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"__An Interview With Ben Sisario__\\n\\n\\n\\n*Sisario writes about music, film, and culture for the* New York Times *and is the author of* Doolittle *(Continuum), a book about the Pixies.*\\n\\nWith so many movies on TV these days, it can be tempting to stay home and avoid the crowds. But some films are just worth seeing in that hallowed, dark, silent space with other people, and there are a few ways to heighten the experience that don't involve liquid-butter product.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Heed the experts.__ Read around and find a critic you trust. I like writers who make me think\u2014like Kenneth Turan at the *Los Angeles Times* and David Edelstein at *New York* magazine. The hype about movies can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to remember that you have your own views. I admire critics who remind me to judge for myself. Two good websites, rottentomatoes.com and metacritic.com, amalgamate dozens of reviews from every major critic in the country and create a numerical average. For the most part, decent films get a 60 or 70, but if one flies far above that, you know you should see it.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Strategize.__ I live in New York City, where anything mildly popular sells out immediately, so my approach is to go on weekday nights, when theaters are dramatically less crowded. About once a year, there's a movie I want to see with a mob on opening night\u2014*The Lord of the Rings* was a perfect example. If you're going to do that, buy the tickets a day or two in advance at the box office, or from moviefone.com or fandango.com.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Consider the classics.__ The same cinemas that run independent and foreign films often show revivals on the big screen. You can also check with your local college to see if it has a movie series. The classics are usually great films that generations of people have loved.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Grab the best seat.__ A friend of mine who is an audio aficionado has convinced me that theaters actually have a \\\"sweet spot\\\": the optimal place to hear digital surround sound and get a good view of the entire screen. It's two thirds of the way back. I always sit in the center of the row. Nothing ruins the crescendo moment for me like someone tripping over my popcorn on their way to the bathroom.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Do unto others.__ I make an effort not to do all the things that really annoy me, like leaving my cell phone on or putting my coat over the seat in front of me. If someone is talking during a movie, which really bugs me, I don't just ignore it. I have an escalating system to get someone to stop. First I'll do the choked cough, then I'll do it a little louder. If that doesn't work, I'll do the schoolmarmish, harsh-eye-contact thing. Then it goes to a cordial, \\\"Excuse me, but could you please keep your voice down?\\\" But it rarely gets to the final stages.\\n\\n#### See Also\\n\\n- [How to Rent Better Movies](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/how-to/2010/rent_better_movies)\\n\\n\\n- [Iconic Movie Hair Ideas and Makeup Looks of the Decades](http://www.allure.com/celebrity-trends/2010/movie_hair_ideas_and_makeup_looks)\\n\\n\\n- [Good Girls Gone Bad: 8 Stars Who Have Never Looked Better](http://www.allure.com/celebrity-trends/2011/hollywood-good-girls-gone-bad)"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.allure.com/story/how-to-enjoy-a-trip-to-the-movies>