Christopher Nolan Calls Netflix's Film Strategy "Pointless"

Merc1138 said:
Where is this miraculous movie theater you go to? Because every theater in the area(6 or so) is absolutely horrible. Idiots on cellphones during the movie, idiots jabbering away with eachother during the movie, idiots who can't open a candy bar without spending a full 60 seconds making a ton of noise, idiots bringing their infant children to a rated R movie, the people with a bladder the size of a thimble who have to get up 5 times and go past you back and forth(so that's 10 times you have to get up with them walking past in your way), and so on.

You say there's fewer distractions in the theater than at home? At home if someone for some reason is being obnoxious I can tell them to STFU, rewind so I can watch the part they screwed up, and then finish my movie watching experience. Not to mention, I can drink a soda without paying $7, grab some good nachos at the local taqueria on my way home instead of the crap yellow cheese slop the theaters have, and basically do whatever I want from my own couch without wondering why the floor is sticky and then hearing my shoes stick to tile and concrete flooring as I'm walking out hoping it's off the bottom before I get back in the car.
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Galaxy 10 in Dallas
Look Cinema In Addison Texas
AMC Also in Addison TX.

Whatever theater I went to in White Rock (not reserved seating, but was clean and quiet)

I've also been to theaters in MS and LA and the former was always good, while the latter is normally good, but sometimes old people don't shut up. For all the talk about teens and millennials, I find older people are way worse than the kids (unless they're really young and I only see them when i watch animated movies).

As for at home, people at home get up all the time when they wouldn't do it at the theater.. As far as soda and stuf is concerned, that's not relevant to the conversation. I don't have to eat at movie. It's 2 hours. And if I decide to buy something, I'll live, though most of the time, they don't have what I want, so I don't buy anything.
 
Hollywood is very out of touch.

I love movies, I love the huge screen,I'm a cinematography snob, I like 70mm film vs digial, I love the potential for great sound.

But I haven't gone to a theater in like 10-15 years

the average theater just has crap quality everything but they still want to justify a ever increasing price on tickets

the industry had it's chance with 3D and most directors didn't want to do it right, they didn't want high frame rate and they voted to just become the super-hero comic book hero sequel factory and most of us decided they would rather watch stuff on Netflix instead since at least with Netflix we have some choice still.

Mr. Nolan should rail against the owners and operators of the theater chains that they are undermining the industry or Hollywood should fund them better so they can be worth going to.

As it stands I don't know if Ill ever actually go to the theater again and if VR and AR headsets move to HDR and we get the content I wont need to
 
nilepez said:
Galaxy 10 in Dallas
Look Cinema In Addison Texas
AMC Also in Addison TX.

Whatever theater I went to in White Rock (not reserved seating, but was clean and quiet)

I've also been to theaters in MS and LA and the former was always good, while the latter is normally good, but sometimes old people don't shut up. For all the talk about teens and millennials, I find older people are way worse than the kids (unless they're really young and I only see them when i watch animated movies).

As for at home, people at home get up all the time when they wouldn't do it at the theater.. As far as soda and stuf is concerned, that's not relevant to the conversation. I don't have to eat at movie. It's 2 hours. And if I decide to buy something, I'll live, though most of the time, they don't have what I want, so I don't buy anything.
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LOOK in Addison is great when the Alamo Drafthouse doesn't have the movie you want in rotation.
 
Do i miss the old days of Tower Records? I do, but i won't ignore the convenience of an online store.

Is the "theater experience " better than home? Yes, but im willing to trade that for some change in my pockets and not having to deal with assholes.

Lastly, shut up, the ones that are at fault here are the same people that are writing your checks.
 
I go to the theatres early in the mid morning (like 10:30-11am) and more often than not I have the ENTIRE theatre to myself... for a measly $6. I'll take it. The largest screen I could feasibly put on my wall is 100" and that just isn't enough.
 
Honestly it's hard for me to be excited about a movie enough to actually go to the theater and watch it anymore.

