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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
 Posted - 03/25/2008 : 11:58:50 PM
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A recession may be looming, but a group of investors thinks Americans are ready to pony up $35 for a movie ticket.
Each complex will sport theaters featuring 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking.
But the circuit will especially push its culinary offerings -- made-to-order meals like sushi and other theater-friendly foods from on-site chefs (a service button at each seat calls a waiter). Moviegoers will have to pay extra for any food they order, however.
[url="http://www.variety.com/VR1117982907.html"]Click Here for Article[/url]
Man! I tell ya...
It's not bad enough when you have theaters with stadium seating and vendors who sell you popcorn at exorbitant prices. But these amenities are are too much.
And this is the worst time to start doing this.
Do you think people are going to go to the movies to sip Champaine and eat caviar while watching Cloverfield? Even if you are watching Oscar worthy movies, you think that sushi is going in enhance someone getting killed with a cattle gun in No Country for Old Men?
Movies these days are too trite for this type of treatment. I really think these people are throw good money away on a idea that only appeals to the beau monde crowd.
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
Edited by - Capt. Nemo on 03/26/2008 12:05:10 AM
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 12:02:08 AM
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I already have this. It's called my living room.
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 04:14:03 AM
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| Sushi is a theater-friendly meal? Let's wait until the remains from previous sessions start to reek. These people are just nuts. |
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hk6909
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
651 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 4:53:44 PM
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"This is a top-end experience," Burke said. "People want to get away from their blues. I don't think the recession will affect it one iota."
No, I don't think it'll be recession that does this in either.
When a stranger calls, make friends with him. |
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Terrahawk
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
644 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 6:58:00 PM
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I always thought a much more economical model would be to design smaller theaters (say 20-30 seats), have 10-20 per site and instead of showing fixed films, rent the theaters to groups who bring their own film(s) or they can rent a current release. Then you could offer reasonably price concessions. You could get a group of people together to watch a B-movie at a reasonable price, get your food, and have no clean-up afterwards.
- Si desea pulse 2 para español, encontrar un país diferente. - |
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BradH812
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 7:51:09 PM
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Terra. that idea actually makes good sense. A risk, maybe, but the potential is there. And if it went over, it'd go over BIG.
Of course, we won't see that anytime soon. |
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Terrahawk
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
644 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 8:57:57 PM
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Thanks Brad. The technology today really makes it possible. The main issues I've thought of are coming up with a reasonable price point and what sort of copyright legalities would be asserted the media industry. I mean this is the same group that threw a fit when people were modifying videos they already owned. With real money possibly involved, it could be ugly. Common sense says it shouldn't be an issue, but....well I don't need to say anything, do I.
The problem with the idea referenced by the Capt. is that people who are willing to shell out $35+ per ticket plus pay for high-end concessions can probably afford to have their own home theater with all the bells and whistles. Plus how annoyed are you going to be when the other rich snob beside you is ordering for the tenth time and interrupting your enjoyment of the latest Hollywood blockbuster?
- Si desea pulse 2 para español, encontrar un país diferente. - |
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 9:27:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Terrahawk
The problem with the idea referenced by the Capt. is that people who are willing to shell out $35+ per ticket plus pay for high-end concessions can probably afford to have their own home theater with all the bells and whistles.
Exactly. And you don't have to be affluent, either. I have a 120" screen- at a 10' sitting distance that's a larger field of view than any commercial theater- a bright 1080p projector that coupled with an HD source rivals film- close enough for me, anyway- a moderate but THX certified sound system and the comfy recliners with the cupholders. I have MAYBE six grand in the whole thing; I just update little by little when I can afford to. It smokes any local theater and considering I've watched literally thousands of movies here the amortized cost is likely less than a couple bucks a movie. No one talks on the cell phone- and if they do, or if a bathroom break is needed the movie pauses until we're all ready again.
