Was wondering about the movie theater-going habits of posters.
Personally, I remember going to 1 movie at the theater in 2006: 'Superman Returns'. It's possible that there were 1 or 2 others but I don't recall for sure. In 2005 I saw maybe 6 films; 4 that I know of (those scored by John Williams), and probably 2 or 3 that my wife drug me to. The point is, there are few releases that I'm even interested in seeing and most of the time when I do go, I am discouraged from returning to the theater for a long time...
This may be one reason for my lack of interest in most current film scores but that's another discussion board.
Most of the movies that I enjoy most happen to have been made before I was born (1964).
My wife is of another mind: a movie is like a newspaper. Why would you want yesterday's paper when you can get today's paper?
So, what are your movie theater-going habits?
Movie theater-going habits
-
AndyDursin
- Posts: 34332
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:45 pm
- Location: RI
Estiban last year was a busy year for me but we managed to see probably somewhere around a dozen films in the theater. I agree there do seem to be fewer and fewer films being produced that truly strike my fancy -- studio interference, the rise of test/focus groups, all of that is combining to make cinema that's less compelling and more generic overall (I am speaking generally of course). In my John Landis interview from last year he mentioned that most "big studio movie" directors have less power than when he was directing, that they're unwilling to take chances or place the sorts of trust in filmmakers (at least on "blockbuster" movies) that they were once willing to do.
As far as the film-going experience ranks, I enjoy seeing films in a darkened theater and SOMETIMES with other people around. SNAKES ON A PLANE was a fun experience with an audience and watching it at home in a small group (much less alone) does not duplicate that experience. On the other hand the outrageous ticket prices and occasional chatty audience member does make home theater so appealing! (and if you've got a good TV and sound system, you're not missing a whole lot on that end too).
You are also not alone in terms of film scores. To me there is a parallel to be drawn there. My interest in MODERN film scoring has declined rapidly over the last 10 years. We've had this debate on this board before and I think a lot of us here generally feel that it is a very, very DARK time for film music. The amount of soundtracks I've purchased over the years has dropped like a rock...I probably purchased less than a handful of NEW film scores (older re-issues are another story, I will gladly give Intrada my dough any time).
BTW you are free to talk about film music here any time -- we've got a few refugees from the FSM board here, which has become populated by a few cranks who shall be nameless and seem to be ruining the experience for the rest of the fine film music fans who DO post regularly.
As far as the film-going experience ranks, I enjoy seeing films in a darkened theater and SOMETIMES with other people around. SNAKES ON A PLANE was a fun experience with an audience and watching it at home in a small group (much less alone) does not duplicate that experience. On the other hand the outrageous ticket prices and occasional chatty audience member does make home theater so appealing! (and if you've got a good TV and sound system, you're not missing a whole lot on that end too).
You are also not alone in terms of film scores. To me there is a parallel to be drawn there. My interest in MODERN film scoring has declined rapidly over the last 10 years. We've had this debate on this board before and I think a lot of us here generally feel that it is a very, very DARK time for film music. The amount of soundtracks I've purchased over the years has dropped like a rock...I probably purchased less than a handful of NEW film scores (older re-issues are another story, I will gladly give Intrada my dough any time).
BTW you are free to talk about film music here any time -- we've got a few refugees from the FSM board here, which has become populated by a few cranks who shall be nameless and seem to be ruining the experience for the rest of the fine film music fans who DO post regularly.
-
Carlson2005
I probably saw fewer films in the cinema than I have in decades last year for a number of reasons - some films I might otherwise have seen were shot on video which always looks really bad on a big screen; they were only playing at local cinemas with really bad presentation standards (one new multiplex constantly runs films out of focus on the assumption that if it's too much of a problem someone will eventually tell an usher); the best local cinema catching fire and being shut for refurbishment for several months; the high price of travelling to towns playing limited releases (it now costs £6.50 to go into central London by train); but perhaps most of all, the fact that last year there were so few films that struck me as being worth leaving the house for. For all the complaining about 2005 - which I thought was a pretty decent year - 2006 was one of the worst in recent memory for major films for me. I'm pretty sure that if I added up the films I did see in the cinema last year, half of them are probably revivals and reruns. Still, there were compensations at the end of the year with Casino Royale, Pan's Labyrinth and Borat, but it was a very long wait for the quality to pick up!
If I go to see a movie nowadays it is most always at a matinee show which costs $3.50 at a second-rate theater. I cannot stand to pay upwards of $10.00 for a show only to walk out of the theater wondering if it was all worth it. Honestly, most films I'd rather just wait to see at home as a rental. The films they're putting out now are not worth my money. And film scores have gotten worse I feel as time has gone on. With the passings of Goldsmith and Bernstein there is a big hole in film scoring that I can't see being filled sufficiently by anyone int eh same way. It makes me shudder to think what will happen after Williams dies.
I gravitate to older films now- mostly because the stories and films themselevs are good and have more integrity than a lot of the junk that passes for film these days. If the movie is an event movie (CASINO ROYALE) I'll pay the big bucks to see it ont he big screen. But I only saw 7 movies in the theaters for 2006....which says a lot about the films they're releasing. I'm not interested.
I gravitate to older films now- mostly because the stories and films themselevs are good and have more integrity than a lot of the junk that passes for film these days. If the movie is an event movie (CASINO ROYALE) I'll pay the big bucks to see it ont he big screen. But I only saw 7 movies in the theaters for 2006....which says a lot about the films they're releasing. I'm not interested.