There is no movie out there these days that leaves me willing to put up with shitty people being in the audience, and/or paying a ludicrous amount of money for glorified snacks that don't even taste anything special.

And don't even get me started on the half-assed bullshit they call cleaning a theater between shows now. I worked at a theater. If any of the ushers left any of that bullshit on the floor or in the seats that ushers today seem to do regularly? They'd have their ass handed to them by management.
 
Theatre Experience consists of;

1) stinky popcorn smell in the air
2)crackling packets with tooth rot and artery clogging content
3) boomy sound system
4) uncomfortable seating
5) other humans with whom you do not want to be in the same vicinity.

all at a price that seems totally unreasonable considering the 'Experience'.
 
Chupachup said:
Nolan won't credit theaters for any of the depreciation THEY generate by overcharging customers for popcorn(8X cost), soft drinks(12X cost) and candy(2X cost)?

He might be an "esteemed director", but he is otherwise a self absorbed boob who just hasn't been offered enough cash or the right terms by Netflix. He's the directorial equivalent of a well educated top tier escort trying to coerce a higher price from a prospective client.

I'd die if Netflix fired back a response stating, they'd never be willing to entertain the thought of inviting him to run one of their projects. *drop the mic*
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The reason theaters charge so much for that stuff is that is how they make their money. They make peanuts on actual ticket sales, the studios eat up most of those profits, especially in the opening weeks where they take a majority of the % of ticket sales.

Though some theaters can still get a bit overboard on how much they overcharge.
 
And yet this person doesn't see the value of a more accesible plataform. Because of netflix i get to see stuff that i know would not see the light of day in TV or theater... Yeah hes on about the Hollywood movie experience being degraded i guess... Yet what about the good b movie experience or the weird show experience, those don't count?
 
The only time I've ever enjoyed a movie has been in a barely
snowcrash said:
Agree with Nolan. As much as I love Netflix and its stock price, it does not even come close to watching a film on a giant screen IMAX. Even if I have a kickass hometheater setup with an expensive projector, large screen, and speakers for Dolby Atmos, all that still wouldn't even remotely match what IMAX offers.
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IMAX is great for fish-eye lens documentaries and Disney rides like SOARIN'......not sure I'm with-you that it's worthwhile for any movie that does not have 3D elements.
 
As for going to the movies....Pass, I have a good screen at home and a much better and proper setup audio system, I also get drinks and food for cheap, can pause when I want and don't have people to deal with.

Now, if it's a good movie and it's in IMAX or other system like that, with bigger screens and good proper setup audio, I will go for that, but normal movies no. I also find that these have less kids in them and babys, seems most people with kids don't want to pay twice the price over normal tickets so they either don't go to them or the kids stay home.
 
Nolan's argument reminds me of this kid I knew who produced RAP albums and blamed his lack of popularity on crappy MP3 player ear buds
 
James Cameron once said he wanted people to go to the theaters.

So he made a movie that changed how movies were made and how people watched movies. As a result the interest in theaters was revitalized and his efforts in cinematography are still seen today in other movies.

James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does for James Cameron. James Cameron does what James Cameron does because James Cameron is James Cameron.
 
Crying about change. This doesn't surprise me at all for directors. Screaming about the "theater" experience. More and more of us are skipping the hassle and annoyance of the "theater experience" for the home theater experience. Now that movies don't take 8 yrs to come out on video (aka ET or was it even longer?) A few months go bye and whala there it is on Itunes... magic. I even have "pause" and no stupid cell phones out blinding me in the dark and people having conversations over the movie. Tell me again why the "theater" hasn't died already? Just like the slow death of cable TV's world... the Theater is next.
 
snowcrash said:
Agree with Nolan. As much as I love Netflix and its stock price, it does not even come close to watching a film on a giant screen IMAX. Even if I have a kickass hometheater setup with an expensive projector, large screen, and speakers for Dolby Atmos, all that still wouldn't even remotely match what IMAX offers.
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I don't think anyone is arguing the home experience can be mimicked at home, the argument is whether or not that experience really is something people care about enough to pay a premium for. For a great many people the answer is no, and of those that do pay they're paying more because that's their only option to see that particular movie. We all know the real motivation is to put more money into the pockets of the movie studios.
 
