Is streaming killing the art of cinema?

Yeah, regarding Eugène François Vidocq... I actually liked that movie too, Eugène François Vidocq :he_he: I'm totally with you on this! But the issue isn't really about DivX files themselves; it’s about the people who just don't get it. They think they're outsmarting the system when they end up getting nothing but a big "smeče" for paying $3.25 instead of the actual $15 $6.75 or whatever. In reality, they're just screwing themselves over. It destroys the whole ecosystem. It undermines everything. When people put in the work to make a film, they deserve to have someone value that effort and want to pay for the original, rather than having people shamelessly peddling cheap copies...

Okay, that's one thing—whether prices for originals should drop, or movie tickets, or whatever—but there is absolutely NO JUSTIFICATION for piracy 👎

And yeah, a copy completely ruins the experience of watching a movie. You approach the film differently. When you watch the original, you actually respect it more, even if you end up not liking the movie by the time the credits roll...

Now, I can't promise I won't track down a DivX version of a movie that is practically impossible to find, but I do NOT support it 👎

It's the exact same thing, whether we're talking about video games or movies...

But all these trends point toward something else entirely... everything is moving online. If I could legally download movies from the web for a nominal fee with some time limits (which already exists, though mostly restricted to the United States...), I’d probably jump on that option in a heartbeat.

Which basically means video rental stores are definitely going extinct. Hmm.

Just like how MP3s became legit thanks to the iPod, it's about to happen with movies... the internet will turn into these virtual video rental stores where I can watch whatever I want for a small price. Hmm.

Joseph Lee3 said:on the flip side, the whole artistic vibe and overall impact are pretty much shot just by the concept of using a small screen. there's really nothing else to say about it.

which is why I'm basically gonna go buy a projector and some peace and quiet...

Joseph Lee3 said:man... what, you don't have any helping hands around to bail you out?! honestly, I'd rather walk around in a wrinkled shirt than deal with an iron.

yeah, I don't :-(
I gotta admit, ironing was kind of fun at first... now it's just a massive drag, but hey, nobody's stepping up to do it for me either :-(

Eugène François Vidocq said:I don't know what you guys think about them, but I can't stand them! I have a huge pile of them at home, but I don't want to watch a single one—to me, they're just destroying movie theaters and video rental stores.

...are they destroying art? No, quite the opposite, actually...
...if it weren't for DivX, I probably would never have seen some of the movies that sit in my absolute top 10 today. Without it, I might not even know what cinematic art is...
...and sure, the picture isn't theater-quality, the sound isn't surround, and everything doesn't look "perfect," but if the actual substance of the movie is what matters most to you, those are things you can look past... because enjoying the visuals, the audio, and the spectacle isn't necessarily the same thing as enjoying the film itself. And obviously, a Michael Haneke film looks better on a massive screen (just imagine that ten-minute shot that glows so surrealistically you can't tell if it's reality, fiction, a dream, or something else entirely, playing on an AMC Theatres screen 😍), but his films are phenomenal no matter where I watch them, and that’s what counts... enjoying the content, the attention to detail, the fantastic camera angles, and that perfect timing... as someone mentioned above, DivX is "illegal" and bad for the film industry, but I personally have benefited immensely from it. A simple file format certainly didn't destroy art; if anything, it brought art to me...

...personally, I think it's much easier to argue that video rental stores and theaters—in their desperate pursuit of profit—are the ones destroying art (by only stocking movies they know will sell, which robs us of the chance to ever see certain magnificent moments of cinema) — but that's just profit logic, and I don't plan on debating that here...

🙂

Exactly. You can only really dig up those cult trash gems through DivX, because you’ll never stumble upon them on standard TV, even with satellite service. Plus, tracking down classics like Death Wish is much easier that way than hoping they show up on some random channel.

Well, unlike certain people, I tend to watch movies with a massive delay—sometimes months, sometimes even years after they've actually come out. 😬

So, here’s why everyone talks about DivX like this:

it’s honestly no surprise you're watching stuff on a tiny 17-inch monitor—with garbage audio and subtitles that are totally out of sync.

Seriously, can you guys not hook up a PC to something actually decent?
Can't find a solid rip or figure out how to fix some subtitles?
Do you really think DVDs—especially those cheap bootlegs—offer better quality than a legit rip?
I'm seeing some people here who just have no clue...

DivX is king.

And no, it doesn't ruin cinema—if anything, DivX brings obscure gems to every corner of the globe thanks to the internet. The only ones mad about it are the greedy suits in the film industry, but hey, I don't feel sorry for them. Quite the opposite...

DivX is destroying the film industry, and honestly, I think that's a good thing.

I have always felt that top-tier actors shouldn't be earning more than, say, highly skilled plumbers.

The same logic applies to elite athletes as well.

I suppose there is no real reason for them to hold onto that much wealth. Long live the pirates!

They’re basically breathing new life into them... I mean, we're talking about those old-school classics that are nearly impossible to track down these days... Sure, they might be sidelining the newer releases a bit to chase the profit margins... but honestly, I can live with that...😁

Just finished watching the flick

Five (1951)—something I’d probably never go out and buy the legitimate way, honestly.

In my view, DivX is actually just broadening the cinematic horizons for us regular folks. I honestly don't see the film industry collapsing just because of downloading; if anything, they might feel a slight pinch in their pockets, but it'll be marginal at best when you consider how much money certain (let's face it, brainless) blockbusters pull in at the domestic box office. You can't just shut down an entire ecosystem like that overnight.

