Hey everyone,

I've recently decided to try different movie theatre's in my area. It's strange, but the larger theatre's like Loew's play commercials and the smaller ones don't..so, that tells me something.

Here is what I plan to do - become a mystery shopper at Loew's. I've provided the link below, so you can also do it in your local area. In my opinion, it's the best way to show the higher-ups at Loew's that "no-commercials" is important. I plan to tell them that I dislike them as a mystery shopper.

Let's do this all over the country and send a message!

http://www.loewscineplex.com/mysteryshopper/

Murph

While you're at it, please tell them that crying babies don't belong in movie theaters.

Forget all of the commericals.

How about the geniuses that show up not 5 minutes before the show starts but AS THE OPENING TRAILERS ARE PLAYING.

It oughta be like broadway. IF you're not there by the time the show starts, you ain't getting in!

Although I DO hate commercials in movie theatres, I have to remember that these commercials were created by folks like us, whose livelyhood may lie in commercial work or folks that are aspiring to be like us.

During my down-time between TV shows and Features, I made a very nice living working on hundreds of commercials...wouldn't it be a bitch if no one played them?

If I remember correctly, the first, affordable (not $80.00) blockbuster on VHS was Top Gun. This was largley due to the product placement and commercial that lead on the tape prior to the movie. Now they are just advertising everything throughout the whole movie. It used to be that we would have to "greek" everything out...today there are keylights for the soda can, go figure.

So, while I do think they are obnoxious, I would rather watch ads on film prior to the movie instead of those chintzy slide shows touting everything from flower shops to septic tank cleaning companies, and let's not forget the canned music they play in the BG.

Sit back, watch them, enjoy some and learn new techniques or just rip the SH*& out of them. Plus, this IS the time when all the knuckleheads are trying to find their seats in the dark while carrying enough junk food and drinks to feed a small army.

Now THAT'S entertainment!

RB

P.S. What really gets my goat are the forced commercials or trailers for other movies that are not on the disk you are watching and there is no way to by-pass them in the menu...AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry, I think it's time to increase the dosage.

You could'nt say it any better than that. :)

I love commercials, and more often the commercials are better than the movie. :-))

:/

What movies have you been watching? lol

If any of your recall in the news last year at this time there was a lawsuit started to the movie chains as to the times of the movies starting. Stated in the suit is the fact that the times for the movie and the times they showed up was not right. Well my friend and his three others filed that class action lawsuit as to the times being posted to the times of the showing of the movie. Still in the courts yet we will see what the out come is.

As to the commercials the movie theater owners place them there as they are losing money from the movies. It used to be that they made their money form the concession stands well since the distributors asked that they show the movies with less time in between each showing they lose from their sales as the distributor wants more showings. So to make up for this they started showing commercials to make up for this. Found this out from my friend who started the lawsuit.

What movies have you been watching? lolThe ones I get free tickets to (Westender newspaper), or the ones at those cheaper family owned theatres, like The Hollywood. I'd never go pay full price unless it's a good foreign film.

I've read all the comments, but I'm sticking to my original idea.

When I pay $9.00 for a movie - that's all I want and I want it at the time I've been told. If it's different - then the movie theatre should be sued or boycotted. We're consumers and they should give us what we pay for in droves...it's not a small industry. The #1 export in the USA is entertainment, so the "make up" argument is crap. Someone is double dipping somewhere and making LOTS extra, so the theatre's make less. It's the theatre's responsibility to sue whoever is messing with their profits - not the consumer to sue them for screwing with our time. We're paying them, they're paying the studios - so, they need to sue the studios. (man, i hate suing in general though)

I love the fact that digital quaility home entertainment is affordable! In the next few years we won't have to be subjected to only Hollywood shlock. I'm already happy with my "on demand" cable from Comcast - lots of movies at the tip of my fingers and there is a mixure of Hollywood and Indies. I've got a HDTV, 5.1 surround sound and some cheap buttered popcorn!

Hey, I love the movie theatre experience as much as the next person. But, we're talking almost $20.00 just to get for two people. That's a lot of cash for hundreds of people sitting in the theatre...at one showing! If they can't make money without getting into commercial television - then close all the theatre's and let's start renting for $4.00 a pop. Let's not forget - some of the best movies are independent and they could benefit from more people renting.

My 2 cents!

Murph

Hey! For $20 (monthly) you could get all the DVDs you can watch and have three out at a time. It's called Netflix, and I have wound up seeing many more movies than I ever would have, including "oldies" that somehow I missed when they came out. Yes I know DVD release is delayed from theatrical release, but that doesn't stop you from putting new movies in your queue so you'll get'em as soon as the DVD is out. Plus with the DVD you get things theatre viewers don't get: documentaries, director's comments etc. Who needs to go to the movies??

