Comments on: Do Movies Need To Be Seen On The Big Screen? http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/ An Ongoing Case Study in Art & Commerce Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:17:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Self-Reliant Filmmaking » Blog Archive » Cinema vs. Home Theater http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-12952 Self-Reliant Filmmaking » Blog Archive » Cinema vs. Home Theater Wed, 21 Feb 2007 04:49:34 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-12952 [...] There’s an interesting discussion going on at the Onion’s AV Club these days about the relative merits of watching movies in the theater or at home. Noel Murray and Scott Tobias began the discussion in a “Crosstalk” article, and that ingnited a nice little debate in the discussion area. Josh Oakhurst has weighed in on the issue, too (via FresHDV). [...] [...] There’s an interesting discussion going on at the Onion’s AV Club these days about the relative merits of watching movies in the theater or at home. Noel Murray and Scott Tobias began the discussion in a “Crosstalk” article, and that ingnited a nice little debate in the discussion area. Josh Oakhurst has weighed in on the issue, too (via FresHDV). [...]

]]> By: Do Movies Need To Be Seen On The Big Screen? at FresHDV http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-12920 Do Movies Need To Be Seen On The Big Screen? at FresHDV Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:59:43 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-12920 [...] Josh Oakhurst has written some commentary on the issue of Home Theater vs Traditional Theater (that’s “Theatre” for all you folks across the pond). “…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. [...] [...] Josh Oakhurst has written some commentary on the issue of Home Theater vs Traditional Theater (that’s “Theatre” for all you folks across the pond). “…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. [...]

]]> By: Karl http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-11077 Karl Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:03:41 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-11077 Okay I know this debate has been going on for sometime, but me I like going to the theater. However with prices being what they are, and time being a very precious commodity I've become very selective of the films I see in the theater. If I have some interest in in becasue of a cinematographer I like shot it I may go see it because I enjoy seeing his or her work, but a lot of "indies" I do manage to see them on DVD. For movies it seems to be more about the quality then the quantity for me, and with faster release periods happening for movies I usually do see them on the DVD or on-demand circuit. Okay I know this debate has been going on for sometime, but me I like going to the theater. However with prices being what they are, and time being a very precious commodity I’ve become very selective of the films I see in the theater. If I have some interest in in becasue of a cinematographer I like shot it I may go see it because I enjoy seeing his or her work, but a lot of “indies” I do manage to see them on DVD. For movies it seems to be more about the quality then the quantity for me, and with faster release periods happening for movies I usually do see them on the DVD or on-demand circuit.

]]> By: Garrett http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-10896 Garrett Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:32:49 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-10896 I agree completely with Kyle. There's just something about seeing a movie in the theater that tends to make the experience more enjoyable for me. Josh, I know you hate Springfield, but my favorite theater I've ever seen a movie in is the old Springfield 8. It has old, red, velvety chairs and it's atmosphere was truly great. The commercials, while both obnoxious and unnecessary, don't really bother me too much because I just tune them out. To deal with the kids, I have implemented a rule that I will not see anything rated PG-13 or lower in a theater. Obviously this doesn't solve everything as you still get the occasional batch of immature 17 year olds hitting up the R movies, but it helps a bit. This is not to say I'm some theater elitist, because I have no problem sitting at home on my couch watching a movie I've just received via Netflix (a movie-watching parent's best friend). If given the option though, I'll always take the theater. And yes, I stand by that even if you wave a 60+ inch HDTV with an HD-DVD player in front of my face. I agree completely with Kyle. There’s just something about seeing a movie in the theater that tends to make the experience more enjoyable for me. Josh, I know you hate Springfield, but my favorite theater I’ve ever seen a movie in is the old Springfield 8. It has old, red, velvety chairs and it’s atmosphere was truly great.

The commercials, while both obnoxious and unnecessary, don’t really bother me too much because I just tune them out. To deal with the kids, I have implemented a rule that I will not see anything rated PG-13 or lower in a theater. Obviously this doesn’t solve everything as you still get the occasional batch of immature 17 year olds hitting up the R movies, but it helps a bit.

