Are blockbusters dead

[TrevorW]

I heard on the news the other day that no really great movies are being made anymore, no real blockbusters, to much reliance is being placed on CGI and SFX

Movies like Ben Hur, The Longest Day, Gone with the Wind, They Call me Mr Tibbs, to name a few

I'm waiting for someone to remake "Dune" and do it right

[Draconis (Mick)]

oh, i thought you meant the DVD chain, i owe them about $12 in late fees from 2003...thought i'd got away with it

[Tandum (Robin)]

Who wants to sit in a cinema for 3 hours plus. What cinema whats to run movies that play for 3 hours plus. They want turnover.

Movies like laurence of arabia with intermission etc are long gone trevor.
Avatar at 2:36:57 was an epic by todays standards.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

And here was I thinking you meant the tool for splitting blocks of wood for the fire. Banned as too dangerous?

Originally Posted by TrevorW

I'm waiting for someone to remake "Dune" and do it right

Get the made-for-TV DVDs from Fox.

The boxed sets I on my shelf have bar codes 9321337026060 (Dune - runs 292 minutes) and 9321337036137 (Children of Dune - runs 259 minutes).

It's like reading the books.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

It might sound strange but I have only ever been to the pictures 3 times in my 53 years.
And I didn't enjoy the experience.

Can't talk, can't get up and walk around, too many people, can't fart when you want to (well, not loudly), no Pause button, seats are too small, get a sore butt, big head in front of you.

The Drive-in was more fun. Went there about 20-30 times and I don't think we EVER saw a movie all the way through
Walking around, talking in other car windows, hanging out at the snack bar, or in the back seat

I'm also a Video watcher (now DVD's).
And I love 'Turner Classic Movies' channel

But yeah, the BIG stuff seems gone. Unless you count Harry Potter and Avatar

[asimov (John)]

Nope, not strange at all Ken - I've only been once in 48 years...

[Ric]

I agree Ken, the last time I went to the movies was 20 years ago and I thought it was too expensive then.

There's no real action hero anymore to draw the crowds in, the likes of Arnie, Chuck and Harrison and others are all virtually retired and there really isn't anyone that has stepped up and made the genre their own.

[multiweb (Marc)]

I must go once or twice a month. Love the movies.

[Draconis (Mick)]

I agree that the movies are too expensive, especially for the ''candy bar''. $4 for a bottle of water last time I went

However, every few years my wife and I treat ourselves and go Gold Class for the big films like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and make it an evening out, its good fun even though I realise it is expensive when I think about what you're getting for your money.

The wife likes it though and i've got to earn enough browny points so I can convince her to let me buy the latest astro must have upgrade so its a small price to pay really

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I refuse to go to the cinema. I can't stand the jostling crowds, people talking, uncomfortable seats, junk food and sickly drinks. Ugh...


So.... I go to GoldPass. Love it. Huge reclining lounge chairs to sink into, a table to put your beer or wine on, decent cheese platters and other fancies, a proper coffee and all served to you whenever you want it. Expensive? Not really..... It makes movie going a great experience.

PS - define "blockbuster". Nearly every big film today is bigger than Ben Hur... It's just there are so darn many of them these days, and that none stand out as being all that much "bigger" than any other.

[TrevorW]

Thats it !! how many movies are made in a year today compared to say 10 20 30 years ago

have we become blaise about movie making and viewing

in my experience there hasn't been a movie in a long time that I can honestly say has taken my breath away or one that I can't stop talking about

probably not since Star Wars or Alien or Close Encounters

[Barrykgerdes]

Block buster movies are not dead in the sense of mass appeal and money making.

However the movies made these days are made as eye appeal specials and aimed at a generation of viewers that have relatively short attention spans. FX makes them relatively cheaper to produce and they don't get fully absorbed before the next one comes along.

The older type of "Blockbuster" was made with far less "movie magic", cost relatively much more to make and distribution to the world generally took longer. The people watching them had fewer other entertainment options so the effects were more lasting. So much so that quite a few of them have since become known as "classics"

Barry

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Thats it !! how many movies are made in a year today compared to say 10 20 30 years ago

have we become blaise about movie making and viewing

in my experience there hasn't been a movie in a long time that I can honestly say has taken my breath away or one that I can't stop talking about

probably not since Star Wars or Alien or Close Encounters

Oh I don't know I have just watched the latest Sherlock Holmes and I thought it was great a real blockbuster and Harry potter and the deathly hallows has me hanging out for the final installment due out in June I think it's in 3D too almost can't wait

[vespine]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Cliff_%28film%29


280 minutes in total, it's in "two parts" but was filmed and can be watched as a single film. I bought it on Blu Ray a few months ago, still haven't put aside the time to watch it! lol... now you reminded me, might try to get around to it tonight, before trying to have a go at the great white spot on Saturn