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Author Topic: Theater Tells ‘Tree of Life’ Audience to Have an “Open Mind,” Refuses Refunds Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-30-2011 11:46 AM                        Granted, but given that, they STILL don't get a refund, and that blowhard type ESPECIALLY shouldn't be opening their mouths about not liking the movie since they went for all the wrong reasons in the first place. And not for nuthin, TTOL certainly isn't shit by any means. I haven't seen it so I won't say one way or another, but I checked out the trailer and at least visually, it looks stunning. THE TREE OF LIFE We are not talking about some lousy B movie here that the theatre is trying to pass off as haute-cinema or a director who hasn't already proven himself, or a film that hasn't already won critical positives. It's like EYES WIDE SHUT -- I thought it was nowhere near where Kubrick was at his zenith and I didn't like it at all, but it was no crap movie.  |  IP: Logged Eric Hooper Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 532 From: Fort Worth, TX, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 06-30-2011 12:05 PM                     It's interesting that nobody had issues with theatres putting up similar "No Refunds" signs for Bruno.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-14-2011 03:16 AM                        quote: Eric Hooper It's interesting that nobody had issues with theatres putting up similar "No Refunds" signs for Bruno. Yah... and I don't have a problem with the way this theatre posted its policy. At least they tried... and they were probably aiming towards the very snobs that are described herein... who understood exactly what the theatre was getting at. I wouldn't give anyone 20-30 minutes... more like 10, and even then I'd be looking for them to be throwing up or having some kind of family emergency or something. The customer really needs to do some research on what they come out to watch... not make us responsible when they don't. Anyone remember when Lucas put his new Star Wars trailer at the head of some film (I don't remember which), and people would come in and stay long enough to see it? One Regal cinema here went through at least the first few days, refunding money to people who left after the trailer played.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-12-2011 01:48 PM                     We showed "Tree of Life" last weekend, so now I've actually seen the damned thing. Yeah, it's a little incoherent at times, but no more so than "2001: A Space Odyssey." My opinion is that it was flawed but there was still a lot to like about it. Having said that... I didn't pay to see this movie. Had I been so reckless as to shell out "big city" ticket prices ($10-$14) to see it, I would have been less forgiving. I don't think I would have *personally* gone so far as to request a refund but, as a theatre operator, I would have understood a request for a refund if the patron bailed out early enough. I can understand if an unusually high amount of refunds causes a theatre operator to display some kind of "no refund" sign at the box office. However, the wording of any such signage should not imply that the fault lies with the viewer. In particular, I take issue with the notion that "Tree of Life" expands anyone's horizons. If anything, it only serves to confirm my faith in the tried-and-true "traditional, linear narrative approach to storytelling."  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-12-2011 04:32 PM                        Just finished showing a week run of Tree of Life and the attendance was inexplicably good, like 3rd best for the year (though it has been a crappy year). Pretty much had walkouts for every show, but no one asked for a refund. I suspect coming to the local art theatre which is showing an art film with a capital A they know they are taking their chances. That said, many of the people thought it was just wonderful.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 08-17-2011 05:25 PM                     We posted something similar after a manager was assaulted after closing by a group of patrons who didn't like the movie and wanted a refund. She quit the next day. Our policy irregardless of the feature is 30 minutes of feature (trailers not included) and you may have a refund if you so desire. Watch the entire movie, then complain? I'm sorry, we just can't do that. We screw up the presentation? That's a different story... But people have been real buttheads about this movie. Not a little bit, but in our neck of the woods, we've had some really obnoxious reactions.  |  IP: Logged Mike Croaro Master Film Handler Posts: 394 From: Millbrae, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 08-19-2011 06:52 PM                     CHRIS SLYCORD WROTE "You have to remember, though, that many people go to avante garde movies because they want to feel like they are better than the rest of us idiots. And the more limited the appeal, the more they feel like they are better but even then some of them can't put up with a movie being complete shit." MIKE CROARO RESPONDS: That's complete and utter nonsense. The "art crowd" attends these films because they want to view mature, sophisticated, and compelling stories. They want to be more than just "entertained". You are obviously not in this catagory. And that's fine. But please don't diss other for their more electic taste. Mike Croaro  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 08-20-2011 09:44 AM                     quote: Mike Croaro That's complete and utter nonsense. The "art crowd" attends these films because they want to view mature, sophisticated, and compelling stories. They want to be more than just "entertained". You are obviously not in this catagory. And that's fine. But please don't diss other for their more electic taste. The fact that you've said this shows you didn't actually comprehend what I wrote. As a hint/recap: I said "many" people attend artsy movies to feel like they are more sophisticated than everyone else. I didn't say "all" of them do. Also, just because I point out that a portion of art movie attendees might not really like these movies doesn't mean that I hate these movies too. I like art movies on occasion. But good job with the unfounded assumption/accusation.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-17-2011 06:24 PM                        Man, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black -- talk about unfounded assumptions! Even your qualifying that "many" people who go to art films feel like they are more sophistocated than everyone else doesn't give you a free pass on what is one hell of an assumption on your part. By what scientific or even pseudo-scientific method did you arrive at this cliché "fact" about why people go to alternative, non-mainstream films? Did you interview people who go to art house films and question their motives? Did you ask them, "Hey, do you watch art films because you want to feel more sophistocated than everyone else? Or do you actually know your are not, but want everyone to think you are?" Did you take notes and compiled what you determined to be "many" out of all of those who go to art house fare? And what constitutes "many," by the way -- a majority, half, a 1/3rd, a 1/4th of all who go to them? Or is this just a mere assumption of yours intended to demean those who appreciate the kinds of films that you do not? Oh wait -- let me qualify that as you did; "Or is it just a mere assumption of yours intended to demean those who appreciate the kinds of films that you MOSTLY do not?  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 09-17-2011 09:09 PM                     It's merely an assumption, based on run-ins with some people, who like the stuff just for the purpose of it being non-mainstream as opposed to someone who likes it for being actual art. And, my feeling is that most are not like that but I'd say that a co-called "significant minority" of them are. But of course, this wasn't arrived at scientifically by any means. And of course, I could be wrong... IMO, it's similar to how in the 80s some fans of Metallica called them "sellouts" for signing onto a major label and then later for having a video even to the point of saying that they liked most that no one else had heard of the band. Now, most of the fans at the time didn't voice that kind of opinion, but arguably "many" of them did. Hopefully, that explains things. But really, I didn't intend to offend people who honestly like the stuff. And I really wouldn't say I dislike most artsy movies; if anything, I see about as many art movies as I do mainstream (which means few and far between for both) since I'm busy finishing up grad school...  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-17-2011 11:13 PM                     quote: Mike Croaro The "art crowd" attends these films because they want to view mature, sophisticated, and compelling stories. This film is challenging all right, but not in the best sense of the word. To imply that TREE OF LIFE is "mature, sophisticated and compelling" -- or even that it has a story -- is pushing it, IMHO.  |  IP: Logged

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