Have Movies in Theatres Become Passé?

In NYC in the 50's every neighborhood pretty much had their own movie house. Me and my 3 older siblings used to go to the Congress on St. Johns Place betwixt and between Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights. On Long Island every village had a movie house. Like most if not all villages the balcony in C.I. was not the typical "Coloreds only" peanut gallery as some historians allude to. The balconies existed solely for the "They couldn't pay chicks to go out with them" local cretins, misfits and losers to throw crap down on everybody else. In high school it was drive-ins exclusively, you know, for privacy. Back to the city in the late 70's there was nothing more fun then watching mentally unstable humanoids not only yell at the screen but actually throw crap at it. The kicker was when no matter where you went to sit with your date it was guaranteed some nervous hospital escapees would sit right behind you or worst right next to you. Nothing like a home theater system with a quality grade subwoofer and two rent free tenants to keep the beer and pretzels coming.

BTW: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner-1982 and Blade-Runner-2049 are the only three flicks I would go to a ten-plex or are they up to fifty-plexes yet?

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

162640_CloseEncountersDirectorsCut_1998_1400x2100_UK_0.jpg

www.sonypictures.com/movies/closeencountersofthethirdkind

www.imdb.com/title/tt0075860/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind


Blade-Runner 1982

51ST8TQP63L._SY445_.jpg

www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/

www.warnerbros.com/movies/blade-runner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner


Blade-Runner 2049

MV5BNzA1Njg4NzYxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODk5NjU3MzI@._V1_.jpg

www.imdb.com/title/tt1856101/

www.warnerbros.com/movies/blade-runner-2049

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_2049

 

FastTrax said:
In NYC in the 50's every neighborhood pretty much had their own movie house. Me and my 3 older siblings used to go to the Congress on St. Johns Place betwixt and between Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights. On Long Island every village had a movie house. Like most if not all villages the balcony in C.I. was not the typical "Coloreds only" peanut gallery as some historians allude to. The balconies existed solely for the "They couldn't pay chicks to go out with them" local cretins, misfits and losers to throw crap down on everybody else. In high school it was drive-ins exclusively, you know, for privacy. Back to the city in the late 70's there was nothing more fun then watching mentally unstable humanoids not only yell at the screen but actually throw crap at it. The kicker was when no matter where you went to sit with your date it was guaranteed some nervous hospital escapees would sit right behind you or worst right next to you. Nothing like a home theater system with a quality grade subwoofer and two rent free tenants to keep the beer and pretzels coming.

BTW: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner-1982 and Blade-Runner-2049 are the only three flicks I would go to a ten-plex or are they up to fifty-plexes yet?

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

View attachment 209638

www.sonypictures.com/movies/closeencountersofthethirdkind

www.imdb.com/title/tt0075860/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind


Blade-Runner 1982

View attachment 209639

www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/

www.warnerbros.com/movies/blade-runner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner


Blade-Runner 2049

View attachment 209640

www.imdb.com/title/tt1856101/

www.warnerbros.com/movies/blade-runner-2049

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_2049

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Nice trip down memory lane.

Can't deny these are all great movies.
 
RFW said:
Nice trip down memory lane.

Can't deny these are all great movies.
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When CEOTTK was in theaters in NYC they actually had two lines wrapped around the block, The first line was just to buy the tickets and the second line was to get in. If the theater maxed out before you got in you had to wait another two hours to maintain your place in the original cue. I was fascinated with BR-1982 but after BR-2049 was released I became a true dyed in the wool hard core Dystopian. I have every version of the BR DVD set but my favorite cut is the original version with narration. TTFN.
 

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FastTrax said:
When CEOTTK was in theaters in NYC they actually had two lines wrapped around the block, The first line was just to buy the tickets and the second line was to get in. If the theater maxed out before you got it you had to wait another two hours to maintain your place in the original cue. I was fascinated with BR-1982 but after BR-2049 was released I became a true dyed in the wool hard core Dystopian. I have every version of the BR DVD set but my favorite cut is the original version with narration. TTFN.
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I can't remember which cut it is but I like the one with the ambiguous ending. I think the original has kind of a happy ending right?
 
I have the original DVD 5 pack plus 2 outtake DVD's I have two single releases plus Ridley Scotts Directors Cut so I'll have to check out which one it is.
 
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FastTrax said:
I have the original DVD 5 pack plus 2 outtake DVD's I have two single releases plus Ridley Scotts Directors Cut so I'll have to check out which one it is.
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Probably The Final Cut, come to think of it. It's the only version I own and I remember watching it when it first came out in theaters and it ended too well.
 
