Home vs Theater

[happyfilmluvguy]

I decided to add some discussion on watching a movie at home versus in a movie theater. John in Covina started it and I think it would be an interesting subject. But if you have any comments on refusing to see a film until the prime moment, add that in.

Home vs. Theater

Where would you rather see a movie? On DVD/VHS/Television at home or a friend/family's house without the concession stand, possibly no distractions from the noisy audience and poor management and you can bring all the food you want and stop the movie at your leisure OR at the theater where you are watching the film the way the makers intended it, possibly surrounded by other movie goers to enhance the experience, with the concession stand and the feeling of going to a big event, AT THE MOVIES.

 

[Maguire]

I'm waiting to see The Godfather
I'm waiting to see Ben-Hur
I'm waiting to see Blade Runner
waiting for Magnolia
waiting for Metropolis
waiting for Pulp Fiction

waiting for so many movies. Why?

Well, for me, seeing a movie is as much an event as when that was all we had, aside from stage theatre. Even at home, I don't pop in a movie to play in the background. Either it has my full attention, or I turn it off. Movies mean so much to me, and I've locked myself away from seeing the elite of the motion picture. Those movies that were released into the world and had us stand up and applauding. Those movies where every moment is just mesmerizing. Those movies that have and will stand the tests of time. Do I know if these movies will survive 50 years from now? No, but the challenge of limiting myself to seeing them in the environment they were meant for is no easy task.

I had a project where I had to see parts of The Godfather and I hated every moment of it. It seriously felt sacrilegious. I had 3 chances to see Blade Runner during it's Final Cut run and missed every one of them. I honestly don't know how long I'll be waiting for, but I don't care. It's in the theater or I'll never see it, period.

Anyone else like this? A movie you refuse to see until seen a certain way? Not necessarily in a theater, but maybe with someone you promised to see it with and have yet to.

I absolutely agree. I usually watch my DVDs alone on my laptop with my headphones on because i really absorb whats going on better, or notice things such as angles or types of shots, and dialogue that normally i'd simply only half pay attention to. I did recently see First Blood on the big screen and that was a real treat.

I sometimes put on a film while i workout in order to keep pace and time, but i have stopped that practice too, as i sometimes just want to sit down and watch the film without the weights as a distraction.

 

[AmateisGal]

Yep. I do the same thing. Sometimes, I will wait until I have the perfect evening set up - usually a Friday or Saturday so I don't have to worry about going to work the next day. And I'll get my favorite snacks, too.

 

[John in Covina]

Home versus Theatre

I do believe that if you can see a great film in a great theater you are in the element where the film was made to be seen.

On the other hand even the members of the Academy receive dvd's of the nominees to watch at home, so a question arises.

Home versus Theater?

Theater: if everything is in tip top shape then the experience is good. If you don't have cretins talking thru the movie, good. Cell phones off, good. No babies or children throwing a fit of some sort, good.

When I went to see The Increadible Hulk the screen had a huge stain like some worthless scum had tossed the biggest drink they serve on it. I have been to films where the projector was out of focus and I had to hunt the manager down to fix it. Morons talking screaming arguing talking on the phone. I just want to taze them all, and that is me being merciful. Society, public low standards, and total loss of regard for others has turned a large portion of theater going into an excercise in frustration. Poor operating conditions on the part of the theater detracts too.

Home: As long as the home theater system is reasonable you stand a good chance of having a fine time. The better the system, the better the viewing pleasure. When you get to some of the better systems it truly is HOME THEATRE!

So, if an audience is good and the theater is good it maintains a small edge, especially if the movie is the type where the feel of the audience reaction is a part of the viewing pleasure the movies have the edge otherwise let me watch at home and in peace with out poor enviorment, maintainence and the ambience of cretins.

Make mine Home unless it's a special occasion!

Sincerely,

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

On the other hand, at home, you have the ability to pause the movie, which can be helpful. but you also lose your concentration on the movie every time you do it. The phone rings or someone's at the door. I have my parents ALWAYS walking in when I'm watching a movie and start talking and I end up just turning it off. You have some friends over and maybe they aren't as into the movie as you are.

 

[John in Covina]

Sounds like you need a sign that says:

"Viewing in Progress - Please Do Not Distrurb!"

 

[Nathan Dodge]

So, if an audience is good and the theater is good it maintains a small edge, especially if the movie is the type where the feel of the audience reaction is a part of the viewing pleasure the movies have the edge otherwise let me watch at home and in peace with out poor enviorment, maintainence and the ambience of cretins.

Make mine Home unless it's a special occasion!

While watching the Irene Dunne-Cary Grant masterwork The Awful Truth (1937) the other day, I thought about how I would have not only loved to have seen this back in 1937, but how I would still like to see the film now in a theater with a knowing and sympathetic audience. I'd love to experience a beloved film along with an empathetic audience. Unfortunately, here in Miami such an environment and audience does not exist. In fact, I often experience "culture shock" in my very own hometown. But hey! It's my (vintage) cross to bear!

 

[AmateisGal]

I like going to the theater to see films that I *really* want to see - not only because it costs so darn much, but I want to go for the whole experience. I knew I had to see the new Indiana Jones in the theater, and I also knew I had to go see Casino Royale - and I went to the theater and saw both of them and am very glad I did.

But man. It's certainly cheaper to rent it when it comes out on DVD or buy it on pay-per-view. Whenever I go to the theater, I have to get my M&M's and popcorn - and with the price of the movie ticket, it ends up costing a fortune!

 

[Charlie Noodles]

I saw Blade Runner Final Cut. At a Myspace screening believe it or not. I'd seen the movie once before on my PC's monitor... You'd be right to wait for a cinema to show it.

