Andy McDandy Vent Page

Last night was my first visit to an AMC theatre to watch TRON Legacy.  I normally prefer Cineplex but as stated in a previous post, not one Cineplex had TRON Legacy in non-3D.

AMC in my opinion only has two positives compared to Cineplex:

• Concession Counter Open Past 9:30pm
• Steep Angle of the Seating.

The negatives of AMC compared to Cineplex:

• Ticket Pricing
• No Discount Day
• Sound Volume to Loud
• Large Popcorn/Pop Deal Doesn’t Include Bag of Candy
• Front of Concession Stand Not That Clean
• No Popcorn Seasoning Packets – instead they have some stupid dispenser machine that barely dispenses anything and only in three un-popular flavours.
• The Topping Tasted Like Butter, Not Becel

Maybe I am being to harsh on the whole pricing issue, after all Cineplex does have Scotiabank backing them where AMC has no one but then if the AMC execs had any brains they would try and get some backing from one of the big competitors to Scotia like RBC or TD Canada Trust.  I know AMC has been in Canada for some time now, but how long can they last if they don’t try to take viewers away from their competitor Cineplex?

You know, I have been using Ubuntu Linux since March 2010 and been it using it pretty much full time for about 3 months now, maybe a little longer and so I like to think I know the good and bad with both.  Since I started using Linux there has been one thing that keeps frustrating the hell out of me and that is reading posts from people who make comments about Linux based on their experience x# of years ago rather than how Linux is today.

One myth that really irritates me is that Windows is easier than Linux.  This is 100% false unless you are talking about getting the system infected then yes, Windows is easier but we are not, instead we are talking about ease of use.  When it comes to ease of use, both Windows and Linux are equal.  Take anyone who has never used a computer before, whether they are 4 or 94, that person will find both to be just as easy to use as the other.  The main reason why people are reluctant to use something else is not because they think Windows is easier but because they are cowards.  The average human is intimidated by new things.  I myself was a bit intimidated by Linux but after using it for a few days I started to like it.  I’ll admit that I did try Linux in the past but never worked right with my system so when Ubuntu 10.04 was released, I was somewhat reluctant to try it but eventually I did and haven’t looked back.

As someone who does computer repaires for the average home user, I can honestly say that the use of Windows should NOT be allowed for home use because the home user just doesn’t have enough common sense to properly use an easily infectable operating system like Windows.  If you are a home user who is not that knowledgeable with computers then I strongly suggest going with Linux rather than a Windows machine.  You will lots of money in the end because you will no longer be lugging your PC to your nearest repair shop every few months to clean out infections.

Back on September 22, 2010 Netflix finally opened it’s doors to Canadians, something that I had been waiting a long time for.  Since then I have tried to follow the blogs posted by Netflix and the comments fellow Canadians are posting.  Most responses to the Canada launch blog were negative and even to this day you will see posts from Canadians to other blog postings by Netflix that Netflix sucks.  Those people who keep saying Netflix sucks are, in my opinion, idiots.

Since Netflix came to Canada I have been a subscriber and although it may not have the latest and greatest movies and television shows, there are still plenty of other titles to choose from.  Anyone who only wants the latest blockbuster movies should stick with Blockbuster or Rogers Video.  Canadians must also remember that the CRTC dictates what we can and can not have in the way of media content.

With Netflix, I have been able to watch both movies and television shows I never knew existed.  A lot of the movies available might be low budget but I have found them to still be really good movies to watch.  So they don’t have the $10mil special effects, who cares because a movie can have all the special effects it wants but if there is no good story line then no one will watch it.

If you are not yet a Netflix Canada subscriber and are undecided on becoming one, give it a try and expand your viewing comfort zone to include movies and shows you may normally not watch, trust me, you will be surprised.  I know I was.

This weekend showing at Cineplex is a long awaited sequel to a movie that at the time pushed special effects beyond what other movies had done, I’m talking about TRON Legacy.  Myself along with a group of friends have plans to go see it this coming Tuesday at one of the three local Cineplex theatres but when I was about to go pre-order the tickets on-line, I found that ALL theatres including two others further away only have the movie in 3D.

To the average person who have two good working eyes there is no problem but to those who have some kind of visual impairment that prevents them from seeing 3D, they are left out, discriminated if you will.  Now maybe the law has changed but I’m pretty sure the law still prohibits discrimination.  The thus becomes, who is behind this discrimination, Cineplex the organisation or the managers in charge of each Cineplex theatre.

Some may say, “wait a few weeks, eventually the non-3D will be shown” to which I must ask, “why can’t everyone have the same opportunity to watch a movie during it’s release?”.  Those who do not have any kind of visual impairment will never understand what it is like to have kids or grand kids who you would like to take to see a movie they want only to find out you can’t because it’s only playing in 3D.  It’s heart breaking to that individual and can make that person feel bad about themselves for having their particular eye condition.

Anyone who agrees that Cineplex should show both 3D and non-3D versions of the same movie, please goto cinepex.com and fill in their contact form and any lawyers who knows for sure that this is discrimination, it would be great if you could send them a nice legal notice of this wrong doing.