I will go to the theater for an event movie, some of the classic movies that
have been showing on the big screen by Fathom Events (I went to The Sound of
Music, Wizard of Oz in 3D, ect). I own a JVC 3D 4k projector and a 160" (16 x
9) screen with a Dolby Atmos (9.2 channel) sound system, that includes the
ceiling speakers directly overhead, so there is no reason for me to go and
watch on a regular basis cell phones light up or ring, my feet stick to the
floor, to pay $4.00 for a bottle of water and $7.50 for a medium popcorn,
possibly $10.00 for parking, and someone's feet on the top of the chair next to
me.. let;s face it, the younger generation can be darn rude at cinemas.
However, I have gone to see current films on Imax screen (whether it be true
Imax or those in cineplexes). Do I believe my habits are hurting current
moviemaking by my not going regularly to the theater to see the movies? No, I
buy the blu-ray disc, and that is still income from the film for the studios,
much more-so than a theater ticket. And, a little added comment, there is
nothing like projecting 3D at home on a large screen, because you are much
closer to the screen, the 3D effect is so far advanced over watching it in a
theater. If you have ever been disappointed at watching 3D in a theater, it's a
completely different and better experience at home. There are currently over
500 blu-ray 3D movies available at retail
What I rarely do is stream movies or purchase on demand or any other digital
form, and I have no interest in watching any movie on a tablet or cell phone. I
like quality and no streaming service, even if they tout 1080p or 4k, comes
close to watching a blu-ray with those same technical features. There is no
compression like there is in streaming, movies on demand, ect. I was amazed
when I read how much compression is used over platforms like Netflix, Amazon,
and DirecTV and Dish Network and all the movie-selling apps available. The
compression ratio can sometimes go up to 80%, where their claimed "exactly like
blu-ray" is actually close to a DVD picture in the end due to compression. Were
you to offer over thge internet a movie in true blu-ray quality, they could
never stream it today without hours of downloading first.
And not many discuss it, but the sound is also highly compressed, even more
than the picture, so what you end up with on streaming and Satellite TV and
cable is, yes, a 5.1 channel soundtrack, but the sound has been so compressed,
instruments in the orchestra of a movie score are actually reduced in quality
to a huge extent which hurts the sound of every instrument and even the
separation of the stereo channels, and that goes for sound effects and dialogue
too. And I get sick of that little circle starting to turn when my WIFI signal
lessens. With a blu-ray disc, I can watch it anytime, and know for sure I can
watch it in the first place. All of the streaming services we have now a movie
may appear there one day and be gone the next.
As for Netflix, the service is great for me when I can't find anything I own
that I am in the mood to watch, but so many of the movies showing there I have
never heard of, and as far as current movies, including those coming out on
home video for the first time after their theatrical showing, there are almost
none. I use Netflix mail service and rent blu-rays for those I don't want to
buy. My main problem with HBO and those services is the way they reformat all
of the movies filmed in the Cinemascope 2:35:1 ratio to "fir the screen." To
me, that's just editing what the director intended. I believe cinemas have a
bright future, as going to the movies is a tradition. And home video is just
adding revenue to boxoffice intake.
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