Simultaneous DVD and Theatrical Release

[bicker]

M. Night Shyamalan says a move to eliminate the window between a film's theatrical release and its debut on video would diminish the artistic integrity of moviemaking.

Uh, no. He seems to have a false impression of what most people do when they see a film in a theater versus when they see a film at home. He says, "When I sit down next to you in a movie theater, we get to share each other's point of view." I can assure him that I have a much more substantive discussion about a film I watch on DVD than one I watch in the theater!

 

[luv2nascar]

I prefer going to the movies - dvd is alright but I love the theater experience.

 

[bicker]

I think I'd love it more if it were more consistent. There are so many accommodations that need to be made now, for folks uninterested in the film distracting the rest of us, for example, that the theater experience is nowhere near as good as the experience in my own home, for anything other than action flicks (and then, I think we're better off with a $15 IMAX presentation instead of a standard Megaplex attempt).

 

[cardaway]

I really like Night but he's way off on this one.

I think it's a great idea. No reason for those who don't go to the theater (me) shouldn't be able to pop the movie in my home theater the same day.

I would say the two crowds are so split right now, they wouldn't lose any money. The people who still go will go.

IMO theaters will always exist as long as people date other people. Not many people are comfortable going to anothers house to watch a movie early in the dating cycle. There will also always be those great older theaters that should show older blockbuster movies. There are movies worth seeing on a giant screen, and those are the ones they should be showing, not Dumb and Dumber.

 

[Free4Life11]

I prefer going to the movies - dvd is alright but I love the theater experience.

Me too. I work at a movie theatre and see probably 3-4 movies a week. It's great. Some movies just need to be seen on the big screen. I don't think they movie studios get that a lot of people like the EXPERIENCE. It's not just about the movie for a lot of people, it's about going out, getting concessions, etc. The movie theatres are doing really well are these news "deluxe" theatres with reserved seating, oversized seats, fancy food, etc.

Sometimes people complain about movie theatre prices but I don't buy it. A couple can get tickets (evening show), a medium popcorn, and two medium drinks for $25. That's not much more than if you went out for dinner...so I don't really see the big deal in it.

Nothing special about watching a DVD at home eating a bag of microwave popcorn IMO. Whoop de doo. I mean it's fun once in a while, but I'd much rather go out to the theatre.

 

[bicker]

I think, in many cases, the experience at home can be far superior to that at the theater. It surely depends on your home and on your theater! Different combinations will yield different comparisons!

I think there are some theaters that are interested in the "experience" you talk about, and indeed they charge about 50% more than other theaters for that premium service, in my experience. That is worth it, but a bit beyond my means as a more-than-occasional thing.

 

[inaminute]

Where can you get an evening movie, popcorn, and two drinks for $25.00? Around here it costs $20.00 just to get into the theatre!

Needless to say we don't go to the movie theater very often--usually a matinee with the grandson to see something he wants to see. Rarely is there a movie I can't wait for on DVD. The theater is just too expensive for what you get in return.

 

[Free4Life11]

Where can you get an evening movie, popcorn, and two drinks for $25.00? Around here it costs $20.00 just to get into the theatre!

Lincoln, Nebraska! Tickets are $8 for evening shows, $6 for matinees, students, and seniors (all day), and $5 for children (all day). Our concessions are very reasonable too, compared to what you pay in larger cities: $9.00 for a medium popcorn (the same size as a large popcorn at AMC Theatres) and two medium drinks.

And this is at a 14-screen, one-year-old theatre. Believe it or not, we DO have people that complain about prices.

If I didn't work at the theatre, I'd definitely not go to movies as much, but I love movies so it works out well for me!

 

[Free4Life11]

I think, in many cases, the experience at home can be far superior to that at the theater. It surely depends on your home and on your theater! Different combinations will yield different comparisons!

That's true, didn't think of that. I guess watching a DVD in my 20" TV in my bedroom (my only TV) is pretty boring...LOL!

 

[graygables]

I think it's a great idea. DH and I *very* rarely go to a movie theater. He has anxiety issues, we can only go to matinees after the "hype" has died down, and then, only if I can find someone to take over DDs "school" for the day. It's a real headache, so we'd rather wait for the DVD. We've gone to 5 movies in 10 years, literally. It's gotten to where we sometimes even forget about something that appealed to us when it opened and we stumble across it at Netflix or Blockbuster a few years later and go, "Oh, wasn't that something we wanted to see?"

It seems to me that it would save studios a tremendous amount in promotion costs, it would get DVD sales out and up *before* any bad press got around if it were a stinker, and, honestly, the majority of people who go to the theater do it for the theater experience, not just to see what's on the screen. I really don't think they would see much of a drop in attendance. As much as I love Shyamalan's work, he's being too much of a diva on this subject.

 

[AllyandJack]

Apparently, M. Night has never had to suffer through a movie with someone kicking his chair or talking on a cell phone or to another person.

I hate movie theaters. There is one that I'll go to....$8.00 ($4.00 for a matinee) and the snacks are reasonable, too. I'll either go first thing Sunday morning or the last show on a Friday night. I'll be the first one there and sit in the back row so nobody can kick me. It's all stadium seating, too. I very rarely break the No Movie Theater Rule - last movie I saw in a theater was Episode III.