The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

As I peruse the Academy Award nominees for 2019, I'm curious what you all think and feel about the paradigm shift we're experiencing in how we watch films as a society. A good deal is being made about Netflix receiving its first Best Picture nomination for Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, and I must admit that I feel more than a bit conflicted. While I think it's wonderful that giants like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are supporting the arts by funding projects like Cuarón's film, which will no doubt provide more opportunities for independent film directors, the very fact that Roma has received such a limited theatrical release disturbs me tremendously. It debuted on November 21st of last year, so we're talking about only two months that the moviegoing public has had a chance to view it. But the only place to see it in the Dallas area is the Magnolia Theater. The overwhelming majority of people that see Roma will do so on their home television.

Don't get me wrong-I have nothing against watching movies at home. Clearly, we're all cinephiles, and likely a majority of us are physical media enthusiasts, as well. I have a large blu-ray collection, and I've only seen a few movies in the theater in the last year, though that is more due to issues with my back. But, as a society, we're becoming more and more isolated. This is in large part a symptom of social media. Why get together and do something when you can instant message, or talk with a bunch of people on Facebook? We're losing our communal sense, and the movie theater is one place where we can all get together, and enjoy a shared experience. And no matter how good ones home theater setup is, nothing will ever replace sitting in a darkened theater with two hundred people, and experiencing a great film.

This is the beginning of a new trend and us filmgoers can either do 2 things:

1. Accept it.

or

2. Reject it.

I for one am accepting this new way of seeing new films, on paid subscription services like Netflix. We're still going to end up paying for the movie one way or another (unless you're downloading pirated films, which I don't do).

Your post definitely sparked some opinions from me as well, in that though I can very well see the future being films delivered directly to our personal TVs and computers wired into the matrix, I think its a double edged sword. I love the fact that I can watch the movie in total privacy with no distractions and have total and complete control over my movie experience, however, "going out" to the theater is something I also very much look forward to with friends, especially after eating at a restaurant. There are several local arthouse theaters here in my city that I enjoy seeing films at. I recently saw Shoplifters last week and I loved it. It was playing at a single screen theater and there were maybe 6 or 7 other people in the auditorium that holds about 250 people. This was of course a Tuesday night around 9 PM, but I loved the fact that it wasn't crowded and it was like a complete private screening just for my friend and I. And being a person who loves a huge screen, my old 48 inch HDTV doesn't hold a candle to that gigantic screen in that single screen theater, nor does my sound system either. Nevertheless, I don't enjoy going to the big cineplexes anymore and dealing with distracted and bored audience members whose phones sometimes ring or light up (my friend Marc and I nearly had an altercation with one beefhead looking dude who refused to shut his cellphone off in the theater and got up in the middle of the movie (The Old Man and the Gun) and nearly started yelling at us, and all we did was kindly ask him, out of "common courtesy" to shut off the phone (there's even a damn warning before the movie begins for chrissakes!). It was effin' ridiculous. So yeah, I don't enjoy dealing with scary, crazy or just plain ignorant people who go to theaters (especially the really big ones who cater to the general mainstream public with 20 min. of advertisements and 20 min. of previews). No, I don't want to accidentally get shot for going to a theater and just enjoy a movie without any stress.

So... I don't have to worry about any of that when I sit down, turn on Netflix and see a new movie like Roma playing.

Tech companies have gotten in the game now, whether its Netflix, Amazon Prime/Studios, Hulu, HBO, etc.

Isolation feels real with social media, but aren't we isolating ourselves in movie theaters too, just like we do at home? We cut ourselves off from the outside world for about 2 hours with a bunch of strangers who are isolating themselves too (and if you want to go even more meta, those who go onto social media while the movie is playing are even more isolated!). I don't know about you all, but when I watch a movie, I don't want to hear a peep from a single person, or feel someone's shoes hit the back of my chair, or tap up and down because of a nervous habit. I don't like that kind of experience when I'm trying to escape into another director's vision.

So basically, if the future means we're going to be watching new films here at home, I'll get on board with that. But at the same time, I'd like those little arthouse theaters to stick around in the outside chance that its a Tuesday night at 9 PM, a blizzard is raging outside, and nobody is at the theater, and my friends and I just happened to experience a life-changing movie that blew us away on the big screen.

Yeah... that's still fun.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

As I peruse the Academy Award nominees for 2019, I'm curious what you all think and feel about the paradigm shift we're experiencing in how we watch films as a society.