As for the unrelated trailers before the menu as Rick pointed out, I do agree but there's a solution. Just lollygag around the kitchen fixing snacks and beverages whilst the undesired trailers play. Then when you get to the menu, you are in control (and have wasted no time). Oh yes, and if the need comes for a bathroom break or a refill on your drink, just hit pause.

Wow, makes me want that Infocus DLP projector even more now.

I do have Netflix - I've had it for a long time actually!

It's awesome for every reason you mentioned. I also have watched way to many movies since I've been a member. But, I believe my movie experiences have been better. My local rental place only carries the hits...which su*k in my opinion. It's great with Netflix because they have like 15,000 titles and growing.

The only issue with Netflix is occasionally you have to wait a little while for a title to get back in rotation. But, they tell you in the list how long the estimated wait is...I've got 200 movies in my queue. There are about 4-5 movies that have "short wait" or "long wait". That's not bad...and those are usually the hot titles anyway. So, who needs those the second they're available? Not me.

Also, the other small thing...a scratched disk. That is a bummer, but not much more than if the store is down the street. It's probably better because Netflix will send you the same thing if you want...and the local store will usually trash the title if its old. You're sh*t out of luck then...

Murph

Yeah, big thumbs up from me for Netflix. I personally think they should be handling all of the mail delivery in this country--does it not seem like an impossibly short amount of time elapses between dropping the old discs in the mail and getting the new ones!? It's like a Warner Bros' cartoon--Bugs puts a letter in the mailbox and the truck pulls up two seconds later, "special delivery for Bugs Bunny!"

It's really cool to be able to get an old John Wayne flick, plus maybe a Ken Burns docu, along with the number 1 hit of last summer, plus make a reservation for brand new titles in pre-release, all in the same place (without leaving my desktop, no lines, no parking hassles, etc.) I just reserved Cold Mountain so they'll get it to me whenever it's out on disk.

Three cheers for Netflix!

Watchout for competition - I read a review about Wal-Mart trying to beat Netflix. Also, a few others..

You know what? Movies will be tainted if Wal-Mart is the place we get movies...it just won't be good. Agreed?

Murph

ONCE AGAIN, well put Mr. Murphy.

Frank, I was just playing (I see your point in your comment!)

Hey John, we agree a lot!

Murph

Whatever happened to throwing tomatoes at the screen?

<<<-- Originally posted by Christopher C. Murphy : Hey John, we agree a lot!

Murph -->>>

Yeah, I noticed. Freaky.

everytime I read your posts, I'm like "Yeah."

Murph,
You are right on target. The arguement that stopping commercials in movie theaters will put people out of business is fatally flawed, because if you extend that arguement then we need to support a long list of undesirable industries so as not to put people out of business. The movie theater is a dinosaur just waiting for the final asteroid.

Nick

In the end, the whole movie going experience will survive and morph into something new.

However, I do believe that it's our responsibility as "filmmakers" or "video professionals" to at LEAST voice our opinion beyond our inner circle here. That's why I'm specifically targeting my energies at the theatre's in my area - it's local to me and they'll know where I am coming from. I can't speak for everyone, but in general I'm confident that "commercialism" is rampant in way to many places.

I feel like it's out of control - we have middle and high schools taking cash from corporations like Coke and Nextel to build sports fields, new classrooms and whatever else. The fields are called, "Coca Cola's Blah Blah Field"...and the concession stand only sells Coke products?! Inside the classroom...it's all Nextel crap? Basically, it's turning into a situation where developing minds are being manipulated into using products before they can even buy them! As they mature, they're becoming addicted to junk that they would probably not even use. But, because the stupid adults let all this garbage invade private spaces...it's morphing the new generations into some bizarre "spend what you don't have" consumer nightmare!

In my humble opinion - corporations decided that the best way to stay in business is to weave themselves into the fabric of our young...and they'll be completely stuck as adults! We all brush our teeth right? I think coporations want to be seen as toothpaste...you don't even think about it as adults...you just pay for it and accept it!

I know we need to brush our teeth - regardless. :)

What does this have to do with movies? I don't know! I lost track in my rant...ok, wait. Yeah, commercials at the movies...it's all part of the long trail back to invading our private spaces without our consent! We can not accept it.

Murph

Christopher,

You almost seem surprised by all of this commercialism!

Here's a little history lesson:

1948-1953 TEXACO Star Theater- aka, The Milton Berle Show

1953-1956 The BUICK-Berle Show

1958-1959 The KRAFT Music Hall starring Milton Berle.

1957-1960 ALCOA-GOODYEAR Theater.

1959-1968 The BELL TELEPHONE Hour- Musical

1948-1950 The CHESTERFIELD Supper Club.

