Changes have come to the movies in the metro with new names, new theaters, improved technology and special deals.

Douglas Theatres is now just Douglas Theatre. Marcus Theatres of Milwaukee has completed its takeover of seven Douglas locations.

Some moviegoers have Reel Deal loyalty cards and they've been wondering if they still have any value.

The new company has discontinued the program, but if you have the card you can still redeem the points. Marcus will round up points to the next highest reward for customers and a new program will take its place.

Watching a movie on the big screen has become a new experience throughout the metro, and in some cases it really is a big screen.

How do you decide where to go see a movie? "I think the distance, if it's close to you and also the price of the movie is the big thing," says Andrea Fraire of Omaha.

"If it's an action, I look for something that has a big screen and lots of sound to it," says Randy Hager of Omaha.

The new I-Max screen at Star Cinema offers that and more.

"We have special programs during the week for parents with young children where we keep the lights at a higher level and the sound down,” says Star Cinema manager Nickie Sodam.

It also offers early-bird matinee specials, free refills on drinks and popcorn and the 5 Buck Club, where members get to see movies for $5.

At the Westroads Mall, a new 14-screen Rave Theater is going up promising another perk. "It's going to be state of the art including all digital sound and digital projection and we should be the only theater in town with digital projection," says Westroads general manager Jim Sadler.

So what's the big deal about digital projection? Rave compares the quality difference to that of tapes versus DVDs.

As for the newly named Marcus Theatres, customers can expect some new perks they did not see with Douglas, including $4 admission for seniors on Friday afternoons, one select film Wednesday nights will only cost $5, military discounts, select concessions will only be $2 on Tuesdays and a special kids series during the summer with ticket prices at $2.50.

With all the theaters and deals, are there enough moviegoers to go around? “With the different variety of films, with the independent films and the mainstream films, that it keeps a very evenly spread distribution among everybody," says Sodam.

At Filmstreams, a ticket will buy you the experience of seeing a movie that can't be viewed anywhere else in the metro. They've carved out a niche by showing American independent films, foreign films and documentaries. They also offer club deals and special screenings.

The reps say they make very little on ticket sales, they depend on us buying popcorn, drinks and other snacks to make a profit.