Re: Game 76---June 26th.---Don's grade/thoughts !!!

Not really. piracy has been around since cameras were small
enough to sneakinto theaters. They're still making crap.

Sure, because people are watching them, pirated or not. If a
producer knows that enough people will watch a movie, then that
movie will get made, no matter how awful it is. That a
percentage of people refuse to pay but still want to watch just
tells the producer to find ways to stop the piracy, not that
he needs to make better movies.

If you sell apples, and I continually go into your orchard to
steal them (because I think you sell them at ripoff prices),
I submit that you're more likely to try to find a way to police
your orchards than you are to lower your prices or improve the
quality of your apples. By "pirating" movies, you're demonstrating
that demand for the product is high -- you're just reinforcing to
the producers that if they could just tighten security, they'd
make (an even bigger) profit.

Yeah, understand that. I'm mostly venting. I just get so sick and tired of hollywood doing a slick
marketing campain and delivering horrible product. There really is no other recorse for me except
not going. So thats what I'm going to do.

Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't be pissed. I'm saying that
you're hurting people who need those residual checks. If you
have enough interest in seeing a movie to watch a pirated version
of that movie, consider paying to watch it. If you don't have
enough interest in seeing a version for which you would have to
pay, consider not seeing the movie (or waiting to borrow the DVD
from a friend or something).

<snip>

What about the commercials in movies? Do you like those?

The ones before the movie starts?

No. The ones not so cleaverly slipped into movies. I don't pay
to have products pushed on me. I payed to be entertained. Which
didn't happen.

Well, you're more than welcome to go into movie production
yourself. As executive producer, you'd (likely) have (some
measure of) control over sources of financing for the movie.
I understand the irritation at being distracted, but there
are lots of things that can be distracting about movies,
including but not limited to bad writing, bad directing, bad
editing, bad acting, etc.. I tend to think that if the movie
is done well enough, the product placement tends not to be
as bothersome; you're more likely to be distracted by it
when the rest of the movie is incapable of fully engrossing
you.

That was part of the problem. Despite what Don said it was quite bad. The other problem was it was
so blatent. They literaly added a line in the movie...'Is that a Hemi?" as the camera pans to the
hood of the vehicle. No attempt at camoflage.

How can I get my money back if I sit through a *** movie? I
can't. Hollywood pulls another fast one and I'm the bad guy.

Don't sit through the whole movie. Walk out. Ask for your
money back. Most theaters (so far as I know) will refund
your money if you leave before the end (within reason -- not
RIGHT before the end, of course).

This I didn't know. I would try this in the future but I don't plan on going to a theater any time
soon.


Honestly, they don't bother
me. They come before the trailers -- if I don't want to see
them, I can go get my popcorn then (or go to the bathroom or
whatever). They're like commercials anywhere else -- if
they're clever enough, I don't mind watching them. If they
aren't, well, I'll keep talking to my neighbor or whatever.

I wasn't talking previews....but my point still stands. I paid
to see a product not some other lousy tripe.

And you saw the product. Without the other lousy tripe, you
might not have gotten the chance to see the product in the
first place.

That doesn't jive with me. I pay an entrance fee to see a movie. Not for commercials for over priced
concessions or cars or whatever. Anyway, no more theateres from this consumer.

Dunno where you live, but there are theaters where I live
which do not show commercials before the movie. The tickets
cost more, but for people who object strongly to the
commercials, these theaters are an option.

I don't think I'll go to a theater any time soon.

Fair enough. I don't go to theaters particularly often
either. There are plenty of good books to read. If
you don't like the movies, don't watch -- that's perfectly
reasonable. If you don't like the theater experience,
don't go -- that's also perfectly reasonable. And not
wanting to spend money is definitely reasonable. I'm
just suggesting that if you don't want to spend the money,
don't watch the movie either. (Or watch a copy that a
friend paid for or whatever).

<snip>

A familiy of 4 will spend close to $50 without concessions.

Really? Are you just talking movie prices or are you also
talking about the price of parking or gas or something?
$50 is more expensive than I'm used to paying for movie
tickets alone, though it's certainly possible that movies
are more expensive where you are.

$12 bucks for anyone over 12. $9 if they're under 12.

What theater is this? I know of one theater which charges
this much, but it's a theater at which you buy a specific
(very comfortable) seat and at which you never have to
watch pre-movie commercials.

Its the local theater in Springfield.

Throw in another $30-40 with concessions.

Why? Don't buy the concessions.

I don't.

Then I don't understand. You might as well complain
about the cost of the limo ride to the theater -- if
you're not actually spending that money, then what's
it matter what it costs?

Again, I was just trying to make the point that theaters don't just overcharge...they gouge. I
personally don't like that.

My point is the movie industry steals from the consumer.

It's a transaction. It's tough to get anything in this
world without paying for it. If you don't like the product,
don't pay for it. I'm just suggesting that if you do like
the product enough to watch it, pay for it as well. There
are plenty of bad people that you're screwing by your
"piracy," but there are a few decent ones too.

I'm sure. Those people will have to live without a contribution from me.

Yeah, yeah...Caveat Emptor. Its the atmosphere of it all.
You can't help but feel screwed.

Yeah, but you might as well feel that way about just
about any product. Virtually everything I ever pay for
costs more than I would prefer to have to pay for it.

As with most things its a relative thing. When it comes to movie theaters, Whoa Nellie! Hold your
ankles. Just my opinion.

I'm through with it until Hollywood
starts giving a crap. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum for me....

So long as you apparently do want to watch the movies enough to
watch pirated versions, why should Hollywood attempt to make
better movies?

<Shrugs> They won't change. No matter what I do or don't do.

Indeed, perhaps not.

All you're doing is telling Hollywood to be
better about stopping pirated versions from getting out. If
you don't like the movies Hollywood makes, don't watch them.
If you want Hollywood to make better movies, only pay to see
movies that you want Hollywood to make more of.

I have done that. I've also watched many bad movies. I can't
get a refund for them. So whats the point?

I don't know. Apparently you still watch the movies, so
the producers must be doing something right.

Sure, we all watch movies. When this all started it was specific to comic book movies. From the ones
I've seen, most have been average to bad with an occational solid one. So I'll play it save and I
won't be watching any more.

Seriously, check out www.rottentomatoes.com before you
go watching any more movies in a theater or otherwise.
Read a bunch of reviewers' work. Find reviewers whose
tastes tend to match your own. Then make sure to read
those particular reviewers' reviews before spending any
more money on movies. It may help.

Been there. I should have checked it out before I left. The movie choice was a snap decision that I
regret.

.