The End Of Cinema.

[a2jack]

Here is our new aVR/VR forum. It's been up less than a week, and just getting started.
https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/augmented-reality-and-virtual-reality.209/

 

[JagdTiger]

Refer to:










Really the same as above.


If major studios put out bad film after bad film month over month over a year or two, people won't patron theaters because they don't want to waste money on those films. Your three links and the original link offer little in the form of data for the point they're trying to make, and instead rely on the belief of theater owners who are very much saying the same globally, for several years as your own links vary in publishing date.

Go to Wikipedia, pick out a major film studio, and look at their yearly releases. Then refer to the gross sales on each movie. Refer to IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes. Chances are if a year has been bad for a studio or a summer season, it's because they released terrible films.

Think of it this way. Disney makes hand over fist in wads of cash each year on their movie properties. If Disney spent the next three years releasing the Disney equivalent of an Adam Sandler title every 4-5 months for their various film branches, do you think they would post high earnings at the theater? If they released 12 films a year on all their branches, would theater goers watch a subpar film even if Disney made it?

It’s more than that with Disney and it has to due with telling the people of Georgia that it won’t produce films there unless they agree to abortion, with that company supposedly being family friendly it out it isn’t and does Mickey Mouse want infanticide?

 

[sracer]

I'm wondering what theaters people go to.

We are infrequent theater goers, but for us, the idea is the experience. I have at least three films on my list for this year: Toy Story 4, Frozen 2 and Star Wars. Two more coming up, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure sequel and Top Gun 2.

As big as your guys' home theaters are and as badass as your sound system, I guarantee you that unless you're rolling in money you do not have a screen as big as the one at the theater in your living room. I guarantee you that you do not have a multi-million dollar sound system.

It's not about the size of the screen alone, but also how much the screen fills your field of vision that affects the experience. With these multiplex theaters, they are just boxes with a slanted floor and a screen on one end of them. This is not a theater. There's a difference. Anyone who has attended both classic theaters and current multiplex theaters can see and experience the difference.

There are very few good seating locations in modern theaters. In contrast, at home, with proper planning, the main seating area is always in a "good spot". It doesn't take a lot of money to create a very enjoyable home theater experience. But it DOES require that people think a little bit and not follow the crowd. No matter what my budget was at the time, I was able to create an enjoyable AV home theater that was more effective than if I spent 10x as much.

Of all my friends, family, and acquaintances, none of them have good setups, and they all spent way too much for sound systems are that way out of proportion. But that's what sells, so that's what they buy.

And back to where it is you go - Sure over the years, there's been a few bad people. But our experience has 99% of the time been a positive one. It's an experience. We plan for it, we go and get the popcorn and the drinks and we show up early to get a good spot.

I've never had issues with people. Everyone there wants to see the movie. And we're going to multi-screen Harkins and AMC theaters (most of the time Harkins). They are clean, up-to-date and at the times we choose to go, not crowded.

It's nice to hear that you have good experiences and that places like that exist.

Obviously your experience is not shared by everyone. If the rest of us had experiences like yours, we would feel differently about going to the theater.

 

[JagdTiger]

- 3D
- 70mm
- IMAX 70mm
- Cinerama

Yeah, Cinerama or Todd-Ao both huge wide screens that are curved and seven (magnetic) stereo plus surround channels but there are only a few theaters which can do this.

 

[zed's dead redemption]

My cinema experience is somewhat different to most on this board.
Up to 1965, going to the "pictures" was a whole night out - around four hours of main feature, B movies (often better than the main), fifteen minutes of cartoons, and a Health and Beauty segment (nudes on beaches, mainly).

The best (snogging) seats cost four shillings, So it was possible to have a night out with a lady for ten bob.

Then, in 1966 (I think), they took out the cartoons and nudes (boo!), went from B movies to D type shorts, and introduced adverts - while cutting the session from four hours to around two and a half. Then kicked one in the nether regions by increasing the ticket price from four shillings to six shillings and sixpence overnight!

Haven't been since. FTA or forget it - it's only a movie!

You certainly live up to your name

 

[JagdTiger]

Back when movies were shown in plush movie houses, people even dressed up to go to the show.

