Posts by redowl90

David Price5 said:http://www.net.com/filmtv/page/2006/07/10/0113006.html

Here’s the proof..

Man, it feels good seeing my own writing on the net... 😬

Hannah Perez3 said:Jerry Bruckheimer is the absolute worst copycat in the entire movie industry!
👎

Jerry Bruckheimer is a total movie BOG!

The guy can take complete garbage and turn it into a massive blockbuster... He's proven that more times than I can count.
Obviously, using the word "blockbuster" doesn't mean the movie is actually good or, heaven forbid, artistic. I'm strictly talking about the box office numbers here... Basically, the man knows how to convince people to reach into their pockets and drop $17 on total junk... And honestly, that's a skill worth recognizing...

The movie is alright, mostly because it nails a few genuinely creepy moments...

But honestly, the plot is a mess and feels pretty disjointed overall...

clone said:It seems like redowl90 has his hands in the DVD release business given how well-informed he is, so he's probably annoyed that everyone isn't spending enough money on physical media. You're barking up the wrong tree there. :-)

Being well-informed isn't an issue; you just have to put in the work. Most people just don't feel like doing that...

Jeremy Flores4 said:It’s hard to say if it’s actually criminal when I download something like Kagemusha from the web. I know it technically is, but there’s just no other way to get it.

The movie Kagemusha is set to be released in the US this October or November as a nice double-disc DVD set.
But you aren't going to buy it—and honestly, you wouldn't even if you could—simply because you've already found it online for basically nothing. Why pay full price at a place like $40 when you can grab it digitally for free?

I’m not trying to lecture anyone here; I actually get where you're coming from. I certainly can't afford to own every single original film I want... partly because availability in the States can be hit or miss (though things should improve significantly over the next year), but mostly because the prices are just ridiculous. In my opinion, distributors make a huge mistake by hiking up these costs. Especially for movies like Constantine or Batman Returns, which are solid films, but when they release special editions priced at $57, nobody is buying them. People simply can't justify the expense.

That said, if we’re debating whether to catch new releases in a theater or stay home in a comfy chair with a beer in hand—I'm definitely team cinema.

Jose Miller17 said:Look, redowl90, this is your final warning... send Douglas Phillips4 a private message to apologize...

Are we really at the point where we have to apologize to people backing organized crime? Give me a break...

For the record, I mentioned earlier this morning that I don't have an issue with him, but it looks like some users were deleted—likely him along with them...
Besides, he didn't even act offended, despite what's being said...

So, I figure everything's fine! 😉

Twice 👍 👍 for organized crime!

Jeremy Flores4 said:Does piracy ruin literature? I don't think so.
The same goes for digital downloads.

The question is just framed wrong: obviously, downloading movies doesn't destroy cinema. Whether you watch Citizen Kane in a theater, on an original Blu-ray, or via a digital rip, it remains a masterpiece...

Our discussion actually shifted toward the issue of video quality—essentially, whether people are watching low-quality rips or choosing to bypass legal copies entirely. It turns out most people here are basically backing organized crime. Well, damn...

Fair enough... Maybe the movie isn't total trash and actually deserves a theater viewing... But I still walked away feeling pretty disappointed...

There were some bright spots, though... 🙂

Douglas Phillips4 said:Look, I’ll be honest... if someone starts calling people fools without actually backing it up with a solid argument, I just can't take them seriously. 😉

The main reason I still hunt down DivX files every now and then is simply because I live a bit too far from a decent AMC Theatres. 62 milesI work through the week, and my weekend mornings are pretty much tied up with lectures. Between that and my budget, I rarely have the time or the cash to treat myself to the cinema—maybe once a month if there’s a major premiere I absolutely can't miss. For everything else, I’m picky. I refuse to deal with low-quality pirated rips, but I might consider a big blockbuster if the quality is decent enough for home viewing. Honestly, I don't see myself heading to a theater anytime soon. Usually, I just pick out a comedy to watch with my partner. She’s a huge Jennifer Aniston fan, for instance. But is it actually worth it to drive an hour and a half each way just to catch a movie? I'm not so sure. $33 On top of that? Honestly, if we're talking about a DVD rip, those extra details are perfectly fine. To me, playback time and being "first to see it" are pretty low on my list of priorities.

To be honest, watching DivX feels just like watching a DVD to me. My setup is pretty solid: the computer is digitally hooked up to a receiver and massive speakers that make the windows and doors rattle. I’ve got a decent Sony Way TV (though I'll probably upgrade to a larger LCD soon), a cold beer in my hand, and a bowl of buttered popcorn. It’s basically like being at the movie theater. No one's ever complained about the experience. ☕

A fool and an idiot are basically the same thing...

So, you’re saying you can't swing a trip to AMC Theatres right now... It's funny how there's always enough cash on hand to grab a pirated copy instead. I can just picture it: sitting at your computer, hooked up to a receiver and those massive speakers that shake the windows and doors, all while staring at a decent Sony Way TV—which, let's be honest, you'll probably swap out for an LCD soon enough anyway.

