• Registered: 2002-04-18
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Topic: Computer killed the video star

"The film industry is clearly banking on the technology to lure back moviegoers to the cinema screens as they shun it for computer screens."

this quote is taken from the following article about 3d movies:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/12/futu … index.html


the topic of 3d movies isn't what I've come to discuss, however.

The above quote tries to blame computers for the populace's lack of interest in seeing movies at the theatre lately.

Likewise, the music industry tries to blame computers for dropping CD sales.


Here's my argument:  STOP BLAMING COMPUTERS, and take some responsibility.  ...It seems to me that the quality of entertainment is dropping while prices are drastically increasing.  For the price of a movie ticket for my girlfriend and I, I could rent 5 new releases.  ...For the cost of two drinks and two popcorns, I could buy us dinner at a midrange restaurant.

likewise, I could buy a cheap mp3 player for the same price as I could buy a single 40 minute CD.

What it comes to is: the industry is charging way too much for luxury items, entertainment, and short-lived entertainment at that.  Rather than recognize this, they blame new technology for pushing them out.


am I way off-base or are these people completely out of touch with the reality of their failing businesses?

Last edited by LiQuiDcHeEsE (2008-09-20 16:25)

If Kevin Costner were a super hero, his super power would be the ability to always find a rope of proper length and tensility coiled at his feet.
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Re: Computer killed the video star

This topic was interesting a few years ago.

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Re: Computer killed the video star

or, perhaps I'll take you seriously instead.

Which redirects the discussion:  yes, it's an old story at this point;  so why isn't the industry recognizing this?  Why are they keeping their head up their ass about it?  What is making them so out of touch with reality?

If Kevin Costner were a super hero, his super power would be the ability to always find a rope of proper length and tensility coiled at his feet.

4 Reply by Syko

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Re: Computer killed the video star

doesnt matter WHERE the blame lies.... just that its happening.  so if they wanna stay in the game, they're just going to have to recognize or sink.

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5 Reply by Tage

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Re: Computer killed the video star

Moved to OT because "Movies aren't as good as back in the day" isn't quite up to the level of MD.  Also Weaver is right but I'm deleting his posts anyway.


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6 Reply by Krall

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Re: Computer killed the video star

I don't know if I can say the quality of entertainment is dropping.  The percentage of good to bad movies is probably the same today as it was 20 years ago.  You are right that industries try to "blame" new technologies for their faltering businesses.

Before the days of refrigeration, there was an industry centered around ships being sent to the arctic to retrieve ice to be brought back for the purposes of preserving food.  It was called the Ice Industry, and it was a very profitable business at the time.  When refrigeration was invented, the Ice Industry tried to "blame" refrigerators for making their business obsolete, instead of accepting that times change and ultimately, technology creates more jobs than it destroys.


EDIT:

On the subject of 3D movies, I wonder this:  Just how successful do they expect 3D movies to be?  I mean I've seen 3D movies before and I think for the most part, they're a novely that fades very fast.  For me, there's only so many times they can throw things into the audience or have things point at you and have it seem like its right in your face and have it still be entertaining.  What makes a movie compelling to me is how well its written, acted and directed.  Thats what gives it real long term appeal.  Gimmicks like 3D may work a for a little while but people will tire of that.

Last edited by Krall (2008-09-21 22:22)

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Re: Computer killed the video star

Tage wrote:

Moved to OT because "Movies aren't as good as back in the day" isn't quite up to the level of MD.  Also Weaver is right but I'm deleting his posts anyway.

my point in posting in MD isn't always to have an intellectual discussion.  Mostly It's just so that the jackasses on the site aren't allowed to post their jackassery in the thread.  While this may not have been the most intellectual of discussions, I simply wanted to avoid the trolls. 

If I'm not allowed to post this in MD on the basis that it's not a lofty discussion, then we should start banning the trolls, or limit their posting to only ESAD, because I'd like a section of the forums where I don't have to deal with the stupidity (and don't have to discuss advanced physics to have that freedom, which lately doesn't even exist in MD.)


or me, there's only so many times they can throw things into the audience or have things point at you and have it seem like its right in your face and have it still be entertaining.

http://www.thelonelyisland.com/thebu1.html

Gimmicks like 3D may work a for a little while but people will tire of that.

