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Film & TV
Lanah Tyra's avatar

I try to go still but often regret it as I will have someone kicking my seat, talking, munching loudly or being on their phone constantly and find it really disturbing. This really brings out my introvert side and I find myself more often watching stuff at home.

Also the amount of adverts and other announcements? I hate searching for my seat in the dark so I get there at start time... Just to sit for 40 minutes adverts.

I loved cinema a lot more before smartphones and when it was okay to call someone out who coydn't behave in public spaces. You try that now and you are the bad guy.

I think I'm getting grumpy and old 😅

Makster's avatar

I can attest when it comes to smartphones. I hate them in cinemas. I remember at university we went to see a film (a marvel one) and my friend invited his society lot as well. However I was sat next to one of them and it was back when smartphones were getting bigger (like phablet big) and he had his at max brightness. Oh it irritated me soo much I was pretty arsey with my friend for a month afterwards

Kane Carnifex's avatar

What was the last thing you saw at the cinema?

The Boy and the Heron Why? This was the first possible opportunity to watch it.

Homecinema <3

For me it is the lack of service and quality. There is a difference between back as a child and today. Popcorn and two Twix satisfied my young mind. Today I want to dip my carrot & cucumber into some sour cream and nip on my Gin Tonic and if I feel like it, why not some chicken Wings?

Yes, some Cinemas have this and even go further but these aren´t in my reach. Looking to Japan.

On the other Hand the old private cinemas will forever have their own charm.

So this is why I went oldschool home cinema with a +20 Year old Plasma from B&O xD … I know you can have 65” for 500 Bucks… but it still works!

And D-Box Motion Seats are only as good as the Choreography to the movie. (after Star Wars, it just was a shame)

Lanah Tyra's avatar

That is one massive screen! My rich classmates used to have home cinema in their basement in the 90s and ever since then I wanted a house big enough for that... Still do 😅

Kane Carnifex's avatar

During my education to IT-Service Guy a friend bought a beamer in XXL. Like the ones they have on trainstation or so. Watching 80s Horro Movies in SD <3

My dream is multi aprtment Building which just shares entertainment rooms. Also i need to hink about once i get old... i am a GAMING OPA... i need my Gaming PC.

Lanah Tyra's avatar

The German youngsters in our FFXIV guild call my partner Opa as he's the oldest of us (he's 50) :D

Kane Carnifex's avatar

This little bit early isn´t it? Lets head to 60 or so :P

Ford James's avatar

I still go fairly often, as I have a membership for a cinema chain in the UK that lets me see as many films as I like for £15/month. However, my attendance this year has dropped enormously compared to the last couple of years, and even they were down on the year or two I was a member before COVID. Audience behaviour has gotten considerably worse - it's been a very noticeable shift - and the cinema I now attend is in the middle of a big shopping centre, which means it's full of kids and teenagers unless I go on a Mon-Thurs evening, or very early on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

That said, I'm off to see Furiosa tonight, but for comparison, I saw 45 films in the cinema in 2022, 35 in 2023, but I've only seen seven so far in 2024 including Furiosa later on. It does also feel like there have been fewer interesting mid-tier films this year compared to previous so I've been less motivated to go, but that's another topic entirely!

Makster's avatar

Thanks for the reply. I think from this thread it is bringing up some interesting trends in cinema etiquette. From listening to Rooster Teeth podcast, there is an American chain of cinemas called Alamo Drafthouse where their selling point is table service at the screening (like Everyman Cinema) but also that they have a very strict cinema etiquette. So much so that you can be kicked out and barred for using phones, talking, disruptive behaviour etc.

I do wonder whether there is a market for cinema screenings where you are allowed to talk, use your mobile, etc. Maybe price it cheaper to offset the staff required to enforce screenings where you do need to be silent, do need to keep you phones off etc.

Ford James's avatar

That style of cinema table-service is great for one-off dates and such, but it's not financially viable for people who like to go regularly. I'm in Manchester and the Everyman here costs £17.10 for a single adult on Saturday night for Furiosa - that's more expensive than my monthly fee to see as many films as I like at the Odeon. Just checked one of the London Everyman venues and it's over £20.

I don't know what the solution is. At the standard Odeon/Cineworld/Vue, staff very rarely bother checking the screenings to ensure nobody is being disruptive, because they're not paid enough to care. And you never want to be the person to leave and ask for help because you're then missing part of the film and ultimately, what is one underpaid uni student gonna do to deal with a bunch of (probably somewhat intimidating) teenagers? It's a post-COVID problem where lots of people forgot how to act decently in public and it hasn't really recovered since).

