Poll: Would you rather watch New Releases at home or the Cinema?

G-Money

Based on the existing thread about watching stuff in the cinema v watching stuff illegally, I thought it might be interesting to start a poll.

If you had the option to watch new film releases at home, either at the same time as they are released in the cinema or shortly after (a few days or weeks at most) would you watch them at home and avoid the cinema completely?

I guess for simplicity's sake, we'll assume the films are delivered via some sort of online service such as NetFlix/LoveFilm or PPV such as Sky Box Office.

Sleepy

It depends on the movie, but moreso on my own circumstances: do I have a babysitter? is it something the other half wants to see? is there other things I need to do that night that would prevent me from taking the time to drive to/from the cinema etc.

splashthecash

I don't go to the cinema as often any more - but I haven't completely ignored it. I would go to see a film on the big screen if I felt it deserved the full cinema experience or a film I couldn't wait for a suitable version to arrive online. TDKR is a perfect example on both counts above.

I do most of my film watching though either on my 40" at home or the laptop

Galvasean

I'd definately still go see the big blockbusters at the cinema. Stuff like the Aveners and TDKR was made for cinema.
I'd imagine the availability of new releases at home may limit the number of loud knack bags attending the cinema and wrecking the experience. Of course, on the other hand such a move would probably kill off cinema entirely.

Sad Professor

I'd much rather see new releases in the cinema. I don't distinguish between big blockbusters and little indie films - they all benefit from being shown theatrically. However, often times a film is only on in the cinema for a very short time (a week) and it's not possible to see everything I want to see. In those cases, I'd almost welcome some sort of instant on-demand service rather than have to wait 3 months for the DVD.

amacca

I like going to the cinema especially for the bigger films however I'm beginning to like it a bit less for a number of reasons (some petty I'm sure)

1) Less and less independent cinemas (if any) where I live (down the country) - meaning chains have taken over giving a distinct lack of choice that sometimes dont show films I want to see in favour of having multiple screens show stuff like Ice Age 4.......I was told this was because the chain didn't have a deal with the distributor to screen the films I enquired about

eg: three local cinemas (within 20 mins drive) never screened the departed at all and I had to drive to Portlaoise to see it...........this happens frequently....a film like drive for instance would be lucky to get a look in, recently killer joe was screened for three days only making it difficult to get an opportunity to see it...tbh I was amazed they had it at all

I know the explanation above is probably a lie and this is probably a business decision as the teenyboppers have the cash to spend on the cinema and do spend it hence the overemphasis on either teenage films or animated stuff (which can be very good sometimes in fairness) which gets a little tiresome but it also means the service at least locally where I live is not aimed or does not cater for my age group so its only natural I get disillusioned with it

2) Concessions/Food..............unlike a lot of people I dont have a problem with the cinema charging quite a lot for snacks, this is how some of them stay in business imo - what I do have a problem with is the distinct lack of quality and choice imo in what you can have to eat and drink in the cinema if you dont necessarily want to stuff your face with the maximum amount of sugar possible or spend hours robotically shoving dry over salted popcorn into your cakehole

Nachos or hotdogs seems to be it - which I used to not entirely hate before they started using pre packaged salsas etc...and then what really irked me was that you had to either choose cheese or salsa in some places...no you couldn't have both without paying for anther tray of dry corn based triangular crap - ffs I'm willing to pay for it, just not another €4.50 for a little tub of cheese - who is the customer here, show some respect - yet another reason I would like to see independant operators - they would not be bound by rules decided in some head office somewhere and could make sensible decisions on the ground that would still leave them in profit

All I'm saying is, wouldn't it be nice to actually be able to buy something you really want to eat (within reason, I'm not suggesting filet mignon or anything) to enjoy with the film....even if it was for a premium, rather than having the choice of buying crap for a premium or sneaking something in you actually want.

3) Because of being a little disillusioned with local cinemas in my area, I took a drive up to Vue Liffey Valley to see TDKR recently - The showing of the film itself was grand but what happened beforehand depressed me even more

