May
19
In the words of Zac Efron and dozens of other young actors who are better looking than I will ever be, what time is it? Well, it’s time for another SciFiNow podcast – arguably the best yet!
On this edition, we discuss the heavy-hitters of the new television season, such as The Cape, No Ordinary Family and Spielberg’s Terra Nova, as well as expanding on our torrent culture discussion from last time. We also give the definitive word on Iron Man 2 (actually, we don’t reach a compromise, but whatever).
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provides all the latest Sci-Fi news, reviews, previews, interviews and spoilers, while our fan page is the best place to communicate with other fans of the SciFiNow magazine.
Cool! How many Podcasts have you guys done and are they all available through itunes? :)
A torrent-defending idiot? Talk about your words being twisted! DOH! For the record, my intention was never to defend the indefensible – what would be the point of that? Simply suggesting on the back of your comment, that Studio greed and cynicism could very well be part of the equation! And it’s a BIG equation! Not just torrent use, but easily applied to DVDs, Blu-rays, cinema-going, apathy, whatever…
“Avatar” – sure, Customers paid a premium for the 3D FX experience. They also paid a premium for “Clash of The Titans”. Did “Clash” need 3D? Was it better for the 3D? So why 3D? Tell me it wasn’t to squeeze a few extra bucks out of punters?
Jim Cameron worried they’re gonna burst the bubble; Michael Bay telling them they can’t just shit 3D movies. Think the moral here, is you shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you – but does it stop them trying? Now personally, I’d prefer it if they tried to make a movie that works in 2D before thinking of applying 3D brush-strokes – and considering “Avatar” and “Transformers”, I’m really not sure they have the right guys championing the medium!
And we’re told this “premium” for 3D-specs covers paying the cost of updated projection equipment? Are any of us in any doubt as to whether this “premium” is likely to vanish once said cost is covered? What about the eco and landfill costs? How many specs for “Avatar” – 10 Million? This really needs to change, and I’d like to see 3D specs made from donuts and candy canes so we could eat them afterwards. Or during (but obviously at some peril)…
And I’d disagree with Jim that going to the flicks is cheap – unless of course, Jim’s incredibly rich, or 4ft tall and looks about 9. You wanna take a few family members with you! Factor in the sticky seats, the Willy Wonka carpets made of popcorn, overpriced snacks and the bag-searches in case you’re trying to smuggle in a bag of M&Ms, and it can be quite an expensive, and harrowing experience! Remember complaining once at the Odeon for having to go thru one of those naked bodyscanners – my mistake tho – I’d just forgotten to put any clothes on. Beach. Sun. 12 Pints. Long story.
But you’re right – people will pay the premium for the 3D experience. For now. Certainly when hype is at play. So do we reckon 3D has already peaked? Are we now entering a period of it being flogged to death? And rather than becoming the saviour of cinema, is it merely delaying the inevitable? And, of course, what part “greed” will have to play in all of this, remains to be seen; what with Jim Cameron’s logical suggestion that it be used wisely, battling against the odds of the studios just wanting to cash in while it lasts (which is fair enough – it’s never lasted before).
Whilst on the subject of “Avatar”, and in context… Bare-bones DVD releases, to be followed by a decent DVD release months down the line? Not helping, is it? No doubt followed by the drip-feed of an additional extra or commentary by way of Special Editions, Ultimate Editions, Definitive Editions… makes business sense… can’t blame the punter tho, for that niggling sensation of being taken for a ride. Same goes for single TV seasons split into two boxsets. This annoying practice requires a special answer, split into two… “fuck” and “no!”. They don’t make it easy, do they?
Bring into play pointless inferior U.S. remakes of international (subtitled) hits; lacklustre remakes of old titles; reboots hot on the heels of the realization that they’ve screwed the current franchise; and godawful cash-in sequels (“AvP” mentioned). Punters get bitten, they will get shy.
Guess a bit of apathy’s all part of the game.
Going to the pictures isn’t exactly expensive. It costs about £6 a ticket here, and if you do the Orange Wednesday thing then that’s all it costs for two.
I don’t have kids, so I don’t have the added expense of popcorn and drinks and all the rest of it – but really, it’s much cheaper to buy sweets from a nearby newsagent and bring them in rather than paying £4 for a box of nachos.
My bag’s never been searched at the cinema outside of press screenings. But then, I do live in the provinces.
Went to the cinema to see A Nightmare On Elm Street the other week and it cost me £7.55 on a Saturday during the day! I brought my own cocacola and sweets though! :)