posted 12-18-2011 04:34 PM                       

quote: Bobby Henderson

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I'm surprised cellular phone manufacturers have not noticed the need to do something about this problem. I wouldn't sweat it if someone texting on a phone was doing so on a screen that wasn't so bright. Why not develop some sort of "visual stealth" mode where the screen is only bright enough for the phone user to see it? This could be accomplished through a combination of low contrast, dark color "theme" changes and a type of lenticular screen "privacy filter" attachment that radically reduces the viewing angle and light spread coming from the phone. I guess we'll see it only if Apple decides to tackle the problem. Then it will spread to other hand sets.

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posted 12-19-2011 07:40 AM                    

quote: Frank Cox

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I have to throw someone out with beer

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What a buzzkill , when I was in high school that was part of the experience . We were never loud or talkitive because it.

One night a small group of us went to see the late show of Dirty Harry. 500 seat room, only 2 other people watching the film. We parked next to the hallway exit door and would bring in beer there. We all worked there and the owners son was with us. When it was my turn to go get beer out of the car, i got up and accidentally knocked over some empty bottles and you could hear them roll all the way down the auditorium. When I returned , the paper bag full of beer had gotten wet and broke as soon as I entered the room. The next thing I know, I'm being drug into the lobby by a man who was sitting in the back row (off duty cop watching Dirt Harry by himself). He ends up patting me down at the concession stand. About this time one of my friends comes out, he gets the same treatment. The cop sees the usher and tells him to call the cops. Kid freaks out because he knows who we are, but plays it cool and calls the manager out instead. Then the owners son comes out of the movie and gets into the conversation. The only thing I remember was him asking the cop "did you pay to watch the movie?", (cops got in free). The manager just said "your name and badge number are in the log you signed to get in, we'll take care of it"

Ahhhh....the good old days, me and my friends could have made a John Hughes film.

Done reminiscing,
Rick

posted 12-29-2011 10:24 PM                   

quote: Pravin Ratnam

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I turned 40 recently. I realized one sad fact. I do not feel the same thrill I did earlier in my life at going to the movies. In the 90s, there was a time when I would watch nearly 2 movies a week on the average in theaters(average boosted by the nearly 3 movies a week I would watch in the summer). I would watch all kinds of movies back then - indie movies, foreign ones, action, silly comedies, even the genial bland ones. Sometimes, I would even stay past my movie and walk into the next auditorium and sample a part of a bad movie out of plain morbid curiosity(example: Batman and Robin). Earlier this decade, that number fell to one a week. But over the last couple of years, I am having a hard time watching movies in the theater on a twice a month basis. This was a decent summer, so I watched 12 movies during the summer. Though at other times, it is down to once a month and sometimes I go just because a life's worth of moviegoing habit built in a sense of obligation for me to go watch.

I have become content watching movies on my 60 inch HD screen despite the pan and scan atrocities(2.35 movies modified to fit 16x9) of HBO and Starz. Showtime at least shows OAR. Now I got a PS3. So I will start renting discs again. In a couple of years, 70 inch LCDs should become affordable and I will upgrade my TV at that point.

There are many reasons for my decreased moviegoing habit
1) Just natural aging. We have seen it all. Variations of the same theme over the ages. I actually have a hard time sitting still in a movie theater over an average movie that i would find perfectly fine on TV. In the 90s, I would sit and enjoy such movies in the theater. Now I get very restless if the movie is just OK. That was something I would feel in the past only for bad movies.

2) Worse projection standards in theaters. Better home theater quality. HD has really made me prefer to watch genial movie comedies and small dramas at home. Also borderline movies with stars , i can safely watch at home while multitasking. This multitasking thing is a big key for me.
3) The decline of indie theaters in my area. I think Madstone was the last hurrah in that regard. Landmark has a couple of theaters but they are too far away for me to attend unless the movie is great.
4) My peer group has been totally domesticated. They are more into what is good for their kids.
5) There are still talented filmmakers out there, but not all of it is in the movies. I think pay cable has picked up the slack for TV series that are movie like. (Example: I love Dexter).

6) Shortening video window:
Anyway, I might go watch Slumdog Millionaire or Benjamin Button today. haven't decided yet. As badly as I want to see them, the shortening video window makes me not have to wait too long if I don't see it. Plus, if you do not catch a movie in the first week, frequently they get shunted to the small auditoriums in most theaters

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