Penny pinchers

Yes, the economy's bad. Time to kick ourselves when we're down, right? I can be guilty of this: it turns out I held well to my budget for March, so I rewarded myself with CDs from Amazon this morning. (Still coming out in the black.)

I do wonder, though, about the timing. Monsters and Aliens, this new 3-D movie, made $58.3 million this past weekend. Thing is, it costs $1.50 more at most theaters, because it's in 3-D. You take your two kids to the Loew's right next to Emerson, and spend $10.75 per ticket plus the 3-D bonus charge for all four of you. No money for dinner now, but that's okay; you can feast on the memories. 

If the moviegoers seem a little ridiculous, well, Fox is being even worse. The company wants theaters now, in the midst of economic woes, to install 3-D projectors and screens. They aren't rolling in money, really. Popcorn sales are way down these days; you have to cut back somewhere. And, the cherry on top of all this, Fox is insisting that theaters install 3-D equipment but then tells them to scrounge up their own 3-D glasses. They can't take $1 million from the $58.3 they made and do struggling movie theaters a favor?

Only around half of the weekend gross for Monsters and Aliens came from 3-D-equipped theaters. The rest paid $1.50 less and sat wondering the whole time why they're watching a 3-D movie not in 3-D. Now they'll probably go back with their kids, skipping the popcorn, but also having to skip grocery shopping to compensate.

And let me remind you, Fox, that the movies tried 3-D in the fifties. You can watch Dial M for Murder and imagine the scissors jabbing into you, or Kiss Me Kate for Ann Miller's legs (make sure you duck). Anybody remember any other 3-D movies from the '50s fad? They've died off, entering extinction along with the 3-D gimmick. Here's hoping its resurrection--if Fox decides to keep being tools--doesn't make it either. The children need to eat!