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I live 5 minutes walk from the best cinema in my region. I don't see the value in these subscription services: there aren't three movies a year which are worth

I live 5 minutes walk from the best cinema in my region. I don't see the value in these subscription services: there aren't three movies a year which are worth watching. Let alone a month. I could see value if cinemas regularly screened non-current good films. Is that a thing in America?

meesles 8y ago
Occasionally, at non-mainstream theatres. 'Dollar theatres' were also popular in my college days; they would play things like "Liar Liar" or "Home Alone" for a buck, and then you don't feel bad spending $10 on concessions. As far as places to go watch classics, or cult movies, I haven't found anything that isn't just streaming/buying. What a shame! I think this would be pretty popular if reasonably priced. I agree with you, there aren't 3 good movies a month. I don't need more 'infinite media' subscriptions when we're already overloaded with mediocre media every day.
- tragic 8y ago
  > As far as places to go watch classics, or cult movies, I haven't found anything that isn't just streaming/buying. What a shame! It's something you get with top end 'art' cinemas. The BFI cinema in London, for example, has regular retrospective seasons for particular directors and so on. But I suspect it is also in receipt of a lot of public money and philanthropic donations. People who show up for a Kurosawa retrospective are not typically going to have a bucket of popcorn and a litre and a half of mountain dew for company. The dosh has to come from somewhere. It's worth mentioning because the obvious flaw with moviepass is that it cannot possibly become profitable, but there are ways to show movies that do not require profitability, merely the willingness of taxpayers and private individuals to dip into their pockets to protect a perceived public good.
basementcat 8y ago
I'm currently in a large-ish metropolitan area and my problem is that even after watching 30-31 movies a month, there are still several new releases that I miss. For all of its faults, Moviepass has really opened my eyes to many excellent independent and foreign films. For those who claim there aren't three films a year that are worth watching, what do you think is a film worth watching? Do you require that everything be a "Citizen Kane" or "2001: A Space Odyssey"?
- themoat 8y ago
  I've been more and more picky about movies over the last few years. I think that the OC was probably just exaggerating, but I'd say I watch all of 3 movies per year in theaters. I don't mind wasting a lazy evening watching a movie at home, even some lackluster ones if I'm being honest, but if I'm going to take my wife out and spend $40, I'd rather go do something interesting, eat something fun, do anything else, typically. Usually the only movies I'll pay money to watch in theaters are ones that I don't want spoiled while I wait to watch them at home. Work usually takes us to a few movies a year and I always leave thinking "I wouldn't pay money to see it...but it was fun I guess."
jkestner 8y ago
Depends on where you are. Alamo Drafthouse usually has classics (popular and cult) as well as indie films.
- karmajunkie 8y ago
  They're also piloting a program similar to moviepass or AMC's offering.

meesles 8y ago

Occasionally, at non-mainstream theatres. 'Dollar theatres' were also popular in my college days; they would play things like "Liar Liar" or "Home Alone" for a buck, and then you don't feel bad spending $10 on concessions. As far as places to go watch classics, or cult movies, I haven't found anything that isn't just streaming/buying. What a shame! I think this would be pretty popular if reasonably priced. I agree with you, there aren't 3 good movies a month. I don't need more 'infinite media' subscriptions when we're already overloaded with mediocre media every day.

tragic 8y ago
> As far as places to go watch classics, or cult movies, I haven't found anything that isn't just streaming/buying. What a shame! It's something you get with top end 'art' cinemas. The BFI cinema in London, for example, has regular retrospective seasons for particular directors and so on. But I suspect it is also in receipt of a lot of public money and philanthropic donations. People who show up for a Kurosawa retrospective are not typically going to have a bucket of popcorn and a litre and a half of mountain dew for company. The dosh has to come from somewhere. It's worth mentioning because the obvious flaw with moviepass is that it cannot possibly become profitable, but there are ways to show movies that do not require profitability, merely the willingness of taxpayers and private individuals to dip into their pockets to protect a perceived public good.

basementcat 8y ago

I'm currently in a large-ish metropolitan area and my problem is that even after watching 30-31 movies a month, there are still several new releases that I miss. For all of its faults, Moviepass has really opened my eyes to many excellent independent and foreign films. For those who claim there aren't three films a year that are worth watching, what do you think is a film worth watching? Do you require that everything be a "Citizen Kane" or "2001: A Space Odyssey"?

themoat 8y ago
I've been more and more picky about movies over the last few years. I think that the OC was probably just exaggerating, but I'd say I watch all of 3 movies per year in theaters. I don't mind wasting a lazy evening watching a movie at home, even some lackluster ones if I'm being honest, but if I'm going to take my wife out and spend $40, I'd rather go do something interesting, eat something fun, do anything else, typically. Usually the only movies I'll pay money to watch in theaters are ones that I don't want spoiled while I wait to watch them at home. Work usually takes us to a few movies a year and I always leave thinking "I wouldn't pay money to see it...but it was fun I guess."

jkestner 8y ago

Depends on where you are. Alamo Drafthouse usually has classics (popular and cult) as well as indie films.

karmajunkie 8y ago
They're also piloting a program similar to moviepass or AMC's offering.