Hi Bill. Thanks for including my post; I'm glad to have a small part in what has become an ongoing Substack conversation about the actual physical theater; @dariolinares is good on this, too. I'm still not buying the shared experience idea too fully: when I saw the latest Mission Impossible, my son had to ask a woman next to him to turn off her phone (she was browsing the CVS site during the movie) and the kid next to my wife just wouldn't shut up. Thank goodness it was in IMAX so the kid was drowned out for most of the time. In general, other people take away from the experience, at least for me. But that's all explained in my two posts.
Anyway--if I were in charge of programming for a movie theater, there wouldn't be too much of a line or limit. I wouldn't show anything like Human Centipede on the grounds that if one touches pitch, one becomes defiled, but I'd show the kinds of movies from all places and eras and genres that I watch in my regular life. Not everything would be for everyone (I just rewatched Dead Ringers and there is no way that I'm going to watch that with some members of my family) but there would be something for everyone. It would be like making the ultimate mix tape.
This is a great topic and I'm looking forward to the responses!
The shared cinema experience is one that I believe deserves more questioning and thoughtful conversation. All isn't as sweet and communal as we'd like to think at the theater (or theatre). Usually, we just walk in, watch, and walk out - with eating in between. Not so desirable, but still - I strongly think - a preferable way of seeing a movie than on TV or computer.
Indeed, 'Human Centipede' is an "acquired taste" lol. For you, lines and limits only hinder the programming creativity? Of course, like HC, there must be other flicks you will pass on, so a line must exist in some capacity. A local alt theater near me has done some excellent and controversial screenings, but refuses to show Harmony Korine films. That's more like a personal preference of management - not everything and anything is welcome - so maybe what they want vs what moviegoers want/might want is also in play?
Hi Bill. Thanks for including my post; I'm glad to have a small part in what has become an ongoing Substack conversation about the actual physical theater; @dariolinares is good on this, too. I'm still not buying the shared experience idea too fully: when I saw the latest Mission Impossible, my son had to ask a woman next to him to turn off her phone (she was browsing the CVS site during the movie) and the kid next to my wife just wouldn't shut up. Thank goodness it was in IMAX so the kid was drowned out for most of the time. In general, other people take away from the experience, at least for me. But that's all explained in my two posts.
Anyway--if I were in charge of programming for a movie theater, there wouldn't be too much of a line or limit. I wouldn't show anything like Human Centipede on the grounds that if one touches pitch, one becomes defiled, but I'd show the kinds of movies from all places and eras and genres that I watch in my regular life. Not everything would be for everyone (I just rewatched Dead Ringers and there is no way that I'm going to watch that with some members of my family) but there would be something for everyone. It would be like making the ultimate mix tape.
This is a great topic and I'm looking forward to the responses!
Hey Dan,
Thank you for the comment and for that post.
The shared cinema experience is one that I believe deserves more questioning and thoughtful conversation. All isn't as sweet and communal as we'd like to think at the theater (or theatre). Usually, we just walk in, watch, and walk out - with eating in between. Not so desirable, but still - I strongly think - a preferable way of seeing a movie than on TV or computer.
Indeed, 'Human Centipede' is an "acquired taste" lol. For you, lines and limits only hinder the programming creativity? Of course, like HC, there must be other flicks you will pass on, so a line must exist in some capacity. A local alt theater near me has done some excellent and controversial screenings, but refuses to show Harmony Korine films. That's more like a personal preference of management - not everything and anything is welcome - so maybe what they want vs what moviegoers want/might want is also in play?
Thanks again!