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| Author |
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| 25 new of 348 responses total. |
mcnally
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response 244 of 348:
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Aug 25 00:56 UTC 1999 |
Within the same theater megaplex, no doubt the management tries to
balance just as you say.. Once you get outside the confines of a
single megaplex, though, the relationship doesn't hold. In this
area, where large-capacity old-style theaters like the Michigan
show independent and 'art' films, there's probably a negative
correlation between theater capacity and theater patronage..
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scg
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response 245 of 348:
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Aug 25 03:09 UTC 1999 |
Even in the bigger theaters, they have a set number of theaters of various
sizes. It costs more to build large theaters. It may cost moderately more
to operate them, due to cleaning costs, but I'm guessing that part isn't too
significant in the grand scheme of things. Therefore, once they've built the
capacity, much of the expense directly related to capacity has been taken care
of, and they then need to start bringing in money to pay their construction
and operations costs.
To maximize income, they need capacity to hold as many people as want to see
the most popular movies during peak hours. There may be a lot of people
wanting to see the popular movies, and there may be several popular movies
out at once. It is therefore to the megaplex's advantage to build a number
of very large theaters. They also build some small theaters, not because off
peak crowds are small, but because there will always be some movies that don't
draw big crowds even during peak times.
Now, let's say it's an off-peak time, or a time of year when the studios
aren't releasing many really popular movies. The theater has all these
large theaters sitting there, but crowds that aren't big enough to fill them.
The theater has a choice: leave the large theaters sitting empty and make no
money from them, or show movies in them anyway, and make some money. Which
are they going to choose?
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bdh1
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response 246 of 348:
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Aug 25 05:49 UTC 1999 |
_Sixth Sense_ - a definate 'do'. Try not to hear anything about it
before you see it. Whats-her-name and I were both fortunate in not
knowing anything about it other that her nephiew said to do it. Both of
us were extremely and pleasantly surprised by it. The acting is superb,
all the major characters deliver outstandingly. (Bruce Willis has two
kinds of movies, one where he actually works, and one where he kinda
floats jokingly through the script while collecting green beer coupons -
this is most definately the former.)
_Bowfinger_ - a definate 'do'. Not in the same class, but still well
done none-the-less. There are a lot of 'hollywood inside jokes' that do
not detract from the film if you don't 'get' them and add to your
enjoyment of it if you do (especially when you know who Steve Martin's
most recent sex partner was).
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remmers
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response 247 of 348:
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Aug 25 11:25 UTC 1999 |
I liked "Sixth Sense" quite a bit and agree that the less you know about
the plot going in, the better. I'll say a little bit about the style,
though. The movie takes chances that Hollywood films don't often take -
very leisurely pace, many quiet moments. "Sixth Sense" is a big hit
(number one at the box office for two weeks in a row), so the approach
seems to be working with audiences. We saw it in a fairly crowded
theater, and during the quiet moments, the audience was absolutely
silent; you could've heard a pin drop.
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jazz
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response 248 of 348:
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Aug 25 12:20 UTC 1999 |
I was impressed that such an intelligent film did so well at the box
office.
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don
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response 249 of 348:
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Aug 25 13:45 UTC 1999 |
I take it you're a connoisseur of movies like Dumb & Dumber and Romy &
Michelle's High School Reunion?
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mcnally
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response 250 of 348:
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Aug 25 16:57 UTC 1999 |
I didn't see "Dumb and Dumber" but I'll stick up for "Romy and Michelle's
High School Reunion" It wasn't "Hamlet", but then it didn't set out to be..
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gull
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response 251 of 348:
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Aug 25 19:09 UTC 1999 |
Re #245: The Cinema 5 in Houghton seems to have a different strategy. All
their theaters are quite small (it's crammed into one end of the Copper
Country Mall.) Really big films, they show in more than one theater for a
while.
The same company owns the Lode, which was a classic "huge" theater until
they divided it up into three smaller ones. They also own the Pic, which is
still huge, probably because they didn't want to put that kind of money into
it.
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cassia
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response 252 of 348:
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Aug 26 22:39 UTC 1999 |
As to Dumb & Dumber and Romy & Michele - it's true that D&D was asine,
but it did have a few funny moments - yet you must admit that it
succeeded where Forrest Gump failed. Romy & Michele was , yes it
was, a good picture. You must have a heart of stone to not laugh
when as they watch "Pretty Woman" and cry when they won't let
Julia Roberts shop in the stores on Rodeo Drive.
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scg
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response 253 of 348:
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Aug 27 03:48 UTC 1999 |
I finally saw American Pie, which was hillarious. Lots of mentions of Ann
Arbor too (talked about in terms of future plans -- it didn't actually take
place here).
This was also my first trip to the Quality 16 theater out on Jackson Road.
