It’s difficult enough to see new foreign films here in LA, but I guessed that even Hollywood films like Frost/Nixon would penetrate into the megaplexes of the hinterlands…
One of Love Movies' big complaints is about the movies that Hollywood is releasing. If the more serious titles are not even rating small screens for short runs, then yes, I can see how that would affect your perspective.
MPol, I’m talking to Loves Movies. He hates commercial movies, but goes to them, and he hates multiplexes, but seems to see movies there. If he would just attend more adult-oriented fare (that he says doesn’t exist) at art house/indy theaters, he could change his nick to “Love Movies – Love Going!”
So if you know that, why don’t you choose your venue accordingly and avoid the hoi polloi? It seems you already have the solution to your problem, but refuse to use it.
Well, if what you say about today’s movies being crap is true, why should they take the movie-going experience seriously? It seems that your beliefs and theirs are perfectly aligned!
There are two problems when it comes to comparing movies NOW to movies THEN:
The audience THEN was mostly adults. The audience NOW is mostly kids. So don’t complain that they aren’t making enough movies for grown-ups. There’s a very good reason for that! Either embrace your inner child or stop going to the mainstream cinema.
Memory is selective. You remember the good movies from 1939, but you’ve erased the dozens of stinkers that came out that year. In fact, the arguments you use against the movies today are the same ones they used back then. It’s why the Hays Code was instituted.
Love movies, where do you live? I’m wondering if the films I’m talking about just aren’t making it to your locale, the theaters are not well-maintained, and you’re surrounded by zombie hordes or something. If that’s the case, then I can see why going out might not be a pleasant experience.
I’m lucky in that I live in the Los Angeles area, where there are a number of top notch theaters, a wide variety of films both old and new, and people for the most part behave themselves. The only thing I agree with you on is that ticket and food prices are high, but if I’m going out to see something, I prefer to see it at a palace like the Chinese or the El Capitan. In other words, I don’t mind the higher price if I feel like I’m getting a superior show.
Hmm… more and more adults staying home to watch TV and more and more kids going out to the movies to get away from their parents at home watching TV. The movies didn’t change the adults, they made a choice as to how to use their leisure time. Once Hollywood saw which side the bread was buttered on, they started targeting the youth audience, eventually leading us here.
Just look at the Oscar nominees for 2008:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
How many of those movies are “kid flicks”? How many did you see in a theater? If you didn’t see them in a theater, then how can you blame Hollywood for the present situation? It’s clear that you and a lot of other adults have abandoned the theatrical movie-going experience and have no right to complain about it.
p.s. Local Hero — Burt Lancaster isn’t a movie star???
There are small, personal films made within the Hollywood system — (500) Days of Summer, is apparently one, released by Fox Searchlight. A friend has told me this is the best film of the year; I haven’t seen it yet, but I know his taste in movies. I know at one point the main character takes his love interest on a walking tour of downtown LA and talks about the architecture; that’s enough to get it on my “must see” list.
The main problem seems to be: the people who lament the dearth of small, personal films don’t go to the movies. So when one is released, it only does modest box office. Not a big incentive to throw a lot of energy in that direction, is it? Sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy.
You’re blaming Hollywood, but what happened? The audience changed. All they can do is market to the audience they have. If you don’t support them when they do take chances, Mr. Love Movies – Hate Going! — then you only have yourself to blame (and a whole lot of other people like you.
Did you miss the bit about the presentation on the Cameo and Arcade? We tried to tour them last month, but were unable.
Plus, if you’ve been to the All Abouts at the Mayan or Globe, you know people had to stand during Ed Kelsey’s presentations, which is less than comfortable. The LATC has comfortable seats and is air conditioned. And hey, the future viability of downtown (including the movie theaters) depends on the successes of a broad range of activities. Why take the small view?
I went by this place today. Did the church move out as stated above? There is a sign on the side with their web address — the Oasis Christian Center. That site lists “service” times. And there’s still a star (a la Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame) on the sidewalk out front that reads “Jesus Christ the Son of God.”
Forgot about “48 Hours,” in which Nick Nolte drives down Broadway at night and you can see the marquee of the Rialto theater all lit up. You might be able to see the Orpheum in the distance in that one.
In “The Ice Pirates,” the Los Angeles theater lobby stands in for the lair of a group of Amazons. There’s a scene on the stairs leading up to the crystal fountain on the mezzanine level, and one down in the ballroom.
I just watched the sci-fi/fantasy/adventure/comedy “The Ice Pirates” and was interested to see the Los Angeles standing in as the lair for a group of Amazon women. There’s a scene played on the lobby stairs leading up to the crystal fountain, and another down in the ballroom.
So you said. Go see it and give me your reaction. I don’t really pay attention to the critics.
There was a lot of talk like that, including turning the building into a warehouse. The Michigan is the best kind of success story.
I thought it was wonderful. My humble opinion.
It’s difficult enough to see new foreign films here in LA, but I guessed that even Hollywood films like Frost/Nixon would penetrate into the megaplexes of the hinterlands…
One of Love Movies' big complaints is about the movies that Hollywood is releasing. If the more serious titles are not even rating small screens for short runs, then yes, I can see how that would affect your perspective.
