Oscars = DVDs are evil?
 

DVDs got a real bashing at the Oscars by Hollywood's elite. DVDs offer films (and thus the infrastructure) a new life, and in a lot of cases the only life it has (straight to DVD films). I understand the movie-going experience at a theater but that has its negatives as well, at least to us as the audience. I just don't get the need for them to be intent on throwing them under the bus at the same time as capitalizing on their well established popularity. Of course, I'm probably preaching to the choir here! Also, I thought it deserved a discussion on the DVD page since it has to do about DVDs and the impact on them. Will this stance by Hollywood have a negative impact?

i'm watching the oscars and didn't notice anything specifically anti-dvd. there were a few anti-piracy things. why dont you give some examples

He's definitely right. The MPAA prez said himself that movies are to be seen on a giant screen with sound coming from all around.

I have only seen about half the show, but noticed the same sentiment. I know DVDs have given me a much larger appreciation for film. Maybe I don't go to theater that often (its like I went a ton in the past either), but I sure as hell buy a ton more movies.

They're basically trying to get more people into theaters in a last ditch effort to save them. Well if they keep turning out dreck for movies and the theater going experience doesn't improve greatly, it's a dead market.

Then, they should address the cost of theatrical ticket than blaming DVD.

For those like myself who didn't watch the Oscars tonight, it would help to have a clue what you are talking about.

As for the theater "experience," here's a couple things they can do to make it more enticing - get rid of the half dozen or so TV commercials, and put ushers back in the theater to shut up or throw out people who insist on talking throughout the movie.

They sure did. If the public quit buying them for a couple months the bastards would change their tune. DVD is the only thing keeping them afloat. A classic case of biting the hand that feeds you.

As someone who saw all 3 Indiana Jones movies in the theater this weekend, I completely understood what they were saying. Movies are meant to be in a theater. No DVD, Blu-ray or holographic disc will ever be able to replace that.

There are two instances for sure as mentioned earlier, which the MPAA president came out and said something along the lines that movies are an experience to be seen at a theater on the big screen (not verbatim, maybe someone can get a quote off their recording?) and Jake Gyllenhaal "read" something about "can you imagine watching the classic epics on a portable DVD" (again, not verbatim).

I remember him quoting something along the lines of "No director has ever shot a movie thinking this will look great on dvd." Then he goes on to talk about how much better the cinema experience is, with sound coming from all around, etc.

why not do both? that is mostly what i do. watch in theater and then later on DVD. it's a win win!

yes, but they do shoot very much with DVD in mind. think Peter Jackson and his "Production Diaries", countless other Directors shooting scenes, extras specifically for the DVD market. it can't be hurting too much when one who supports DVD so highly gets a Best Director Oscar!

The President basically said in his speech that you can't get the effect of movies from a DVD, bot can from seeing it in a theater. That's pretty anti-DVD to me. "No director shot a film saying "This would look great on DVD". DVDs are a way of bringing the GREATNESS of a theater-presented film to the home - not as a replacement/substitute.

That message was littered throughout the entire show.

There are some movies that just can't hold the same magic when transferred from the silver screen to your TV. I understood where he was coming from, but with ticket prices and the quality of the average movie, why not wait until it comes out on DVD? Not all movies loss something on the transfer.

Seeing all the montages made me realize how much more I'd go to the theater if the ones around here played some of those films here and there.

Totally.

Dear Academy,

Do you want me to go to the movies? Make better movies. Lower the price of everything. Soundproof the walls. Put the projector bulb at full brightness. Give me seats with a decent sightline.

Do you really want me to go to the movies? Serve real drinks. Serve real food. Put me in a real theater with reclining/rocking seats angled toward the screen and a screen at or below my eyeline.

And undoubtedly, most importantly, GO 70MM!!

Good point, there happen to be alot of "DVD-friendly" directors out there, just to name a few off the top of my head...

Peter Jackson
Kevin Smith
David Fincher
Tarantino

Would be interesting to know their "take" on this.

We've had this discussion before. People have their preferences. Nothing's going to change drastically.

