The Multiplex Under Siege

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Dec 24, 2005 | Kate Kelly

[abb]

With attendance down and movies popping up faster on DVD, theater chains are scrambling to pry you off the couch -- trying everything from discount tickets to curbs on rude patrons. Their fight to stay relevant in the flat-TV era

On a recent Friday night, some patrons of Pacific Theatres' The Grove Stadium 14 in Los Angeles were in for a rude awakening: Their 7:20 p.m. screening of "The Family Stone" in theater six was being invaded by the 7 p.m. show of "King Kong" in theater seven.

During a teary life-and-death passage of "The Family Stone," a loud, earth-rattling rumble emanated from the "Kong" screening next door. As Diane Keaton broke the news of a life-threatening illness in one theater, the mood was broken by the sound of the mighty ape stomping through the jungle in the other. A few minutes later, another emotional scene was pierced when a customer's mobile phone cut in with a thumping hip-hop beat. The interruptions capped a night of moviegoing already marred by out-of-order ticketing kiosks and a parade of preshow ads so long that, upon seeing the Coca-Cola polar bears on screen, one customer grumbled: "This is obscene."

For moviegoers, it's become an all-too-familiar scene, and some are opting to forget the theater altogether. This year, domestic movie attendance is down 7%, and industry officials blame competition from home entertainment -- everything from DVDs and pay-per-view to videogames that appeal to the young men who have been a core audience for action blockbusters. With millions of new flat-screen TVs hitting living rooms this year -- and an ever-shorter window between a film's theatrical release and when it appears on DVD -- the temptation to stay at home is getting even more widespread.

[jslade]

Entertainment has a very simple formula. Make something that people want to see or hear, and it will sell.

But Nooooooooooooooo! They try to cram garbage like "Brokebutt Mountain" down our......(oh, nevermind)

[Pilsner]

One reason for the small screens is that studios often require a multi-week commitment in exchange for prints of a film. The films in theatres right now were mostly booked months ago, and theatre owners have to guess what movie will be a hit and what will be the next Hulk. By having a lot of screens, many of them very small, a chain can order multiple copies of every movie that might catch on. Those that do well will stay in the big rooms near the front, those that bomb will be shunted to the tiny screens at the back of the theatre, where they will run for tiny audiences, or none at all, until the their contractual period has expired.

[dsc]

I was waiting to see if anyone would mention my pet peeve.

Looks like I'm The Lone Crank.

How can people STAND the volume in theaters today? Does everybody in America suffer from severe hearing loss?

[acoulterfan]

I can not stomach the smell of the cheap melted margarine that is now used in all theatres to destroy the popcorn. Nauseating!

[alloysteel]

For less than the cost of the tickets for two to a first-run theater, one need only wait about two months, and the heavily-promoted "blockbuster" film is available down at your video store for rental, or for a few bucks more (and still less than the tickets), available on DVD at Wal-Mart and countless other outlets. Sometimes STRAIGHT to DVD, never even gets in the theaters.

In less than ten years the multiplexes will go the way of the old neighborhood movie palaces. Maybe there will be booths available for rent on a short term, playing a recent film for just a few people on their schedule. Something like this is already here on premium TV cable channels.

Distribution of stories told in visual form is undergoing a revolution that would have been unthinkable in 1950. Or even 1980.

[carumba]

Cheesy scripts, no character development, bathroom humor passed off as slapstick, dozens of remakes, and gore by the bucket loads are not the formula for success. Quality not wow factor is what I want. I have had it up to here with the special effects. How about some relevant dialogue (not dork leftist diatribe), with some thought, humor and adventure.

[sully777]

I blame three problems for the slump in ticket sales: Gasoline prices, quality of films and writing is stale/not family-friendly, and finally, the theatres do not allow a movie to aire out for a prolonged showing. Gone are the days when Jaws, Star Wars, Grease, and Airplane played in theatres for months as first show, and for an entire year at discount movie houses. I don't get the jump from screen to DVD in 8 weeks. That's just butt-backward thinking. You need time for word of mouth.

As for movie prices and experience: I go to the movies during matinee to save a few shekels. If we buy their concessions, which we do, we lose another $20 easy at the counter. We can't justify this loss weekly, especially when it turns out to be a bad movie experience.

