Eat, Drink, and be... Movied?

[JudoMinja]

I just find this a little bit creepy. This is the theme for a new theater in my neighborhood. They provide pizza and alcoholic beverages for their movie watchers, thus- eat, drink, and be movied.

What do you think?

EDIT: It's not the act of serving alcohol I find creepy. It's that they use "Eat, Drink, and be Movied" as their advertising slogan.

Edited February 1, 2010 by JudoMinja

[Dravin]

Are you referring to the advertising or the practice?

[danceinthedark]

Creepy? I don't see a problem with it in general. It's like everything else..if you don't like it...go somewhere else.

[Wingnut]

They need to be extra careful with minors.

[JudoMinja]

It's not so much what they're doing that I find creepy. I know its just part of society to provide alcohol, and that doesn't bother me. What I found creepy was that they actually use those exact words as the theme for their theater. When you call to find out what time their showings are, the message says- "Thank you for calling Cinergy Cinema, where it is our theme to eat, drink, and be movied..."

I guess just hearing that over the phone, when I'm trying to figure out the time for a movie I want to see, is a little disconcerting when I think of the scriptural connotations.

[john doe]

I would call them and tell them you won't go to their theaters if they are serving alcohol there. Pizza? No big deal.

[ADoyle90815]

Personally, I have no problem with any of this, as in order to keep their alcohol license, they will be checking ID's to make sure people are of legal drinking age(21) before selling alcohol. Employees who work where alcohol is available for purchase already know that if they're caught selling it to minors, they will face criminal charges and be fired on the spot.

[Elphaba]

I just find this a little bit creepy. This is the theme for a new theater in my neighborhood. They provide pizza and alcoholic beverages for their movie watchers, thus- eat, drink, and be movied.

What do you think?

I think it is clever.

Elphaba

[FunkyTown]

Plus, I should point out that they may be quoting Ecclesiastes 8:15:

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

If they're serving alcohol, they may not be Mormon and may be using Ecclesiastes as a justification.

[JudoMinja]

As I already clarified, it's not what they're DOING I find creepy. It's the advertising slogan. Anyone else, or am I just a bit crazy?

[NeuroTypical]

Jokes lose something when you have to explain them. But since everyone is all scratching their head, here goes:

The theme is a play on the scripture in Luke "eat, drink, and be merry" JudoMinja is thinking about the context of the scripture, which is basically that no, God doesn't want us to focus on the worldly pleasures, but on sacred things.

So, JudoMinja figures that since the place is quoting scripture AGAINST worldly pleasures to advertise their Worldly Pleasure place, it's creepy.

My two cents: it would be creepy if a church was running this restaurant. But it's people who are probably not religious. And the play on words certainly works with American culture, as certain parts of the Bible are just part of our culture, regardless of whether we're religious or not. There are a ton of irreligious faithless people out there who enjoy a witty turn of a religious reference. And at the end of the day, the place is speaking the truth, as it serves alcohol.

LM

[Blackmarch]

I just find this a little bit creepy. This is the theme for a new theater in my neighborhood. They provide pizza and alcoholic beverages for their movie watchers, thus- eat, drink, and be movied.

What do you think?

EDIT: It's not the act of serving alcohol I find creepy. It's that they use "Eat, Drink, and be Movied" as their advertising slogan.

Sad? yes

Irony Meter? High

Creepy? maybe in the sense that seeing book of mormon scripture almost being literally fulfilled right in front of you....

Guess time will tell.

However I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Guest Godless]

I don't think the slogan is creepy, just dumb.

This discussion reminds me of the Kane moving company with their slogan "Kane is able!".

[Wingnut]

I would call them and tell them you won't go to their theaters if they are serving alcohol there. Pizza? No big deal.

So do you not patronize Olive Garden because they also sell alcohol? Or any other restaurant?

As I already clarified, it's not what they're DOING I find creepy. It's the advertising slogan. Anyone else, or am I just a bit crazy?

I don't think it's the least bit creepy. I'm with Elphaba -- it's clever.

[Dravin]

Okay, it's the slogan then.

I'm not sure I find it the height of wit, but it is certainly better than a lot of others out there, but certainly not creepy. Heck, I dislike Kay Jeweler's slogan (there is a rant behind this, do not provoke me into talking about diamonds) more then I could possibly dislike the one in question.

[JudoMinja]

Creepy? maybe in the sense that seeing book of mormon scripture almost being literally fulfilled right in front of you....

Yes, that is exactly what I was getting at. I guess I just feel really awkward calling to hear the movie listings and hearing that. Makes me feel like I'm living in the ways of the world by going to their theater.