RFW said:
Same. I don't like people. I think it takes away from the movie when you hear people's reaction to certain scenes. I never buy anything there because I don't want to go pee halfway through.
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HAHA. After a certain age, you'll be going to pee halfway through anyway, but at least you'll be home. And if it's a DVD, you can hit "Pause" & not miss anything. :LOL:
 
win231 said:
HAHA. After a certain age, you'll be going to pee halfway through anyway, but at least you'll be home. And if it's a DVD, you can hit "Pause" & not miss anything. :LOL:
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Right. If the last time I went to a movie is any indication (2 months ago), I still got it. But after the movie, I'm running full speed to the nearest WC. :ROFLMAO:
 
Haven't been to the theater in years. I am not sure how long it's been. I don't plan to go either. I watch movies on my TV set. Netflix, Prime, broadcast, other streaming services that are free. I can't put up with people's nonsense in the theater anymore.
 
We still enjoy going to the theater when TCM brings movies to the big screen.

This year we are planning on attending:

Singin' in the Rain in April

and

To Kill A Mockingbird in November

These play at 3 different theaters, so we can choose the location.

Nice to sit with like-minded movie buffs and sometimes they dress in the period from the movies.
 
A similar thread was started a few months ago but it may have focused more on movie goers going to theaters. When I go to the supermarket, I see posters nearby for new movie releases other than Marvel productions. However, many of the releases have gone straight to streaming services (some for purchase only). I haven't looked at all of these trailers yet but I've seen trailer ads for Marry Me and Death On The Nile, neither of which interest me. Of trailers I've seen over the past couple of years, most have been so inane that it made me wonder how and why they were made. Here is a list of February releases:
https://www.newsweek.com/movies-coming-cinemas-february-2022-full-list-1673643
The last two times I went to the theater was with my son and two teenaged grandchildren to see Aquaman (2018) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). Don't judge me :D We really enjoyed ourselves. @hollydolly we manage to bring our own snacks and drinks. :)
 
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I hadn't gone to a movie theater since 1991 until I moved here in 2018. I have gone three times. Twice to see Bohemian Rhapsody and the last time was to see the movie version of Cats in 2019. The theater had to close during the quarantine but reopened. Both times we were in the theater there was barely 5 people in the movie we were seeing. They have two films playing at the same time. I don't really care to go to one, but this theater is a vintage type and I guess that is why nobody goes there. Not as comfortable as driving 35 miles to the fancy ones.
 
ElCastor said:
I suspect movies are being killed by several things, mainly -- COVID, CGI, and streaming. The endless violence of animated monsters and super heroes has replaced good scripts and first rate acting. Who needs to sit in a movie theater exposed to God knows what virus watching a monster destroy New York when they can watch 10,000 Amazon Prime or Netflix movies on a 65" flat screen in the comfort of their own home?
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Exactly....movie makers have lost a big audience with the older generation with nothing but science fiction and violence, its bad enough to have to get out and sit in an unfriendly atmosphere and then have to watch something that only appeals to a teenager.....no thank you.
 
Lewkat said:
Haven't been inside a theater in years and no desire to go to one today.
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I hear you, Lewkat because I haven't been inside a theater for decades and I mean it. I believe I wouldn't go in "for free." I remember in once winter in Mexico where I found out that you could buy beer and watch the movie. Beer in the movie theater wouldn't get me in either. I wonder what they will try next to get us to go? Free Cannabis or free pot or is that the same thing?
 
I do like people because I really believe that we are sociable living beings. Hide in your home too long and you are asking for dementia or Alzheimizer to come knocking on your door. Having said that I find it totally disgusting to sit in a movie theater and hear people laughing their heads off because someone is slapping a woman or someone is sticking a knife in someone's belly. That is suppose to be funny? Am I missing something or are some people sick?
 
Gaer said:
Haha! I still miss "Drive-ins"!
Don't like the theaters to go by the wayside, but things are swiftly changing.
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I suppose that these days, I much prefer streaming a movie and watching it from the comfort of my own couch.

But your comment about missing "Drive-Ins" reminded me of how much fun they were "back in the day." The absolute very best was to be stretched out in the back of a pickup bed on a double wide air mattress with a favorite girl. Add in your own ice chest of goodies and it didn't get any better.

Yes, count me as one who still misses the old drive-ins and the long-forgotten joys of youth.
 

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