Hell, I should charge $10 to show movies and serve sushi. Of course, for me to exhibit films for profit it would be illegal. <roll eyes> What's going to make Terrahawk's idea difficult is that is cots BIG $$$ to get licensed versions of films to show in a commercial venture. (None of that "they can bring their own movies" either. What you could maybe do is work it like hookers do- "Hey, I'm just having people over for movie night! Hmm, what's this cash on the dresser?? Lucky me!" *g*
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
Edited by - Sardu on 03/26/2008 9:30:53 PM |
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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 10:21:31 PM
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The main point I want to get across is that movies don't warrent this type of treatment.
It's like getting a stateroom for a ferry ride across a river.
This might be another discussion for another time but movies are not as great as the used to be. The potboilers that come out of Hollywood these days are not(and will never be) cultural events. So the idea of people eating raw fish to better enjoy watching a turkey is just patently bizarre.
On the subject of home cinema...
I don't have a house yet. But when I do, the basement will look something like this...
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Home-theater-tysto.jpg/800px-Home-theater-tysto.jpg[/img]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Home-theater-tysto2.jpg/800px-Home-theater-tysto2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Projection-screen-home.jpg/800px-Projection-screen-home.jpg[/img]
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
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Pip
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
333 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 10:56:34 PM
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Capt. Nemo,
I'm glad you included the third pic. For a second, I thought everyone was going to watch a movie on that screen in the second pic.
Pip
"These five fingers: individually they're nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold!" - Lucy Van Pelt |
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gangrene
Diocesan Ecclesiarch of the Sacred Order of Jabootu
60 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 06:55:10 AM
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| The people who will be attending these kind of theatres are recession-proof. They have enough that it doesn't matter. And the investors will probably make their money back and then some. |
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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 08:34:39 AM
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Can anyone name one movie that would warrant such upper crust treatment?
I could see it for a movie like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Casabanca, Citizen Kane, or Slueth (the first one). I'd even go so far as say Raiders of the Last Ark is worthy.
But name a movie in that last 2 years that you would go all out for?
And Foy, you're excluded. I'm scared at the movie you'd pick.
On the other hand, the entertainment value is too good to pass up. So go ahead.
________________________________________________________________________
"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
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Fox Cutter
Minister of the Sacraments of Jabootu
28 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 11:19:09 AM
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Crazyness. I agree there just isn't any films worth going out to a place like this when my living room is just as good, I can drink as much as I like (or need to depending on the film) and don't have to deal with lines or waiting.
Tara, your idea is pretty dang good, there's a place like that here in Redmond, but not for anything mainstream. It would be hard to get the studios and distributors to go along with it, but if they did it would really work out. |
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hk6909
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
651 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 12:18:33 PM
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I've actually gone to the theater like 6 times during the last two years, which is insane for me, and the only movie I'd say that even comes close to warranting this kind of treatment is I Am Legend, and that's even close. I still wouldn't pay $35 dollars to watch it once in that kind of comfort when I can just wait for the DVD to come out, pay that much and watch in that kind of comfort as many times as I want. Plus I can stop it if I have to run to the bathroom or reload on nachos.
When a stranger calls, make friends with him. |
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BradH812
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 8:53:54 PM
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Actually, all of this should be scaring Hollywood to death. The fact is, as it's been pointed out, movie screens are slowly moving into people's homes. It won't be long before most people with any means will be able to have full home-theater systems that are affordable and give the same experience as going out to the cinema. Actually, it'll be better. Why go and see a Transformers sequel when you can go home and watch Casablanca on a theater-quality monitor?
So, the question is, how will the film industry deal with that? |
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 10:15:00 PM
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I think 3D is their best ace in the hole right now. The new computer generated 3D stuff is amazing and that remaster of Nightmare Before Christmaswas pretty dang cool as well- if they can get the original Star Wars trilogy to look like that it will make another billion dollars. And the U2 3D IMAX movie- unfricking-believable. All the guys like Lucas, Peter Jackson and James Cameron are betting the farm on the process.
Of course, 3D projection processes will make their way into the home as well but it will be expensive and the theaters will have an edge again- for 5 years, maybe if they are lucky.
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
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