Lanah Tyra's avatar

I went to the Odeon near Deansgate to watch Gundam Seed Freedom, that was okay as I think it got a very niche audience. But in general we go to the Vue either in Middlebrook or Salford Quays and both being in shopping centre can be horrendous when teens are around.

It's been bad before COVID as well, but it definitely got worse since then, people just don't have any consideration towards others in public spaces.

I do like the special cinema experiences, went to a fancy one in London for my birthday, don't remember what was it called but it had 2 searer sofas. But indeed the price is only justified if you go occasionally.

Ford James's avatar

If Vue offered a membership like Odeon Limitless, I'd happily switch cinema to the Salford Quays Vue because it's a lovely 15 minute walk along the canal for me, compared to 15 minutes on the tram (plus the tram fare) to the Trafford Centre. Especially since that shopping centre in Salford Quays is often very quiet in comparison. And the Odeon near Deansgate is meant to be closing down soon, if it hasn't already, because that place is so old, all the screens have a very funky smell and the seats aren't in the best nick. The Trafford Centre IMAX/Dolby screens are at least quite comfy and relatively clean, but it's a low bar to be impressed!

Lanah Tyra's avatar

It is indeed one of the quietest shopping centers and I love the reclining seats in Vue, at least no one can reach it to kick the back of my seat :D

It's a hit or miss really, had some good times there when it was quiet but also got it swarmed by teenagers, depends on the time I guess.

It is a lovely 10-15 min walk down by the canal from work for me :D

Makster's avatar

Hard agree on the amount of foot traffic when comparing the Salford Quays to Trafford Centre. It's honestly one of the reasons I avoid the TC unless its a weekday (outside school holidays) because its just too many people

Makster's avatar

I think my go-to is also the Vue at the Salford Quays. Convenient for me to get to and great for the 2-4-1 on Tuesday or Wednesdays

Lanah Tyra's avatar

Why do I have the feeling that a Manchester JA community meetup will be in order at some point? Makster Ford James 😅

Ford James's avatar

Ha, that is quite the coincidence we're all in the same area given the size of JA! I'd definitely be down to organise a meetup at some point - I know I'm the only JA staff member in the north though, everyone else is down south.

Makster's avatar

@Lanah Tyra I was thinking the same thing after I wasn't able to attend the WASD event that I feel JA has a great community of likeminded people that I wouldn't mind meeting up irl if it were somewhere closer

Even if it's an unofficial community meet up - there are plenty of great places in Manchester to hang out. Just bring along an umbrella if we do anything outside (lol)

Kane Carnifex's avatar

They have similar deal in the netherlands back in 2018 or so. But in Germany its more like collect some points get free entry. Or i just look up the wrong companys :(

45, this like close every week 1 Movie <3 I like that.

Paul's avatar

My wife and I used to see every new Marvel release at the cinema but since End game we dont see them much (as they got abit crap).

Due to the increase in price of fuel, parking, tickets and the food and drink we tend to just watch at home.

We still want to go but now we have to plan in advance as its far more expensive now.

Damien Mason's avatar

I occasionally go, but it's a big investment nowadays. Seats are often uncomfortable, sound systems are antiquated for some venues to the point of distortion, and if you sit anywhere near the front then your neck will get cramp 30 minutes in. That's not to mention the wildcards that are other people talking loudly, whipping out smartphones, or chucking popcorn everywhere. There are so many factors hindering the experience nowadays that the ever-increasing price of a ticket and snacks just doesn't seem worth it.

The last thing I saw at the cinema was Late Night With The Devil. Great film and I was happy with the experience overall. Horror films tend to draw a more mature crowd with the age ratings and later showings. If you go in the third or fourth week it's been out, the herd thins and it's a much nicer place to be, you just need to risk spoilers in that time.

Dave's avatar

Rarely ever go anymore, too expensive and too much hassle. With how high quality and high budget streaming series are these days, plus all the other forms of entertainment vying for our time, I think film is losing it's influence and standing in todays pop culture.

FUN INC's avatar

Pre-Covid, yes; post-covid - not so much. Now that is not because of covid etc, its actually that i feel that there has been a huge lull in decent films coming out, and the motivation is just not there. My next trip to the cinema is actually not for a film... it is a music thing... Ghost: Rite Here, Rite Now.

MargotCandy's avatar

I agree with a lot of the points raised.

I don’t go as much as peoples etiquette is lacking, and also it’s so expensive. When we go we tend to try and go to an iMax showing here as some of the smaller screens don’t seem worth it for the money it costs to go.

Not that many films need to be seen in such a big screen in my opinion.