Ten years ago, it never even crossed anyone's mind to complain about going to the movies. Nobody was ever talking about some grandma reading subtitles to her kid, people being distracted by their popcorn, or someone sitting way too tall in the seat in front of you. You just didn't think about that stuff because you were actually there, immersed in the experience. Back then, hitting up an AMC Theatres was pretty much the only way to see a movie before everything moved to home video.
With all this new technology supposedly "improving" our lives, people have just gotten lazy. Honestly, nobody wants to put in the actual work anymore. $10 Movie ticket prices? Honestly, it feels like they're sky-high mainly because of all the pirates out there. It’s the same old story: people looking for an easy way to make a quick buck off lazy fools who won't pay full price. And unfortunately, it actually works.
Every single movie theater in Washington, D.C. has gone belly up, and honestly, I think it’s because of people like my tenant. He comes up to me and asks, "Hey, redowl90, you got any new movies?" And there I am, feeling pretty proud of myself, telling him, "Yeah, I just picked up the special edition of Walk the Line—you can't even find this in stores or rental shops yet!" Then he just looks at me, totally disappointed, and goes, "Right, but I meant do you have anything new on DVD?" What am I even supposed to say to that fool?
Sure, the local cinema scene in Washington, D.C. took a hit once AMC Theatres moved in, but that really just points back to a certain mindset. People around here tend to flock to wherever they can be seen—basically, they want to go where the crowd is most glamorous. Naturally, they also head toward the places with the biggest selection, so you actually have some decent options when picking a movie.
So, I hit up an AMC Theatres this past Sunday for that free movie day T-Mobile was running. I went to catch *The Grudge*. To be honest, the theater was packed with these posers—people who only showed up to flaunt their gear and act tough just to feel more secure in their own skin. But amidst that parade of complete fools, one guy totally stole the show right at the start. He was a slightly heavyset guy, sitting all by himself, clutching a massive deli sandwich he’d picked up at a convenience store, wearing a "Freddy vs. Jason" t-shirt. I found his whole vibe pretty refreshing. In a weird way, he was the only person who actually fit the mood of a horror movie, yet at the same time, he was the only one who didn't fit in with the rest of the crowd at all. He was probably the only person in the room truly enjoying the film because he’s an actual fan. And honestly, you have to be a real fan to actually enjoy what you're watching. Everything else? Just a bunch of acting.

Well, that's it for now... I've been trying to finish this post for an hour because I keep getting interrupted, so I'll call it here, even though there's still plenty more I want to get out. I'll probably pick this back up once someone clears out what I've already posted... 😉

I mean, true... As long as there's alcohol involved and it doesn't break the bank, I'm happy.

William White2 said:So, isn't the theater always the best way to watch a movie? 😕
regardless of whether there's some annoying guy eating popcorn behind you or a giant sitting right in front of you 🙄

Of course the theater offers the best atmosphere...
Especially if you pick an early afternoon or late-night showing when the crowds thin out...

That’s really all there is to it...

The issue, though, is that "atmosphere" doesn't seem to mean much to some people... For them, it's all about finding the cheapest option possible... And that is 👎

shadowviper12 said:There’s really no way to argue against logic like that.🙄
redowl90🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Look... if someone watches movies just so they can brag about seeing them before everyone else—and claims they don't care about quality or the actual viewing experience—then in my book, that person is just a fool.

Douglas Phillips4 said:looking at how bad this looks on DivX, I guess the only silver lining is that I didn't pay for it 😬

What a fool...

shadowviper12 said:To actually spot any visual difference, you’d need to be using a high-res PC monitor...
Regarding audio, the main thing is that DivX usually lacks 5.1 surround and just gives you standard stereo. For watching movies, that works perfectly fine for me—I don't hear any noticeable drop in quality.
As for subtitles, if you put in a little effort to find a decent file and sync it up, it ends up looking just like a DVD...
Of course, I'm talking about a high-quality DVD rip here...

It's fine if some "true audiophile" wants to toss an MP3 straight into the trash. Honestly, who cares? While they're busy treating CDs like junk, I'll be over here enjoying my music collection, which is practically limitless thanks to the MP3 format...
The same logic applies to DivX.

You fool...

robybaggio said:When it comes to DivX, I’m mostly interested in adult content because you can fit so many "movies" onto a hard drive or a DVD. It’s also handy for TV series since you can pack a ton of episodes onto a disc that way. But for actual movies? No thanks. I'll stick to the theater or a high-quality DVD.

👍

YES!

Absolute trash!

One of the best releases this year! 👍

I'm surprised there isn't a thread about this on Reddit yet...

Anyway, I caught the movie on Wednesday and I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed... There are two main drawbacks to the film (and I dare say this here since most of you probably already feel the same way): first, it’s almost completely devoid of humor—which is a shame because that was one of the best parts of the first film—and second, it doesn't actually end. It feels very much like how The Matrix Reloaded or The Matrix Revolutions were structured... That last part really killed it for me...

Of course, just like any movie from our dear friend Jerry Bruckheimer, it's packed with special effects and action, but unfortunately, that alone isn't enough to save it...

The film hits theaters here in the US on July 27th, so you all still have plenty of time to lower your expectations... 😉

Lawrence Booth2 said:I just finished watching

Five (1951), which is something I'd never bother trying to buy through official channels.

You can get every movie legally if you really want to—EVERY MOVIE. It’s just that people don't want to deal with the hassle of searching for a long time, so they just end up downloading it from the internet instead...

DivX movies aren't destroying cinema as an art form...

They’re destroying the film INDUSTRY, which are two completely different things... unfortunately. 🙂

I'm lucky enough to get my hands on heaps of movies before they even hit theaters (not via DivX), so I don't really care about them personally. But it’s such a shame—at least for the movie business and those struggling local theaters that seem to be closing down all over the US lately—that people would rather watch something in much lower quality just because they want to see it SOONER...

Henry Campbell5 said:The plot here is just way too simplistic.

What a joke... I have to hand it to 👍

Calling a movie bad just because the plot is simple—which supposedly messes with the pacing—is a stretch...

Just another 👍