Movie studios are bemoaning the loss of big money in 2011. Like, almost $1 billion big money between 2010 and 2011.
Not that I'm any big movie expert. The last time I dropped money at the box office was when I saw "Bridesmaids" at the value cinema in Oak Creek, but the time before that? Well ... um ... let's see ...
Guess it's been a while. And that doesn't reflect my love for movies because I do love a good movie, but aside from the Harry Potter series or the two Hangover flicks (which I have, admittedly, mostly watched from the comfort of my couch), I don't know that I think about going to the theater because most of what's released looks like it kind of sucks.
Apparently, I am not alone in thinking this.
The New York Times noted over the Labor Day weekend how US movie attendance continues to decrease and even with the Harry Potter, Hangover and Transformer movies, the bottom line is lower. Philip Bump, a columnist with mediaite.com, wrote that if Hollywood wants more Americans in movie theaters, movie studios are going to have to give us better product.
Of the top 10 highest grossing films in 2011 as of Dec. 26, only 1 qualifies as a bonafide original: Rio. The rest are either sequels or are movie versions of books or beloved TV shows (Smurfs; Harry Potter, another Pirates of the Caribbean; Transformers, Twilight's Breaking Dawn, etc.). A total of 28 sequels were released in 2011, the most ever so far.
So tell us, Patch readers, did you go to the movies this year? If you did, what did you see and was it worth it?
Jacob Crawford
7:32 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Not a bad year for movies certainly. I was a big fan of Drive. Harry Potter 7 and X-Men: First Class were also solid. I think the studios will see a bigger return next year with the next Batman and Spider-Man films as well as The Avengers and The Hobbit on the schedule.
Heather Asiyanbi
7:54 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I am just not a fan of going to the movies and shelling out all that money. But I remain a big fan of movies and prefer watching films on the big screen. I look forward to the new Batman movie, feel a little iffy about SpiderMan and am not even thinking about The Avengers or The Hobbit, the latter despite my deep love for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Heather Rayne Geyer
8:04 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
This is my problem. I just don't get into these epic sequal based comic-ish flicks. I have never seen a Harry Potter or LOTR. Saw the first Batman with Keaton and that was it. I am just not into it. I need rich writing and remarkable acting. I enjoy great dialouge and beautiful editing. I admit it - my name is Heather and I am a movie snob. :)
I can not really remember a movie that knocked my socks off this year. Last year, I was pretty impressed with Inception. But in the past couple years, I really think movies have sucked. Though I am very much looking forward to a couple coming out shortly (The Descendants and Young Adult...OH and one with Hanks and a kid, cannot remember the name).
I LOVE going to the theatre too. In fact, I almost always go alone. I love it. It is my ME time. I get both arm rests and don't have to answer any silly questions. I eat my giant popcorn and get lost in another world. I absolutely love it. AND I got a Marcus gift card for Xmas!!! So, here I come movie land....
Heather Rayne Geyer
8:08 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I should correct myself...I did not mean that LOTR or HP didnt have good writing or acting, ect...I am quite sure it does. But it seems so daunting to have to get all caught up...and I am not so into the fantasy films. But I didn't mean to bash them LOL...my brother would kill me :) He has told me for years if I watched them (specifically LOTR) I would love them. After all, I was a Star Wars junkie as a kid...and Willow, Princess Bride and Neverending Story were some of my favorites (kinda the same genre, right?).
Heather Asiyanbi
8:31 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I didn't take your comments as bashing a genre - we all have our likes, right? I didn't think I would like LOTR, but it rocked my socks and I fell in love with the HP series as books (missed a stop while riding the train to work reading Book 2). I enjoyed the first group of Batman movies until I saw the new ones with Christian Bale, which are amazing.
I've never been to a movie alone - but I might have to try it.
Jacob Crawford
8:34 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
If you liked Inception then I would definitely recommend catching the last two Batman films. Christopher Nolan is an all-around fantastic director and he's taken the series into pretty dramatic territory. Both films are great and #3 looks like it might be equally so.
Heather Asiyanbi
8:42 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Agreed, @Jacob. Those last two - especially with Heath Ledger as The Joker - were fantastic. Christian Bale plays preppy rich dude and haunted crusader equally well.
Heather Rayne Geyer
8:47 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Okay okay...fine. You guys talked me into it. Batman and LOTR are on the Netflix queue...I really DID like Inception. A lot. I also really liked Memento!!
Heather Asiyanbi
9:30 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Memento is really good! Really keeps you guessing up until the very end.
mau
9:01 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Guess I'm kind of out of the loop. Last movie we saw in a theater was Sniper (1993). Raising a child, we did not have money for movies and the snacks, plus none peaked our interest.
About 5 years ago our son started buying us the Blockbuster gift card so we rented movies til Blockbuster went under. Last year we invested in a Roku and Netflix. We now have an almost endless supply of movies, documentaries, tv programs, for $7.95 a month.
Heather Asiyanbi
9:29 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I am looking forward to the re-release of "Beauty and the Beast," the very most best movie Disney Studios ever released. Ever.
@Mau - that's not a bad price for unlimited!
mau
11:14 am on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Up until about September we were getting unlimited streaming and 1 dvd at a time to home for $9.99. Even with the streaming there is quite a selection of viewing. That plus I've found a lot of free programming on the internet that is on cable. We have a laptop hooked up to the tv for that.
Heather in Caledonia
9:22 am on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I went to see Twilight this year with a good friend - we had a great time and I like the movie (with a couple small exceptions.) Also loved the Harry Potter movie - took my mom to that one. We did take all of the kids to the Muppet Movie and had a good time. We don't go more often because of the cost of tickets - it cost the 4 of us $25 for an early show (not to mention drinks and popcorn.) My husband would go every weekend if he could, but there have only been a few movies recently that I'd like to have seen in the theaters. I have to settle for Netflix on our living room TV... popcorn's cheaper here, too. :)
Heather Asiyanbi
10:01 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I do want to see the Muppet movie. It looks adorable!