Compared to the grandeur of the other new multiplexes I've been in, it was
extremely pretty small and very understated. The theater we were in was tiny,
although I'm assuming they probably have some bigger theaters somewhere. I
haven't made up my mind about the theater yet.
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richard
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response 254 of 348:
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Aug 27 22:03 UTC 1999 |
Video/DVD recommendation-- just bought the new DVD edition of the
Universal films 1933 classic "Frankenstein", with Boris Karloff. The DVD
features a terrific new, completely restored and uncut version of the
original film (somebody found the master print, which is great since the
film has been edited and cutup so many times over the years as its played
on tv). Also features an alternate soundtrack you can play over the movie
with that film historian from American Movie Classics (I forget his name)
which is really fascinating. As well as a full length documentary on the
making of the Frankenstein movies showing many cool clips, like Karloff
having his monster makeup applied .etc And an extensive photo archive,
showing stills and posters and publicity material for the movie. There;s
an old frankenstein cartoon on there and the movie trailer and
cast/director biographies and production notes and other stuff. This DVD
package gives the proper treatment a great and cool old movie deserves.
It is the first of what is gokng to be a series of DVD's of the old
Universal 1930's horror classics (like Bride of Frankenstein, INvisible
Man, Dracula, Wolf Man .etc) I cant wait...
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bru
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response 255 of 348:
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Aug 30 14:07 UTC 1999 |
In spite of bad reviews, we all found The 13th Warrior to be an excellent
movie.
Thats four thimbs up.
I am begining to think the reviewers in this country are full of something
other than gray matter. The historical setting is accurate, teh equipment
and clothing set well with the times. One of us had a quibble with one of
the pieces of armor, but it was a very rough version of what would have been
seen in a later period. My only quibble is that there were too many of the
enemy for what they were supposed to be at that time.
The comeraderie between the warrior, th way they worked as a group, the combat
techniques, and the encampments were all very well done and as you would
expect them to be in early midevil times. (post mohhamed)
Go. Enjoy!
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aaron
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response 256 of 348:
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Aug 30 17:03 UTC 1999 |
The 13th Warrior - D+
The vikings are pretty cool, but they are secondary characters in a poorly
plotted, poorly acted film. As Bruce suggests, the "massive enemy" is so
contrived, it is impossible to take it seriously. There are some interesting
"myth versus reality" aspects, but not much else in the movie is
particularly interesting. I have heard that this film had a $100 million
budget, yet the CGI boating scenes are *that* cheesy?
Run away! Run away!
(And now we bring this exercise in contrasts to a close. ;)
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drewmike
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response 257 of 348:
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Aug 30 17:42 UTC 1999 |
Yeah: Adam Herz was from Grand Rapids (referred to as Great Falls in the
movie) and went to U-M. It makes sense that Stifler's Mom would have a cabin
on Lake Michigan. What makes less sense is that Stifler would have a
prescription filled from a pharmacy that had a 517 area code.
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anderyn
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response 258 of 348:
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Aug 31 00:00 UTC 1999 |
Hhm. I gave "The Thirteenth Warrior" a high B plus, or four stars, or an
eight. I don't give out that many eights. I think this is the second in two
years. Maybe it's all those months I spent translating Beowulf from the
Anglo-Saxon, maybe it's the fact that most of the historical details were
spot on, maybe it's that I'm a gamer and look for different things in my
movies -- like a plausible fight, a very plausible level of action, things
like that -- but I didn't see any real problems with it, on the acting or
on the script level. (Oh. Yeah. I read "eaters of the dead" a few years
back, so I also knew that the enemy was supposed to be who they were, and
what the conceit of the movie/book was. But no one else who watched it with
me knew, and they all enjoyed it, too. The movie is about a thousand times
better realized tha the book.)
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katie
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response 259 of 348:
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Aug 31 06:07 UTC 1999 |
very much enjoyed "The Red Violin."
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richard
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response 260 of 348:
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Aug 31 23:14 UTC 1999 |
new movies in production item-- word is that United Artists has bribed
Sylvester Stallone with many millions of dollars to make Rocky VI--
thats right- coming to a theater near you next christmas, Rocky Balboa
now age 53 or so comes out of retirement with new manager Mr. T to win
back the heavyweight title. Movie will parallell the real life comeback of
George Foreman.
It sounds like Im making this up, but Im not. Rocky VI. I guess the real
question will be who dies in this one (one Rocky character dies in each
sequel) Will it be Adrian, or Paulie or Mr. T or Rocky Jr.?
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aaron
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response 261 of 348:
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Aug 31 23:50 UTC 1999 |
Movie will parallel George Foreman... So, a somewhat genial but dimwitted
Rocky, carrying about eighty extra pounds, and his ten children (boys and
girls, all named Rocky), will fight as a heavyweight (because Stallone
would be such a convincing heavyweight), and... wait -- didn't Foreman
retire again, long before he had a chance to contend for the title? Maybe
it will be like Rocky II, and Rocky will try to work his damaged brain up
to the point when he can stammer through the lines for a commercial.
