Thanks for the link, CWalczak. Here’s wishing that there was a theatre here in the Boston area that could/would show 70mm Classic films. I’d go in a heartbeat, if you all know what I mean! :)
“I totally agree. Hollywood films are for the mostly trash this summer; the choices have been dreadful.”
has been the case for much longer than just this summer.
I know what you mean, Love moviies-hate going. This:
“I’ve been to two movies this summer – THE HURT LOCKER (only okay) and PUBLIC ENEMIES
(excellent!)”
is exactly why I mostly go to see the great older classic movies when they come around. There are afew new ones that I’ve seen, but I read reviews and synopses about them VERY carefully before I choose a newer film to see.
“it seems to me that most of today’s moviegoing audience (young and older) don’t even BOTHER to take in the experience of going to the movies anymore. It seems that they would rather spend their two hours talking, texting or scrolling their brightly-lit and very distracting cell phones – this after paying $10.00 or more for their ticket!
Somebody, anybody, please tell me the logic in this! Why would you bother going to a movie theater to do these distracting things when you can do them in the privacy of your home for free??"
definitely rings true, Love movies-hate going!, I think that it’s far more true in the great big multiplex cinemas dotting the nation’s state and interstate highways. I think that the parents drop their kids off at the movies at the multiplex cinemas for afew hours so they can get them out of their hair for awhile.
However, Love movies-hate going!, I find that to be far less true in the arthouse repertory movie theatres that show far better movies than the schlock that most movie theatres play today.
Again, to reiterate the position(s) on the subject of 3-D, it sort of seems to me that movies that’re well-photographed, with great style, substance, with much action and a great story behind them really don’t NEED to be converted into 3-D.
Why would anybody WANT to convert such great classics as West Side Story, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music and a whole bunch of other great classics into 3-D? It beats me….I don’t think it’s necessary.
I don’t remember if I saw the film “Breaking Away” or not, but I DO remember seeing “Chariots of Fire” and “Diner”, as well as “Raging Bull” and “American Graffiti” Although none of them were “West Side Story”, they were all cool movies, which I’ve admittedly seen more than once. Too bad about the dearth of independent art-house movie palace theatres that there are to show such movies as the above-mentioned movies in.
I believe that both the audiences AND the Hollywood studios have changed. Popular culture has been cheapened and coarsened, especially over the past 25-30 some odd years, and most of today’s movies reflect on that. There’s lots of expensive special gadgetry being used to make overly graphic and intense special affects, things exploding on the screen too often, long on style (if one can actually call it that), and short on substance, and lacking any kind of real plot or story behind them. This is generally found at most of the multiplex cinemas that dot the USA landscapes and are located just off of State or Interstate highways.
All of the above having been said, I presently hold memberships at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brattle Theatre, where I prefer to see movies more to my liking, and where the audience, in general, is far better behaved and not inclined to be rude and use their cellphones, or talk, etc. throughout the movie. I believe that the above-mentioned behaviours occur due to the quality of most movies these days, and, especially in the large multiplex theatres, management and the people working there don’t make the effort to reign in that kind of behaviour and warn or toss out disruptive audience members.
Sure, there were plenty of junkier films back in the ‘60’s and '70’s, but there were many more good movies back then, too. I also think, however, that the decline of movies began in the 1970’s, continued throughout the 1980’s, and continued throughout the 1990’s and through the present.
Hi—I just received the same email, rvb. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make the candlelight vigil and meeting because I don’t live in the area. All the best of luck in your fight to save the theatre.
Well: At the risk of sounding overly obsessive, could films such as West Side Story, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz and many other great, golden oldie-but-goody movie classics/epics be done in 3-D, and how would they make out if they were?
The good old Orson Welles Cinema! Ahhhh…who could forget it? Another one bit the dust ages ago, so there’s fewer movie art-repertory movie houses in this area as a result.
What a FABULOUS-looking theatre!! It looks like the perfect theatre for all kinds of concerts, movies, and even live stage musicals, operettas and operas! Hope it stays open!