 

To play the devil's advocate,   They said the same thing about sound, color, and computer graphics too.  Once the novelty wears off (aka, not all sound movies are musicals), or the technology is implemented more subtly (aka, not all computer graphics are giant polygon-headed snakes), it's possible that 3d could actually add to the movie-going experience. 

To stop playing devil's advocate and be honest, you're completely right and I'm not looking forward to the flood of completely lame titles we can expect to see with the technology (aka, "100 spears thrown DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA,"  aka, "In soviet russia, shark eat YOU")

Last edited by LiQuiDcHeEsE (2008-09-22 01:23)

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Re: Computer killed the video star

LiQuiDcHeEsE wrote:
Tage wrote:

Moved to OT because "Movies aren't as good as back in the day" isn't quite up to the level of MD.  Also Weaver is right but I'm deleting his posts anyway.

my point in posting in MD isn't always to have an intellectual discussion.  Mostly It's just so that the jackasses on the site aren't allowed to post their jackassery in the thread.  While this may not have been the most intellectual of discussions, I simply wanted to avoid the trolls. 

If I'm not allowed to post this in MD on the basis that it's not a lofty discussion, then we should start banning the trolls, or limit their posting to only ESAD, because I'd like a section of the forums where I don't have to deal with the stupidity (and don't have to discuss advanced physics to have that freedom, which lately doesn't even exist in MD.)

First of all, you've made a lengthy post in the other forum on similar topics, I don't understand your reason for going on about it in this thread here. Nevertheless, if it's deemed necessary and relevant, here's my response.

There is not much point for having MD in the first place.

The original intent of MD (as I understand it) is to have a forum where politeness and political correctness are implicitly enforced, so that discussions on sensitive topics that tend to generate personal attacks and ugly complications can require less to no regulation. It has never been, as far as I remember, a place for people to "escape" hostile tones in discussion or personal criticism. If the topic in discussion doesn't warrant the MD environment, it has always been moved to OT or the fitting forum. The general philosophy of forums has always been that if you are frequently on the receiving end of the so-called "trolling" or attacks, then there must be a reason for it, and no regulation is required. Should you feel being treated unfairly, there's always the option of contacting an admin or mod personally to discuss the matter on a per incident basis.

Frankly speaking, MD is no longer useful. The whole point of having an ESAD is to have an outlet for "immature" tendencies. If ESAD is for that, and MD is for mature discussion, where does that leave the general forums? Is it then an unspoken acknowledgment that it is expected that people be generously "immature" also in these other forums just to maintain the distinction? If the virtue of having ESAD is to encourage maturity everywhere else, then the virtue of MD is simply to encourage immaturity everywhere else. I have my own reservation about ESAD, but should you follow the philosophy of one, you should do so consistently for the other.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that this isn't a kindergarten. Those that like to make it one should move on.

Last edited by Errrrrrr (2008-09-22 02:34)

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Re: Computer killed the video star

(the feedback forum suggestion was spawned from this thread;  I moved it over there so that this thread wouldn't get clogged.  But since it's probably inevitable at this point...)

I've got no problem with people disagreeing with me, arguing with me, or thinking my opinions aren't valid for one reason or another.  I'm not asking you to be politically correct or be careful to not offend my fragile sensibilities.

example.  your post is well stated and has a logical point.  Thus, it's a disagreement, not an attack.   

Unfortunately, not everyone who responds negatively around here has a point.

The general philosophy of forums has always been that if you are frequently on the receiving end of the so-called "trolling" or attacks, then there must be a reason for it, and no regulation is required.

I would agree that such is the case in most forums.  Here, everyone is on the receiving end unless they frequent MIRC and chill with the cool kids.  What's the lesson to be learned from such attacks?  ...That we're just not hip to the pub social scene, and therefore unwelcome?  ...There really is no other unifying theme to the attacks.  For example, Errrr when you have a point to make to me, you include it usually.  You might call me stupid alongside the point.  but you make a point.  Others don't attempt to even make a point, they just post antagonistic material. 

...I'm reminded of previous members we've had who would attack people simply because attacking that person was the cool thing to do.  ...You always had one or two people with a legitimate complaint, surrounded by a bunch of people who wanted their own intarnet leetnezz  known as well.

Last edited by LiQuiDcHeEsE (2008-09-22 02:44)

If Kevin Costner were a super hero, his super power would be the ability to always find a rope of proper length and tensility coiled at his feet.