DRG

Either our theater doesn't get "dotted" prints, or I just don't notice them... and I've seen several of the movies they are supposed to inflict, including Kill Bill. What exactly do they look like, how big are they, and how long are they on screen?

Giantrobo

I guess it's true that Pirating F**** up everything for everyone...

Because some of you cheap bastards want free films, I gotta look at F******dots and smudges on my movies.

A pox on you aaaaaaalllllllll!!!!!

Jackskeleton

Jackskeleton

Perhaps they should put out some Warning to pirates..

clemente

Those dots?
I've been seeing those for years....never bothered me a bit. Don't they usually appear around a reel change? I always assumed it was related to that....oh well, I guess I've just manages to tune them out as something not worth getting my wrath worked up over.

DealMan

Kill Bill was the first time I noticed the dots. Not unwatchable, but absolutely crappy nonetheless. I noticed probably around 6-7 dots during the film.

Jackskeleton

You are thinking about the cigerette burns explained in fight club. these are different. these are new. they recently started showing up as markers so when a film is leaked online, the studio can see which dots are on it and track down the region and location that film print was sent to.

They are in quickly, but considering they show up in color in kill bill's b&w scene, it's noticeable some of the times.

Jay G.

It seems to be an expansion of the "cap code" devised to combat pirates. The dots have gotten bigger, and more noticeable, recently, apparently to make them easier to see in the compressed versions that are distributed online.

Ebert's recent "Answer Man" column goes a bit more in detail:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/answ-...y-ebert05.html

lesterlong

I never noticed them and I was watching them on an almost IMAX-size screen.

blindrocket

Perhaps I was too engrossed in Kill Bill but I didn't see them.

BigPete

I wonder if this is more prevalent in theaters directly affiliated with studios ...

trigun

I don't watch many movies in theatres, but like others, I really noticed the dots during the B&W scenes. Just another reason to STOP going to movie theatres for me (along with expensive tickets, 30 minutes of commercials and previews, and annoying people that bring their BABIES and KIDS to Kill Bill).

BTW, I've never seen so many people leave the theater during the movie in my life.

gcribbs

I hated the dots also. i noticed quite a few of them and was a bit pissed about it

I hope against hope they do not do this for ROTK.

It might just put the last nail in my going to the theater. I have been going less and less over the years and now might just wait for the Dvd's to come out.

FiveO

Didn't notice them at all.

I'll surely keep an eye out for them next time I see it though.

Michael Corvin

I thought it seemed mighty dirty for a second night of release. Silly me I forgot about this pirating garbage they put in there on purpose.

Ralph Wiggum

I don't think the dots make the print "unwatchable," but they are annonying and symptomatic of the larger problems of theatres currently.

In Phoenix, the matinee/student discount ticket prices have gone up by nearly 33% over the last couple of years, multiple commercials have been tacked on to the front end ("pre-show entertainment") and there hasn't been any sort of accompanying value for my dollar.

I don't believe this anti-piracy measure is going to do anything to stem the tide, it'll just irritate customers.

Jackskeleton

Well it will narrow down where exactly the bootlegs are coming from. The studio can then do further action to the theaters. the theaters will then have enough pressure put on them so they will take more measures to check customers. then again, these groups are spread out all over the place so you will see the MPAA scratching it's head when they are all over the place with locations that might have been locations pirating have taken place at. With 5-8 shows daily though, it will be difficult to figure out which time it was taken. Not to mention if it was an insider job or not.

The Zizz

Didn't notice any dots...but did notice a couple behind me who thought it would be a good idea to bring their 9 year old to see Kill Bill. And didn't leave.

Ringo20000

I did notice this numerous times during Kill Bill. I actually thought it was some kind of subliminal thing done by Quentin as this was the first time I have ever seen them. The part where they stood out the most was during the black and white fight scene. With everything else in black and white a bunch of red dots flash on the middle of the screen. Kind of annoying but not enough to stop me from seeing it atleast 1 or 2 more times (already saw it twice).

rocket1312

I have to say I have never noticed these things in the theater before I saw Kill Bill.

Stupid me, I thought they were some sort of ultra-obscure reference or something that Tarantino had put in there.

matome

I only saw the dots once. They flashed on the door when Uma drops down from the ceiling rafters at the Yakuza club.

joefrog91

I saw them too. Ebert has something on his Answer Man section. They are being called Crap Codes. Kill Bill was the first time I've seen them in a movie.

SPiRAL

I saw " the dots " on screen in School Of Rock as well.

Gunshy

Anything that takes away from the movie stinks. It's looking more and more like a home theater system for yours truly and fewer theaters visits. Oh well.

-Gunshy

ConanDestroyer

What an idiotic thread. Are viewers so jaded today that they can't handle 1/24 of a second of red dots? These are the same people who refuse to buy a long-awaited DVD just because it has edge enhancement. Must you be so immersed in your fantasy film world for the movie, which people bust their asses off to make, to work? Remember, when you're watching the House of the Blue Leaves scene, you aren't *really* in Japan. Just thought I'd let you know.

Ever watch an old VHS tape?