Other great-looking palace theatres I’ve been to are: the Ziegfeld and Radio City Music Hall, both in NYC, the Providence Performing Arts Center, the Albany Palace Theatre, and, more recently, the Music Hall, up in Portsmouth, NH.
The Brattle Theatre, the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Somerville theatre are all cool-looking theatres too, which also have the aura of real neighborhood/community theatres.
Thanks for posting the new pics of the Fargo Theatre’s interior, Lost Memory. Looked at the newer pictures of the interior of the Fargo Theatre—it looks just as cool inside as out. Loved them.
It would seem to me, however, that movies that already have lots of style and substance, as well as great stories behind them, and great soundtracks, characters, etc.,. would never, ever NEED to be converted into 3-D. Am I correct?
Regarding the differences between 70mm & 35mm film, as well as digital film:
This:
“There is no rush to add more digital projectors, because the public has shown little interest in it. 35mm is fine for most people, and its not due to some aesthetic expectations. Most people just don’t see the difference.”
is probably true, Edward Havens, but what happens if both 35mm film and 70mm film totally disappear from the movie scene and into cinema heaven? Just curious as to what you think.
Ya know….it would be neat if they had something like the Dome or the Arclight here in the Boston area. One thing that’s occurring more and more to me is that part of the reason that so many movie palace theatres have closed is that in the last few administrations, funding for the Arts, in general, has been decimated considerably (as have other things), helping to go towards our invasion of foreign countries with impunity. It’s quite sad, indeed.
This is exactly what I was referring to when I said that Worcester’s downtown area looked like a ghost town. When I was in downtown Worcester just this last spring, I noticed that not only was the Paris Cinema closed up and empty, but a good many of the storefronts, etc., were boarded up. Not a good sign overall, imho.
Woo-hoo, Stepale2!! All the best of luck to you!
Thanks for the link, CWalczak. Here’s wishing that there was a theatre here in the Boston area that could/would show 70mm Classic films. I’d go in a heartbeat, if you all know what I mean! :)
More to the point, BradE41, this:
“I totally agree. Hollywood films are for the mostly trash this summer; the choices have been dreadful.”
has been the case for much longer than just this summer.
I know what you mean, Love moviies-hate going. This:
“I’ve been to two movies this summer – THE HURT LOCKER (only okay) and PUBLIC ENEMIES
(excellent!)”
is exactly why I mostly go to see the great older classic movies when they come around. There are afew new ones that I’ve seen, but I read reviews and synopses about them VERY carefully before I choose a newer film to see.
While much of this:
“it seems to me that most of today’s moviegoing audience (young and older) don’t even BOTHER to take in the experience of going to the movies anymore. It seems that they would rather spend their two hours talking, texting or scrolling their brightly-lit and very distracting cell phones – this after paying $10.00 or more for their ticket!
Somebody, anybody, please tell me the logic in this! Why would you bother going to a movie theater to do these distracting things when you can do them in the privacy of your home for free??"
definitely rings true, Love movies-hate going!, I think that it’s far more true in the great big multiplex cinemas dotting the nation’s state and interstate highways. I think that the parents drop their kids off at the movies at the multiplex cinemas for afew hours so they can get them out of their hair for awhile.
However, Love movies-hate going!, I find that to be far less true in the arthouse repertory movie theatres that show far better movies than the schlock that most movie theatres play today.
Thanks again for the links, DJF7.
Again, to reiterate the position(s) on the subject of 3-D, it sort of seems to me that movies that’re well-photographed, with great style, substance, with much action and a great story behind them really don’t NEED to be converted into 3-D.
Why would anybody WANT to convert such great classics as West Side Story, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music and a whole bunch of other great classics into 3-D? It beats me….I don’t think it’s necessary.
Sounds like an interesting program. Way to go!!
Wow!! Glad you had a wonderful time despite your time in horrible traffic.
I don’t remember if I saw the film “Breaking Away” or not, but I DO remember seeing “Chariots of Fire” and “Diner”, as well as “Raging Bull” and “American Graffiti” Although none of them were “West Side Story”, they were all cool movies, which I’ve admittedly seen more than once. Too bad about the dearth of independent art-house movie palace theatres that there are to show such movies as the above-mentioned movies in.