I didn't check but the adverts seemed to go on for an eternity, I would estimate at least around the 20 to 25 minute mark - this kind of thing just does not happen in my local cinemas so I'm not used to it...trailers yes and one or two adverts lasting around the ten minute mark between them....I usually walk into a film just on time or about five minutes in to minimize/miss this but the amount of adverts was unbelievable- fcukin j-lo showing up hip grinding talking about venus and fire with loreal fire branded into her world famous ass just after seeing the "need a venue for a conference?..you're sitting in it" add for the seventh time followed by some dj greeting everyone in vue and telling them they had been listening to the killers started to get on my wick just slightly

please let this not be a trend that spreads so you cant even judge how late you need to be to miss this horse**** and not miss the start of the film

trailers..a selection fine, advertisement, some to boost revenue O.K.......continuous j-lo bombardment fcuk right off...I think I dropped around €20 or perhaps more for a ticket, some popcorn which more resembled salted cavity wall insulation, a drink etc only to be subjected to this - that's without the premium seat nonsense etc...multiply that by a packed house = around €8000 going into the cinema for just that one screening.......I dont know what the overheads are like and I know there are plenty of sparsely populated screenings but I reckon they could show a little more respect to their customers

(sidenote: it was actually more frustrating than supporting the film industry by buying a shiny new blu-ray of a film you love only to be subjected trailers at the start of the DVD - they shouldn't be there, end of....I paid my money for a copy of this film, I dont want it polluted with trailers for "the last fcukin airbender" even though yer one whose also in falling skies is quite the hottie)

Anyway protracted rant over.......I reckon there is a niche in the market for a slightly more sophisticated cinema experience than the pack em and rack em operations cinemas seem to be developing into

I for would be willing to pay what I consider a good premium for something better or else decide to buy myself the baddest ass big screen or projector system with amazing picture clarity and demonstrate some patience.....with the very rare exception of going to the cinema for something like TDKR

Goldstein

The film should have to start within 10 minutes of it's advertised kickoff time. Maybe someone like the Advertising Standards Authority could get involved eventually given the trailer/ad drift that's been happening in recent years. I assume this is the real reason many cinemas have backed away from allocated seating - it would give people a choice to skip all the crap and still have their desired seat.

Anything longer than 10 minutes is seriously taking the mick out of your paying customers and is a discouraging factor to the whole cinema experience which they should be aiming to improve not damage.

johnny_ultimate

Go to the cinema anywhere between 50 to 150 times a year: leaning towards the latter this year. Still miss a few, which Ill probs rent or buy somewhere along the line. But cinema, no question, wherever possible.

Bobby Baccala

I'd rather be able to sit at home on my couch in front of the plasma screen with a roaring fire while watching new releases. The cinema can be a lot of hassle, i.e the travelling, food costs, ticket costs or just having loud fúckers in the cinema doing your head in.

At home i wouldnt be disturbed, i could have whatever food i wanted, i wouldnt have to travel and I'd be considerably more comfortable.

Dont get me wrong though, I love going cinema, when i can afford it that is.

Mickeroo

If money, convenience and availability aren't factored in I'd choose the cinema everytime.

Skinfull

Cinema. No question.

I've a great set up at home screen, players and sound system and we do movie nights regularly but its not a 50ft screen or 47 sound channels! Also the popcorn is better!

gaelicred

For me it depends on the movie Gladiator in the cinema was amazing

My only gripe about the cinema is when people start talking on there mobile phones:mad:

Mr. K

gaelicred wrote: »

My only gripe about the cinema is when people start talking on there mobile phones:mad:

Anyone who uses their phone in the cinema should be severely beaten. I love going to the cinema, I wish I could see everything on the big screen. The only issue I have with the cinema is the presence of the general public. People are a complete random factor, you never know when some idiot(s) will ruin your experience.

AllWasWell

The cinema, absolutely no doubt about it! It's expensive but so worth it, definitely the best entertainment experience watching a film on the big screen..i prefer it to a night in a pub tbh

don ramo

thankfully bad trips to the cinema are very few and far for myself, so id always prefer seeing films in cinema, and any kind of film at that, some films are truely made to be seen on 50 foot screens, and not necessarily action films either,

i like the whole experience, buy my ticket and get some food and a drink, my local is cheap enough also, ticket plus grub would rarely pass the E15 mark, off on into a nice clean quite room, great seats with a good slopping angle so i dont have stick my head up like a mantis to watch the film,

also a lot less distractions in the cinema, people calling while your watching films, kids running around the house, constantly pausing the film if your watching with others, being distracted cause they wont shut the **** up in such a casual environment,

Josey Wales

I love going to the cinema. I'd go a couple of times a week if I had the time.

It is nice to watch a movie in the comfort of your own home, especially if you have a nice TV setup but you can't beat seeing a movie theatrically. I went to see The Dark Knight Rises in the BFI IMAX during the week and that is most definitely something that you can't beat at home.

