u/shannister

People like Nolan and Villeneuve are packing those theaters to the brink. I've seen 4am screenings that were fully sold out. I cannot, despite trying the second tickets are available, manage to get tickets to upcoming films like Dune 3 (AMC's website is crashing right now). The demand is so high on those movies, I genuinely don't understand why the distributors and theatres doesn't embrace the fact there are films that are so tied to the format, they deserve a much longer window, or at least regular intervals where they can be watched. I personally don't care if it's available on disc or streaming, I'll forever pay for the privilege of watching some of those filmmakers' catalogue on a giant IMAX screen.

I really think they ought to have more regular screenings of those classics, past their release windows: Interstellar, Dune etc. We keep adding new ones that many people would love to revisit on IMAX - often a lot more than recent releases (looking at you, Minions).

I know Nolan's obsession with 70mm makes it harder, needing huge prints and a projectionists, but surely this could be a way to generate a more constant revenue stream, and at the very least they could scan those movies to digital and use a double digital projector instead for the catalogue?

Edit: welp, I’m just seeing someone asked a similar question yesterday. I’ll let the mods decide if this stays or gets removed.

Original post: I can’t guarantee that my examples really are popular to the point of being mainstream, but the couple that come to mind are:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - I was angered by the sheer level of recycling and walked away disappointed and angry while everyone seemed to just think Star Wars was finally back. I also really liked Episode 3, and I believe it is passing the test of time, at least thematically.

Speed Racer - I’ll forever die on the hill this movie was brilliant (even if not perfect) and extremely creative / misunderstood. It seems to be going through a revival these last few years, even though some friends still think they’re smart making fun of me for liking it.

Then there are those that aren’t panning out so well, ha! For ex. I am a big fan of Matrix Reloaded’‘s foray into lesser explored parts of Campbell’s hero arc, or I don’t enjoy Gladiator’s simplistic and manichean characters.

What are yours?

It had all the markings of a Shyamalan movie - more focus on intimacy, a mystery box to open, a big reveal, and something not quite believable but that hooks you on. I would go as far as this reminding me of Signs, but with the Spielberg treatment: more universalist, more action, and a hopeful naivety with a bow around it. If it were a Shymalan film, I'd have said this is his return to form.

As a big summer Spielberg movie though, it left me wanting. The characters felt like pantomime - especially Firth's character, which never really works. I never really bought into the premise of each scene, most of them giving weird character choices. And a lot of it felt derivative and juggling too many genres - some superhero, some thriller/horror, some scifi, some politicial.

The ending did finally find the film's emotional tone (credits to Blunt who was perfect throughout), but by that stage I had waited 2 hours to witness what the marketing set up as the premise of the film, and I was a bit restless in my seat. The over-the-top naivety of it all felt too little, too late.

Overall, it had that endearing Spielberg message - an 80 year old idealist who wanted to really make sure we understood the unifying power of alien life that he had depicted maybe more subtly in his previous entries. While I was left wanting and this won't make it close to my Spielber top 10, I still found it worthwhile.