As for noise coming through from another showing, I've experienced that when I go to a badly constructed theatre. Our high-end theatres never have that problem.

[TomGuy]

Maybe there will be booths available for rent on a short term, playing a recent film for just a few people on their schedule.

That is a possibility.

I see the next big move will be Internet downfeeds.

Starz (IIRC) is already making their monthly line up available for downloading. NBC just recently made an agreement with ITunes to 'sell' their programs as downloads.

Internet download will be the next boon, I think. The trouble is, Hollow-wood, like the phone companies, etc., are too slow to jump on new technology, so they are forced into playing catch-up.

[karnage]

There is a complete disconnect between the moviemakers and the audience. Audiences love real westerns; Hollywood gives us Fannygrabbers of the High Sierras. Middle East conflict? Evil American oil companies are to blame (Syriana). Want inspiring film biographies of great Americans? Here's Capote. Want a cautionary tale on the evils of fascist government power? Here's the vile Joe McCarthy (Good Night Good Luck). Sweeping historical epic dealing with religious conflict? Here's Christians stink, Muslims are wonderful (Kingdom of Heaven).

And so on...

[PeteB570]

Better movies for a start.

Then cut out the 15 minutes of "Shasta, Shasta, Shasta, wanna Shasta" commercials, Fandango commercials, Xbot game commercials, poor ripped off stunt man PSAs, etc.

Show me a few trailers and then put up the movie.

[Jeff Chandler]

I DETEST remakes of ANY film.

The remake of 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World', 'Rat Race', was far superior to the original.

[Defend the Second]

I can't stand being forced to sit through at least a half-a-dozen commercials! I paid for a movie, not commercials. The last movie I saw was Team America.

[cabinman]

We have made the decision that we will NOT go to any movie where the stars have run around bad mouthing our country, troops or president. I remember that during the 2nd world war no one would even think of being so un-American. So to the George Cloonies, Donald Southerland, especially that bigmouth pig, Jeannine Garafalo & the rest of the Hollywood misfits, you can try to tear down America, or you can have my money, but not both. The lefts efforts to destroy America is disgusting. May God bless America, our Troops and Our President.

[jacquej]

Our primary reasn for not going to the movies is how filthy the theaters have become.

I hate it when my feet stick to the floor from the spilled pop, old gum, etc... and I hate to think of the germs on the armrests!

[dsc]

"How about some relevant dialogue"

Well, then, clearly you want Dumb and Dumber.

“Can’t you just feel it, Harry? It’s our big chance, man. All we gotta do is show a little class, a little sophistication, and we’re in like a dirty shirt.”

“That’s no problem, Lloyd. We can be classy and sophistic…oh, look at the fun bags on that hose hound.”

“I’d like to eat her liver with some farber beans and a nice bottle of Chianti.”

“Come on. Let’s go get a couple of bowls of loudmouth soup.”

Tracy and Hepburn, eat your hearts out.

[gitmo]

There have been a few bright stars in the cinema offerings. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was well done. I was pleased with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I still watch The Patriot periodically. And The Passion of Christ was unbelievable.

I think we forget the garbage that Hollywood churned out in the good old days. I think the percentage of "keepers" was always about the same.

[Sociopathocracy]

Our primary reasn for not going to the movies is how filthy the theaters have become.

It's also the filthy, disgusting people who throw their garbage on the floor. It's amazing how little regard people have for others!

[glorgau]

So, I guess this year's putative Best Picture winner - Brokeback Mountain - isn't fudge packing them in.

[savedbygrace]

The MPAA and the RIAA want virtual monopolies on their forms of entertainment, so how's about if Congress offered them the same deal the NFL got. Salary caps. Allow each studio to spend X dollars a year. Now what movies will you produce?

(I'm not really serious about this silly proposal, only fantasizing about the single-facet dilemma it would put Hollywood in. And I didn't even mention random drug testing.)

[Mr. Blonde]

The problem with remakes is they usually remake an already decent film. Why not make another run at something that was bad? Why not try to improve Plan 9 From Outer Space instead of redoing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?