Then came the drive ins, every one loved those best of all, especially if you were a teenager. But even If you were old, and married you could bring your kids in Free! You could even bring your own food, and drink of choice.

Now, at least in most towns, the movie house is a cement block, multi screen box, full of coughing people, and not a place you want be... especially during Flu season. LOL a2

Not too many drives-ins anymore, the property is too valuable.

 

[cube]

Yeah, Cinerama or Todd-Ao both huge wide screens that are curved and seven (magnetic) stereo plus surround channels but there are only a few theaters which can do this.

There were few Cinerama theaters and even fewer are left, but the format stopped being used decades ago.

 

[JagdTiger]

My last time was around 2004, since then, nothing, but the true is that I almost don't watch movies anymore...

The last time I was in a theater was mid 1990s.

 

[eyoungren]

It's not about the size of the screen alone, but also how much the screen fills your field of vision that affects the experience. With these multiplex theaters, they are just boxes with a slanted floor and a screen on one end of them. This is not a theater. There's a difference. Anyone who has attended both classic theaters and current multiplex theaters can see and experience the difference.

There are very few good seating locations in modern theaters. In contrast, at home, with proper planning, the main seating area is always in a "good spot". It doesn't take a lot of money to create a very enjoyable home theater experience. But it DOES require that people think a little bit and not follow the crowd. No matter what my budget was at the time, I was able to create an enjoyable AV home theater that was more effective than if I spent 10x as much.

Of all my friends, family, and acquaintances, none of them have good setups, and they all spent way too much for sound systems are that way out of proportion. But that's what sells, so that's what they buy.



It's nice to hear that you have good experiences and that places like that exist. View attachment 844088 Obviously your experience is not shared by everyone. If the rest of us had experiences like yours, we would feel differently about going to the theater.

Perhaps I am not an moviephile, audiophile or videophile. I grew up in the 70s and 80s where going to see a film was a big deal.

But then, flying on an airplane was a big deal too and look how that turned out.

In any case, I like to see movies on screens as large as I can get them. My wife and I have a preference for the middle in the top rows. Which is why we leave early and get there about 20-30 mins before a movie starts. Gives you enough time to get snacks and find a seat.

My wife hates the ads and the previews but she's come to accept this as the price of getting a good seat. Perhaps our seat choice is not how you'd see it or want it and home theater is a better experience for you. That's fine.

But I'm by no means a connoisseur. I'm just there to have a good time and escape life for three hours in a dark air-conditioned room.

 

[JagdTiger]

My very first job was working at a Movie Theater as a Doorman. The manager was an old-timer and she insisted that we be called doorman instead of ushers. It was a fun job and easy to do as the basic job responsibility that I had was taking tickets and making sure the lobby was clean up during the movie. Met many good friends working there and I'm still good friends to a lot of them to this day. The movie theater was a two screen movie theater with huge screens (I can't remember the size of the screen) and the projectionist was a union job (which was kind of downer). I remember watching the ending of "Purple Rain", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Romancing the Stone" that to this day I can practically say the lines by almost perfectly or know the order of the songs sung in "Purple Rain" at the end.

The funniest part of the job was changing the movie titles on the marquee. It was an old fashion marquee that high enough where I had to get the ladder out to climb on a small boardwalk that was in front of the marquee sign. I loved when it snow a lot as the snowplow would pile up the snow under the marquee and when I was done with putting up the new movies I would jump off the marquee. Though I had to make sure the manager wasn't working that night (which she normally didn't do).

I haven't been to movie theater in about 2 years as I do most of my movie watching on TV, plus I really haven't liked the movies that have been made lately that make me say to myself "I'm going to the movie theatre to watch it". I do like the watching a theatrical movie better at the theater than at home as the overall experience is much better in my opinion.

The projectionist unions are not doing to good, the independent theaters and studio ones don’t want to pay a decent wage.
[doublepost=1561047192][/doublepost]

I don't know in the US, but it does happen.

As well as having films which are not shown in the original language.

