Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Just got back ... it was fun! Not, IMO, as good as the original or Last Crusade, but I liked it over Temple of Doom and Crystal Skull. So IMO a worthwhile entry into the series.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Fewer than Fast & Furious.

Oh most definitely, which also astonishes me as someone who only saw the very forgettable first movie, but my understanding is that the franchise has reinvented itself several times by now. The reasons the number of Police Academy movies is extraordinary to me is because a) each one made less money than the one before, whereas long running franchises tend to be the ones that can capitalize on the success of the first to get even more people to the second, but somehow instead they just got by on diminishing returns, and b) they seem to have negligible ongoing cultural relevance.

I think it's the people who would have gone to the movies fairly regularly - say once a month - but would decide to go first, then choose what to see from the list of whatever was showing, who have completely transitioned to streaming as a result of the pandemic. People are still turning out for the occasional big "event" movie if they get enough buzz, but nothing else.

I mean that's absolutely true, but the "go to the theater and pick a movie" crowd has been anemic for like a decade now. Maybe it's entirely gone this year, but I would guess that the many people on theater ticket subscription services still go on a regular basis (whether money is being made of those people is a different matter).

In any case, Hollywood has increasingly re-geared to focus more and more on the sort of "big event movies" that get occasional movie-goers to the theaters for at least 7 or 8 years now. What I'm proposing is that in 2023 this model also seems to be mostly broken, perhaps because there are just too many would-be "event" movies competing with each other, but also because many of the occasional movie-goers have just become non-movie-goers.

 

[Zardnaar]

Oh most definitely, which also astonishes me as someone who only saw the very forgettable first movie, but my understanding is that the franchise has reinvented itself several times by now. The reasons the number of Police Academy movies is extraordinary to me is because a) each one made less money than the one before, whereas long running franchises tend to be the ones that can capitalize on the success of the first to get even more people to the second, but somehow instead they just got by on diminishing returns, and b) they seem to have negligible ongoing cultural relevance.


I mean that's absolutely true, but the "go to the theater and pick a movie" crowd has been anemic for like a decade now. Maybe it's entirely gone this year, but I would guess that the many people on theater ticket subscription services still go on a regular basis (whether money is being made of those people is a different matter).

In any case, Hollywood has increasingly re-geared to focus more and more on the sort of "big event movies" that get occasional movie-goers to the theaters for at least 7 or 8 years now. What I'm proposing is that in 2023 this model also seems to be mostly broken, perhaps because there are just too many would-be "event" movies competing with each other, but also because many of the occasional movie-goers have just become non-movie-goers.

We rarely go Indy will be on Disney+ in a few weeks. Don't have to worry about finding a park or people pkay8ng with their phones etc.

Best movie I've seen lately is Bulket Train and we Streamed that. I wanted to go to the theatre wife did not.

Dune pt 2 will likely get me out to see it.

Just checked prices tickets are reasonably priced (less than $10) very similar to 2003 ($6 movie card, $9 full price iirc) and about the same as 2015.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Just checked prices tickets are reasonably priced (less than $10) very similar to 2003 ($6 movie card, $9 full price iirc) and about the same as 2015.

My local Regal multiplex is $15.50 for a matinee now. That is a bad enough price that I considered going to see something in the theater for the first time in years last fall but saw the prices and decided it wasn't worth it, and didn't go to a movie until this spring. Part of the issue is that they closed their oldest, cheapest theaters in the area, so now my local theaters are their locations that were always more expensive, and there's inflation on top of that, so basically the base price is nearly twice what I would pay pre-pandemic.

But the same chain is only $20-some a month for unlimited movies, and I subscribed for a three month stint a couple months ago so right now I'm going to the cinema every week, and price is irrelevant.

I went to an independent theater in town right before I got the pass with prices in the $10-12 range and it had a healthy crowd. The Regal multiplexes I've gone to with my pass seem mostly empty, so I can't help but think that that particular chain is committing suicide through a bizarre and misguided pricing model of trying to really squeeze their occasional visitors and force people onto subscription plans. On the other hand maybe the subscription plans are working perfectly and there are just droves of people who are subscribed and not actually using their passes, which is the best outcome for the company.

 

[R_J_K75]

My local Regal multiplex is $15.50 for a matinee now.

Thats what mine charged too, but when I got a refund on one ticket I bought online for someone who ultimately couldn't make it, they only refunded $13.50 oddly enough. Must have been the service fee, but I did all the work? I could have done without the 30 minutes of previews. Think I may look into Regals streaming service to see what they have available. I doubt they have movies on there that are currently in the theater though.
Edit: I thought they had a streaming service from the ad during the previews but its a subscription to see unlimited movies for ~$21/month

Regal Unlimited™ - More Movies, More Rewards | Regal

Watch movies anytime anywhere when you join Regal Unlimited! Unlimited Members get more rewards, concessions discounts, early access screenings & can watch endless movies.

www.regmovies.com

 

[trappedslider]

Luckily my theaters here local chains and so prices for tickets are still under 10 dollars including taxes and concessions are still about even I guess, i think the most expensive combo is 17 dollars.

