The General Movie Thread

[Looney]

Saw JOKER (2019) Thursday night. It was exactly what I expected and I didn't care for it at all. The sad thing is they possibly could have done something more interesting with the subject matter, but they didn't. My main reasoning is that Todd Phillips should have handed the directing reigns to someone else. The only interesting thing about the movie was imagining them trying to fit a Batman into this Universe. All press says they are not going to try, but I think a ninety three million dollar opening weekend might change their minds. Of course, this Joker would be no match for any incarnation of Batman.

[Jan]

Yeah I get my updated figures from IMDB and they are not showing it, at least not to people without IMDBPRO.

I've got Pro and I'm not seeing it.

[Looney]

Any idea what the budget was?

Yeah I get my updated figures from IMDB and they are not showing it, at least not to people without IMDBPRO.

Box office figures have been updated. World gross is $72,233,665 so far. I'm reading that it pre-sold more tickets than any other drama so far this year.

Yes it did very well for a drama, but I can't imagine the budget was low. I'm sure none of the command huge salaries, but there are MANY of them. Couple that with what is obviously a very elaborate production and my fingers are crossed we get more.

[Jan]

Box office figures have been updated. World gross is $72,233,665 so far. I'm reading that it pre-sold more tickets than any other drama so far this year.

[Jan]

I wish. $31million US. Not bad and record setting for Focus Features, but I don't know if it will be enough to get more. I hope so.

IMDb doesn't seem to have up-to-date figures yet but remember that it opened in the UK at least a week before the US. Any idea what the budget was?

[Looney]

Just saw it today and enjoyed it a lot, too. It was nice to see old friends again. Would love to see this make lots of money so maybe they could revisit it from time to time.

I wish. $31million US. Not bad and record setting for Focus Features, but I don't know if it will be enough to get more. I hope so. I was really crossing my fingers that it would make upwards of something like $70million, but then I remembered that while the show might have legions of fans those fans likely include MANY who don't go to movie theaters for any reason.

[Jan]

Just saw it today and enjoyed it a lot, too. It was nice to see old friends again. Would love to see this make lots of money so maybe they could revisit it from time to time.

[Looney]

DOWNTON ABBEY = FANTASTIC!!!!! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!!!! I honestly can't believe how good it was. I'm not saying it is a classic for the ages, but it was a GREAT return to the series. I mean if you are a fan turn your expectations WAY down and ignore everything I said before this because I want you to be pleasantly surprised. LOL

[Jan]

Well my problems are solved. I mentioned my concerns to one of the employees and asked if there was a set time tickets went on sale for movies they were getting. She said no, but then asked for my number and said she would text me when she knew. You gotta love being a regular customer.

Wow, nice! Definitely a perk, there!

[Looney]

Well my problems are solved. I mentioned my concerns to one of the employees and asked if there was a set time tickets went on sale for movies they were getting. She said no, but then asked for my number and said she would text me when she knew. You gotta love being a regular customer.

[Jan]

Yeah, that kind of sucks. My theater very seldom puts tix on sale super early. And I avoid opening days like the plague!! Even Downton, I'm waiting until Sunday. And my favorite seat has a blank space next to it so even if the theater fills up I won't get too claustrophobic. I still always get there early but now I don't have to add a half hour on top of that to get my favorite seat.

[Looney]

I have to disagree, too. I almost never book any earlier than the night before for a movie and don't have any trouble getting the seat I want. Granted, I *prefer* the earlier show times just for ease of parking and fewer phone-fidgeters but I don't think all spontenaity has been ruined.

It has been ruined for people who don't have the luxury of being able to go to earlier and less crowded shows. And my guess is I go to movies more often than most, so my situation is different. Plus I try to go to big movies on opening night, If I don't have the ability to be at the theater when the tickets go on sale I will likely end up with a bad seat or no seat at all. That also means I have to know the instant they go on sale and it has to be a time I am close to the theater and not at work. (The nearest theater is 20miles away.)

[Jan]

I have to disagree, too. I almost never book any earlier than the night before for a movie and don't have any trouble getting the seat I want. Granted, I *prefer* the earlier show times just for ease of parking and fewer phone-fidgeters but I don't think all spontenaity has been ruined.

[phazedout]

I love reserved seating, in fact (possibly becuase finnkino has a virtual monopoly here) I can reserve seats without paying for themn, then we get to to decide if we want those seats up to 4 hours before the movie starts (for very popoeular stuff liek IMAX showing of infinity war, it was 5 days beforehand we had to commit) but with me in Turkuy and Essi in helsinki it's very handy for us. When Iw as a student I'd just as my kiwi friends say "rock up" to the cinema at the cheapest possible time, also when I had an unlimited card for a cinema that was (I checked when i dropped my wallett there once) a literal six minute walk fomr my house, i'd also randomly book things. Sorry looney, I must respectfully disagree.

[Looney]

LOVE reserved seating!! It's almost enough to make me resigned to having to pay a 'convenience fee' to buy my ticket online, print it at home and save them the money of having an actual employee sell me a ticket. Not quite, though...

I do not love it. It means you can no longer just decide to go to a movie. You have to buy in advance or risk wasting a trip to the theater or being stuck with a terrible seat, thereby wasting a trip to the theater. It is a terrible idea for the small town I live in and on a personal level has been a big inconvenience. My friends and I regularly attend movies and now we have to schedule when we can go weeks in advance. It is quite annoying. Because of our schedules we usually end up at the theater quite early and have regular seats we sit in. Now we have to make special trips to the theater to get those seats well in advance. Our local theater is part of a small 3 theater chain and while I do believe they have online reserve purchasing I think I've heard it is highly unreliable.