When was the last time you paid for a movie, spent the last part of the film looking at your watch and hoping it...

[NNadir]

...it would end soon?

It happened to me last night. My wife and I, newly "empty nesters" are trying to enjoy the last weeks of the Biden Presidency by going out with each other, dating, I guess, dinner and movies, usually. We had a nice dinner, a beer each, then walked across town to the movie.

She wanted to see "Wicked," so I went, and spent the last 45 minutes of the showing looking at my watch. I suppose the film was supposed to be "anti-racism light" but it was, well, unwatchable for me, something of a high school "cool vs. nerd" type movie for lightweight teenaged girls (as opposed to brilliant, observant and morally deep teen aged girls, who I know exist and to whom the premise may be unfamiliar). (Not everyone can be Malala.) I thought though, that my wife was enjoying the movie, so I kept my boredom to myself.

Later, when the movie was over, we were walking back to the car in the cold night, it turned out she was as bored as I was. We'll definitely skip the announced sequel.

I really love my wife.

She did explain to me who Ariana Grande is, since I didn't know that, and she did. As a result, I'm better acculturated, although I can't imagine that knowing who Ariana Grande is will ever actually make a difference in my life.

[gay texan]

1. This may shock some people

"A Streetcar Named Desire"

Just could not get into it...

[NNadir]

3. Well, I liked it as a play within a film, "Who am I this time," based on the Kurt Vonnegut story.

It featured Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon when they were young, before they were famous, and before Sarandon was revealed to be a world class asshole.

It's available on line, early 1960's stuff.

I can't say I've ever seen "A Streetcar Named Desire," the film.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. I read the Vonnegut short story, saw it Off Broadway, and the film you referenced.

Love them all.

And also saw it at a local theater as well, which was really surreal as the story takes place with a local community theater.

[pdxflyboy]

2. Inception.

With Leonardo DiCaprio.

[snowybirdie]

4. Last time

we went to a movie was Christmas 2019. Saw a bad movie about Fox and Roger Ailes with Nicole Kidman. Last time we entered a theatre. Covid hit. No more shows. Watch at home these days.

[Metaphorical]

6. Many times

My kids, especially my eldest, are big into anime, gaming and fantasy. Consequently, I end up taking them to see a lot of movies in those respective genres. Sonic the Hedgehog III is likely very interesting if you happen to be an avid gamer or animation buff, but most of the time, I find that final 35-45 minute mark before the end of the movie is a good time to go use the bathroom in the movie theater, just to get out of it for a bit.

[NNadir]

12. Oh man, you made me remember when my son was young and I had to go with him to Pokemon movies.

I consider it one of the great sacrifices of being a parent.

Happily, my sons have grown into men.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Thanks for the report. I was kind of thinking that this might be a poor attempt at copying Wizard of Oz, Oz, and that

whole gender of movies, and per your report, I am saved from wasting my time and/or money! Thank you so much!!

[Hekate]

14. Read the book "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. He reimagines L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" from the...

…perspective of the very young Wicked Witch of the West. Then he writes a series of books doing the same with other characters, not only in Oz but various fairy tales. He’s really quite brilliant.

I have not seen the stage musical based on “Wicked” but it is award-winning. Not planning to see the movie, but you never know.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. Thank you for the feedback. It sounds very interesting and a different take on the Wizard of Oz series by Baum.

I do plan on checking the title 'Wicked' out from my local library, am very interested in how others present a similar to the beloved series by Baum, one of my favorite authors of all time. Take care and thank you again.

[Fla Dem]

8. Loved "Wicked" can't wait for part II.

Last edited Mon Jan 6, 2025, 09:22 AM - Edit history (2)

Didn't want it to end.

Everybody has their own tastes.

[The Madcap]

9. We thought it was OK.

Enjoyed some of the twists on the "Wizard of Oz."

It's crazy how expensive it is to go to the movies now, though. Seems like the price of admission has doubled in the last ten years. We don't go often anymore.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Yes, having worked as an asst mgr in the '90s

I really don't think the current business model for theaters works anymore. They have to do something to get more butts in seats! If that means discount days, 2 for 1s or lower prices for smaller films, they need to do something! It makes no sense to charge the same ticket price for a big budget action film as for a small budget independent film. Unless something has changed since I was working for a theater, most of the ticket price (like 80%) goes to to studio/distributor for the first couple of weeks. The theaters make their money by selling concessions, which are overpriced as well. They need to find that pricing sweet spot to maximize profits for the studios AND the theaters.

That being said, when you get 2 to 2.5 hours of entertainment for under $25 a person (ticket + treats) movies are still a bargain compared to concerts and sporting events. But plenty of people are happy to just stream the movies at home. Being an older movie fan (68) I still prefer to see films in a darkened theater with a great sound system. I think most Boomers and Gen Xers feel the same way, but if the cost is prohibitive and the offerings are mostly targeted to the under 30 demographic, we just don't go!

[Upthevibe]

21. Fla Dem.............

Me too! I LOVED Wicked.

I've seen it twice and can't wait for the next one to come out (I think at the end of this year).

Well, as they say, "There's no accounting for taste."

[LogDog75]

10. Only one I can think of was

The Godfather when it first came out. It bored me and I've tried watching it on TV but again, it's boring.

[Beatlelvr]

11. Red One

Started out ok, then the story really went haywire.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. At 2 hours 40 minutes, it's about 40 minutes too long n/t

[Marthe48]

16. Phenomenon

John Travolta, Krya Sedgwick. The movie was going ok, but the last part went too long. My husband and I had the same opinion.

[Harker]

18. Along similar lines...

I went to see "Gone With the Wind" at a theatre in the 70s.

I was nearly at the door, coat on and jingling my keys, when I heard a voice from behind call out, "it's only an intermission!"

[3catwoman3]

19. A friend and I just saw "Wicked" this past Monday. There was only one other person...

...in the theatre (I like the British spelling).

I had seen the stage play, and dozed off during it, maybe more than I knew. I feel like all I really remembered from the play was the last belted out notes of the final song.

The movie - costumes were lavish and elaborate and sets/scenery were impressive, but I had no idea what the story really was. I said to my friend, "This feels like a mix of Barbie, Legally Blonde, and Harry Potter, with a dusting of Busby Berkeley." She agreed.

I usually love musicals. This one not so much. Definitely too long. I didn't hate it, like I detest Forest Gump, The Deer Hunter, and Terms of Endearment, but I wouldn't want to watch it again.

[Dulcinea]

20. I hated The Matrix.

Boring, boring, boring. 2 1/2 hours I'll never get back.

I thought Wicked was pretty good. Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande did well in their roles.

[Upthevibe]

22. NNadir.............

A movie that came out in 2019 called, A Hidden Life".....OMG!!!!!!!

Had I known it was from the director Terrence Malick I absolutely would NOT have gone. I'm not into his films at all. The movie was two hours and 53 minutes...... WITH SUBTITLES!

And, I was with a friend who's in the Writers Guild so we were watching it at the Director's Guild Theatre in Los Angeles so I felt I had to stay for the whole movie because it would've really been inappropriate to leave.

[Fla Dem]

23. Nope, hadn't gone to a movie since covid. Then in January went to see "WICKED".

Was absolutely delighted with the movie. In fact I didn't want it to end. Looking forward to the sequel.

[NNadir]

24. Clearly our tastes differ. n/t.