Already a good number of people opt to watch new films on home video instead of a cinema, this is just an extension. And thanks to Netflix's need for prestige content, projects that would otherwise get scaled down or maybe not even made are getting both funded and exhibited to a global audience that does not have to live in proximity to a cinema that screens such films (not everyone is lucky enough to have an arthouse friendly cinema nearby). Discussions across social media are a decent though not comprehensive substitute for cinema audience participation IMO.

The only danger is that the platform exclusivity may mean that some films may not be available later for personal owned viewing. But if Netflix and other platforms see the value in licensing to physical home video, after say a 6/12 month window, we may have the best of both ways.

[nitin]

Re Roma, Netflix didn’t fund the film, they just bought the distribution rights once the film was completed (same with Annihilation). Hopefully that means a disc release like Annihilation.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

As I peruse the Academy Award nominees for 2019, I'm curious what you all think and feel about the paradigm shift we're experiencing in how we watch films as a society. A good deal is being made about Netflix receiving its first Best Picture nomination for Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, and I must admit that I feel more than a bit conflicted. While I think it's wonderful that giants like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are supporting the arts by funding projects like Cuarón's film, which will no doubt provide more opportunities for independent film directors, the very fact that Roma has received such a limited theatrical release disturbs me tremendously. It debuted on November 21st of last year, so we're talking about only two months that the moviegoing public has had a chance to view it. But the only place to see it in the Dallas area is the Magnolia Theater. The overwhelming majority of people that see Roma will do so on their home television.

Don't get me wrong-I have nothing against watching movies at home. Clearly, we're all cinephiles, and likely a majority of us are physical media enthusiasts, as well. I have a large blu-ray collection, and I've only seen a few movies in the theater in the last year, though that is more due to issues with my back. But, as a society, we're becoming more and more isolated. This is in large part a symptom of social media. Why get together and do something when you can instant message, or talk with a bunch of people on Facebook? We're losing our communal sense, and the movie theater is one place where we can all get together, and enjoy a shared experience. And no matter how good ones home theater setup is, nothing will ever replace sitting in a darkened theater with two hundred people, and experiencing a great film.

Interesting thoughts. Thanks for posting.

I'll always support seeing films in the cinema, but it can be a challenge when titles I want to see are not exhibited at my local theater as they are considered too "niche" (translation: "arty") - e.g., The Favourite, and Stan & Ollie. This clearly would have happened with Roma, too. So, at least it is out there and available immediately should one want to watch it.

I'd say the biggest issue for streaming is fragmentation. Amazon is currently in dispute with WB, which is launching its own platform, as is Fox. Content will end up spread over half a dozen (or more) subscription services.

Also, my personal peeve with streaming is the tinkering with aspect ratios - most evident with films shot in 2.35:1 (or wider) that are presented in 16x9 because "customers don't like the black bars" on their TV - or worse, on their phones.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by Reddington

<snip>

Also, my personal peeve with streaming is the tinkering with aspect ratios - most evident with films shot in 2.35:1 (or wider) that are presented in 16x9 because "customers don't like the black bars" on their TV - or worse, on their phones.

I tried streaming using Apple TV a couple of times. I got turned off right away because the color settings were so different than the way my TV is set up for my Blu-rays or cable. I never went back to it.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by nitin

Re Roma, Netflix didn’t fund the film, they just bought the distribution rights once the film was completed (same with Annihilation). Hopefully that means a disc release like Annihilation.

“Annililation” was a Paramount distributed/produced film in the US.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

“Annililation” was a Paramount distributed/produced film in the US.

I stand corrected but it nevertheless has gotten/is getting a disc release in other territories too where Netflix bought the distribution rights.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by jw007

with a bunch of strangers who are isolating themselves too

In the 20th century, sure. But these days they're on their phones

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

And no matter how good ones home theater setup is, nothing will ever replace sitting in a darkened theater with two hundred people, and experiencing a great film.

I can’t say I’ve ever experienced this but I can be absolutely certain I wouldn’t like it one bit. I get claustrophobic and can’t deal with big crowds at all. And they are always noisy and annoying. When I was younger, I loved it but since I’m older now, I just detest human interaction.

Anyways, I haven’t gone to a theater in approximately a decade. The convenience and seclusion of home, even before social media, was the prime condition in which I could enjoy and devour a film. Netflix and other digital outlets in general make it easier for me to enjoy these from the comforts of my home.

