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247 Comments
- Anrkist, on 10/12/2007, -13/+315It's a small price to pay.. after that the real fun starts. High-priced food, sticky floors, loud people, loud babies, cell phones going off, cell phones open and BRIGHT. Last but not least a semi-poor picture dotted with pock marks and scratches.
Yes folks, video searches have ruined the movie going experience.
Is it too much to ask for some padding on that text? - saikhan, on 10/12/2007, -6/+196Read the article. It wasn't about searching for weapons, it was about searching for video cameras.
- LoonBB, on 10/12/2007, -8/+145You know - I was just starting to feel bad about my rampant acts of villainous piracy. Guess I can forget about that guilt.
- meshman, on 10/12/2007, -5/+107Refuse and if they deny you access, say "that's ok, I'll just go download it off the net instead, thanks."
- JoCliMe, on 10/12/2007, -4/+103"after that the real fun starts. High-priced food, sticky floors, loud people, loud babies, cell phones going off, cell phones open and BRIGHT."
Technically that's the movie theater, and has nothing to do with the MPAA, also I used to complain about the high price of snacks too, until I got some information. The theater doesn't receive *any* money from ticket sales the first week (maybe first two weeks?) So they get all their money on food. Actually, I guess you *could* blame high food prices on the MPAA, since they don't let the theater keep very much in ticket sales. - SnuKs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+90At the local marine base where I live they presceen movies once and a while before its public release [they recently did this for 300]. I have a friend who runs the projector over there and he tells me sometimes during the prescreening, they'd have officals in the corners of the theater with NIGHT VISION GOGGLES searching for anyone recording the movie.
I was like geez.. they treat pirates as if they were terrorist =P. Crazy stuff man. - Coven, on 10/12/2007, -5/+69Because when I want to see a movie, I look for a copy somebody recorded in 30 second clips with their Razr.
Give me a ***** break. - mikelieman, on 10/12/2007, -8/+71The author did EXACTLY the right thing. Ignore The Goons.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+63***** Hollywood... And their deals with movie theaters.
Let's see...
$10 a movie, and the studio keeps most if not all of it, and forcing the local theater to jack up their popcorn and drink prices in order to pay for a movie you just paid to see.
Throw in 10 minutes of advertising before the 20 minutes of coming attractions start.
Now, BRAG all over TV news, newspaper, and internet when your movie made $300 million in a month, and in the same breath, complain about piracy.
No wonder people don't go to movies anymore. - aplardi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+61I agree, but that's harder to do when you're with a group of friends just trying to have fun.
In my eyes they have killed the home theatre experience as well by adding so many previews before every film, in some cases not allowing you to hit menu, fast forward, or next chapter to skip them. I love trailers and previews, but I'm not gonna want to see "coming soon" trailers everytime I watch this DVD and long after they have been out. Not to mention the fact that if they would add them as a "bonus" feature as some DVDs do I would gladly watch most of them anyway. Don't force them on us before the movie starts.
NOT TO MENTION as well, the annoying, sometimes unskippable "don't pirate movies" commercial. Anyone who is seeing that is NOT the person they are targeting. I just bought an older movie, Young Frankenstein, and of course that's the first thing I see. What the heck? I paid for it, I'm not stealing anything, so don't talk down to me. I know pirating is stealing! Maybe if you didn't treat your customers like they were idiots they wouldn't WANT to steal stuff to avoid your bloat. We want content and most of us would gladly pay for it if it's good, high quality material.
End Rant. - shakin, on 10/12/2007, -7/+55"I used to complain about the high price of snacks too, until I got some information. The theater doesn't receive *any* money from ticket sales the first week"
Having a popcorn and soda at the theatre costs about $10 around here. The actual cost of the food is under $0.25 and may be closer to $0.10. That's why I still complain about food prices at movie theatres. - SultanTravi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+53Not true.
