I'm gratified that as many theaters survived as have post Covid. The self-inflicted empty pipeline of films has worsened the theatrical prospects but perhaps offers opportunities like rereleases of LOTR and others. I am a movie nerd partly because I saw releases of King Kong and Gone With the Wind in my local movies in Valdosta, GA as a kid (by myself), but of course I was already interested or I wouldn't have gone in the first place. But Fathom Events, Angel Studios, The Chosen episode premieres, and other avenues for getting content into theaters indicates the studios may be ceding ground to unconventional productions and helping bring in some revenue for theaters. And the studios may find it's in their interest to continue releasing their long list of classics from their libraries to foster the theatrical experience, which could encourage, in turn, video sales or streaming viewing of those and other films. What is really missing, I think, is similar to what is happening in our politics, those in charge are out of touch with their publics, the audience willing to try content that is fresh and different, that doesn't pander to progressive values and until those things change, theaters are at risk, maybe for no good reason.
I think the movie theater is dying and will die for a time. Virtual and Augmented Reality will probably capture the visual. The sound is something else, though bone conduction may resolve this.
I do think Hollywood has defaulted to bigger sounds, better effects, better coloring of visuals to cover over poor writing that does not grip people. It no longer works well for most people.
Note, as for the combine social experience, we're seeing it all over the place. I think movie theaters are just another sign.
I would hate to see movie theaters totally die. I knew the moment I saw the link which LOTR clip it must lead to. Absolutely, the ride of the Rohirrim is something that should be experienced in surround-sound on a giant screen. I think culture would be poorer if we couldn’t experience huge moments of emotion, and even “eucatastrophy”, together and in such a way that it triggers our personal emotions. I kind of regret that I didn’t see Avengers: Endgame in theaters just because I’ve now heard how amazing the audience reactions were.
Yes, we were there at one of the first screening of Endgame, which, in a way, was the culmination of a cinematic achievement greater than LOTR, because it wasn’t based on a specific text but told a story through many different movies, it was unique and earned the audience’s vocal enthusiasm. And it seems, so unique that Marvel Studios hasn’t come close to building the same momentum with the mostly scattershot releases since then. But I’ll retain my memories of the few films that made theaters come alive with audience engagement.
Of course LOTR was a grand achievement, when so many things could have gone wrong in the hands of lesser talents, but the MCU films, surely less weighty in themes, had the challenge of a telling a unified story in 23 films, unprecedented as a cinematic project, probably never to be repeated. LOTR as films are wonderful but had to leave out what worked so well in the books to fit three films. Ironically, both "franchises" are now in their mediocrity stage, with Jackson announcing "The Search for Gollum," strip-mining Tolkien's notes and back stories, and the Prime series indicating their producers are simply milking the IP in the current creativity crisis, while Disney is looking for a way to get that ol' Marvel magic back after going for woke, resulting in a multiverse of so-so films. This proves Goldman's maxim truer than ever.
I'm gratified that as many theaters survived as have post Covid. The self-inflicted empty pipeline of films has worsened the theatrical prospects but perhaps offers opportunities like rereleases of LOTR and others. I am a movie nerd partly because I saw releases of King Kong and Gone With the Wind in my local movies in Valdosta, GA as a kid (by myself), but of course I was already interested or I wouldn't have gone in the first place. But Fathom Events, Angel Studios, The Chosen episode premieres, and other avenues for getting content into theaters indicates the studios may be ceding ground to unconventional productions and helping bring in some revenue for theaters. And the studios may find it's in their interest to continue releasing their long list of classics from their libraries to foster the theatrical experience, which could encourage, in turn, video sales or streaming viewing of those and other films. What is really missing, I think, is similar to what is happening in our politics, those in charge are out of touch with their publics, the audience willing to try content that is fresh and different, that doesn't pander to progressive values and until those things change, theaters are at risk, maybe for no good reason.
I think the movie theater is dying and will die for a time. Virtual and Augmented Reality will probably capture the visual. The sound is something else, though bone conduction may resolve this.
I do think Hollywood has defaulted to bigger sounds, better effects, better coloring of visuals to cover over poor writing that does not grip people. It no longer works well for most people.
Note, as for the combine social experience, we're seeing it all over the place. I think movie theaters are just another sign.
I would hate to see movie theaters totally die. I knew the moment I saw the link which LOTR clip it must lead to. Absolutely, the ride of the Rohirrim is something that should be experienced in surround-sound on a giant screen. I think culture would be poorer if we couldn’t experience huge moments of emotion, and even “eucatastrophy”, together and in such a way that it triggers our personal emotions. I kind of regret that I didn’t see Avengers: Endgame in theaters just because I’ve now heard how amazing the audience reactions were.
In June, extended editions of LOTR return to theaters. Round up some teens and 20somethings!
Yes, we were there at one of the first screening of Endgame, which, in a way, was the culmination of a cinematic achievement greater than LOTR, because it wasn’t based on a specific text but told a story through many different movies, it was unique and earned the audience’s vocal enthusiasm. And it seems, so unique that Marvel Studios hasn’t come close to building the same momentum with the mostly scattershot releases since then. But I’ll retain my memories of the few films that made theaters come alive with audience engagement.
Hmmmm.... I'm not voting for Marvel over LOTR in terms of "cinematic achievement." Maybe financial? Of course.
Of course LOTR was a grand achievement, when so many things could have gone wrong in the hands of lesser talents, but the MCU films, surely less weighty in themes, had the challenge of a telling a unified story in 23 films, unprecedented as a cinematic project, probably never to be repeated. LOTR as films are wonderful but had to leave out what worked so well in the books to fit three films. Ironically, both "franchises" are now in their mediocrity stage, with Jackson announcing "The Search for Gollum," strip-mining Tolkien's notes and back stories, and the Prime series indicating their producers are simply milking the IP in the current creativity crisis, while Disney is looking for a way to get that ol' Marvel magic back after going for woke, resulting in a multiverse of so-so films. This proves Goldman's maxim truer than ever.