Warper

Cinema beats everything. For some reason a film always seems better watching it in the cinema.

jaykhunter

I'd much rather watch a new film in the comfort of my own home, when I want to, paying the same price for 1 film no matter how many people I have over. I could pause halfway through for a toilet break, 'bring' my own snacks and not have to worry about chavs talking and checking their phones, kicking seats etc. during the new release of a blockbuster film. For films I want to pay attention to, definitely at home.

I find the definition on a big HDTV in my livingroom to be better than blown up on a cinema screen. I can also adjust the brightness and surround/volume if needs be. I'd feel different if a proper IMAX was in town though, the scale of it is really impressive and feels very different to regular cinemas. My second viewing would be at home

In short, it's about convenience. When I see a movie it generally takes up most of a night, buy tickets, wait around, ads etc; and that's off-putting to me. If it's in my home, it's far closer to the allotted time.

pickarooney

I'd like to have a cinema in my home for the big screen experience without the toolbags in the audience.

Myrddin

If the cinema was empty, then the cinema every time. But seeing as the cinema tends to be filled with ars$holes, the appeal of home comforts gets quite high

amacca

EnterNow wrote: »

If the cinema was empty, then the cinema every time. But seeing as the cinema tends to be filled with ars$holes, the appeal of home comforts gets quite high

I dont know....as much as I complain, its usually not about the other people in the cinema (with the exception of kids talking throughout or throwing things etc and ....I suppose i occasionally get pissed off when I've come ealry to pick a prime viewing seat on the outside of a row [for maximum leg room] and some tool bag comes in when the film has started and decides to sit bolt upright in front of me with his big head obscuring the screen even though there were millions of other places the big head dude could've sat)

I kinda like the communal aspect to going to the cinema even though I rarely even interact with the others there

must be some sort of herd mentality thing :pac:

jaykhunter

amacca wrote: »

I suppose i occasionally get pissed off when I've come ealry to pick a prime viewing seat

I forgot about that. I'm extremely picky about seats and that's an unwanted self-imposed hassle of being in the cinema!

It is fun to see comedies with the right crowd. Like seeing "Snakes on a Plane" in the cinema was SO much better than if I watched it at home.

amacca

jaykhunter wrote: »

I forgot about that. I'm extremely picky about seats and that's an unwanted self-imposed hassle of being in the cinema!

It is fun to see comedies with the right crowd. Like seeing "Snakes on a Plane" in the cinema was SO much better than if I watched it at home.

And I'd forgotten about that...sometimes if the joke is particularly twisted I cant help myself and start laughing...usually either followed by a shocked silence or a couple of people tittering as if the fact I laughed gave them permission to...or else they are laughing at my laugh

not strictly related to the above but Tropic Thunder was a hoot in the cinema because of the rest of the audience...its like we fed off each other......I was the first to start laughing when Downey Jr came out with the "ya Should'nt gone full retard" the whole place erupted....

YouTookMyName

Cinema hands down, my favourite cinema is the EYE in galway.

Been to a few different ones here in Bristol. All have minimum 20mins averaging 25mins of ads and trailers before. Massive joke.

To of me mates landed in a cinema at 5:50 for 5:30 screening time, sat at 5:58 and film just had the age screen showing. Ridiculous.

10 mins is plenty.

Myrddin

amacca wrote: »

I dont know....as much as I complain, its usually not about the other people in the cinema

When I complain about the cinema, it's almost always about loud ignorant obnoxious people who need to root up the hole.

I kinda like the communal aspect to going to the cinema even though I rarely even interact with the others there

must be some sort of herd mentality thing :pac:

Lol, probably. A herd of morons though usually.

amacca

EnterNow wrote: »

Lol, probably. A herd of morons though usually.

Well I'll have to give you that one I suppose :pac:

(I would be reluctant to cast the first stone myself having been a self confessed moron on many many occasions - though never in the cinema)

Galvasean

EnterNow wrote: »

When I complain about the cinema, it's almost always about loud ignorant obnoxious people who need to root up the hole.

:eek:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=root

Marty McFly

Mr. K wrote: »

Anyone who uses their phone in the cinema should be severely beaten. I love going to the cinema, I wish I could see everything on the big screen. The only issue I have with the cinema is the presence of the general public. People are a complete random factor, you never know when some idiot(s) will ruin your experience.

+1 on mobile phones. Recently went to see The Raid great film but sittig right next to me was some woman who was doing her best to distract and blind me by constantly taking her phone out and texting felt like grabbing the phone and stamping on it by the end of the film.

For me if I could match the cinema experience at home then home would win every time but you cant, both have there benfit home you can watch a film in your own comfort pause, eat what you want take toilet breaks etc, but on the other hand the cinema is a much better vieiwng experience well can be really ust depends on who you have sitting around you .