Author Topic: Movie crowds dip to 16-year low as apathy lingers (Read 10447 times)

Bruce · « **on:** December 29, 2011, 09:31:06 AM »

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/53195051-79/billion-million-movie-2011.html.csp

My thinking is that most current movies aren't very good, and that they are too expensive, too much trouble to go to, and there are a million good alternatives that are far cheaper and just as entertaining. Many current releases look like they started with a cutesy title and built a completely unnecessary movie around it ("Chipwrecked", etc). MAKE GOOD MOVIES AND THE AUDIENCES WILL COME BACK!

DreamWarrior · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2011, 01:05:58 PM »

Quote from: Bruce on December 29, 2011, 09:31:06 AM

MAKE GOOD MOVIES AND THE AUDIENCES WILL COME BACK!

You might be on to something.

I haven't seen a flick at the theater in a long time. At least I have Dark Knight Rises and Lords of Salem to look forward to. Too bad they will probably suck as much as most other new movies.

paul waines · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2011, 01:28:22 PM »

I do think there are more factors to this like The inter-web. Down loading is very popular amongst the teen girls, who 80% of modern film is aimed at... Too many film makers want to be safe and try to cater for what they think audiences want.
Lack of exploitive film makers has made the film industry stagnant. You could say Tarantino is the only one who's tried over the last few decades...

Inter-web, down loading, and general ease of getting a film cheaper, and at your convenience a-side. I do think the film industry needs a huge shake up...

brude · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2011, 02:54:52 PM »

I think a lot has to do with dating.
The young don't go to the movies on dates like they used to.
They go in the basement, download from Netflix and f**k.

CSM · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:59:30 PM »

Quote from: brude on December 29, 2011, 02:54:52 PM

They go in the basement, download from Netflix and f**k.

No innuendo in that post

brude · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2011, 06:42:13 PM »

Quote from: CSM on December 29, 2011, 03:59:30 PM

No innuendo in that post

None intended.
These kids today have never even heard the word 'courtship.'
They 'hook up.'
Not good for the kids and not good for the movie theaters.

guest4168 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2011, 09:38:08 PM »

Quote from: Bruce on December 29, 2011, 09:31:06 AM

MAKE GOOD MOVIES AND THE AUDIENCES WILL COME BACK!

I'd like to think that was the answer, because then those of us over 15 might have something to go see. But looking at the utter bilge that Hollywood *has* made big money from this year, it seems that more inane crap is just exactly what the average moviegoer wants.

od_sf · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2012, 03:44:18 PM »

Big Hollywood blockbusters for the most part are disappointing, I agree 100%. However, there are LOADS of great independent and foreign films being made today that are absolutely worth seeing on the big screen. People just have to dig a little bit deeper than Transformers.

jayn_j · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2012, 03:56:56 PM »

Quote from: brude on December 29, 2011, 06:42:13 PM

None intended.
These kids today have never even heard the word 'courtship.'
They 'hook up.'
Not good for the kids and not good for the movie theaters.

Sigh. Are you saying you weren't horny at 16? I see no real difference between my youth and my teenagers today, except that movies are more available in the home. However, I'm still around and able to drop in to offer a snack at any time. In fact, the kids are more likely to hang around the house than I was as a kid. I like that because I have some control on how far to let things progress.

I have good kids. Their friends are good kids. My oldest daughter just got engaged last week to the guy she has been dating for ten years. She is 30. It seems to me that parents have been complaining about the loose morals of the younger generation since time began. Wasn't there a Plato quote?

Found it - Socrates, attributed by Plato: The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

guest4168 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:45:50 PM »

Quote from: od_sf on January 03, 2012, 03:44:18 PM

... there are LOADS of great independent and foreign films being made today that are absolutely worth seeing on the big screen...

Absolutely! Personally I'm going to the cinema more than ever ... and like you its to the independent and foreign films. I wonder if these have seen a corresponding rise in numbers that accounts for the shortfall in Hollywood's figures?

archie leach · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:55:49 PM »

Quote from: jayn_j on January 03, 2012, 03:56:56 PM

Sigh. Are you saying you weren't horny at 16? I see no real difference between my youth and my teenagers today, except that movies are more available in the home. However, I'm still around and able to drop in to offer a snack at any time. In fact, the kids are more likely to hang around the house than I was as a kid. I like that because I have some control on how far to let things progress.

I have good kids. Their friends are good kids. My oldest daughter just got engaged last week to the guy she has been dating for ten years. She is 30. It seems to me that parents have been complaining about the loose morals of the younger generation since time began. Wasn't there a Plato quote?