We also go out so rarely that generally we try to go somewhere with friends where we can actually talk and catch up. Cinema trips aren’t great for that. Haha.

But I do also think that this trend to put films onto streaming platforms so soon after release is not helping the trend of people not going. There are a couple of films I wanted to see in the cinema but within 2 weeks of release I got adverts saying they were coming to streaming platforms very soon so we saved the money.

Shovel's avatar

I do think cinemas are starting to die out which is a shame. They make a lot of revenue with Merch and popcorn and things like that and I think the Merch so when you get the cool popcorn buckets that’s really enticing to come to the cinema to watch the film because you get to walk away with a bit of film memorabilia, but also I feel like just films aren’t as good as they used to be. We had a time where they were really on the nostalgia aspect to help promote movies such as the new ghostbusters having Bill Murray in it loads of reboots and all revivals and I think it’s getting quite tired so I’m seeing that. Nice to see a really good film and everyone have that same desire to be like oh my gosh yeah let’s go and watch it even watching the Oscars this year there was nothing that really stood out to me film wise where I was in that minor of oh I need to go and watch this ASAP it was all very much what you said. Let’s wait until it comes out on TV or DVD.

Thomas's avatar

I do! I love going to the cinema and with an Odeon pass I don't feel burned by the price. I am genuinely worried about the fate of the cinema because it's such a great way to see a film, but I think the rising prices, as well as the advent of massive TVs and streaming services, have made it a much less appealing prospect for most people.

It's also a real shame to see Furiosa flop, the film is fantastic

Makster's avatar

I do see Cinema scaling back to more of a novelty or anachronistic hobby to attend as there are merits to seeing a movie in the cinema. I reckon it'd be like going to the theatre/ play or opera. So there are people that go but are often those that are really into it.

It'll be interesting from a film-making perspective as well as I'm sure film makers will need to start mixing/ mastering their films to consider audience's home set ups or even surveying if people are more watching films on iPads or phones if residents don't have a communal space to watch films

Thomas's avatar

Yeah, I guess the silver lining is faith that there will always be a place for cinema and the downfall of big blockbuster cinema could mean the rise of independent cinema and screenings of old films. I've seen a few old films at the cinema, some in 35mm, and it's always felt like a special experience akin to going to the theatre like you say.

I do think streaming has affected the way films are made. In Mark Kermode's review of Killers of the Flower Moon he theorised that giving viewers the option to pause and return to films resulted in a film with a much slower pace than most. In that film's case I didn't mind because I loved it, but I also think it's led to even more serialization of films, like how the MCU is almost like a TV series where the episodes are all 3 hours long.

Wadd Enderas's avatar

I definitely still go to the cinema and generally love the experience when I do. I really enjoy watching movies in the immersive experience with the huge screen and epic sound systems some of the top cinema chains have, but learning things like what you've said above, Fall Guy having an additional 20 minutes in the streaming version, has left me feeling a little seen off.

And anecdotally, I do feel the popularity of cinema is declining. Just from the feel of numbers in the screens quite early on into the movie's cycle, you can feel that decline. I recently went to watch Fall Guy in the cinema, 7:30pm screening on a week night, and there were 9 of us in the room...

I will be going back to watch Furiosa though!

L

i go on occasion they are still quite popular because sometimes its just nice to go out and watch something but i think they have died down since streaming movies at home or downloading them off the internet became a thing

K

In the US at least, since 2016 people have stopped caring about being respectful in public or group settings. We went to the live-action Beauty and the Beast specifically picking a 10:35 pm showing to limit the number of kids and people in general. The theater was 90% full and there were two families with INFANTS at this showing. Both began screaming/crying around the same time, but neither group would remove the kids. People started saying stuff to them to leave, but they argued and shouted. At one point, one of the parents threw a giant soda at people. Shortly after that, the movie stopped and the lights turned on with a bunch of employees coming in to remove the families with infants. Turned into more shouting before the cops turned up. After 20 minutes, the people were removed and the movie restarted.

After 2020, people have gotten even worse in my opinion. Our cinema outings are far and few between, as we discuss what types of people will be watching this movie and if we are ok with someone being super loud. We'll go to a local theater where you get dinner and other food for older movies we've seen 10s of times (Clue, Grease, Scott Pilgrim) so we aren't nearly as bothered.

Reading back through all of that seems like a lot of "old man ranting at kids to get off his lawn" but I just don't understand what's happening with cinemas anymore.

Rich's avatar

Ugh, that sounds awful, sorry to hear that. Never seen anything quite that bad in the UK but I think there's probably been a slight decline. Lots of people on phones. It definitely hurts the experience.

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