I went to a pre-screening once. They were taking cell phones with cameras. When they asked me if I had one, I didn't even reply. I just kept going. They didn't do anything about it. - answer42, on 10/12/2007, -9/+55It was a free screening. I'm sure they would have gladly refunded him his $0.00.
- implied, on 10/12/2007, -15/+57Why doesn't anyone stand up for their rights and put their foot down on these things? I would absolutely decline the search and demand a refund. ***** hollywood, theres nothing great up at the theaters anyways.
- geoken, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41I thought this was going to be about the recent trends of subjecting viewers to 20 minutes of TV advertisements before the 30 minutes of studio advertisements (aka. previews) start.
I can't even watch movies in the theatre anymore. I feel like an idiot paying $15+ for a movie after I just sat through 20 minutes of TV commercials which the theatre owner probably got more than $15 per person for. - Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -10/+46Am I the only one who wouldn't mind if theaters required that cellphones be checked at the door?
- technogenius, on 10/12/2007, -3/+34Nothing new here. I used to be a manager at a Regal Theatre that did a bunch of screenings, they did it for years. It's not the theatre's choice either--it's the production studio's. The security comes with the film. A lot of times the studios would put people up in the projection booth to make sure the projectionist wasn't copying it from up there.
- djAnakin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+32No.. the weren't to prevent violence. They were looking for video cameras.
Jesus. Do people even read the ***** articles anymore!? - spankalee, on 10/12/2007, -19/+47I'm glad at least one other person realizes that a particular theater or studio != the MPAA. This article has nothing to do with the MPAA and the headline is a bit... sensationalist.
It sounds likely that not even the theater was responsible for the over-the-top security, but the studio or distribution company. As pointed out this was not about weapons, and not a normal showing at a local theater; it was a screening. This story almost certainly doesn't reflect the normal movie-going experience in Toronto. I'm sure Paramount is simply paranoid that someone will bootleg their movie and upload it to the internets before it's even released in theaters.
And here's where I risk getting dugg down: can you blame them? Movies *do* get pirated this way. I've seen a bunch myself. If I were producing movies I'd put some effort into making sure it didn't get on BitTorrent while in the theaters.
But not like this. Treating the press with less than full respect is a sure way to get a headache, not to mention that cell phone pics and videos are no threat to movie revenue, and that there are easy ways to detect video cameras in the crowd, or blur their image with infrared. But these are companies, and companies often don't have common sense.
To often in the argument against the RIAA and MPAA I see no consideration for the fact in many ways the labels and studios do have a point. Their work is getting pirated. Sales are dropping. That's not to say that movies aren't ridiculously over-price and usually suck (300 was *terrible*), or that most pop music is made by kindergartners with a drum machine, but the companies do have a right to protect their work.
A single company trying to prevent piracy of their movie at a screening is not something to get up in arms about. The journalists got their tickets for free, and if they don't want to give up their cell they don't have to.
Grow some balls and write a review that says "Derailed: 0 Stars. Not wanting to have my phone confiscated or be recorded by security guards, I did not see this movie. I might be good, it might be bad. Who cares. I Think I Love My Wife wasn't very good, but at least I got in without a hassle. Go see that instead. Or rent Stripes" - jbarnes1234, on 10/12/2007, -7/+28Well, they made me remove my ocular recording mechanism from my skull implant and turn over my mini-railgun before they would even let me buy a few doses of nuke with my genetically cloned popcorn...so I guess it does have a certain Dystopian Cyberpunk flavor...
- GopherGod, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24I have also been to many a free showing, and I too think they go WAYYY overboard.
Maybe they jack-up the movie prices so that people who show up to these free screenings don't feel too harassed. - jedikd, on 10/12/2007, -8/+27Dystopian cyberpunk future?
I've been getting searched at concerts for years - catalysis, on 10/12/2007, -7/+26In my experience, it is not uncommon to be searched going into a pre-release screening.
