Lately, it seems, that less and less people are going to the theaters.
It’s not very exciting anymore to go to a theater when you can just rent/buy the DVD and watch it in your own home.
The theaters are now overpopulated with the totally oblivious viewers. The viewers that are so in to themselves that they can’t hear (or maybe they just don’t care) how much noise they are really making. The last 5-6 times I’ve gone to the theater I’ve been stuck behind a group of the most easily scared pre-teen girls, or a couple that hasn’t gotten the memo of what ‘PDA’ stands for, or the ever-popular–”oops I forgot to turn my cellphone off”–person.
All I’m saying is, with the development of all the hometheater equipment, going to a theater has lost it’s ‘rare’ value. I say ‘rare’ because it seemed like the only worthy place to watch a film was at the theater, and now it just isn’t the case. I would rather chill in my basement with my friends and be able to get up and have a soda without having to pay $5.
Because of the increasingly bad films (see previous posts to see what ‘bad films’ I’m talking about) coming out this past year, nobody has been compelled to pay $10 a ticket to go to a mediocre showing of a less than mediocre film. Also, people like Steven Soderberg have been pushing to reduce the time it takes for a DVD to release to the general public. The only reason that he’s not being totally supported by the film industry is because they want money. Even though M. Night Shyalaman tries to put the reasoning of ‘art’ behind it, it’s a little ridiculous. I’m sure after he complained about the sacriligious nature of not going to a theater he got a fat $20 from his boss.
It would make so much more sense, and also might have the opportunity to make more money, if they release the DVD at the same time as the film. That way the general public can go out and purchase a DVD for about the same price as a trip to the theater, and it would be a new and fresh movie. Now, if they just get the dual-release thing right, they just need to make some films that are worth seeing and it’ll all work out.
I like your dual release idea. It might be a nice idea to see a movie on dvd first, and then be able to decide to see it at the cinema. I think that would only work for “big” movies where you really gain something from the big screen.
I really like going to the cinema. For some reason, it has always been an “event” for me – even if the films have sucked – see (envy )
Basically, its like you said – the movies suck! For every 1 movie that is released you have to filter out 9! Do you know why Blockbuster always has so many sucky movies? Have have a deal with the distributors: they have to stock a certain number of B-movies otherwise they don’t get the A-movies. I’d stick to the independants like 4* video heaven.
Anyway.. Also to spend $8 to see a movie is a bit of a rip off!. You could rent two movies for that price. If your a couple thats $16 compared to $4!