Read and analyze the text very carefully and create a topic outline or a sentence outline. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
I am a movie fanatic. When friends want to know what picture won the Oscar in 2001, they ask me. When friends want to know who voiced Optimus Prime in Transformers, they ask me. However, my buddies have stopped asking me if I want to go out to the movies. While I love movies as much as ever, I find it more enjoyable to wait for a movie’s release on Netflix because of the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the concession stand, and the behavior of some patrons.
First of all, just getting to the theater presents difficulties. Leaving a home equipped with an HDTV and surround sound isn't attractive on a cold or rainy night. Even if the weather cooperates, there is the hassle of looking for a parking space and the lines. There is also the worry of whether you and your friends will get all your seats together. Although none of these hindrances are insurmountable, it’s much easier to stay seated on your sofa.
Second, the theater offers tempting snacks that I don’t really need. At home I can control myself because there is no ice cream in the freezer, we don’t have sodas in the fridge, and my snacks tend to be healthy, like fruits, nuts, and juices. At the movies, even if I only buy a Diet Coke, the smell of fresh popcorn dripping with butter soon overcomes me. And what about the nachos with cheese and the Snickers and M&M’s? I’m better off without all those temptations.
Finally, some of the other patrons are even more of a problem than the concession stand. Little kids race up and down the aisles, making noise. Teenagers try to impress their friends by talking back to the actors on the screen or otherwise making fools of themselves. Some adults aren’t any better, commenting loud enough to reveal plot twists that are supposed to be a secret until the movie’s end. What am I doing here, I ask myself.
After arriving home from the movies one night, I decided I had had enough. I was not going to be a moviegoer anymore. I was tired of the problems involved in getting to the theater, resisting unhealthy snacks, and dealing with the patrons. The next day, I arranged to have premium movie channels added to my cable TV service, and I got a Netflix membership. I may now see movies a bit later than other people, but I’ll be more relaxed watching box office hits in the comfort of my own living room.