- darksheer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Illegal search and seizure applies to the U.S. government--private security guards are not government officials; thus, they can search you and possibly deny you access to the (again, private) property if you refuse the search.
- LogicBomB, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Always, always ask the question "are you legally allowed to do this?" or "Can I refuse and legally be denied entry?". If they can't say with certainty just keep walking.
- BrainiakZ, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17That happened to me and my G/f on an pre-showing. They even had like an 80 year old lady open her purse to some security guards. I understand what they are doing, but that is just retarded.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Or the movie has 2 minutes of scenes worth seeing. And they all end up in the trailer.
- daridave, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17Small price to pay ?
Are you just stupid? IT'S A FREAKIN MOVIE! Here's something I realised lately. I've been detached from the reality of what the movie theater really is. I always go at late showings, so when I get there, it's all adults and the ambience is "serious".
Went to see 300 last week at 6 pm. First time I went at that hour in the last, umm, 10 years [?] ... what did I see? The place was FLOODED with kids. Over 80% of the crowd was under 16... heck, under 13 maybe. I had forgot how the theater was such a familial activity for many and I think the MPAA is forgeting as well.
Searching for cameras? OK, I can understand where this is coming from, but let's not forget that most of the crowd there is under 18 and yes, innocent. It's kids wanting to enjoy a movie. I'm sorry, but having searches on them or simply next to them, which they are testimony too, is something WRONG.
They don't need that ***** when they're going to go watch Shrek 3 in a few weeks... besides as much as the MPAA [or whoever it may be] tries, that release will be zero-day ANYWAY, so get real, fools... - PFS1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Personally, I can deal with the three or fours ads once the lights go down. What I CAN'T deal with are the full-motion, full-sounds ads played CONSTANTLY before showtime. This has been a trend in the theatre around Toronto where I live.
It used to be that a slide show of trivia and stuff was shown to give people something to do while waiting. Then ads were included. Then full motion (but no sound) ads were added to the slideshow once every few minutes. I was angry enough when then happened. Now, sitting in the theatre is like one constant TV commercial break. You can't carry on a conversation with anyone more than a seat away, and the bright flashing visuals keep drawing your atttention away from someone while you try to talk to them. You end up sitting at the screen watching ads, not speaking, like some marketer's version of 1984. I have complained again and again and I can only hope that someone listens, because I hate going to movies now and the theatres are really shooting themselves in the foot by selling their customers' eyeballs when they are trying to have a night out. - jedikd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15exactly the point, the fact that you can refuse to patronize places that do this is the essence of a free/capitalist society. Its hardly something to start freaking out about.
- kimos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13I pirate my share of movies, but none of them are from camcorders in a theater. Even in ideal conditions the video is awful and the sound is even worse.
This seems more like a scare tactic than anything else. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@MudkipsULiekEm:
"Nor is it a constitutional right for them to profit from it, thus we can download. What's your point?"
Apparently you are unaware that article One, section 8, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the United States does just that:
" To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;"
I would suggest you actually learn what is in the Constitution before opening your mouth and proving your ignorance to the world. - krabat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11The main thing about theaters I can't stand is the ***** prices. Lower the cost for a ticket and maybe I would go more often (but probably not).
Not to mention that nowadays with HDTVs and crazy home stereo setups, people can create an experience more fulfilling than the theater and remain in the comfort of their own home. - QuantumTarantno, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11There is also this thing in america, called right to refuse service. You have to CONSENT to the search to get into the theatre, if you dont consent, they can bar you from the premises.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10They can search you when you're entering private property.
If I call you up, say "Hey, come on over to my house." And then say "Ok, I need to search you to make sure you're not bringing drugs, weapons, or cameras into my house." I have every legal right. Of course I'd be stupid, and you'll likely turn around and leave, but no laws were broken.
Now if a police officer stopped you randomly and demanded to search you. THAT is illegal search and seizure. - Sparkster185, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15Why doesn't anyone RTFA anymore? It was a free screening, moron.