This is not to say I’m some theater elitist, because I have no problem sitting at home on my couch watching a movie I’ve just received via Netflix (a movie-watching parent’s best friend). If given the option though, I’ll always take the theater. And yes, I stand by that even if you wave a 60+ inch HDTV with an HD-DVD player in front of my face.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-10677 Kyle Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:19:43 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-10677 I only go to the movies during weekdays (which can happen for me from time to time as I am a stay at home dad). Yeah, the ads suck big time, but its nothing compared to the onslaught of screaming children and pubescent white suburban kids who insist they are from the "hood" in their attire, language and overall image. Funny thing is, they are not only funny to us other suburbanites, but to the people they are trying to mimic as well. That's what sucks about going to the movies for me. I can deal with the shitty commercials (I'm usually either reading, playing a game on my Treo or something of the like, so I'm not paying attention anyway). Fact is I have two lovely HDTVs in my house. I have a nice Mitsubishi 55" downstairs with surround sound and the whole works. I have a Samsung 32" LCD upstairs that is in the main family area. We watch either movies, kids stuff (Baby Einstein and the like) or stuff we DVR and can skip through the commercials on...that's it. I love it. But!!! It will never live up to going to see a film projected on a screen at the theatre. Personally, it just can't be beat, as long as there's the least amount of humans possible present when I go. Later, Kyle I only go to the movies during weekdays (which can happen for me from time to time as I am a stay at home dad). Yeah, the ads suck big time, but its nothing compared to the onslaught of screaming children and pubescent white suburban kids who insist they are from the “hood” in their attire, language and overall image. Funny thing is, they are not only funny to us other suburbanites, but to the people they are trying to mimic as well.

That’s what sucks about going to the movies for me. I can deal with the shitty commercials (I’m usually either reading, playing a game on my Treo or something of the like, so I’m not paying attention anyway).

Fact is I have two lovely HDTVs in my house. I have a nice Mitsubishi 55″ downstairs with surround sound and the whole works. I have a Samsung 32″ LCD upstairs that is in the main family area. We watch either movies, kids stuff (Baby Einstein and the like) or stuff we DVR and can skip through the commercials on…that’s it. I love it.

But!!! It will never live up to going to see a film projected on a screen at the theatre. Personally, it just can’t be beat, as long as there’s the least amount of humans possible present when I go.

Later,

Kyle

]]> By: glenneroo http://www.joshoakhurst.com/2007/02/05/do-movies-need-to-be-seen-on-the-big-screen/#comment-10658 glenneroo Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:59:17 +0000 http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=392#comment-10658 indeed! The Movies Experience(tm) has gone downhill drastically over the years, with prices going up, quality staying about the same (i.e. somewhere randomly falling between iffy and pretty good) and freaking COMMERCIALS everywhere! WTF? Next thing the MPAA will be telling us is that its all OUR faults for pirating movies... but then again pirates wouldn't go to the movies, they just download online and don't ever pay... so in essence we the "non-pirating" have to suffer by sitting through 20 mins of horribly loud, crappy quality commercials! I have also gone on strike against going to the movies and also just rent DVDs or borrow from my friends the latest releases. I usually have to rip them too JUST TO WATCH because here in Austria we're a different region. My PC is euro, my laptop is US and all i want to do is pop in a freaking DVD and watch it w/o having to use 3 programs first!!!!! SCREW MPAA seriously, buncha greedy bastards! I've been able to convince a number of ppl to stop buying DVDs and going to theatres too in my wake for reasons listed above.. and they all tend to agree. I also can't begin to count the number of people who've gone to a movie and the first thing out of their mouths was, "WHATS WITH ALL THE CRAPPY COMMERCIALS AT THE BEGINNING??" anyways.. i think we've both ranted enough.. time to do something productive ;) indeed! The Movies Experience(tm) has gone downhill drastically over the years, with prices going up, quality staying about the same (i.e. somewhere randomly falling between iffy and pretty good) and freaking COMMERCIALS everywhere! WTF? Next thing the MPAA will be telling us is that its all OUR faults for pirating movies… but then again pirates wouldn’t go to the movies, they just download online and don’t ever pay… so in essence we the “non-pirating” have to suffer by sitting through 20 mins of horribly loud, crappy quality commercials! I have also gone on strike against going to the movies and also just rent DVDs or borrow from my friends the latest releases. I usually have to rip them too JUST TO WATCH because here in Austria we’re a different region. My PC is euro, my laptop is US and all i want to do is pop in a freaking DVD and watch it w/o having to use 3 programs first!!!!! SCREW MPAA seriously, buncha greedy bastards! I’ve been able to convince a number of ppl to stop buying DVDs and going to theatres too in my wake for reasons listed above.. and they all tend to agree. I also can’t begin to count the number of people who’ve gone to a movie and the first thing out of their mouths was, “WHATS WITH ALL THE CRAPPY COMMERCIALS AT THE BEGINNING??”

anyways.. i think we’ve both ranted enough.. time to do something productive ;)

]]>