I believe that both the audiences AND the Hollywood studios have changed. Popular culture has been cheapened and coarsened, especially over the past 25-30 some odd years, and most of today’s movies reflect on that. There’s lots of expensive special gadgetry being used to make overly graphic and intense special affects, things exploding on the screen too often, long on style (if one can actually call it that), and short on substance, and lacking any kind of real plot or story behind them. This is generally found at most of the multiplex cinemas that dot the USA landscapes and are located just off of State or Interstate highways.
All of the above having been said, I presently hold memberships at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brattle Theatre, where I prefer to see movies more to my liking, and where the audience, in general, is far better behaved and not inclined to be rude and use their cellphones, or talk, etc. throughout the movie. I believe that the above-mentioned behaviours occur due to the quality of most movies these days, and, especially in the large multiplex theatres, management and the people working there don’t make the effort to reign in that kind of behaviour and warn or toss out disruptive audience members.
Sure, there were plenty of junkier films back in the ‘60’s and '70’s, but there were many more good movies back then, too. I also think, however, that the decline of movies began in the 1970’s, continued throughout the 1980’s, and continued throughout the 1990’s and through the present.
Thanks for the link, DJF7.
Thanks, rvb. Looking forward to reading it.
Hi—I just received the same email, rvb. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make the candlelight vigil and meeting because I don’t live in the area. All the best of luck in your fight to save the theatre.
Hi, JSA. Thanks for the info.
Well: At the risk of sounding overly obsessive, could films such as West Side Story, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz and many other great, golden oldie-but-goody movie classics/epics be done in 3-D, and how would they make out if they were?
Just curious.
The good old Orson Welles Cinema! Ahhhh…who could forget it? Another one bit the dust ages ago, so there’s fewer movie art-repertory movie houses in this area as a result.
As I said, though, I still miss it.
What a FABULOUS-looking theatre!! It looks like the perfect theatre for all kinds of concerts, movies, and even live stage musicals, operettas and operas! Hope it stays open!
Other great-looking palace theatres I’ve been to are: the Ziegfeld and Radio City Music Hall, both in NYC, the Providence Performing Arts Center, the Albany Palace Theatre, and, more recently, the Music Hall, up in Portsmouth, NH.
The Brattle Theatre, the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Somerville theatre are all cool-looking theatres too, which also have the aura of real neighborhood/community theatres.
Glad to hear/read about the Hollywood Theatre’s re-opening.
Neat-o!! Glad to read/hear about the Hollywood Theatre’s re-opening.
How cool!
Thanks for posting the new pics of the Fargo Theatre’s interior, Lost Memory. Looked at the newer pictures of the interior of the Fargo Theatre—it looks just as cool inside as out. Loved them.
It would seem to me, however, that movies that already have lots of style and substance, as well as great stories behind them, and great soundtracks, characters, etc.,. would never, ever NEED to be converted into 3-D. Am I correct?
Sounds exciting!!
Regarding the differences between 70mm & 35mm film, as well as digital film:
This:
“There is no rush to add more digital projectors, because the public has shown little interest in it. 35mm is fine for most people, and its not due to some aesthetic expectations. Most people just don’t see the difference.”
is probably true, Edward Havens, but what happens if both 35mm film and 70mm film totally disappear from the movie scene and into cinema heaven? Just curious as to what you think.
Ya know….it would be neat if they had something like the Dome or the Arclight here in the Boston area. One thing that’s occurring more and more to me is that part of the reason that so many movie palace theatres have closed is that in the last few administrations, funding for the Arts, in general, has been decimated considerably (as have other things), helping to go towards our invasion of foreign countries with impunity. It’s quite sad, indeed.
This is exactly what I was referring to when I said that Worcester’s downtown area looked like a ghost town. When I was in downtown Worcester just this last spring, I noticed that not only was the Paris Cinema closed up and empty, but a good many of the storefronts, etc., were boarded up. Not a good sign overall, imho.