1952-1953 The CHEVRON Theater-Stars Over Hollywood.

1963-1967 The CHRYSLER Theatre-Bob Hope Specials

1959-1961 The DUPONT Show with Juane Allyson.

This is just a sampling of how this evil invaded our homes during the prime time television hours! Not only were the products showcased in the titles, most, if not all of the commercials during the show also pitched the sponsor. Of special note is that damned near everyone on shows sponsored by cigarette companies smoked their cigarettes on camera during the shows.

The huge difference between today and the dates shown above is the incredible amount of information that can be disemminated and the speed at which it happens in today's world.

Sometimes advertisers are sublte, sometimes they just hit you over the head to get your attention.

How about exiting a Disney or Universal ride...right into a store that sells nothing but products that have to do with that particular ride or movie?

How about...billboards? Flyers? Radio spots? The GoodYear Blimp? Signs on buses? Door hangers? "On Hold" music with ads? Tommy Hilfiger shirts? There's just no getting away from it.

Is it annoying? YES!

Would you like to throttle the people responsible for these terrible transgressions. YES!

Are you going to put a stop to it? Not likely.

The bottom line is that it has become a way of life all over the world and realistically, there isn't a whole hell of allot that we can do about it.

As for the lawsuits, it sure seems like a whole lot of trouble, expense and inconvenience in order to combat just a little inconvenience, just doesn't make a whole bunch of sense to me.

Sorry if I disagree with some of your points but there are just too many other really important things out there in the cold cruel world to worry about...but then again...what the hell do I know!?

If you really must go after someone, how about killing all the spammers and pop-up ads? Sign me up!!! :)

RB

The movie going experience has become a troublesome and tainted one for me, 1) because of the extra stuff, 2) because of the people there, and 3) because of the money. I am one of "those people" that when I go see a movie I walk in during the previews because I want to miss the commercials, etc. I plan to do that on purpose. Also, I am one of those people who will turn around and tell you to be quiet if you are talking behind or infront of me during a movie. Several times I have had to get the manager to throw people out because they wouldn't shut up or their cell phone kept ringing and they just carried on a conversation during the movie. Last summer, I went to a movie and some guy and girl got into a huge argument, he threw the cell phone at the screen and the chic walked out crying hysterically. And, I don't think paying around $30 (including popcorn and a $4.00 bottle of water) is worth putting up with rude people or commercials I can watch at home. All in all, I'll take the privacy of my own home anyday, and I'll just wait for the DVD new releases to come out! Here's an idea of how to get rid of the commercials: "Boycott the movies!" Join my boycott! Fight the man! To each their own...

J.

I completely agree with you. There is nothing worse than today's theater goers. It is probably the main reason why I don't often go to the movies.

The only problem with walking into a popular movie during previews is that it is impossible to get perfect seating for optimum viewing, too bad they don't have reserved seating!

RB

Well, I actually enjoy trailers, partly because it quickly lets me know about new movies (in fact, I have been able to identify some movies I DON'T want to see that way, what a time-saver!)...and partly because some of what I do is similar to trailers, both in length and in intent: "Coming soon to a city near you, the Sauza Get Lost Tour!"

As for commercials, as Rick accurately pointed out, they have been with us since the beginning of time in the TV realm. It's just that full-production-value video spots didn't come to the movie-house screen until much later in history, which is what causes congitive dissonance. We can, however, remember the low-impact, cheezy slide show of still-image ads for local merchants, usually with awful graphic design and accompanied by "whatever" music.

Since you mentioned Disney, I recently had lunch at a restaurant (Sci-Fi Dine-In) in one of their parks (Disney-MGM Studios) where the interior was done up to simulate a drive-in theater. The tables and booths were simulated replicas of '50s era cars, the waitstaff were carhops, and the kitchen was designed to resemble a drive-in movie snack bar. Which brings me to my point: what was playing on the screen between the hilariously corny sci-fi B&W movies of old were those old self-promotion adverts for the theater snack bar, just like they used to be, reminding me of how long this practice has existed in one form or another.

I do agree that advertising and promotion has inserted itself more aggressively and pervasively in our lives, now that a college football championship game is named after a cell phone manufacturer (Nokia), etc.

Oh yeah, and today's moviegoers must have been brought up in a cave, such total idiots...Hooray for Netflix!

I received a series 2 Tivo for my b-day back in August, and I'm still way to busy and satisfied with the quality programming I record to even go to the movies......

Commercials ???? What are those ????
Bloop-bloop-bloop (the sound of Tivo fast forwarding past all lame commercials)

Yes, I've had several broadcast commercials aired....but it's not my forte.....so no offense to those who are paying the bills with them.