I love theatres and they should remain for many many more years to come (as long they keep giving us good comfortable seats and imax theatres as the standard theatres with atmos sound. For Netflix movies, they should promote new films like same process as to being release in theatres, except, you pay an extra fee to get it view in UHD 4k at your very own home, for those who have the equipment, than great, and for those with cheap equipment, well you'll still see the movie but probably not experience it fully, unless of course they decide to release it in the theatres has well. Movie fan for life.
 
lostinseganet said:
I go to the theater for 3D. I can not get that at home.
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I still prefer 2D movies. 3D movies is darker picture, hard on the eyes sometimes and some 3D movies, doesn't have enough 3D in it!!! they need to improve the technology.
 
For the record- I seriously get why theaters are up-charging for the sundry items. I do!

It still doesn't make it right that theater owners are forced into the position of pressuring their patrons wallets so far beyond the inflated ticket prices to stay in business. And while I can understand a reasonable markup on those items, it seems theater owners (in general) have been simply gouging their customers for as much as they're willing to bear for the sake of profits for quite some time.

The studios should be doing more to support the theaters as THEY are the preferred conduit to bring money in and without them the studios will be forced back into the ugly situation of mergers and bankruptcy.

I used to take the family to the movies ~5 times a year. Last year, we watched Warcraft in the theater and haven't been back since. It isn't because there's a lack of watchable content. It's simply a case of not wanting to pay ~$20 per person for two hours of a new release that may or may not be an enjoyable experience and still doesn't feel like a value at any level. I don't think I'm alone on that point.

My teens have even said, most of the new DVD/BluRay releases are just as enjoyable, or more so, at home. With only a few movies having a rare scene or two that would've been worthy of a theater experience for that moment. At this point, Amazon, Netflix and my local grocery and video stores, are taking money that used to be going into area theaters for that very reason.

P.S. If you eat nachos at the theater, you're no better than that guy two rows back talking on his cell or the one sitting right behind you narrating the action scenes while overstuffing his pie hole with too much popcorn;):ROFLMAO: #FoodThatJustDoesntBelong
 
Cyraxx said:
Good. Fuck him, and fuck theaters. I fucking hate the general american public that can't stand to do simple factors like
1) Shut the fuck up
2) Leave your crying baby at home with a sitter
3) Turn your fucking phone off
4) Don't spill food and drinks everywhere and give theaters the notorious "sticky floors"

Until that day comes, I have no plans to return to theaters unless it's an amazing looking film, and I haven't been to see one in the last year about.
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Do you still live in Houston? If so, two words: Alamo Drafthouse.
 
sfsuphysics said:
I don't think anyone is arguing the home experience can be mimicked at home, the argument is whether or not that experience really is something people care about enough to pay a premium for. For a great many people the answer is no, and of those that do pay they're paying more because that's their only option to see that particular movie. We all know the real motivation is to put more money into the pockets of the movie studios.
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I'm ok with it. I'm all for corporations and small businesses making money. I have never in my life looked at it differently. Whoever puts up the money, get to make the money. It's capitalism and what made America great.

Sure, a single IMAX ticket costs $22 in my area, so for a family of 4 that is not something to just dismiss away. With online deal sites though, I can easily find discounts most of the time. I usually get 33% to 50% so that is the price range I'm ok with in return for an entertaining afternoon or evening with the family.
 
I have a plan to get rid of arrogant self infatuated directors. They're pointless.
 
Garrick said:
Theatre Experience consists of;

1) stinky popcorn smell in the air
2)crackling packets with tooth rot and artery clogging content
3) boomy sound system
4) uncomfortable seating
5) other humans with whom you do not want to be in the same vicinity.

all at a price that seems totally unreasonable considering the 'Experience'.
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Somebody hasn't been to a theater in a long LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG time.
 