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other
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response 262 of 348:
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Sep 1 01:10 UTC 1999 |
_better than chocolate_
quite possibly the most entirely entertaining movie i can remember.
rated "one of the five best lesbian movies," it is a love story with a
fairly standard gay/lesbian issue (telling the parents), but it remains
pleasantly free of cliche' and has some nice twists. really nicely
shot, intelligently written, funny, etc. and a really creative and
beautiful love scene, too.
you don't have to be a lesbian to enjoy it, either.
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mary
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response 263 of 348:
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Sep 1 12:28 UTC 1999 |
"Autumn Tale" is a charming story of a woman in mid-life who
has almost convinced herself that she is isn't up to the effort
of finding love in a long term relationship. In comes her
best friends, who feel otherwise. This isn't a Hollywood screenplay
which goes for laughs but rather for honest dialogue, played
with a light touch. Highly recommended. French subtitled.
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remmers
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response 264 of 348:
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Sep 1 13:07 UTC 1999 |
I second the recommendation for "Autumn Tale". It's yet another winner
in the series of witty comedies of manners and morals that director Eric
Rohmer has been turning out for thirty years.
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richard
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response 265 of 348:
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Sep 1 21:44 UTC 1999 |
"54"-- movie about the famous New York 70's disco, "Studio 54", with Mike
Myers as 54's egomaniacal owner, Steve Rubell. Myers is really good in
what is a dramatic, non-comedy, role. Ryan Philippe is a naive New Jersey
pretty boy that Myers/Rubell picks out of the line in front of the club
and makes a busboy and later bartender. This film has some script
problems but is in general a pretty good chronicle of the 70's disco craze
and the era of Studio 54 (the world's most famous disco at the height of
the disco craze) *** (three out of four stars, not a great film but ok)
"EDTV" Matthew Mconaughey as a guy named Ed whose life becomes chronicled
on a 24hour cable channel. This also had script problems, and Mconaughey
was the wrong person for the lead. His part should have gone to Woody
Harrelson who played his brother in thefilm. Also the ending was too
contrived. Pretty funny though. Truman Show was much better. ** 1/2
stars
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arabella
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response 266 of 348:
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Sep 2 01:16 UTC 1999 |
"The Governess" **** A really engrossing and heartbreaking
film starring Minnie Driver as a Victorian era Jewish woman
from London who hides her heritage, taking a Christian name
and becoming a governess in Scotland in order to help support
her family after her father is murdered. She falls in love
with her employer, while his son falls in love with her.
Lots of erotic scenes of passion, and a couple of glimpses of
full frontal male nudity (in case that sort of thing bothers
you -- it didn't bother me in context... it wasn't flagrant).
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md
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response 267 of 348:
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Sep 2 11:43 UTC 1999 |
I wasn't crazy about 54 (B-). The expensive-looking
set wasn't very convincing. Also, Neve Campbell's
character seemed hackneyed -- the weary, "I bet you
think this is glamorous," actress who finds coffee and
conversation at a simple diner more rewarding than drugs
and dancing at fabulous "Studio," as everyone called it
(wouldn't've made a very good title, though). Mike
Myers' sustained impression of Steve Rubell was . . .
impressive. The director had a lot of fun with Neve
Campbell's face, as directors always do.
Speaking of faces, my daughter brought home a movie
called CANDYMAN (C), which seems be about Virginia
Madsen's face more than anything else. The camera is
*always* focused in on it -- smiling, weeping, angry,
swooning, left profile, right profile, full-face. It's
a nice face, but jeez. Madsen bears up under the camera's
scrutiny quite well and does a convincing job with her
role. The title character's monotone recitations of the
silly lines he's given, which perfectly matches the
tediously droning score (by Philip Glass, of all people),
makes you almost glad he was stung to death by bees in his
former life. There were a few jump-out-at-you moments that
were more startling than scary. You can see the surprise
ending coming, but it's still pretty cool. My kids both
gave Candyman a "B," so I'm sure it has its admirers.
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scott
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response 268 of 348:
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Sep 5 01:50 UTC 1999 |
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
I'll give it a B, but with the caveat that you can't watch this movie sober
and gain any enjoyment at all. Knowing the text helps, I think (I know it
quite well), but being somewhat impaired helps quite a bit more. But with
that taken care of, it *does* do a pretty good job of carrying the tone of
the book. Even the more reflective part about the 60's culture is in there,
which I was pleasantly suprised to find.
"Waiting for Guffman"
Hmm, another B. It's sort of the Spinal Tap of local theatre. Quite funny,
but seemed a hair long to me even at it's less than 2 hour length.
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