Dublin 1 Manhattan 0

We read in Friday's New York Times that seeing movies in Manhattan is a nightmare of sold out shows, long lines to get decent seats, technical problems with the showing, and audience misbehavior. We have a completely impractical suggestion but one that nonetheless illustrates a key point: as Jean-Luc Picard says, There is an alternative. Our suggestion: see all movies at the very fine Ster Century Multiplex in Liffey Valley Mall in Lucan, County Dublin. Our actual movie going is sufficiently infrequent that we've been able to save our "event" movies (i.e. those in the Lord of the Rings series) for those occasional trips to the eastern side of the Atlantic. The key innovation is reservable stadium seating i.e. your ticket assigns a specific seat. You show up 5 minutes before the movie time and sit exactly where you planned. There is also an old-style theatre feel to one's arrival, with a flashlight equipped usher showing you to your seat. Make no mistake -- the Irish audience wants its popcorn and nachos as much as their American counterparts. But somewhow they manage to be quieter about it.

Update: we were unsurprised to read that Ireland tops the EU league in moviegoing per head. It's taken very seriously.