Youn said:
Nolan's argument reminds me of this kid I knew who produced RAP albums and blamed his lack of popularity on crappy MP3 player ear buds
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That analogy would work a lot better if Nolan wasn't a successful/popular film maker.
 
Vader1975 said:
Crying about change. This doesn't surprise me at all for directors. Screaming about the "theater" experience. More and more of us are skipping the hassle and annoyance of the "theater experience" for the home theater experience. Now that movies don't take 8 yrs to come out on video (aka ET or was it even longer?) A few months go bye and whala there it is on Itunes... magic. I even have "pause" and no stupid cell phones out blinding me in the dark and people having conversations over the movie. Tell me again why the "theater" hasn't died already? Just like the slow death of cable TV's world... the Theater is next.
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Given how few annoying people are in the theaters, I have to wonder if all the annoying people now sit at home and whine about annoying people in the theaters.
 
zomby said:
I still prefer 2D movies. 3D movies is darker picture, hard on the eyes sometimes and some 3D movies, doesn't have enough 3D in it!!! they need to improve the technology.
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This is a failure by either the the studios or the theater (apparently it varies). There's no reason they can't brighten the 3D prints and adjust the hue/temp of the video so that it looks the same as the 2D colors/brightness. I saw Spiderman in 3D and it was pretty good, but it was clear that the reds were sucked out of it by the glasses and that's something that can be fixed.

That said, as a rule, I go for 2D. I like the depth on 3D, but I can live without it.
 
Chupachup said:
For the record- I seriously get why theaters are up-charging for the sundry items. I do!

It still doesn't make it right that theater owners are forced into the position of pressuring their patrons wallets so far beyond the inflated ticket prices to stay in business. And while I can understand a reasonable markup on those items, it seems theater owners (in general) have been simply gouging their customers for as much as they're willing to bear for the sake of profits for quite some time.

The studios should be doing more to support the theaters as THEY are the preferred conduit to bring money in and without them the studios will be forced back into the ugly situation of mergers and bankruptcy.

I used to take the family to the movies ~5 times a year. Last year, we watched Warcraft in the theater and haven't been back since. It isn't because there's a lack of watchable content. It's simply a case of not wanting to pay ~$20 per person for two hours of a new release that may or may not be an enjoyable experience and still doesn't feel like a value at any level. I don't think I'm alone on that point.

My teens have even said, most of the new DVD/BluRay releases are just as enjoyable, or more so, at home. With only a few movies having a rare scene or two that would've been worthy of a theater experience for that moment. At this point, Amazon, Netflix and my local grocery and video stores, are taking money that used to be going into area theaters for that very reason.

P.S. If you eat nachos at the theater, you're no better than that guy two rows back talking on his cell or the one sitting right behind you narrating the action scenes while overstuffing his pie hole with too much popcorn;):ROFLMAO: #FoodThatJustDoesntBelong
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I don't think there's a solution, other than only making small films. The reality is that it's a super risky business and movies are insanely expensive. The original Star Wars was (adjusted for inflation) roughly 46 million. You couldn't make a top sci-fi action movie for that price. Interstellar was 172 million (adjusted for inflation). The Force Awakens cost 311 Million (adj 4 inflation). I don't know what the marketing costs for the original Star Wars was, but for TFA it was 175 Million. And if you make a 150 million film that tanks, it's up to the ones that succeed to make up the losses.

If you drop the budget of movies down to 20-40 million, prices would be less...and then everyone on [H] would bitch about no AAA SFX movies :ROFLMAO:
 
While I used to save my trips to the theater for the big blockbusters in IMAX or IMAX 3D, my last trip was to a local theater I hadn't been too in a long while. They apparently had been bought out by AMC, who turned them into a "deluxe" theater. The screens are still regular screens (I think, I might be wrong, but they are definitely NOT IMAX screens or faux IMAX screens) but now with wide comfy faux-leather reclining seats (with fold out leg supports / ottoman), wide arm rests with built in cup-holders and last but not least seat reservations (online or at the time of purchase).

