"This movie doesn't look good, I'll wait for the DVD"....what?

[chrisspringob]

Anyone else perplexed by this? I just read a post like this in the 2012 thread in SFF, but I see it here all the time, and on other boards as well: Someone saying that a movie looks bad / mediocre, and so they're not going to watch it in the theater. They'll instead wait to watch it on DVD.

Uhh....if you don't think a movie is going to appeal to you, then *why watch it at all*? Why not just skip it on DVD as well, and save yourself two hours of a movie that you don't think you're going to like? Is it that you feel some kind of obligation to watch everything that comes out, or at least every SF movie that comes out? Or is it that you want to watch any movie that's popular, just so you can see what all the fuss is about, and not feel out of the loop?

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

I'd say it's because seeing a movie in the theater involves considerably more hassle and expense than watching it at home, especially for people who have young kids. Most people don't want to go through all that effort to see a movie they might not like, and some movies play better on DVD when you don't have the heightened expectations that come with spending upwards of $50 for the whole family to see it in the theater.

 

[Trekker4747]

Cost of a movie ticket in the theater: $6-$10 depending on time of week, time of day, age and any possible student discounts.

Cost of a rental: $1 for a Red Box rental.

Having seen something, thus being in a better position to judge it and make comments about it (for or against): priceless.

 

[Jetfire]

I just won't watch it...there are movies that come out in the theater I wanna see but hate going to a theater because it is a long drive and costly...so I wait for it on DVD...used DVD if in good shape you can always sell. 2 hours in a theater for a dumb movie??? you can't get anything back.

 

[chrisspringob]

No, I understand the arguments for avoiding something in the theater if it looks kind of borderline. My question is, if you actually think the movie looks *bad*, like you're probably not going to enjoy it, why even watch it on DVD? Why not just skip it completely? Some people actually say that for a movie that looks bad, they'll wait for the DVD. If the movie looks bad, why watch it at all?

 

[Trekker4747]

No, I understand the arguments for avoiding something in the theater if it looks kind of borderline. My question is, if you actually think the movie looks *bad*, like you're probably not going to enjoy it, why even watch it on DVD? Why not just skip it completely? Some people actually say that for a movie that looks bad, they'll wait for the DVD. If the movie looks bad, why watch it at all?

Just to see it?

To be able to fairly judge it?

To be able to discuss it with others?

Just for the "enjoyment" of seeing a bad movie?

 

[paudemge]

Pretty much the cost, it cost quite a bit more in time, effort and money for me to go out to see a movie, since I have bb online, it costs very little for me to rent a movie and I can and have stopped movies midway through because I didn't like it.

 

[Amaris]

Cost of a movie ticket in the theater: $6-$10 depending on time of week, time of day, age and any possible student discounts.

Cost of a rental: $1 for a Red Box rental.

Having seen something, thus being in a better position to judge it and make comments about it (for or against): priceless.

God, Red Box is just awesome. Plus, I always have a coupon so 95% of the time I get the DVD rental for free.


J.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

Chronicles of Riddick: Director's Cut
Daredevil: Director's Cut
Kingdom Of Heaven: Director's Cut
Die Hard 4.0 Yippee Ki-yay Motherfucker edition.


All reasons not to watch in the cinema and to watch on DVD

 

[chrisspringob]

No, I understand the arguments for avoiding something in the theater if it looks kind of borderline. My question is, if you actually think the movie looks *bad*, like you're probably not going to enjoy it, why even watch it on DVD? Why not just skip it completely? Some people actually say that for a movie that looks bad, they'll wait for the DVD. If the movie looks bad, why watch it at all?

Just to see it?

That's a rather circular reason. Doing something just to do it? I could play in traffic just to do it, but it doesn't seem like it would be a fun thing to do. Just like purposely watching movies that I expect that I won't like doesn't seem like it would be a fun thing to do.

To be able to fairly judge it?

To be able to discuss it with others?

Just for the "enjoyment" of seeing a bad movie?

OK, I understand the fact that you can't know in advance whether you're going to enjoy a movie or not. You have to actually watch it to know for sure. But we all make judgment calls about whether we think we're likely to enjoy a movie or not, as we gather information about it, based on trailers, reviews, word of mouth, etc.

What I'm trying to understand is this phenomenon where people will say "OK, based on what I know about this movie, it's probably bad, and I won't like it, but I intend to watch it anyway, at least eventually....once it's out on DVD." This is especially true of big blockbusters, like Transformers 2. I read quite a bit of online commentary from people on that movie, saying that they thought it looked like crap, but they were still going to watch it when it came out on DVD.