MPol, I’m talking to Loves Movies. He hates commercial movies, but goes to them, and he hates multiplexes, but seems to see movies there. If he would just attend more adult-oriented fare (that he says doesn’t exist) at art house/indy theaters, he could change his nick to “Love Movies – Love Going!”
So if you know that, why don’t you choose your venue accordingly and avoid the hoi polloi? It seems you already have the solution to your problem, but refuse to use it.
Well, if what you say about today’s movies being crap is true, why should they take the movie-going experience seriously? It seems that your beliefs and theirs are perfectly aligned!
There are two problems when it comes to comparing movies NOW to movies THEN:
The audience THEN was mostly adults. The audience NOW is mostly kids. So don’t complain that they aren’t making enough movies for grown-ups. There’s a very good reason for that! Either embrace your inner child or stop going to the mainstream cinema.
Memory is selective. You remember the good movies from 1939, but you’ve erased the dozens of stinkers that came out that year. In fact, the arguments you use against the movies today are the same ones they used back then. It’s why the Hays Code was instituted.
Alien Resurrection? Ouch!
Love movies, where do you live? I’m wondering if the films I’m talking about just aren’t making it to your locale, the theaters are not well-maintained, and you’re surrounded by zombie hordes or something. If that’s the case, then I can see why going out might not be a pleasant experience.
I’m lucky in that I live in the Los Angeles area, where there are a number of top notch theaters, a wide variety of films both old and new, and people for the most part behave themselves. The only thing I agree with you on is that ticket and food prices are high, but if I’m going out to see something, I prefer to see it at a palace like the Chinese or the El Capitan. In other words, I don’t mind the higher price if I feel like I’m getting a superior show.
Hmm… more and more adults staying home to watch TV and more and more kids going out to the movies to get away from their parents at home watching TV. The movies didn’t change the adults, they made a choice as to how to use their leisure time. Once Hollywood saw which side the bread was buttered on, they started targeting the youth audience, eventually leading us here.
Just look at the Oscar nominees for 2008:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
How many of those movies are “kid flicks”? How many did you see in a theater? If you didn’t see them in a theater, then how can you blame Hollywood for the present situation? It’s clear that you and a lot of other adults have abandoned the theatrical movie-going experience and have no right to complain about it.
p.s. Local Hero — Burt Lancaster isn’t a movie star???
There are small, personal films made within the Hollywood system — (500) Days of Summer, is apparently one, released by Fox Searchlight. A friend has told me this is the best film of the year; I haven’t seen it yet, but I know his taste in movies. I know at one point the main character takes his love interest on a walking tour of downtown LA and talks about the architecture; that’s enough to get it on my “must see” list.
The main problem seems to be: the people who lament the dearth of small, personal films don’t go to the movies. So when one is released, it only does modest box office. Not a big incentive to throw a lot of energy in that direction, is it? Sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy.
You’re blaming Hollywood, but what happened? The audience changed. All they can do is market to the audience they have. If you don’t support them when they do take chances, Mr. Love Movies – Hate Going! — then you only have yourself to blame (and a whole lot of other people like you.
500 Days of Summer.
The website doesn’t seem to give Jim Marcus credit anywhere that I could see…
The profile photo at the top of the page is described as “circa 1970, courtesy of William Gabel.”
This photo also appears in the LA Public Library digital collection. They list the photographer as Anne Knudsen and give the date as 1981.
View link
LM, it only opened recently as a nightclub. What Ken saw was probably the kind of trendy event you get at trendy nightclubs.
Okay, so when you’re talking about the organ, you mean the pipes and equipment, not the console. Thanks.
So, Roger, the audience couldn’t see the organist performing?
Did you miss the bit about the presentation on the Cameo and Arcade? We tried to tour them last month, but were unable.
Plus, if you’ve been to the All Abouts at the Mayan or Globe, you know people had to stand during Ed Kelsey’s presentations, which is less than comfortable. The LATC has comfortable seats and is air conditioned. And hey, the future viability of downtown (including the movie theaters) depends on the successes of a broad range of activities. Why take the small view?
The ticket stubs I have don’t say Aud 7 on them, they just say Graumans.
I went by this place today. Did the church move out as stated above? There is a sign on the side with their web address — the Oasis Christian Center. That site lists “service” times. And there’s still a star (a la Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame) on the sidewalk out front that reads “Jesus Christ the Son of God.”
Isn’t it a crime to not have seen a show at the Chinese? It ought to be…
Forgot about “48 Hours,” in which Nick Nolte drives down Broadway at night and you can see the marquee of the Rialto theater all lit up. You might be able to see the Orpheum in the distance in that one.
In “The Ice Pirates,” the Los Angeles theater lobby stands in for the lair of a group of Amazons. There’s a scene on the stairs leading up to the crystal fountain on the mezzanine level, and one down in the ballroom.
I just watched the sci-fi/fantasy/adventure/comedy “The Ice Pirates” and was interested to see the Los Angeles standing in as the lair for a group of Amazon women. There’s a scene played on the lobby stairs leading up to the crystal fountain, and another down in the ballroom.