I’ve considered going in recent years to the theater, only to be deterred by the fact the nearest theater here is on the bad side of town. I quite enjoy living and do not care to be robbed, pistol whipped or stabbed over the very little cash I keep on me, anyways. I don’t have a social life for a reason. The other theater in town is limited, they’ve got 1 screen and that’s it. The old folks home go there for BINGO 4 nights a week and it smells awful.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Interesting thoughts. Thanks for posting.
I'd say the biggest issue for streaming is fragmentation. Amazon is currently in dispute with WB, which is launching its own platform, as is Fox. Content will end up spread over half a dozen (or more) subscription services.

That's the biggest issue for me. I currently subscribe to Amazon Prime and Netflix, will subscribe to the Criterion Channel when they're back online, and will renew my HBO subscription once the next season of Game of Thrones comes out. If WB and Fox and others decide to take their content to their own respective services, I'll probably reduce the number of services I subscribe to rather than add because the content on all of the services will be watered down. $10-15 here, $10-15 there, it adds up pretty fast.

Plus, I have that ever-increasing pile of blu rays on my unwatched pile to contend with.

[koberulz]

Yeah, as I said in another thread it's becoming a worse version of the old studio system.

[sawdustandtinsel]

Originally Posted by Page14

I've been (on and off) following the discussion on going to a theater for current films vs. watching them on TV. I live in a somewhat rural area, but I wouldn't say that I'm cut off from civilization ... just not as metropolitan as a Chicago or Dallas kind of place. I don't do streaming at all. I have been waiting for Roma to play in my area, but it hasn't shown up yet. Is its theatrical run over already? If so, then I certainly don't like the trend that's happening for streaming new films over seeing a film in a theater. I prefer the "theater experience" for newly released films. Heck, I'd prefer the theater for many older films too, but do enjoy the convenience of sitting at home. (And yes, I'm an older guy).

Roma is coming to my local movie palace in February the week before the Oscars so it's not done yet.

[MifuneFan]

The big theater chains like AMC and Regal, who usually showcase all the Best Picture noms won't be showing Roma because of the bad beef between them and Netflix, over the latter's release policies. I fault more with the theaters in this case because they're just trying to shove it to Netflix with that decision, at the expense of viewers.

Netflix, and other streaming services who are making feature films now, no doubt have to start catering to the big theater chains when it comes to their top-tier films. Theaters want a big window to have the movie in their theater before it reaches streaming. But streaming, and subscriber growth is such a huge part of Netflix's business model that doing so probably hurts them more than bending over to AMC/Regal, etc.. Who knows if this will ever get resolved.

I got to see it twice in theaters. Once in a Landmark theater that I had to walk over a mile each way to get to, and recently it came to my local Alamo Drafthouse in 70mm. I do hope more people can see it on the big screen, as it really is meant to be seen that way.

[koberulz]

Okay so B&N are officially on my shit list.

Does anywhere else price-match the 50% off? I know Amazon price-matched the Bergman set, but they've never matched the whole sale have they?

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Okay so B&N are officially on my shit list.

Does anywhere else price-match the 50% off? I know Amazon price-matched the Bergman set, but they've never matched the whole sale have they?

Bluraysforeveryone.com drop a lot of their Criterions down to $23.99 during the 50% sales & if you order 8 or more you get a further 5% discount off the total order. (they are also customs friendly if this is an issue like it is for me in the UK). With B&N no longer an option to me, i used this site for both the sales last year.

[koberulz]

That's still $4 over B&N, and basically what Amazon usually charge isn't it?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

That's still $4 over B&N, and basically what Amazon usually charge isn't it?

If worst comes to worst or you’re desperate, you can always ask a US user to purchase the CCs and they could mail them to you. Though shipping rates to Australia could be a dealbreaker.

[koberulz]

Precisely. A reshipper during the Criterion flash sale was my first thought, but I'd spend more in shipping than in films. My Zatoichi set is still sitting in the Shipito warehouse because they want $45 to send it to me. I paid $25 for it.

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by koberulz

That's still $4 over B&N, and basically what Amazon usually charge isn't it?

It works out more expensive for me buying from Amazon & not much more than it would buying from B&N plus i don't have to worry about getting hit with customs charges like i did with B&N.

[mja345]

I saw "Vice" and "The Favourite" with my GF in theaters over the last week and the thing we concluded is they have to chill with the trailers. Every modern movie is 2+ hours anyway, but 25-30 minutes of trailers? Completely ridiculous.