Friday, October 28, 2005
Theatres & DVDs
By theatres, I mean theatre movies as opposed to plays and musicals. I just read an article talking about releasing DVDs the same time as the theatre release. Many are calling it the death of the movie theatre business. It may be a part of the death, but I think the death has come from the theatres' own hands earlier.
I watch a lot of movies, but not many of them are in a theatre any more. Think about what a theatre experience is like now. And I don't mean the expected movie treats like sticky floors and the odor of jujubees from the seat next to you. You pay $8 for a ticket and then have to pony up another $10-$15 if you want some popcorn, soda and munchies. (Up in Toronto, the price is nearer $15 for a ticket.) Then after paying up, you have to sit through several commercials. I don't really mind the stuff that is usually shown as slides before the showtime, but I really dislike having to sit through them after curtain time in and amongst the previews.
Then the movie starts. How often have you started a movie that was out-of-focus? Is it really so hard for the projectionist (I'm assuming they still use one - it's probably automated now) to look and see that the focus is off? At least they've brought down the sound - a couple of years ago, I found myself taking ear plugs into the theatre. Now, it's too often that you hear the thundering explosions from the screen next to yours.
Then you have the audience. Come on people, I go to the theatre to watch the movie, not you. There's been a couple of movies in the last year or two where I've walked out and demanded a refund because the audience was so obtrusive. If it were kids I could understand, not like it mind you, but understand. But it's usually older people - I was going to say adults, but that would give the wrong impression. People in their 20s and 30s who think the whole audience is interested in their impressions of the movie. Shut up and sit down!
And on a purely personal note - the potty break. How many times have you missed the bad guy getting his come-uppence while making a dash to the bathroom? Actually, all-in-all, probably the biggest threat to the theatre is large Frescas and the pause button.
2fers: The Movie Experience and The DVD Experience
