Long Movies and the Need for Intermissions

Jules

Jules

SF VIP
If you’ve been to Oppenheimer or the new Scorsese film, did you manage to sit through 3+ hours without a bathroom break? These extra long films just seem to be getting longer and more common.

Would you go to a really long movie?
 

I have not been to a movie since 2008. I don't think I will every go again. First we have these shootings in public venues. Then there is deadly virus spread by air. Now, the film industry has raised prices so much now to make up for their losses, I will just wait until it is available streaming or on cable.
 
It's too bad. I miss the experience of enjoying a movie with a group, all laughing or gasping in fear at the same time. Yet when movies passed the two hour mark I quit wanting to go to them. One reason I watch mainly old 1940s films is they only last about 1 & 1/2 hours. Tell the story and keep us coming back for more!

I read, "Killers of the Flower Moon," and was thinking about going. but when I heard it was over three hours and graphically violent I changed my mind.
 

Bringing back intermissions on long theater films is an excellent idea! It stopped me from seeing Oppenheimer. My friend in Florida and I decided to see it "together"; her in FLA, & me in NYC and then we would go home, call each other & discuss it as if we had actually seen it together! We thought that was a fun idea! Then I had to back out due to the length.
 
From 1950 - 1970, there were 86 movies that had 'Intermissions, with Overtures'.
Most were the big epics like Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, Oklahoma, etc.

I personally like the Overtures and miss them the most in movies.

The Multiplex theatre we see most of our movies, has a nice Bar so an intermission would
be a nice touch.
 
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Feelslikefar said:
From 1950 - 1970, there were 86 movies that had 'Intermissions, with Overtures'.
Most were the big epics like Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, Oklahoma, etc.

I personally like the Overtures and miss them the most in movies.

The Multiplex theatre we see most of our movies, has a nice Bar so an intermission would
be a nice touch.
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I'll add Gone With The Wind to that list. It had an intermission and an Overture. It's so long that the DVD I own comes with 2 discs.
 
Blessed said:
I have not been to a movie since 2008. I don't think I will every go again. First we have these shootings in public venues. Then there is deadly virus spread by air. Now, the film industry has raised prices so much now to make up for their losses, I will just wait until it is available streaming or on cable.
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I feel the same. Also, I attended a class at the hospital where I worked, and they said movie theaters are loaded with bedbugs! Nope, plus, I can't last through a movie without a bathroom break.
 
I heard this being discussed the other day on the radio and the announcer commented about the new Scorsese film having it written into the contract that theaters showing the film must agree to show it in it's entirety without interruption such as intermissions or any breaks in the film. I didn't even know there were contractual conditions attached to films but I suppose it makes sense to protect the producer's rights etc.
 
Jules said:
did you manage to sit through 3+ hours without a bathroom break?
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I did go to Oppenheimer. I only had a small cup of water (along with a popcorn), so I made it through without needing to go to the bathroom. But, it was too long and I got physically a little uncomfortable toward the end, and was a bit stiff when getting up to leave.

I don't think I'd like movies to have intermissions, I wouldn't mind if it would pause a few times for ME to get up, but having everyone going out and in sounds like too much disruption. They should all just sit there and wait for me to return, ha ha ha.
 
officerripley said:
It is if you gotta go pee 4 times a movie as I stated above.
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Not to mention it can be health risk, especially for females as our urethra is shorter. Holding urination can increase bacteria growth leading to UTI. If one has tendency to get them anyway, not wise to delay. Also some of us ladies develop cystocele's from weight of womb pressing down on it due to long term effects of gravity and increased weight due to fibroid growths. It is also sometimes called a 'prolapsed bladder' which can cause a rupture of the bladder if one delays urination too long.

i had one in my 50's. One ovary had atrophied and i had multiple fibroids. Fortunately when i had my full hysterectomy the bladder just rebounded into normal position.
 
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There are some movies that should be seen on the big screen. Top Gun Maverick comes to mind.

As for pee breaks, go when there's a bullshite scene that's essentially just a break in itself from the story.
 
OldFeller said:
As for pee breaks, go when there's a bullshite scene that's essentially just a break in itself from the story.
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How do you know when it’s that kind of scene. I think there used to be a guy that had a site to make suggestions.

MarciKS said:
The only way I'll sit through a 3 hour movie is at home.
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Even then, I’d watch it in two sessions.
 
The only movie I can recall that had an imtermission was Gone With the Wind. I just read that 2001: A Space Odyssey also had an intermission, but I don't recall that one when I saw at the theater. It may have one, but I just don't recall it.
 
In the cinemas from very early on until about 15 years ago, there was order in watching a film, long or short. You had matinées where after buying your usual snacks, you'd take your seat.

You've watched the intro with the funny popsicles and the hot dog jumping in the bun 😂. Then, lights flashed to let you know the first feature was about to commence. Once the intermission came, you just like the others, rushed to the loo.

Job done, you went back to your seat and watched the previews for upcoming new films. Flashing lights again and your second feature was on. Everyone stayed seated until we saw the last of the credits, the screen went blank, curtains closed and lights came on to guide you out.

Those were the days. The last ones viewed in cinema were the Harry Potter series. Nowadays, we prefer the satellite film services or the DVDs. With age, bathroom breaks are more frequent, so the need for the pause button is an absolute must 😆.

With a cheap popcorn maker, you save money, you can watch a scene, again and again, you can pause to discuss what you've just seen without disturbing anyone and lastly, the only thing cutting into your screen's view is kitty kat, deciding to stretch out for a nap in front of your screen.

Nevertheless, one thing I absolutely enjoyed were the drive-in movie places. You got no distractions, oh that was bliss, but... without a vehicle kind of pointless these days.

So, in conclusion a good balance of intermissions, previews and that the film industry would give more money to the cinemas to support them better. Yes, it would be nice to go see one in a cinema occasionally once more.
 
MrPants said:
I heard this being discussed the other day on the radio and the announcer commented about the new Scorsese film having it written into the contract that theaters showing the film must agree to show it in it's entirety without interruption such as intermissions or any breaks in the film. I didn't even know there were contractual conditions attached to films but I suppose it makes sense to protect the producer's rights etc.
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Well there you are. I'm sure the theater owners would love having a chance to make more money at the popcorn counter, so it's just Scorsese so full of himself and his "art" that we can't pause in his story arc so we get the full impact when we see arms blown off.

I'm already mad at him for turning this into a story about men (you can see that from the trailers) because the book was about women -- how they were lied to, abused, scammed, and murdered over their money and the courage they showed through it all. Scorsese has always thought the more sex and violence in a movie the better and I guess he needed almost 4 hours to put in as much as possible. I hated "The Wolf of Wall Street." There are just some images we don't need in our heads.
 

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