Is the reason why movies are in trouble is that they are too self referential?

[mego73]

Interesting take on the decline in movie attendance overall

The Rise of Self-Awareness in Cinema: Is Film Doomed to Become a Mockery of Itself? | /Film

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I think the article thinks way too much into it. Most folks don't put a lot of care into their movies; they see whatever comes out, provided they can afford the $10+ for tickets. (Hence why durned near every movie is the numbr one movie at some point.)

Don C.

[Adam West]

Hmmmm....

I think the article thinks way too much into it. Most folks don't put a lot of care into their movies; they see whatever comes out, provided they can afford the $10+ for tickets. (Hence why durned near every movie is the numbr one movie at some point.)

Don C.

I completely agree. It is all about whether I'm willing to shell out the money. I have a family of 5 so for us to see a flick together (even at matinee prices) is $45 or so depending on the theatre and that's before snacks. Add a large popcorn and some drinks and I'm down $70 or so. At those prices, it better be a pretty darn good movie....otherwise I'm happy to wait for it to come out on DVD or On Demand.

[palitoy]

I think the article thinks way too much into it. Most folks don't put a lot of care into their movies; they see whatever comes out, provided they can afford the $10+ for tickets. (Hence why durned near every movie is the numbr one movie at some point.)

I agree and if you tie the overall decline in movie attendance to something like "Vampires Suck" you could say the sky is falling. It's a cheap bit of exploitation put together with little to no care.

I think if somebody is going to go to the movies, they're going to go. If by chance the wife and I get a night together without kids, we go to the movies regardless of what's playing.

But getting a sitter? It has to be something we both want to see.

[4NDR01D]

People not going out to the movies, IMHO, has more to do with the increase in home theatre systems. I wait for the DVD w/ bonus features and watch on my 60" tv with surround sound. I can have a beer, pause for breaks, and don't have to worry about some twit kicking the back of my seat and talking on their cell.
Also the cost of popcorn and drinks is ridiculous.
And it's not like I never go to the movies, just not nearly as much.

[generic]

People not going out to the movies, IMHO, has more to do with the increase in home theatre systems. I wait for the DVD w/ bonus features and watch on my 60" tv with surround sound. I can have a beer, pause for breaks, and don't have to worry about some twit kicking the back of my seat and talking on their cell.
Also the cost of popcorn and drinks is ridiculous.
And it's not like I never go to the movies, just not nearly as much.

Yep. I agree. I like to be able to pause and rewind if I miss something. I also hate it when people talk during the movie. If I'm at home, I can tell people to shut up!

[kingdom warrior]

People not going out to the movies, IMHO, has more to do with the increase in home theatre systems. I wait for the DVD w/ bonus features and watch on my 60" tv with surround sound. I can have a beer, pause for breaks, and don't have to worry about some twit kicking the back of my seat and talking on their cell.
Also the cost of popcorn and drinks is ridiculous.
And it's not like I never go to the movies, just not nearly as much.

YUP!!!!! Shelling out eleven bucks for a ticket is ridiculous.....agree you have idiots who don't know how to sit in a movie theater with the phones and the texting. Plus I don't need to drink a gallon of Pop for 50 cents more

Movies have a short life in the theaters before coming to dvd. I'd rather rent it for a dollar......or Wait for the price to drop on the dvd.

[ctc]

>It's a cheap bit of exploitation put together with little to no care.

This made me think of something else, too: even the cheapie movies are getting pretty close to the big ones, thanks to the standardization of production techniques. Just an aside, but it gets tougher to tell B-movies from blockbusters. (Including a lot of blockbusters that were really just expensive b-movies.)

>Movies have a short life in the theaters before coming to dvd.

I think that's part of it too; we really HAVE returned to the 50's (or 70's) of pumping stuff out quickly, filling seats, and making way for the next thing. (Although home sales take a backseat to theaters now.) Marketing to a fad before it's gone. Every movie is #1 for a week, then it disappears 'cos it didn't make any real connection with the viewers.

Don C.

[TrueDave]

Movies suck. Thats why i dont go. i go on Date Nite to see the Pixar flicks but if there was STILL a classic theatre in town with good old films I'd go.

Also I just want to see a movie with an usher , and popcorn. I dont need a Bar or a Piano soloist in the lobby.

[GlobalObserver]

I haven't set foot inside a movie theater since 1985. Before the home video revolution, I would often see four movies a week. Between watching streaming movies online and renting/buying DVDs, I no longer need to go to the theater.

Once a movie opens, it rarely takes more than three months before it's released on DVD. For less than the price of a ticket and a box of popcorn and drink, I can buy the DVD when it's released.

[TrueDave]

Also I absolutely REFUSE to sit and watch commercials at the theatre. I wait in the lobby or just go in late.

I worked on and off at theatres since high school. In all this time other than the digital direct thing that came along recentlly Films and Projectors really havent changed much ( othet than ceulloid)

As fdor being self referencial I hate it. I dont get "in Jokes' You read the same comic I did so what how is that funny?

I just read a Hulk story and Peter Parker is fighting the Hulk and for the first time even I was annoyed by Spideys taunting. It was Pop Culture referencing crap. Cheap way to write dialog. Worse than a Laugh track.