At the theater even, with $9 tickets, larger-than-life commercials, and all that other happy crap.  The only thing that seemed remotely worth seeing for the price was Elizabeth:  The Golden Age, but the times didn't fit our schedule - a whole three showings on a Saturday.  Instead we just went to dinner. 

Then we remembered we have a DVD player.

So, one of the complaints coming from Hollywood is people are staying home and using their "home theaters" instead of going to the theater to see movies.  Thus, Hollywood is losing profits.  Sorry, kids, I don't have a home theater - I have a television with a DVD player hooked up to it.  Granted, this swanky setup I have is passable for watching movies, but it ain't no theater.  And no "home theater" I have ever seen comes close to the experience of being in a large space with a huge screen and a sound system that would get you arrested.

It's like saying listening to a recording of a live concert is the same as being at the concert.  What a stupid thing to say.

Transformers grossed $318,346,000 domestically (plus $383,326,113 foreign) in it's 111 day run in theaters.  It's opening weekend grossed $70,502,384 with an average of $17,577 per theater.  It was made on a budget of $150,000,000.  I get that it may not be a "high concept" film - giant robots fighting each other isn't high art, of course.  Then again, perhaps the giant robot thing was just a spiffy facade for a film that does do what film is supposed to do - namely, entertain while delving into the certain basic truths of being human.

By the way, I'm guessing such creators of high art as Raphael would greatly appreciate the precision and obsessive attention to detail put into creating those giant robots.

So, we ended up at Meijers after dinner.  I saw Transformers when it came out in theaters with my brother-in-law, but Dianne hadn't.  We bought the 2-disc special edition version for less than what two tickets and two drinks would have cost us to see the unmitigated flops in theaters now.  The price really didn't matter though.  I was willing to, and did pay for the privilege of seeing it in theaters.

One of the things I think makes a good film is that transition from theater viewing to home viewing.  Movies are supposed to be larger-than-life and you inevitably lose something of that between theater and home.  Twister may have been decent in theaters, but there's really no point in watching it at home.  It's a thrill ride that loses its thrill.  I suspect the same may be true of, for instance, 300 - I've yet to buy the DVD for that reason even though I saw it twice in theaters, and loved it.

While some of the pizazz may have been lost with Transformers, it retained the other, more essential qualities.  The the theatrical destruction was toned down a bit due to the limitations of my "home theater system," but the themes that moved the story couldn't be stripped away by merely shrinking the size of the screen and speakers.  The explosions, the giant robots - all of that - nicely settled into their role as complimentary framing for what is a pretty decent story.

The second disc provided some interesting tidbits about the movie's production.  Good things must be said about a director who is willing to take a pay cut in order to keep production, or most of it, in the U.S.  More so for a Hollywood director, given current movies, who doesn't portray the U.S. military as a bunch of incompetent, slobbering goons bent on rape and pillage.  Doesn't hurt that actual off-duty military were cast as extras (including speaking roles).  Even better:  They're portrayed as capable people doing their best against seemingly unbeatable odds.  Oh yeah, and they - along with the rest of the good guys - triumph.

That being a refreshing change, a radical departure from the norm in Hollywood is a strange thing.  Who says radicalism can't be profitable?

Sure, there could be changes made, but overall the movie works.  It works so well I saw it in theaters, and will watch it many times to come at home.

Edit:  I want to point out I'm not a big Michael Bay fan.  Armageddon was OK, never saw Pearl Harbor, and The Island was, er, something.  I've never been big on horror pics either; although, it might be interesting to see what he does with The Birds - maybe.  And I just found out there's a Michael Bay website - with this post in particular where he says about the same thing I did about recreating the theater experience outside the theater.

Watching a movie on an iPod?  Lame.

Posted by: Jason at 09:12 PM in Zombiewood | No Comments | Add Comment
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