I don't think today's moviegoers are any more or less polite than those of other eras. These days at least we have title cards reminding people to be silent during the film, turn off their cell phones, not smoke, etc.

Yeah, except here in Miami the cards are in Eeeengleeesh...comprendo?

And when the audience don't comprendo too good they call each other on the cell phones for clarification although they are a whole 3 seats away from each other and then they really go to town. Tiki tiki tiki...

Movie audiences in the Greater Miami area suck. Period. Too many cells, too many pagers, too many people who already saw the movie and feel compelled to describe every scene that is coming up, such as..."Watch what happens now...You're not going to beleive this next part...ese tipo es un hijo de puta"...and the infamous...don't worry, they all die at the end!"

I don't know if it is intentional rudeness or just a carryover from another culture where this type of behaviour is common and expected.

I was born and raised by Cuban parents, in NY City and I was always taught that I should speak ONLY English around only English speakers...to do otherwise was incosiderate and rude. I was also taught to shut the hell up in a movie theater and enjoy the show so others might enjoy it also, and so my Dad didn't have to land an attention getter across my bean!

My folks, may they rest in peace, did the right thing. They taught me and my siblings the correct way to act when interacting within another culture, mainly, the American culture.

Frankly, I honestly feel that if you stopped the "caveat" slide show prior to the movie and held a quiz, the majority of the audience couldn't tell you what the message was.

OK, dame mas papcorn y empiesa la pelicula!!!

And BEFORE any self righteous activists out there start wanting to make me a project...I was born in NY City, Manhattan to be exact, of Cuban parents who came here as immigrants, not refugees. My first language is Spanish, in which I am fluent in speaking, writing and reading, although I am infinitely more comfortable in English. I went to a Jewish pre-school and an Irish/Christian Brothers school for my formative years. And to boot, I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I feel I have a little ownership here, so please, save any complaints, grievances, law suits, nasty grams, etc. for other more worthy opponents with deeper pockets! :)


RB (Still trying to figure out how to spell RB in Spanish!!!)

Hey Rick, El Polo Loco!

That's the only Spanish I know... :)

Murph

Add one l to Polo and you get Pollo, or the chicken part of Crazy Chicken!

Some very tasty food if it is the same one they have here!

One very important life saving phrase you should never be without is...una cerveza fria por favor! "One cold beer please." (repeat as necessary)

I call that survival Spanish!

Enjoy, papi.

RB

OK, gimme some more popcorn and show us da damn film arready...

No bilingual signs in Miami???

No lo creo!

Up here in snowy CT i have made signage in both: "Solamente Salida de Emergencia, Por Favor No Abras"

But then of course, people are good at ignoring things in all languages.


(Wow, Rick, I feel like I just have read a personal ad..."seeking single Latina or Jewish Female, nonsmoker, who likes film festivals and Caribbean food." Hee hee hee! I'm a Catholic School survivor too!)

So tell me who is worse, the audiences in MIA or NYC?

Hey Mike,

Haven't visited this post in a while. If you are still interested in an answer, here it is.

First, they actually had to formally and officially make English, Miami-Dade County's "official" language! Does that give you any indication?

If I had the choice of watching a movie in either one of these two cities, I would choose NY, although, it seems that no matter where you go, there is always a percentage of the crowd who are oblivious to their surroundings.

It is a pretty sad state of affairs when the priest at your local parish has to remind everyone to turn off their cell phones and beepers, and still, there are the morons who don't and are inevitably called during the service.

I have special contempt for the momo who, not only answers his/her phone in a theatre, but will actually hold a converstation as if they were in their own living room.

Tu amigo,RB.

Gracias RB,
Wow, they did the total opposite of Canada, where it is a no-no to have English-only signage! Gotta be French and English.

Well, in NYC you also have the choice (budget permitting) of going to a B'way play, where there is no tolerance for moronic behavior, and if you arrive late, you get seated at "staff discretion" (when they jolly well feel like letting you in). No advertising there...except print ads in the playbill.

buenos noches
m

In British Columbia the signage is English.

In Chinatown it's in Chinese and English. The only French you see here is in Government buildings.

True, Keith,
anything with the govt. has to have French, regardless if you are in Alberta or Nunavut. Or in B.C.... but I guess the west coast is far enough away for local businesses to ignore that rule. (maybe you can tell me, is that a federal regulation or do the provinces have a say?)

Just cruised thru Chinatown (and Gastown too) last summer and did notice all the Asian signage.

On the east coast, another world, even the trucks are French/English.

I'll take Vancouver over Montreal any day.

I'm not sure what the regulations are. If I had a less busy day I would look online for the actual statutes. Not sure if it applies provincially, either.

I've never been to Montreal but I think I'm going to go for a visit this spring or summer.