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"Tenet" - 2020.. Nolan's new mindbender

I was being a bit glib, but as long as cases keep going up at the rate they're going up, the reopening of movie theatres is going to keep getting pushed out.

There's a chilling graph I saw comparing the rates of infection in the US and Europe. It starts out the same, peaks at the same point, starts to fall off equally and then at the point things start reopening Europe stays flat and the States rockets back up.
 
What I find weird is that it seemed early on when there was talk of opening up it was understood that the price was more people would get it. People on Fox saying if it will make the country better for my grandkids then I accept the risk and so on. Then when everything opened up and numbers went up people act surprised as if this wasn't supposed to happen.
 
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It's the rate things are going up that's the problem, here in Arizona almost every day we've been setting a new record for the number of cases. I think the fact that so many other countries have managed to slow things down is pretty clear evidence that we are doing something wrong in the US.
 
At the risk of turning things too political, I'd say the problems are rooted in American culture in general. America essentially is a society that was founded on the notion of resisting oppression and tyranny and valuing freedom. Noble ideals to be sure, but sadly in the modern era they've become sentiments applied without thought as to their historical context. The "don't tread on me" mentality so prevalent among Americans now views any form requiring people to do anything they don't want to as tyranny and oppression. Admittedly, matters certainly aren't helped where the President himself has been tweeting that citizens in States that weren't the first to lift restrictions need to rise up and liberate themselves.

A majority of the other nations in the world weren't founded on what was essentially a rebellion, therefore the citizens don't have the inherent urge to buck authority as instinct that is so ingrained into American cultural history. Therefore, when those in authority tell the citizens in those countries to stay home and suspend your luxuries and creature comforts for your own damn good, they listen. In the US, it's considered oppressive.

And really, what is it about basic health and safety that makes everyone think they're George Washington anyway?
 
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Noble ideals to be sure, but sadly in the modern era they've become sentiments applied without thought as to their historical context.

Not just modern. We're reacting much the same way today that Americans did a century ago with the 1918-19 flu pandemic. And we've seen the same kind of stubborn "Stop violating my right to get myself and others killed!" mentality over the decades in response to speed limits, seatbelt and helmet laws, and of course gun control.
 
If they insist on having a theatrical release instead of on-demand, then the studios should look into bringing back temporary drive-in theaters during Covid.

One summer at the Orange County Fairgrounds parking lot near my home, they set up a 65ft. X 33ft. inflatable movie screen called the Star Vu Theater and everyone tuned to an FM station in their cars to pick up the audio track for the film.

It wasn't ideal since the parking lot was flat and not with elevated parking spots like a traditional drive-in, so you would have to tell SUV drivers to park in the back so they don't block anyone's view, but it worked out okay.

They had a concessions website so you could order food, drinks, and snacks and have them brought to your car. In Covid you could still do that with gloves and masks, or you could just let people bring their own food. Depends, since concessions are where theaters make most of their money, but if this was something done by the studios themselves, it might not be worth the extra work.

Unfortunately the Star Vu Theater just lasted that one summer due to a lack of interest in drive-ins and constant scheduling conflicts with fairgrounds events, but it might gain a small amount of interest from people who want the theater going experience from the safety of their cars.

It's never going to be a big money maker or sustainable long term, but maybe for a year or so until the pandemic hopefully settles down. Just set them up on fairgrounds, closed big box store or mall parking lots, parks that allow vehicle traffic, etc.

https://www.newuniversity.org/2007/05/14/drive-in_theater_culture_returns36/
 
Theatres in my area just re-opened this weekend, though they're just playing movies which were in theatres back in early March before everything shut down. Depending on the size of a particular theatre, there are limits of 20-25 per theatre, per screening. Be interesting to see how that works when new blockbusters start getting released.
 
How is a drive through theater in any way comparable to a movie theater? No social experience because you can't hear others react, awful sound because it's over fm radio, improper lighting since it's outside, etc...
 
How is a drive through theater in any way comparable to a movie theater? No social experience because you can't hear others react, awful sound because it's over fm radio, improper lighting since it's outside, etc...
Did anyone say it was the same experience or closely comparable? Nope. But since conventional theaters are not a safe or viable option right now, you take what you can get.
 
How is a drive through theater in any way comparable to a movie theater? No social experience because you can't hear others react, awful sound because it's over fm radio, improper lighting since it's outside, etc...
I'm going to say something you might find shocking...not everyone cares as much about these things as you do. They may just want to get out of the house.
 
And my local theaters have no social aspect anyway since everyone would rather pirate movies, have pretty mediocre sound, and the projects seem to use a fridge lightbulb. So a drive-in can't be any worse in quality.
 
Drive-in theatres have a lot of other benefits. You can talk and interact with the people you are with and no worries about disturbing others. Kids can sleep in the back after the first movie. You can bring your own snacks. Great dating opportunity because you can see a movie and chat. I know they have a reputation for being a great opportunity for other dating activities too...
 
Hearing the rest of the audience react is probably at the bottom of my list of priorities when I go to the movies.

I think it depends on the movie though. I remember going to see The Force Awakens and having people react to the R2D2 scene and it was kind of amazing being a part of that experience. When it's an event movie like Star Wars or Marvel, having the reactions of the crowd can be fun, mainly because you are sharing it with like minded people. If it's something like an award driven drama, I don't need the crowd reaction for that.
 
Apparently the people in my area must not care about the movies we see, because I can't remember the last time anybody reacted like that. They're pretty much silent the whole time.
 
Apparently the people in my area must not care about the movies we see, because I can't remember the last time anybody reacted like that. They're pretty much silent the whole time.
There are some theaters here in Hollywood that create the same atmosphere as a major sporting event. Others are usually silent...
 
Apparently the people in my area must not care about the movies we see, because I can't remember the last time anybody reacted like that. They're pretty much silent the whole time.
The only meaningful audience reaction I've ever seen in person was with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom when a little kid who was probably a little young to even be watching the movie yelled "Malcolm!" when Jeff Goldblum appeared.
 
Apparently the people in my area must not care about the movies we see, because I can't remember the last time anybody reacted like that. They're pretty much silent the whole time.

No word of a lie, I was *this* close to leaving the theatre during Infinity War because of this group of younger women who would not shut up during every single character entrance or death (and I get a normal cheer and reaction, it's an exciting movie, but this was over the top hysterics that lasted for too long each and every time). The significant other of the guy sitting behind me had to calm him down as his frustrations verbally grew towards them. After the movie, I thanked him for trying and debated pirating Endgame (somethong I don't do) because of it. It was that bad of an experience.

I totally understand the appeal of the drive i experience. During this pandemic, I miss new movies a lot but definitely not the theatre itself.
 
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