Going offline for a few weeks; unplugging, maxin’, relaxn’, and most especially - getting hitched.

See you in March.

- is the title of a great “crosstalk” between Onion AV club film critics Noel Murry and Scott Tobias. This is the second time in a month I’ve referenced The Onion, don’t discount their credibility especially when it comes to all things zeitgeist (Yes, yes, yes! Via said zeitgeist, I’ve finally been able to reference that o-so-timely word!).

Seriously, though - this subject I believe is forefront many cineastes minds, including mine.

RARELY do I go to the movie theatres anymore. I’ll give you one reason why that trumps all others:

THE 2WENTY

Kristine and I never watch the ‘tube, er T.V. Never. We have free cable and we never turn it on. We don’t subscribe to magazines, we’re generally insulated from the morning papers, and it’s rare we listen to the radio.

When you function outside, or perhaps just to the left of “traditional media”, you’ll notice your tolerance for advertising bombardments is extremely low.

In general, I think that’s a good thing.

CUT TO: two weeks ago Kristine and I venture to the nearest Regal Cinema chain to catch CHILDREN OF MEN. Our reward for arriving promptly before showtime - a 2wenty minute in- your-face, too loud, can’t escape, it 14′ tall commercial.

Forget screaming children, ringing cellphones, or bored high school kids with nothing else to do - for my $18.50, the 2wenty is reason enough to stay at home.

Netflix doesn’t have commercials.

Thing is, CHILDREN OF MEN was fantastic on the big screen. But, had free movie tix not arrived in the mail over the holidays, I would have waited for the DVD.

Would I like to see more movies in the theatre? Sure. But only if:

1.) The projection looks BEYOND STUNNING. I also saw LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE in the theatre (a major chain), and it must have been the combination of the worst projector used and the worst print the studio released. Way too many scratches and pops, dimlly lit (bulb going out anyone?), and washed out colors - in short ugly. Bring on digital projection.

2.) For $9.50 you don’t show me any commercials OR

3.) For $3.50 you show me a two minutes worth before the previews run.

Barring that, I will stay home, I will wait for the DVD (we probably take in 10-12 movies/ month), and I will not cry for missing the theatrical experience.

If there’s a problem, a fix that needs to be made to get more people excited about a night out at the movie theatre, look no further than my list above. I feel like it’s pretty simple, really.

Nauseating 3-D glasses for summer blockbusters a la James Cameron are not going to persuade me to purchase more movie tickets.

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Now here’s a kicker - not only am I a movie maker, enthusiast, and cinephile, but we watch movies at home on an 8 year-old, 19″ color tv hooked to an equally ancient DVD player and stero speakers.

You could also take this one step further by saying even HD-DVD players wouldn’t entice me to upgrade my home theatre - but that’s a different story in itself.

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Concerning The Onion article, Chicagoian Scott Tobias takes the Cinema-purist route, laying claims that one cannot really “see” a film, as entertainment or as art, unless in a theatre with an audience. On the other hand, Arkansas resident Noel Murry points out the main hassles and short comings of going to the theatre as opposed to catching the DVD at home from his couch.

Both writers, make valid and or sympathetic arguements, but here’s a quote from Murry that I liked the most:

Mainly what I’d like to choke off is the self-righteous prickliness that accompanies the whole big-screen-vs.-small-screen debate. Cineastes get overprotective about “the vision of the artist” and the solemnity of the theatrical experience. And I’m sorry, that’s not the world we live in now, and arguably hasn’t been the world we’ve lived in since the invention of television…I agree that there’s an ideal for movie-watching, and that ideal is sitting in a theater with an appreciative audience and a well-lit, enormous screen. But if that ideal isn’t possible, viewers adjust, and snobby cineastes shouldn’t blame them for adjusting. Remember, all I said was that “appreciation might be enhanced” by a big-screen presentation. Not “created.” If a movie really works, it should work whether it’s seen on a TV, a laptop, or a bedsheet flapping in the breeze. You can’t micromanage the experience anymore. Let go.“

You’ll notice much of that refrain can also be applied to digital downloads, changing media formats/ landscapes, user preferences etc.

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This is a really good read for film enthusiasts, not necessarily an argument, but essentially a crosstalk as described, complete with a whole mess of “audience” interaction (comments).

Murry and Tobias even jump in during the feedback - a model all media outlets should find inviting.

READ IT