I still won't be going to them any more than before, but I have to admit I don't hate the "regular" theater as much as I used to.
 
nilepez said:
Given how few annoying people are in the theaters, I have to wonder if all the annoying people now sit at home and whine about annoying people in the theaters.
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You must watch movies for very old people or wait weeks as this is just not the case.
 
I don't know about anyone else but I find Christopher Nolan's whining the most pointless thing. If he actually cared about getting people into the theaters and whatever else, he'd actually be fighting studios to get the amount the theater owners receive from ticket sales increased. That way the chance the stuff you buy there wouldn't be so damn high and/or they'd be able to have halfway decent theaters.

The cost to go to the movies is nuts. I only go to movies between one and three times a year and the once a year happens a lot more than three times. One of the biggest reasons is because of the prices. I never buy anything there myself because the cost is too much so there's no value in it. If I'm at a movie my son is also there. If it's just me and him he won't get anything either. About half the time one of my son's friends is invited and there. He'll usually get popcorn and a soda and then my son will get a soda and they'll share the popcorn. That bucket of popcorn and the two sodas cost almost as much as the fucking tickets for the three of us. Sorry, the value simply isn't there.
 
Having just seen Dunkirk at an Atmos cinema, I can see his point. The movie was fair at best, but the sound mixing was fucking amazing. Tons of subsonic effects, that most homes or even theaters will never be able to reproduce. It really made the movie.

Unfortunately this is all the movie really had going for it, so it will be quickly forgotten due to most people watching it online.
 
My movie watching experience has a feature I will never have in a theatre...

a Pause button :)

Theatre's seem to be going the way of the Laundromat.
 
Vader1975 said:
You must watch movies for very old people or wait weeks as this is just not the case.
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I only go to movies that are on the biggest screen in the theater, which means it's typically the week of release. My last 2 movies were Spiderman and War for the Planet of the Apes.
So you're absolutely wrong. And as I said before, I find that older people are much worse than most others, though young kids, who typically only end up at animated movies, do ask parents questions.

In short, yes, it is the case.
 
Wrecked Em said:
Having just seen Dunkirk at an Atmos cinema, I can see his point. The movie was fair at best, but the sound mixing was fucking amazing. Tons of subsonic effects, that most homes or even theaters will never be able to reproduce. It really made the movie. Unfortunately this is all the movie really had going for it, so it will be quickly forgotten due to most people watching it online.
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Most viewers (so far), seem to like it a lot.

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IMDB:
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Metacritic user score
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edit: adding Cinemascore
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nilepez said:
Most viewers (so far), seem to like it a lot.
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Yep, many are saying this is his best movie, and he has quite a few good ones so far.

IMO, Nolan like Tarantino is a film purist, both like to do 70mm releases, both dislike Netflix.

An artist complaining about the end of their favorite medium/venue is only to be expected.
 
I agree with most of you about the general "multiplex movie theater experience".

Luckily, I have a few "brew and view" type places in my area, where you get a comfortable chair, they bring real food in to you, etc. And a couple of them are actually rocking the Hollywood history vibe. Special movie-centric events, autographed photos and vintage posters and memorabilia all over the walls, etc.

The prices for tickets here are generally lower. And while the food is on the expensive side to offset, what would you rather have? A burger, fries and a Coke/Beer for $20 or a bucket of popcorn and a Coke?
 
nilepez said:
I only go to movies that are on the biggest screen in the theater, which means it's typically the week of release. My last 2 movies were Spiderman and War for the Planet of the Apes.
So you're absolutely wrong. And as I said before, I find that older people are much worse than most others, though young kids, who typically only end up at animated movies, do ask parents questions.

In short, yes, it is the case.
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Nope it is not the case. Mostly teenagers and 20 something with their phones out and the bright screens everywhere.
 
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