- Ryuukuro, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Sounds like you're going to all the wrong movies.
- QuantumTarantno, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10You dont HAVE a right to complain in the first place, you are enterring PRIVATE PROPERTY, if you dont follow thier rules, they dont admit you entrance.
- deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11It was a screening so yeah... security is going to be tight. This isn't the typical movie going experience for the majority of people who goto the theater.
- c50cnameless, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15This is crazy tho, most downloaded movies at not filmed at cinemas, they are aquired by other means (at least in as far as my limited knowledge on such matters).
- snotrokit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I stand up by not going to the theaters. I don't watch pirated stuff either. If I am going to watch a movie, I am not going to watch it on my 15" laptop, or 21" desktop sitting at my PC. My butt is on my couch in front of my 60" hi def with full surround and my huge subs. I rentbuy DVD's.
Until the "theater experience" improves, gets rid of the $%*&$ ads, and starts enforcing a quiet no cell phone loud punks actually get ejected environment, I am not going.
I don't have a problem spending $12 or more on a movie, IF I can actually enjoy it. I don't think it is the MPAA alone, as nasty as they are, it is the whole theater experience I could do without. - QuantumTarantno, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12This has NOTHING to do with the MPAA, this was CANADA, the MPAA has no authority here.
- negtiveye, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Same here. I stopped going to the theater. Paying to watch commercials is not my thing. They don't even start the movie on time these days, to make sure the room is packed when still running commercials. And then comes the trailers.
Moreover, paying $15 for something you may not like so much or even walk out of is for the rich and stupid. They don't refund you when you walk out of a movie, now thats stealing! - RCinBigD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@spankalee
"Movies *do* get pirated this way. I've seen a bunch myself. If I were producing movies I'd put some effort into making sure it didn't get on BitTorrent while in the theaters."
If you've seen them, you know that the quality ranks somewhere between ***** and unwatchable. The movie studios should be happy to let the torrents leak onto the internets, IMHO. I would look at them as a free commercial for my movie because if my flick is any good and the movie theater experience is that great, anyone who downloaded them would be dying to see the film as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen. The problem is, the movies generally suck and the movie theater experience is an expensive beating. - sporkmonger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Sure if you're being searched by police. Private goons are another matter entirely.
Edit: darksheer beat me to it. - jpp123, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Lame - it's a post from 2005 - is Digg turning into the new /. and posting old stories as new news?
- Mythguy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I agree. They can deny you entry. At which point you take your money and go to a different theater. By allowing them to search you, all you do is perpetuate the situation and tell them its ok. So they continue to do it. If they start to lose business, they will stop. Not to mention, if they did find a camera, they cannot arrest you, all they can do is ask you to leave. If they did arrest you for some ungodly reason, it would be illegal search.
My point is this. If you allow them to search you, you lose the right to complain about it. You cannot complain if you willingly submit to the search. - Sirocco, on 10/12/2007, -13/+20The MPAA didn't kill the "movie theater experience", all the ***** losers who couldn't be bothered to turn off their cell phones, remain seated/quiet, and find a babysitter did.
- Rikkochet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Ditto's right, though looks like he's quickly headed to the bottom.
I went to 300 last night and there was a new warning on the screen about "advanced anti-piracy measures" in effect. Canadian theatres have been in deep ***** because our theatres are really lax about keeping an eye on people and our laws are really weak in enforcing intellectual property. Sounds like the theatre chains are bucking up to try and appease the MPAA before they decide Canada isn't a large enough market to warrant the sheer number of pirated films coming out of here.
Though really, all it takes is one disgruntled projectionist to Windex the window he uses to look into the theatre and just stick his own camcorder on a tripod. High quality bootleg right there. - ZachPruckowski, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I'd say that's honestly probably about half and half or so. A lot of movies are screener DVDs, but there are a lot of cam releases out there too. (Naturally, I'm talking pre-release/zero-day stuff only, as that's the context)
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