We are currently expericing these same elements right at home.
I think this statement is an attempt to revitalized the overall movie going attendance, since DVDs are gradually decimating the theater business. When HD-DVDs debut on the market, the odds are going to be even greater.

well if Hollywood actually made some good movies I'd go... but until then.

That's funny, because with the pitifully small screens at most recently-built theaters, I've thought "Can you imagine watching the classic epics on THESE screens??"

BTW Jake was Oscar-robbed from his performance in "Bubble Boy". :)

I still believe in going to the theatre to see a movie, the whole theatrical experince is still amazing. But atleast dvds capture the quality for the next best experince.

That sound being screaming infants, cellphones and beepers....

I'd settle for never letting Reese Witherspoon star in another film again...

Yes, that is the truth. Except the price of movie tickets is the main reason why alot of people aren't going to the movies anymore or only a few times a year. If Hollywood wants to bitchslap DVD maybe they need to do something to lower the ticket prices to their cineplexes. The ticket prices are bad enough, but the price of popcorn, candy and drinks when you go is simply outrageous. I am sure nothing I have said here is a surprise to anybody.

If ticket prices were lower, more people would go to see movies, instead of paying for the dvd which would pretty much cover the cost of admission were it at the theater.

I think largely, the box office struggled in 2005 due to high gas prices, nothing else.

But the price of admission to a movie for an adult should be $3 bucks anywhere.

Movies were made to be seen on the big screen, but for most people the small screen is now more accessible and economical.

Besides, most movies in 2005 stunk.

PS -- I realize that the theaters that Academy members attend are presenting films in the manner that they were meant to be seen. I openly invite the Academy to attend a movie with me here in Springfield, IL.

You see, we only have one theater company here, and they have no RESPECT for the movies or the audience. You see, here in Springfield I sat through X-Men 2 being presented in glorious MONO sound due to the incompetence of the manager on duty. Here in Springfield I was subjected to a ruined print of Alien Vs. Predator (no comments as to the quality of the film itself, please) on just it's fourth run through a projector.

Here in Springfield the auditorium is indeed a daycare for pre-pubescent teens and drunkards that the operators refuse to properly deal with. This is such a problem that shortly after I moved here the local media was tantalized with the story of a theater patron who turned vigilante. After repeatedly asking the children to be quiet and multiple trips to the lobby to complain to the management produced no satisfactory resolution, the movie lover grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the children.

It isn't the prices that keep me away. I would gladly pay MORE for a quality luxury theater experience. I would love to attend every movie in its full and intended glory. But as long as theaters continue to give piss poor presentations and refuse to enforce common sense etiquette, I will continue to forgo the theater experience in lieu of the comfort of my living room.

Thank you for your disregard,


Abob Teff
Self Proclaimed Movie and Guest Service Guru

Just as video games and pinball machines were meant to be played in an arcade. Home is better.:D

It's sad sometimes that things change with time. Atmosphere changes. Sure, there are a few good theaters around. It's just not worth the time, energy and $ to actually make the effort to "go out". To slide past asshole after asshole and put up with all the dis-respect is just silly. Screaming teens, smelling a strangers fart that hangs in the air, beeping....buzzing....vibrating....kick to the back of the chair...and all the other distractions have ruined it for me.

If they want me to see their films, they had better make sure that it gets to the Gut-O-Plex downstairs. At least there it will be respected and the bottom line....it will be properly enjoyed.

Hollywood does put out good movies. I think all of this year's nominees were deserving, but unless you live in NY or LA they were a bit more difficult to see. My opinion: start funding the good movies and people will go. I actually don't mind paying 6-10 bucks for the experience as long as I don't come out disappointed.

Also, we have the internet. It is full of wonderful information (much like this forum) where people say, "that sucked" or "that was amazing." The treatments go beyond that also into the realm of "if you liked this, then you will like this..." This makes us all more informed consumers and if they want to sell more product then they should figure their own crap out. That's their job, not ours.

As far as DVD's are concerned, sometimes it's better to know that I will get to hear the entire movie, not have the back of my chair kicked and be able to get up and pee after downing a large drink. I had this experience with "Good Night, and Good Luck." Only about 10 people in the theater. Then, six or seven high school kids come in and start making fun of the film in the back. People tell them to shut the hell up; yelling ensues, at that point you are just looking over your shoulder. Under optimal conditions; yes, I'd love to see a film I love on the big screen, but usually I end up next to the guy eating a 12 inch sub he snuck in from Subway.

amen brother. 'The New World' should have been filmed in it's entirety and released in 70mm... for shame.