Besides, from what I gather, the major Hollywood studios are already making moves to embrace web distribution anyway, whether they're rolling out brand-new releases or giving old classics a digital second life.

Alright, let's give a massive round of applause for the DivX format once again! Everything looks so much more vibrant now: I finally picked up an LCD projector and spent the entire night blasting images onto my wall. I set everything up so the picture was oooooooooooogantuan, hooked the audio into my ridiculously overpriced 5.1 system, and basically passed out from pure bliss. Who even needs a movie theater anymore? Like, would I ever bother going to an AMC Theatres just to catch The Grand Vadrouille? Not a chance.

This level of quality isn't for everyone! I'm off to quickly knead some pizza dough and toss something in the oven...🙂

DivX is just the absolute best, period... ☕

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...

redowl90 said:Every movie can be acquired legally—EVERY SINGLE ONE. It’s just that people don't want to deal with the hassle of searching for them, so they just download them from the internet instead...

That isn't necessarily true. In Germany, City of the Living Dead is banned. 😁
And in the United Kingdom, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was also banned—they even went as far as censoring the word "chainsaw." I've written more about that on my blog.

redowl90 said:Every movie can be obtained legally—EVERY SINGLE MOVIE... It’s just that people don't want to deal with the hassle or spend forever searching, so they just end up downloading stuff from the internet instead...

Five (1951)Five at Amazon.com, Five DVD unavailable at Amazon.com, Five VHS unavailable ... Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Five (1951) ...

😬 😬 😬

I spent ages hunting for this one... basically three years of my life...

🙏

Joseph Lee3 said:alright, another big cheers for the DivX format! everything looks so much brighter now—I grabbed an LCD projector and spent the whole night blasting stuff onto my wall. I set everything up so the picture was oooooooooooogargantuan, hooked the sound up to my super pricey 5.1 system, and basically passed out from pure bliss. who needs a theater?! like, would I ever go to a cinema to watch The Grand Vadrouille? no way!

this isn't for regular people! gotta go quickly and knead some pizza dough and toss something in...🙂

👍
also, instead of that 17" monitor mentioned in the original post, I'm watching DivX via a projector (pro tip: get yourself a screen. no matter how white your wall is, the difference in image quality is massive), though lately I've been using a 107" plasma more often...

oh yeah, if anyone still thinks DivX doesn't have good quality, just download a DVD rip of that IMAX "Coral Reef Adventure"—guaranteed to change your mind.

The real advantage of using DivX is the significantly better audio quality. Plus, being able to use bookmarks lets you jump straight to a favorite scene and replay it as many times as you want, whereas with a VHS, you’re stuck with the annoyance of rewinding...

Raymond Palmer8 said:👍
also, instead of using that 17" monitor mentioned in the original post, I watch DivX files through a projector (I'd highly recommend picking up a screen; regardless of how white your wall is, the difference in image quality is massive), though lately I've been leaning more toward my 107" plasma...

Oh, and if anyone is still under the impression that DivX lacks decent quality, just download a DVD rip of that IMAX "Coral Reef Adventure"—it’ll change your mind instantly.

A screen, you say? Hmm... I was actually wondering why anyone would bother when they have a perfectly good wall right there. I can't decide whether to admit my wall is currently a shade of yellow or just keep quiet, but I honestly don't see the issue you're pointing out. 🤣 Either way, I'm due for a fresh coat of paint soon...

But seriously, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't experienced it myself. It's better than a box of chocolates. A TV? Please. The best part about using a projector is that I don't even notice when a movie is stuck in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which absolutely kills me when I'm watching on a standard television. And seeing those close-up shots from a low angle? It genuinely gives you goosebumps... it's wild.🙂

As for quality, I often found that movies rented from the local video store looked worse than most of the DivX files I own, so I'm not buying into that argument. When it comes to picture and sound, the difference is night and day once you bring in an actual DVD from outside; that's when you realize what a total scam our local video distributors really are. Disgusting.🙂

When it comes to DivX, I honestly only care about porn because you can cram a ton of "movies" onto a hard drive or a DVD that way. I’m also interested in series since they have so many episodes and it’s just easier to fit everything onto DVDs. But as far as regular movies go? No thanks. The theater or a physical DVD will always be my choice.

Constantine said:The upside to DivX is the superior sound quality, plus you can use bookmarks to jump right to your favorite scenes whenever you want. On VHS, you just have to deal with the constant annoyance of rewinding.

But DVDs exist for that exact reason!!!

I’m sure there are still video rental stores with classics or local independent theaters out there in America, so downloading files wouldn't even make sense for me. We live in a country where nobody seems to care about this stuff anyway. I'm not saying it isn't great to watch a long-awaited movie on DivX—thank God I did that too—but watching new releases this way absolutely infuriates me!! And honestly, maybe it’s just cheaper to borrow a DVD or hit the theater than to spend a fortune upgrading your entire home setup just to enjoy some digital files.
Not to mention that these files completely ruin the experience of watching a new movie, because you know it’ll be hitting the rental shelves in a month while it's currently playing in theaters!!! Theaters were invented specifically to provide the ultimate cinematic experience. Decades ago, that was your only option, then video came along as a massive game-changer, and now we have DVDs and high-end home theaters with six-speaker setups and real amplifiers that guarantee an amazing experience regardless of the movie!!! All these gadgets were designed to enhance the viewing experience, yet I don't see these digital files providing any of that. They don't add anything; they only take away from the enjoyment!!!!