AMC ain't gonna like this

[word_geek]

Here's a link to an interesting article I was pointed to this morning. In a nutshell, it seems that the major studios are looking to bring first-run movies to the home, through cable and satellite providers, so you'd be able to download a movie at the same time as it's in theaters. Obviously, this is bad for theaters. It's probably intended as

Comments

[mmaresca]

Alamo Drafthouse indeed.

For me, at least, there is still something to seeing a movie on a big screen that no home theatre REALLY replicates. And as far as food goes, I never buy at the theatre, save at Alamo. At my local Regal, they are pretty low-key about smuggling in food-- they only stop you if they see the food itself. I've carried in a supermarket bag and not been bothered.

[captain_squid]

I hate people. There are people in movie theaters. Therefore, I hate movie theaters. Q.E.D

[mmaresca]

On a message board I belonged to, there was a guy who pretty much wanted to go to movies in the theatre, but couldn't stand, essentially, the presence of any other human being whose actions may distract from his enjoyment. I commented that his ideal seemed to be having every other person in the audience ball-gagged, cathetered and strapped into one of those Clockwork-Orange chairs for the duration.

You might like the Drafthouse. They crack down on talkers and texters (something FIERCE) and serve beer.

[captain_squid]

This is something I could support.

[_kent]

After picking popcorn skins out of my teeth for the n-hundredth time, I finally decided I don't need popcorn at movies. I also decided that given that I am going to a cinema sometimes more than once a week now, I can't really scarf down a big bag of sweets every time. Hence, having completely dispensed with the recieved wisdom of cinemas - i.e. must see films in a group, must see films with snacks, etc, I'm finding the whole thing a lot more economical. I've never been asked not to take in a sealed half litre bottle of soda, and that's all I feel I need

[redaly]

[_kent]

I suppose I have a few advantages.
1 - I live in Liverpool, and can thus get to the cinema, travel included, for under a tenner.
2 - We have a good, multiscreen arthouse cinema, which the kids seem to avoid even when the movie is mainstream.
3 - The way my life works, I can go to the cinema on Wednesdays at 2pm. Often, Iget a screen to myself.

[free_laddicals]

Strangely enough, the thing that is working hardest to move me permanently into my home theater set up and avoiding the cinema is the very gimmick trying to entice me with something I "can't get at home" - 3D.

Now, I liked Avatar. Good, solid, ground-up 3D experience with a solid, if warmed over, James Cameron story behind it.

But if every movie is now going to be in 3D, to the point that even movies never designed for 3D are getting post-processed into 3D... well, I'm not paying $5 extra for that, and it annoys me enough that I'm finding it hard to shell out the money for a 2D ticket. I don't know if that's spite or what on my part - just that I was interested in Tim Burton's Alice, but didn't want to see it in 3D and felt like even seeing it in 2D would be contributing to the 3D craziness.

I'm really hoping that home 3D does not become a *thing*. Especially in gaming.

[word_geek]

If the reviews I'm reading are any indication, the public is going to very quickly figure out the difference between a movie created in 3D and one that was post-processed. It won't stop studios from doing it, at least not yet, but hopefully they'll get the hint soon. I know that I'm going to see Last Airbender on opening weekend, but definitely not in 3D.

I suspect home 3D is still a few years ago, though.

[hells_satans]

I find home viewing to be a completely different experience than on a movie screen - it is completely different technology and screen size speakers, et al [or at least it was.]

I go out to less movies, but for a great popcorn movie I"m still gonna wanna go to the theatre.