Comments on: Theater of the absurd http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:28:19 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: arensb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9274 arensb Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:24:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9274 While we're venting about movie theaters, how about the lack of intermissions? Every time I've asked, I've been told that the theaters insist that there be no intermission. Of course, because of this the theater where I went to see "Return of the King" lost two concession sales: I wasn't going to buy a drink right before a three-hour movie, and since there was no intermission I didn't slip out to go to the bathroom and get a refill. While we’re venting about movie theaters, how about the lack of intermissions? Every time I’ve asked, I’ve been told that the theaters insist that there be no intermission. Of course, because of this the theater where I went to see “Return of the King” lost two concession sales: I wasn’t going to buy a drink right before a three-hour movie, and since there was no intermission I didn’t slip out to go to the bathroom and get a refill.

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9275 Paul Mon, 09 Jan 2006 23:36:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9275 Along the same path, what about commercials on DVDs? I really can't stand it when I *buy* a DVD and discover it full of promos. I can understand when a DVD that you rent has promos on it, but not the ones I own. Along the same path, what about commercials on DVDs? I really can’t stand it when I *buy* a DVD and discover it full of promos. I can understand when a DVD that you rent has promos on it, but not the ones I own.

]]> By: James Buchanan (Doodler) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9276 James Buchanan (Doodler) Sun, 08 Jan 2006 16:38:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9276 Personally I think the intrusion of commercials into the lead off is a reflex from the theaters to declining revenue. They've finally gotten it into their heads that an audience that spends more on DVDs than tickets isn't going to shell out more money to see a movie away from home, their only recourse has been to open up advertising for income. What will eventually happen is the older crowd (don't shoot, I'm one of them) who hates this kind of thing will eventually abandon the theaters, and younger folks who have grown up in a world where information overload is a normal thing, will learn to detune the noise and sit impatiently, like us old codgers did in the quiet dark of years past, and wait for the bloody movie to get underway already. As much as we might bark, that's kinda the way of things. Those of us who remember how it used to be are no longer the target audience, so our concerns matter less and less to advertisers and presenters as each year passes. Kids are coming of age in a time when quiet time comes only when something's gone wrong, like the cable's screwed up, the projection room has a problem, or the power goes out. Silence and contemplation are almost alien to them, and those businesses that want their money are adapting. Oh, brave new word, eh? Personally I think the intrusion of commercials into the lead off is a reflex from the theaters to declining revenue. They’ve finally gotten it into their heads that an audience that spends more on DVDs than tickets isn’t going to shell out more money to see a movie away from home, their only recourse has been to open up advertising for income.

What will eventually happen is the older crowd (don’t shoot, I’m one of them) who hates this kind of thing will eventually abandon the theaters, and younger folks who have grown up in a world where information overload is a normal thing, will learn to detune the noise and sit impatiently, like us old codgers did in the quiet dark of years past, and wait for the bloody movie to get underway already.

As much as we might bark, that’s kinda the way of things. Those of us who remember how it used to be are no longer the target audience, so our concerns matter less and less to advertisers and presenters as each year passes. Kids are coming of age in a time when quiet time comes only when something’s gone wrong, like the cable’s screwed up, the projection room has a problem, or the power goes out. Silence and contemplation are almost alien to them, and those businesses that want their money are adapting.

Oh, brave new word, eh?

]]> By: Darin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9277 Darin Sun, 08 Jan 2006 05:10:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9277 Man, you said it! I quit movies about 18 months ago. It is just too expensive for casual pleasure. After spending an arm and a leg getting in and getting popcorn and a coke you get to enjoy 5 or 10 minutes of commercials??? No Thanks! I'll wait for the DVD. Darin Man, you said it!

I quit movies about 18 months ago.

It is just too expensive for casual pleasure. After spending an arm and a leg getting in and getting popcorn and a coke you get to enjoy 5 or 10 minutes of commercials???

No Thanks! I’ll wait for the DVD.

Darin

]]> By: M@ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9319 M@ Thu, 05 Jan 2006 19:20:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9319 Thomas, Ack! I just subscribed to the blog today, and I tried to catch up with Bloglines... which didn't display pics, so I didn't catch the bit about Serenity... and then I checked the reviews and it wasn't there... So. Now I'm caught up. And I'm very satisfied to see the positive reviews. We just got our copy of the DVD for xmas (but fullscreen! why!? WHY?!?) and I'm all psyched about it again. Thomas,

Ack! I just subscribed to the blog today, and I tried to catch up with Bloglines… which didn’t display pics, so I didn’t catch the bit about Serenity… and then I checked the reviews and it wasn’t there…

So. Now I’m caught up. And I’m very satisfied to see the positive reviews. We just got our copy of the DVD for xmas (but fullscreen! why!? WHY?!?) and I’m all psyched about it again.

]]> By: Plognark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9318 Plognark Thu, 05 Jan 2006 19:03:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9318 Yeah, I've given up on regular movies too. The commercials at the beginning was my final straw too. It helps that I got a big TV after my old one died though. Yeah, I’ve given up on regular movies too. The commercials at the beginning was my final straw too. It helps that I got a big TV after my old one died though.

]]> By: Thomas Siefert http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/comment-page-1/#comment-9317 Thomas Siefert Thu, 05 Jan 2006 18:22:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/01/03/theater-of-the-absurd/#comment-9317 Nigel Depledge said: "That’s weird. I got this strange feeling I’ve read that before …" uh oh... something must have been inserted in the matrix.... Nigel Depledge said:
“That’s weird. I got this strange feeling I’ve read that before …”

uh oh… something must have been inserted in the matrix….

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