They do or did with very long pictures so people could relax, bathroom and get soda and candies.
[doublepost=1561047259][/doublepost]

Yes cinema is on the decline. It’s way too expensive for what you can get at home these days. Whenever I have been to the cinema I always feel ripped off by the prices they charge for food/drinks. So we already pay over a tenner (each) to watch the film, then we have to pay extortionate prices for food/drinks (unless we smuggle in our own), then we also have to watch advertisements (trailers) before the film start too.

If you need a pee you either have to hold it in or miss a few minutes of the film.

So much more convenient to watch in the comfort of your home these days

This is how theaters make their money not so much on films but soda, candies etc.

 

[sracer]

Perhaps I am not an moviephile, audiophile or videophile. I grew up in the 70s and 80s where going to see a film was a big deal.

But then, flying on an airplane was a big deal too and look how that turned out.

In any case, I like to see movies on screens as large as I can get them. My wife and I have a preference for the middle in the top rows. Which is why we leave early and get there about 20-30 mins before a movie starts. Gives you enough time to get snacks and find a seat.

My wife hates the ads and the previews but she's come to accept this as the price of getting a good seat. Perhaps our seat choice is not how you'd see it or want it and home theater is a better experience for you. That's fine.

But I'm by no means a connoisseur. I'm just there to have a good time and escape life for three hours in a dark air-conditioned room.

I'm in total agreement... and it seems my experiences mirror yours to a great extent. That is why I lament the decline of the theater experience. I know the difference because I've experienced the difference.

 

[Mousse]

The food and drink is optional!

If you have disciplined kids, maybe. My kids always want popcorn and soda and candy. The last time I HAD to take them to the movies, I smuggled in a 1 lbs bag of peanut butter M&M. I ate half the bag. The kids wanted to see the latest Toy Story movie and couldn't wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray.

 

[JagdTiger]

Yes, food, especially the drinks, not only raises the already high price, but complicates the movie viewing process.
[doublepost=1561040977][/doublepost]
Although I have heard of them, not familiar with how expensive (without a conversion formula) shillings and bobs were for that time frame. As a 10 year old in 1963 (US), I want to say that weekend matinees were as low as $.35 (35 cents).

At one time it only cost a nickel.

 

[cube]

They do or did with very long pictures so people could relax, bathroom and get soda and candies.

It is fine if the movie was designed with an intermission, otherwise it is not.

 

[JagdTiger]

There were few Cinerama theaters and even fewer are left, but the format stopped being used decades ago.

Too expensive to continue to produce.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If new releases came out to stream at the same time, I’d never go to the cinema again.

As it is I go maybe once a year. The last time was SW episode 8.

As it happens, I tend to go to the cinema around once a year, and I far prefer small, art house cinemas than a large Omniplex type of place.

One movie I had intended to see - The Favourite - for a variety of reasons, I ended up missing.

Yes, snacks are optional, but pleasant - if I am watching something of the sort at home, I will usually have a beer or wine and crisps - chips to Our Transatlantic Cousins (and yes, delights such as nachos are always welcome), while, on the rare occasions I watch a movie in a cinema, I will have bottled water.

 

[cube]

Too expensive.

It could be digital now, like digital IMAX which uses two projectors.

 

[MisterSavage]

I resonate with the pee comment. If not sufficiently dehydrated, I usually wait for what seems like a lull and then make a mad dash.
[doublepost=1561037741][/doublepost]
I’m usually ok with trailers, except some of them go way overboard and tell you too much of the story in advance. They want you to see it too badly, they can actually ruin it in some circumstances, however, I rarely go to the theater blind, ie not having watched some trailers or read about movie in advance.

There's an app for that called "Run Pee" that alerts you when it's a good time to bolt!

For spoilers I meant it's hard to avoid them when reading some news feeds while you're waiting for the home release.

We are infrequent theater goers, but for us, the idea is the experience. I have at least three films on my list for this year: Toy Story 4, Frozen 2 and Star Wars. Two more coming up, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure sequel and Top Gun 2.

As big as your guys' home theaters are and as badass as your sound system, I guarantee you that unless you're rolling in money you do not have a screen as big as the one at the theater in your living room. I guarantee you that you do not have a multi-million dollar sound system.

My home theater does not come close to a movie theater's screen and sound BUT it is "good enough" for us to enjoy it.

