place to go with him or her where silence isn’t awkward.

And besides, the movie screen will always trump your new HD television.

n Kevin is a lifelong New Westminster residents who has just graduated from the University of British Columbia with an English Literature degree. kevinbye@gmail.com