Ever since I was a child, going to the movies has served as something of an exhilerating experience. To begin, my parents were major movie buffs, particularly my father. He used to sneak my older sister and I into R-rated movies on a weekly basis, exposing us to horror legends the likes of Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, and of course, the Xenomorphs of Ridley Scott's ALIEN franchise, just to name a few. I've even seen movies like PREDATOR, PURPLE RAIN, and SPACEBALLS at the old Rocky Point Drive-In, nestled in the grassy hills of Long Island, New York. To this very day my wife and I love going to the theater. However, if I'm being completely honest, going to the cinema ain't what it used to be.
Nowadays, going to the movies is an absurdly costly affair; and don't even get me started on if you're planning to hit the concession stand for snacks. Furthermore, as a way of adding insult to the injury of your wallet, cinemas rarely pay attention to the upkeep of their equipment. As a result, films often fail to be screened as advertised. I can still recall my first screening of THOR: RAGNAROK, a presentation that was so dark and unfocused (thanks in part to the shoddy 3D) that I left the theater in a huff. At nearly $45 for two tickets, you'd think that theater techs would be instructed to use the proper lens for each film, but alas. Truth be told, I could blather on for several more paragraphs about my increasing displeasure with modern day theater experiences, but that's not why we're here.
We're here because recently, MOHTERLESS BROOKLYN helmer and DEATH TO SMOOCHY actor Edward Norton told the fine folks over at the Daily Beast that "it's the theater chains that are destroying the theatrical experience. Period, full-stop." While I'm of the opinon that not all theater-going experiences are bad – I had the most amazing time seeing AVENGERS: ENDGAME with a massive, enthusiastic crowd – I do think that Norton touches on some fine points during his interview.
“It’s the theater chains that are destroying the theatrical experience. Period, full-stop. No one else. A lot of filmmakers and cinematographers that I know that have really started to look into this say that more than 60 percent of American theaters are running their projector at almost half the luminosity that they’re required by contract to run it at. They are delivering crappy sound and a dim picture, and no one is calling them on it….If [theaters] were delivering what they’re supposed to be delivering, people would be going.”
For me, I feel like most quality screenings are reserved for specialty theaters, such as AVX, IMAX, Dolby, and VIP experiences. The crux of these theaters is that a film shown in those types of arenas will cost you dearly. Should we really have to pay above and beyond the base price for clear screens and dynamic sound? Should the people who choose to view the "regular" screening be left to contend with dark projections, unbalanced sound design, and aspect ratios that warp the film's intended presentation? Is that really the cost of not opting for the "high end" option?
As his talk with the Daily Beast continues, Norton expresses his affinity for Netflix, and even addresses his frustration with famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who in the past has expressed his concern regarding Netflix and their effect on cinemas:
If I disagreed with anybody, with great respect, it was Spielberg. Netflix invested more in Roma theatrically than any boutique label at any studio would have by a factor of five. They put a Spanish-language black-and-white film all over the world in theaters. Hundreds of theaters, not just a few; as many as Sony Pictures Classics would have done. They put more money behind it, in a theatrical context, than anybody would have. You can’t tell me there’s a whole lot of people making black-and-white Spanish-language films and putting that investment behind them.”
What are your thoughts about Norton's position on the state of theatrical experiences? What's going to the movies been like for you in the past few years? Do you still enjoy going to the theater? Or would you rather wait a few months for the film to receive its home release? Let us know in the comments section below.