Found it - Socrates, attributed by Plato: The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Kids are always the same, however, trends change over time. Free and easy access to the nearly unlimited information of internet (porn) has lowered the average ages of sexual experience and changed the way this generation relates to sex in general. Attitudes from teens towards things like group sex and same-sex relationships and much more positive than they were in the AIDS scarred Gen-X days... or maybe I'm just bitter having lived through the flannel days...

jayn_j · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:10:20 AM »

Quote from: archie leach on January 03, 2012, 06:55:49 PM

Kids are always the same, however, trends change over time. Free and easy access to the nearly unlimited information of internet (porn) has lowered the average ages of sexual experience and changed the way this generation relates to sex in general. Attitudes from teens towards things like group sex and same-sex relationships and much more positive than they were in the AIDS scarred Gen-X days... or maybe I'm just bitter having lived through the flannel days...

Do you have any evidence of that? I did some research and it looks like average age of loss of virginity is 16.9 years in the US. That seems to be about the same as I remember from the '60s and from the Kinsey Report.

rumble · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2012, 10:34:36 AM »

Actually, cinemas that respect the moviegoing experience seem to be doing fine - like the Alamo Drafthouse:
http://badassdigest.com/2012/01/05/alamo-drafthouse-schools-box-office/

Dread_Pirate_Mel · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2012, 11:34:55 AM »

Great - Alamo is coming to DC. I've lost interest in their prints but look forward to the theater.

archie leach · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2012, 11:10:57 PM »

Quote from: jayn_j on January 04, 2012, 09:10:20 AM

Do you have any evidence of that? I did some research and it looks like average age of loss of virginity is 16.9 years in the US. That seems to be about the same as I remember from the '60s and from the Kinsey Report.

I shouldn't have used the phrase 'sexual experience' when I more meant 'sexual awareness'. You still need a partner to get the V-chip which limits how low that age can go. There is also that whole 'technical virginity' movement.

There are a number of indicators, from more girls using porn in the same way boys do to the general increase, particularly among late-teens/early adults, in interest/participation in things like polyamory, BDSM, Fetishes and other Kinks when they do become fully sexual active.

jayn_j · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:09:28 AM »

with all due respect, BS:

Ten years ago it was the same argument, but with violent videogames. Forty years ago it was television. One hundred years ago it was the automobile and the movies themselves. Old people will always be complaining about the loose morals of the kids, yet life goes on.

Bruce · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2012, 02:34:39 PM »

But sometimes the volcano really IS about to erupt. Ask the dead Pompeians (oh wait, they all died because they thought the volcano threat would blow over and didn't move).

CJ138 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2012, 06:43:32 PM »

I havent gone to the theater in years. It is overrun by assholes (young and old). I would rather build a home theater, stay home, drink booze and have a much better experience. I do think there is a lack of good movies, but really its the cost coupled with the fact that some jackass on an iphone will ruin my experience that keeps me away.

brude · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2012, 11:09:26 PM »

I just returned from a 7pm showing of TINTIN in 3D. The vast majority of customers at this Regal multiplex were adults. Very few teen-agers.
Our tickets (two) cost us $24.50. Spent 15 agonizing minutes on line to get a drink (medium - $6.25) despite the fact that they had four registers open and only three people in each line. The concession stand employees moved like lurching zombies. Thankfully, the movie was very good.

But, it was not worth $30plus.
It is no small wonder that in this recession, Hollywood boxoffice is down.

Bruce · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2012, 08:53:41 AM »

"The concession stand employees moved like lurching zombies"

All anyone doubting the reality of the living dead has to do is go into any place where people work for minimum wage and they will be convinced in no time.

The idea of a "work ethic" among the current young generation is almost completely absent.

Bruce

archie leach · « **Reply #20 on:** January 08, 2012, 09:53:30 AM »

Quote from: jayn_j on January 07, 2012, 10:09:28 AM

with all due respect, BS:

Ten years ago it was the same argument, but with violent videogames. Forty years ago it was television. One hundred years ago it was the automobile and the movies themselves. Old people will always be complaining about the loose morals of the kids, yet life goes on.

I am simply talking about the past 20 years and I am not complaining about anything. I couldn't care less how pervy this generation is becoming... More power to them. I am simply describing the current youth. Having increased acces to information has made it easier for all ages to broaden the sexual horizons and youngsters are no exception. Anime leads to tentacle porn. Raves leads to group sex. Next...