 

[chrono1081]

If you stopped or slowed going to the movies what was your reason?

Because theaters are full of nothing but crappy super hero movies anymore. In the rare chance something else does come out I’ll go see it.

 

[dk001]

After slow and painful death of Blockbuster video stores i think Cinema theaters are heading on the same direction due to recent digital and technological revolution, home entertainment hub and current lifestyle. What do you think?

The last movie i watched at the movies was for Michael Douglass many many years ago and that was it , i don't know i am feeling the attraction and excitement is just not there anymore.

If you stopped or slowed going to the movies what was your reason?

I seldom go to a theater anymore. When I do go it is usually to an older theater taking my granddaughter. She gets a real kick out of it.

Reasons I seriously cut back:
1. Cost. For a family of four with basic snacks the cost here in SoCal is $100.00 USD or more.
2. My home system and access to movies that were released in theaters just a month or two.
3. New concepts or movies that catch my fancy and are not "reruns" or "remakes".

and one extra reason - most theaters have become cookie cutter. Same tasteless snacks, generic decorations, indifferent employees, and want you in / out as efficiently as possible.

Just for grins, one aspect I have come to look for, theaters that have been redone to entice families. The movies may be older but the atmosphere is much more old school theater. Take my GD to these occasionally to watch something she enjoys.

 

[Healer Flame]

Wow i can see cost and lack of good movies are the most deterrent. Many also not happy about the noise and disrespectful patrons inside the theater.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Same here. The one thing for me that really sucks about waiting for home release is trying to dodge spoilers.

Agreed. But I keep a pretty low profile around movies I want to see online.
I saw the last SW releases at midnight on release day for that very reason.
[doublepost=1561053136][/doublepost]

Yes, food, especially the drinks, not only raises the already high price, but complicates the movie viewing process.
[doublepost=1561040977][/doublepost]
Although I have heard of them, not familiar with how expensive (without a conversion formula) shillings and bobs were for that time frame. As a 10 year old in 1963 (US), I want to say that weekend matinees were as low as $.35 (35 cents).

It’s an age thing! I can’t go half as long as I used to!
[doublepost=1561053241][/doublepost]

If you have disciplined kids, maybe. My kids always want popcorn and soda and candy. The last time I HAD to take them to the movies, I smuggled in a 1 lbs bag of peanut butter M&M. I ate half the bag. The kids wanted to see the latest Toy Story movie and couldn't wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray.

I can’t stand popcorn. Even the smell makes me a little queasy.
[doublepost=1561053344][/doublepost]

As it happens, I tend to go to the cinema around once a year, and I far prefer small, art house cinemas than a large Omniplex type of place.

One movie I had intended to see - The Favourite - for a variety of reasons, I ended up missing.

Yes, snacks are optional, but pleasant - if I am watching something of the sort at home, I will usually have a beer or wine and crisps - chips to Our Transatlantic Cousins (and yes, delights such as nachos are always welcome), while, on the rare occasions I watch a movie in a cinema, I will have bottled water.

I recall having the cinema to just myself and Mrs AFB on one occasion due to an administrative error by the cinema.

Bliss!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I recall having the cinema to just myself and Mrs AFB on one occasion due to an administrative error by the cinema.

Bliss!

Yes, I love almost empty cinemas, too.

Occasionally, the art house movies I like to watch (sometimes) in small art house cinemas are almost gloriously empty.

These days, I'll have a mineral water during the movie, and quite often, a coffee and a juice (or water) and perhaps a sandwich in their nice coffee shop (most art house cinemas have very good coffee shops) either/or/and before or after the movie. Very relaxing.

 

[JagdTiger]

Yes, I love almost empty cinemas, too.

Occasionally, the art house movies I like to watch (sometimes) in small art house cinemas are almost gloriously empty.

These days, I'll have a mineral water during the movie, and quite often, a coffee and a juice (or water) and perhaps a sandwich in their nice coffee shop (most art house cinemas have very good coffee shops) either/or/and before or after the movie. Very relaxing.

There were some horror and other (x) rated films shown in art houses.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

There were some horror and other (x) rated films shown in art houses.

I daresay that there are, but this is not where my personal preference lies.