It does have its cleverness and humor, but the spiritual part of me is just like "Holy crap. They really meant that literally! I didn't think this scriptural phrase would ever actually be used verbatum. Guess I was wrong."

[Wingnut]

It's worth noting that the phrase did not originate in the Book of Mormon, and this movie theater is not the first person/institution to make money off of it. There are songs out there that are centered around the theme (using the exact words) and it's not an uncommon or unfamiliar phrase at all. It's certainly not proprietary.

[Guest]

<thread hijack>

I know of a self-service pet grooming business who named their business Laundromutt. Genius!

</thread hijack>

[NeuroTypical]

"Holy crap. They really meant that literally! I didn't think this scriptural phrase would ever actually be used verbatum. Guess I was wrong."

Most places to live have a healthy, robust segment of the population who have turned away from religion for one reason or another, but still exist in the culture that produced them.

I guess I'm a bit of an oddity here, as I spent a lot of time as a kid in casinos and bars. I got to know a lot of cocktail waitresses and gamblers on those 'family trips' as my dad would call them, then off to church on Sunday. Then I married a very streetwise former gang scene person. So the people who move through my life are not only good righteous saints, but also heroin addicts and cutters and drinkers.

One thing I've learned, is there are many people who have some very serious problems with religion or what they perceive as God, and many of these people are still good people. I've witnessed incredible acts of selflessness and charity from nasty old swearing sinners. These people aren't really helped whenever the 'good folks of the world' (i.e. people reading this thread) notice one of them and get 'a creepy feeling'. We help them by understanding them.

The people who own that business, who came up with the slogan, and who patronize that place, are all our spiritual brothers and sisters. They're partakers of a divine birthright. We're all siblings of the same Heavenly Father - how do you think He wants us to think of them?

LM

[Blackmarch]

It's worth noting that the phrase did not originate in the Book of Mormon, and this movie theater is not the first person/institution to make money off of it. There are songs out there that are centered around the theme (using the exact words) and it's not an uncommon or unfamiliar phrase at all. It's certainly not proprietary.

Yes, that is exactly what I was getting at. I guess I just feel really awkward calling to hear the movie listings and hearing that. Makes me feel like I'm living in the ways of the world by going to their theater.

It does have its cleverness and humor, but the spiritual part of me is just like "Holy crap. They really meant that literally! I didn't think this scriptural phrase would ever actually be used verbatum. Guess I was wrong."

I wonder sometimes at how many prophecies are going to come about, because people knew about them?

[pam]

It's worth noting that the phrase did not originate in the Book of Mormon, and this movie theater is not the first person/institution to make money off of it. There are songs out there that are centered around the theme (using the exact words) and it's not an uncommon or unfamiliar phrase at all. It's certainly not proprietary.

The phrase eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die can be found in the bible. Like Wingers said..it's certainly not the first time that this phrase has been used. Dave Matthews Band uses it in one of their songs.

I certainly don't find it offensive at all. It's advertising strategy. If one finds it offensive then go to another theater.

Whenever I go to the theater..I eat, drink and am movied. Though my drink of choice is a soda or bottled water.

Edited February 1, 2010 by pam

[JudoMinja]

I'm not offended by it and I certainly don't have any problems with the people who started it. I understand that the phrase has been used before for other things. This is just the first time I've had it come up so obviously in my life.

When I say I find it creepy, I'm referring to more of a chill-tingling-down-the-spine feeling, like wow.

*sigh* Seems like what I meant by opening up this thread is just bound to be misunderstood. It's my own fault because I wasn't sure how to describe what I was thinking and feeling, so oh well.

[Gwen]

i would not go to that theater... mostly because i would not want to sit next to someone who was drinking alcohol during the movie.

[Wingnut]

I wonder sometimes at how many prophecies are going to come about, because people knew about them?

I think prophecies don't depend on whether or not people know about them.

i would not go to that theater... mostly because i would not want to sit next to someone who was drinking alcohol during the movie.

Good point.

[john doe]

So do you not patronize Olive Garden because they also sell alcohol? Or any other restaurant?

I don't go to Olive Garden because I don't like their food. It has nothing to do with drinking.

If I had multiple theater choices, and one basically said 'our movies and theaters are so crappy you need to be half-drunk to stand them', then I would choose to go somewhere else. I know that there would be someone checking ID's to make sure they are selling to people of legal age, but I can see how it would be difficult to control who actually ends up with the alcohol when they take it into a dark room such as a theater. As a consumer with children to protect, and wanting a good experience for my family, I would not put them in a place where it is likely that underage drinkers could possibly taint a good time. If there is a choice, I choose the family-friendly one when it comes to spending my entertainment dollar.