Aren't there better things to do with your time than watching movies that you don't expect to like? Or is it just a matter of "If it's an event movie, I have to see it eventually, or I'll feel left out"?

 

[trekkiebaggio]

^It might have an actor you particularly like, or maybe a couple of scenes catch your eye but you're still a bit unsure.

And if you have it on dvd you're more likely to give it a chance, seeing as you can just watch it whenever you like. Might just be bored one day and give it a go whereas if you go see it at the cinema it becomes part of your schedule etc.

 

[Mr Light]

I feel the need to watch any major movie that isn't a drama or romantic comedy. So if it isn't theater-worthy, I'll rent it at Red Box for one whole dollar.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

No, I understand the arguments for avoiding something in the theater if it looks kind of borderline. My question is, if you actually think the movie looks *bad*, like you're probably not going to enjoy it, why even watch it on DVD? Why not just skip it completely? Some people actually say that for a movie that looks bad, they'll wait for the DVD. If the movie looks bad, why watch it at all?

Just to see it?

To be able to fairly judge it?

To be able to discuss it with others?

Just for the "enjoyment" of seeing a bad movie?

This.

 

[jkladis]

This is an excellent beginning to a thesis on the current state of we the movie-going public. You guys are summing it up nicely. With our HD sets, Blu-ray devices, the internets and now the recent hit of disc vending machines, here's the direction we've been going for the last few decades -- towards convenience. Apparently the cinema is no longer convenient enough for more and more people.

Personally I'm a little more old-fashioned and still prefer the experience. But honestly, who wants to see 12 Coca-Cola commercials as a reward for making it to your seat early enough? Even I have my limits.

 

[Warp Coil]

It's definitely an issue of convenience and cost. If a film looks merely "okay" or "iffy", people may not want to invest the time and money to see the film in a theater. I completely agree with this; I watch films in the theater only a few times a year. Why spend $10 to see a mediocre film? (And if you want popcorn and a drink, make it $20. And if you're bringing a date to the theater, make it $35.)

Films are being released on DVD faster and faster. If you opt to wait for the DVD release, you probably aren't going to be waiting that long. Also, I think that a lot of people enjoy watching films in the comfort of their own home. Safer, quieter, more comfortable, no strangers whispering behind you or talking on their cell phones. And if you've got a big HDTV, a Blu-ray player and a surround sound system, you're in great shape.

Oh, and let's not forget about cost. $1 for Red Box, or if you've got NetFlix, just add it to your queue.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Furthermore in England if you have the Sky movie channels there's over 10 channels showing movies all day every day. It only takes about a year for movies to come out so if one has a bit of patience it's not too long to wait.

I like the experience too; I do love going to the cinema but I'll generally only go see films if it looks really good/good word of mouth. For example I thought How to Lose Friends and Alienate People looked okay, but I didn't think it looked good enough to spend £8 on. It just came on Sky Movies last week so I got to watch it. I wasn't especially anticipating it so it's not like the yearly wait dragged on, it just so happened I could watch it.

 

[WillsBabe]

If I think a film looks great, or if it really appeals to me, I'll go to the cinema to watch it. It costs around about £20 for a couple of adult tickets. Parking is probably another £5 for the car. Confectionary and so forth is another £5 at least. So, you're looking at £30 for a couple to go to the cinema to see a film. Compared to that it's about £4 to rent the dvd from Blockbuster, or buy it vanilla. That's the reason I'll not always so go the cinema. That, and there are other things to do around the house - surf the web, read a magazine, if the movie gets boring, or I'm only half interested.

 

[Holdfast]

I very rarely go to the cinema away, because I can't be bothered to drive there, put up with trailers, pay for overpriced food, etc, etc, but I would be even less inclined to see a movie I wasn't fairly sure I was going to enjoy.

Whereas a DVD rental is cheaper, more convenient, you don't have to deal with ads, and you can skip scenes if the film starts to get boring. Or if it's really bad, just stop watching and easily do something else without feeling you wasted money. So it makes pretty good sense to me.

Me? I just wait to watch films until they're on TV instead...

 

[CommanderRaytas]

I go to the cinema all the time, even when there's no one to go with me. I love going to the cinema, it's so much cooler than watching stuff at home- but if it's a film I am not eager to watch, or something I know will be bad and I only wanna see because I want to laugh at it (without driving everyone else insane), I'll either rent it, download it or wait 'til it's on the telly.

 

[Eleanor_zhDarjel]

Or get drunk before you go to the cinema, that sort of works too. You anoy the hell out everybody, but you have the time of your live. Well, Raytas and I do...