[Pride Of Lions]

Nice picture, Alex. That Keira Knightly is drool drool.

The movie industry is hurting from low attendance and ticket sales, primarily because the skyrocketing costs of ticket prices and ancillary popcorns and such are not worth the trouble of getting dressed and parking and everything, (especially when the DVD is out 2 months later) and because most Hollywood movies suck or are rehashes (that suck; the studios claim that they're not getting good scripts, but the truth is that they're just not willing to take a chance and produce anything not formulaic.)

People are choosing to forgo the "theater experience" in favor of staying home, microwaving popcorn, wearing pajamas and watching 2-3 movies at a time (and without the annoying trailers and commercials for 20 minutes into the time the movie's supposed to start (!). Idiot moves, like condemning the audience that's actually willing to come to the theater, typify the movie studios unwillingness to confront the real problem: getting seats in the theaters.

The theater only receives about 10% of the box office, the remaining 90% goes to the distributors and studios and such. (The theater makes it's money from the concessions, that's why they seem so expensive because they're what's keeping the theater afloat.) These studios are full of people who are more concerned with turning $1 million into $2 million and are not concerned with providing the best stories. That is the reason why the formula is adhered to so strongly. A car chase here, a sex scene here, an "A" list actor (or two) for box office credibility, and a nauseating 3 month massive marketing blitz that's designed to make that opening weekend's receipts seem so impressive, and VOILA! Another "hit" that will be used in negotiating the overseas releases and the DVD sales.

If you've ever noticed how, especially in the summer months, you'll see a thousand commercials a day for a certain movie that's not even coming out for 2 months, but after the movie comes out, you can hardly find a commercial for it (even when it's still in the theaters?) That first weekend is all-important, which is why some movies come out on Wednesday instead of the usual Friday, it boosts the receipts to make it seem like just millions upon millions of people flocked into the theaters to see this movie. It's all bollocks. (I live in the U.S., so I don't really know what bollocks means. It sounds cool to finally slip it into conversation.)

Studios: Make better movies and you'll get the customers in the seats and you won't feel the loss of piracy. Also, release movies at the same time worldwide and decrease the anticipation (why wait 3-6 months?)

Mattoquai: That's an interesting use for BT. I have a hard time believing that it'll be free and I'm concerned for the security of the phone users. Will they ask us if we want to accept the attachment? They should. Then, what'll stop malicious people from sending out similarly-sounding attachments that are intended to separate people from their money (or worse, their identities?) I might have to decline BT offers from the theater (if I ever find another movie worth seeing in the theater.)
POL9A