cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/6578850
After 23 years of film criticism, I was back in front of the screen as a civilian. I had no idea what I would find. --by former NY Times film critic A.O. Scott
Only for IMAX and Dolby. Unless it’s a limited release (i.e. foreign film available in one regular cinema only), I don’t go to the cinema unless I’m watching it in imax or dolby. This means I’ve also started going less and being more selective with what I watch. For example, the last movie I saw in theaters was Oppenheimer in imax, and the next one I’m going to is Dune 2. The rest I just watch at home.
If you have a big screen TV and a good sound system, I would say no.
I stopped going many years ago!
The last straw for me a group of teens taking photos of each other with a flash, can't remember the movie, but it was about 2008.
Big TV, big sound system, fully loaded media library, pause, rewind and my comfortable lounge.
Why would I pay to be uncomfortable, sticky and annoyed by fuckwits!
Yes, and theaters like Alamo will serve you food and have zero tolerance for talking and phones during the movie.
ANMA podcast says yes, along with going to the mall. (I hate that word as an Australian)
Nothing really, I'm just getting old i guess. We would say the shops, but i have seen the Americanisation and people in their teens now call it mall.
For reference im 29
My theater still gives a better experience than what I get at home due to the bigger screen and sound system. That said the loud obnoxious ads they blast at you before the movie starts make going with friends rather pointless and the previews go on forever. It actually makes me angry every time since it costs me $20-30 to go to movie with concessions. So I am going to say no.
There is a drive in theater that is about an hour away I occasionally go to, but other than that I haven't bothered in ages.
I only go to big IMAX shows, eg: Top Gun, Oppenheimer 70mm.
Those types are worth the experience.
I do have a nice home setup, and I know friends that also do... but we all still go to the cinema maybe like once a month. It's just nice to share something with friends and strangers from time to time. Socialize, feel the vibe of the crowd, get surprised, create memories. Being out of home is cool.
Oh of course, going to the movies should be an experience, and it's that shared experience of people watching, reacting, laughing, and crying together on the big screen that makes it magical, regardless of how good your home theater setup is.
I will concede that watching it at home on a tablet or on your TV isn't necessarily worse, just different.
Big-budget blockbusters: often no. I love movies, but the audience is often just too inconsiderate. Some genres more than others. Super-early matinees are how I see these movies now (no Alamo nearby anymore), and I'll just get lunch afterward.
Small-budget movies, 70mm rereleases, classic films still unreleased on disc: yes. These audiences are film fans and they are well-behaved for the most part. Theaters like Nitehawk in Brooklyn (for example) are wonderful for this, but there are many good ones in larger cities.
Depends highly.
Some yes like Oppenheimer or Avatar for visuals or some that need a big screen for the immersion^tmSome absolutely not.