I tend to get only drinks and maybe candy.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

I thought they had a streaming service from the ad during the previews but its a subscription to see unlimited movies for ~$21/month

It's a pretty good deal if you actually use it. They do require you subscribe for 3 months at a time though, which means that when I started it in May there was every movie that had been released since March to choose from and it was an amazing deal (I saw Guardians 3, the D&D movie a second and third time, John Wick 4, and the Mario movie in the space of about two and a half weeks), but by June I was down to just recent releases, and there are only barely enough movies released that I feel like seeing to make it worthwhile. Or at least I anticipate that will be the case outside of the blockbuster season.

I think it really pays off if you have very broad tastes, or if you're inclined to see the movies you really like more than once. I think it does also put me in a more positive headspace for movies than I would be if I spent money specifically on that movie, rather than a disappointing film just being a waste of time.

It requires a phone app, and still charges you 1.50 "service fee" to order tickets in advance through that app (which is almost always pointless, because their theaters seem to be empty these days, just get tickets on the touch screen or counter for free when you arrive unless maybe it is an opening night or something). There are surcharges for Imax, or 3d or whatever. But fortunately it does not count as a "pass" for the "no passes" restriction on most their movies (which I briefly panicked about after making my $65 three month purchase and then seeing that everything said "no passes").

The biggest disappointment for me (and the one that ties it back to the thread's principle subject) is that it does not apply at all to Fathom events, which include many special re-releases of classic films and the like (which are not always clearly identified as Fathom events). I got all revved up to go see Raiders of the Lost Ark at the theater during a special limited re-release a few weeks ago only to discover day of that my Unlimited pass not only didn't cover it but didn't give me even a symbolic discount, and the tickets were way too much for the privilege of seeing something I own in three formats and have access to on two streaming services on a bigger screen, especially when I had already dropped a substantial sum on my Unlimited pass.

 

[Tonguez]

Oh most definitely, which also astonishes me as someone who only saw the very forgettable.

I agree the first movie was forgettable and I didnt bother with any others until 6 (I think) as my son was watching it.
It was dumb and illogical and cheesy as a cheesy cheese pizza and I found myself enjoying the ride.
While they arent must sees Ive come to enjoy the extreme action heist movies with cars and explosions that the franchise has become (even going full superhero latrly) and they really have very little of the original street racing premise except for the obligatory chase scene.

 

[R_J_K75]

It's a pretty good deal if you actually use it. They do require you subscribe for 3 months at a time though, which means that when I started it in May there was every movie that had been released since March to choose from and it was an amazing deal (I saw Guardians 3, the D&D movie a second and third time, John Wick 4, and the Mario movie in the space of about two and a half weeks), but by June I was down to just recent releases, and there are only barely enough movies released that I feel like seeing to make it worthwhile. Or at least I anticipate that will be the case outside of the blockbuster season.

I think it really pays off if you have very broad tastes, or if you're inclined to see the movies you really like more than once. I think it does also put me in a more positive headspace for movies than I would be if I spent money specifically on that movie, rather than a disappointing film just being a waste of time.

It requires a phone app, and still charges you 1.50 "service fee" to order tickets in advance through that app (which is almost always pointless, because their theaters seem to be empty these days, just get tickets on the touch screen or counter for free when you arrive unless maybe it is an opening night or something). There are surcharges for Imax, or 3d or whatever. But fortunately it does not count as a "pass" for the "no passes" restriction on most their movies (which I briefly panicked about after making my $65 three month purchase and then seeing that everything said "no passes").

The biggest disappointment for me (and the one that ties it back to the thread's principle subject) is that it does not apply at all to Fathom events, which include many special re-releases of classic films and the like (which are not always clearly identified as Fathom events). I got all revved up to go see Raiders of the Lost Ark at the theater during a special limited re-release a few weeks ago only to discover day of that my Unlimited pass not only didn't cover it but didn't give me even a symbolic discount, and the tickets were way too much for the privilege of seeing something I own in three formats and have access to on two streaming services on a bigger screen, especially when I had already dropped a substantial sum on my Unlimited pass.

I really dont enjoy going to theaters much anymore though I have seen the D&D movie and the new Indy but I don't think would be a wise investment for me. Although Oppenheimer and the Last Voyage of the Demeter look promising, and I may see them. Thanks for the explanation, I really don't like when businesses try and hide fees and exclusions in fine print.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I would guess that the many people on theater ticket subscription services still go on a regular basis

I don't know anyone with a cinema subscription, or who doesn't think they are a rip-off that puts them off going to the cinema at all.