Movie Start Times

So, what's up with movie start times these days?

I went to a movie that was supposed to start at 2:05.  Walking up to the room, though, the LCD outside proudly proclaimed that it was starting in 5 minutes.  This was at 1:45, and I admit I was perplexed.  Well, sure enough there were slides playing upon my arrival, but the lights dimmed at 1:50pm and I had the fun and exciting opportunity to watch - you probably guessed it - commercials!  Sure, some were well-produced ones (not necessarily entertaining - please don't confuse my verbage, here) including a bizarre Coke one involving some cartoon characters and a tree that apparently needs High Fructose Corn Syrup to survive prior to dispensing drinks for a buck (or $4, if you're in a theater, right?).  But, seriously, commercials?

Then, at 2:05, the commercials shifted into the more familiar slew of trailers, pretty much all from the same studio as the movie I had paid my $7.50 for.  Trailers for movies I might want to see, and trailers for movies noone should ever be subjected to.  Wide variety - hit everyone in the audience, I suppose.  Then, finally - oh, finally - the main feature began and I went ahead and glanced down at my watch:  2:28.

2:28!  From commercial beginning to movie start, 38 full minutes!  That's an incredible travesty, and only cements my normal decision to just stay home and wait a few weeks for a DVD that has a Fast Forward button for previews, a pause button for restroom breaks, no screaming kids, audio control, a clothing optional couch and food/beverages that cost less than the gross national product of a small underdeveloped country (just wondering, do they have loan forms available at the concession stand?  Like, buy now and pay off your popcorn/soda/candy over the next 90 days?).

It just seems wrong.  And, it seems to be a bad idea.  Aren't movies struggling enough already without giving me another reason to not show up?  Ah well, what do I know about the biz....  :-)