Why not, with a projector system and quality surround, there is no difference in home vs theater, well except a bunch of assholes aren't talking, the popcorn is not nasty and you can pause to take a piss. Yeah its bigger at the theater, but the damn room is bigger, the sound at my home is always better since at the theater it is too damn loud. I still go to the theater on occassion, but if I had to pick between theaters or DVDs - DVDs hands down.

Oh, and it would not matter if movies were $1, I would still pick DVD. I also think a large segment of society would as well. Prices are not the main thing killing the theaters - as I said, rude people, poor service and clueless theater operators are killing the theater. Combine that with top of the line home theaters and why waste time going out.

The dvd is the reason why Crash won.

Yeah, I heard Lion Gate carpet-bombed the academy members with Crash DVDs, by a large margin over the other candidates who had to send out screeners.

you could have fooled me, I thought the editing was atrocious

and now they actually have to buy the expanded director's cut in the near future - Lion's Gate will be laughing all it's way to bank now.

Going to the movies is fun, but as a student it can get to be pretty expensive.

If I take my girlfriend out for a movie, it's 6 bucks for each ticket, and invariably she'll want some sort of candy (3-4 bucks), and I might get a soda (another 3-4 bucks). In relation to some of you in different areas, these prices might seem cheap, but that's 20 bucks to see a movie right there. That isn't taking into account the inept workers at the theatre, or the 13 year old kids who've yet to learn that being loud doesn't equal being funny.

Conversely, I could go to a local place and rent the DVD for 3 bucks, go get some candy for a buck, and some soda for another dollar. I've just spent 15 less dollars for the same thing.

I personally enjoy going to the theatre more, especially if I am confident in the film being good, or at the very least entertaining, but at the rate that Hollywood puts out crap, I'm getting to the point where I wait for DVD on the majority of movies I want to see.

Just my opinion.

I respectfully disagree. I think they should RAISE ticket prices. That way if you are paying $20 to see a movie, you are going to make damn sure that you are going to SEE that damn movie and not talk throughout it. No one's going to pay $20 to sit there and talk throughout the movie. They obviously pay $9 to talk throughout a movie, but maybe if the ticket prices were $20, they wouldn't be so nonattentive.

Nothing beats seeing a movie on a large screen in a theater. Nothing. But the cons of going to a theater completely outweigh the pros.

Higher prices would weed out all the riff raff. (well, in theory). I used to love going to theaters, but with all the screaming infants (I've been in PG-13 movies where there were not one, not two, but THREE screaming babies in the audience and the damn parents wouldn't do anything drastic like take the infant to the lobby), cell phones, & talking, I refuse to go.

And there's absolutely no movies on the horizon that I would want to see that would make me endure the distractions.

"sound coming from all around"? the only sound ive had coming from all around in the past 10 years of theater going is noisy kids and noisy adults. it totally takes me out of the theater experience. sorry, i dont want that theater experience anymore if i dont need to. besides, these big wigs are watching these films in their own private theaters as well. theyre not at the cinema cineplex.

#2- you want me to watch your films, give me the WHOLE film. film now is a watered down edited version of the DVD because the MPAA sucks, and along with chain cinemas, dont think we can handle it. if you care about film, let the whole vision be seen, not just what you can sell to the pg-13 audience.

Since their movie came out in May, what where they supposed to do? Send out notes asking them to remember the movie? Every studio sends out screeners.

that's why I am not seeing 'The Hills Have Eyes' remake in the theatre - cause it's alreadly been promised the full NC-17 version will get released as such on video.

I'd pay more if more theatres barred clueless parents from bringing in their kids under the age of 5

I'm debating this very thing myself. I like to go see scary movies in theatres, because I think it adds to the atmosphere and whatnot, however from the things I've heard from this film's director, I'm wondering if waiting for DVD would be my best option. I loved High Tension, but I saw that unrated. I can't imagine what the R version must've looked like.