 

[Bugsy]

There is no doubt that watching a film at home is more convenient and certainly less expensive these days. However, I do still love going to the theatre to see a film--if only for the popcorn and Goobers.[huh] I don't mind getting dressed to see a film, I don't mine the admission price. What I do mind is the people who sit there with their cell phones out texting through the film. I now sit in the very back row of the theatre since it seemed to me that the person with the biggest cellophane was always behind me cracking through the entire movie. It's a conundrum.

 

[Sefton]

I think that at it's best, seeing a film in a movie theater is an absolutely religious experience. That is,when you are in a real movie palace,few of which survive now. Unlike a religious experience it's both personal and shared with all of "those lovely people out there in the dark"-to quote Norma Desmond from the great Sunset Boulevard. It's been mentioned more than once in this thread that audiences now are a pretty selfish and rude lot who will ruin your movie theater experience. That and the fact that I have a one year old daughter has kept me out of an actual theater for some time. I'm fortunate that I have a really big (65") LCD screen at home to view if I have any time. The big screen does look odd in a 1924 craftsman bungalow,but I love cinema too much to not use it.

 

[John in Covina]

I'm fortunate that I have a really big (65") LCD screen at home to view if I have any time. The big screen does look odd in a 1924 craftsman bungalow,but I love cinema too much to not use it.

************
I like to think of it as a veiwing screen from Flash Gordon!
All hail Emperor Ming!

 

[Flivver]

If there was a good vintage theatre in my area, I'd probably be a regular customer. Unfortunately, all we have around here are kid-filled strip mall theatres or modern multi-plexes...arg!

So I wind up watching movies at home on DVD or tape; either alone or with friends. I brought my copy of "It" with Clara Bow to a friend's house recently. He and his wife, who are not silent movie fans, got quite a kick out of it. They were amazed at how entertaining a good silent movie can be.

 

[Quigley Brown]

My theater visits are few and far between. I'll only go if I know the film will be good and 'meant' to be seen on the big screen. The last two I've seen were '300' and Pixar's 'Ratatouille.' The next one I plan to see is Pixar's upcoming 'WALL-E.'

 

[LizzieMaine]

Given the choice, give me a theatre every time -- especially with vintage films. They were made with the communal viewing experience in mind, and lose a great deal of their impact when seen on the home screen. Plus, film properly projected is still visually superior to any digital format.

I'll watch films at home on TV when something's on that I really want to see, but it always seems to me like looking at photocopies of art.

 

[KittyT]

I much prefer viewing at home:

* My couch is comfy and I appreciate being able to stretch out
* Other people in theaters are usually annoying and I tend to think more about how much I want those jerks behind me to shut up than I do about the movie
* I really enjoy watching movies with the company of my cats
* I like having the freedom to sip a cocktail and smoke a cigarette while watching a movie, especially vintage films
* I like being able to take bathroom breaks without missing anything
* I like being able to grab a snack without paying something ridiculous like $8 for an ice cream bar.
* I REALLY don't like paying $8 for a movie and Netflix is much, much cheaper and way more convenient.

That said, there are some movies you really HAVE to see in the theater! "Apocalypse Now" is the first one that comes to mind, and it's just not possible to enjoy and fully appreciate the cinematic mastery of some movies without seeing them on the big screen.

 

[Sefton]

************
I like to think of it as a veiwing screen from Flash Gordon!
All hail Emperor Ming!

"I,The mighty Ming will go to Sefton's place and command him to show me a movie! Hmmm,perhaps Steel Magnolias.."

 

[John in Covina]

Home theater upgrades and using you old DVD's

As the technology imrpoves the home viewing experience will begin to truly surpass the theater experience. I recently got a 50 inch Panasonic Plasma TV model # TH50PZ85U and have enjoyed it a lot. I need to replace my indoor antenna with a better outdoor one to really take advantage of the High Definition broadcasts. Channel 2 and 11 have a great HD picture, and when the other HD channels are coming in on my indoor antenna ok they are pretty amazing.

However the next step is to upgrade my DVD player. I am waiting on Blu-Ray to come down and for the next generation or two to be worked out before taking a plunge. Blu-Ray has the capability of being up to 8 times better than the first generation of players. Blu-Ray and some new "regular" DVD players are able to upgrade the resolution for the new HD tv's this is called "Up-converting."

I have selected an up converting DVD player of great capacity and fantastic quality, an OPPO DV-983H. If I understand the technology, it will take an ordinary DVD which is about 480 lines of resolution and shape it to ones selected level of sharpness in HD from 720i to 1080p using some extraordinary electronic wizardry and programming. Their earlier models 970 and 971 were hailed as fabulous as were the later 980 and 981 models. The 981 is noted as great for under 50 inch HD TV's. The 983 has better motion projection and is regarded as the top upconverting machine for 50" and over.

There is a review on these guys web site: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/

Here is the manufacturers page on the DVD player: http://www.oppodigital.com/dv983h/

I can't wait to pop in 'The Big Sleep' when I get the whole system squared away.

 

[jgilbert]

For the most aprt rather view at home.
When I do go try for the mid day showing. So few people. No phones, no talking, it is perfect.

 

[Sefton]

I have the Oppo 981HD and it works very well,especially for playing PAL to NTSC conversions. I was having problems getting a natural film image when playing one of my favorite films on PAL dvd, Bergman's Persona ,on the earlier Oppo model 980. 981HD has a very smooth and natural looking picture on my big screen. Another key feature for me is that it will easily switch to a region free mode.