To the movie theatre at Quinpool and Oxford, why did you choose to play the latest Harry Potter flick? I personally dislike that shit and it is playing many times at MANY times at all the other theatres in town. I usually like your independent movie choices so what the fuck is with the choice of Harry Potter? Give some alternative to the regular summer “blockbuster” crap.
—Hairy Notter
This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2009.
It’s a tragedy that they didn’t consider your person likes and dislikes before deciding which movie will best pay their bills.
oops *personal likes*
Perhaps they’re playing it because it’s the #1 movie in the WORLD!?
Just a thought.
And it will probably only play there for a few weeks before they go back to the stuff nobody wants to see.
but isn’t that the point of the bitch, Miles? Potter’s playing everywhere. Give us something a little left of center, movie titles a little more creative and not so mainstream. Seeing Potter at that Theater is sorta like going to a Greek restaurant to eat a McBurger.
from The Seventh Seal:
PAINTER: I’m only painting things as they are. Everyone else can do as he likes.
JONS: Just think how some people will curse you.
PAINTER: Maybe. But then I’ll paint something amusing for them to look at. I have to make a living — at least until the plague takes me.
Cranky I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I think Miles is probably right with them only showing it for a few weeks and taking it out (whereas other larger theatres will show it until Christmas). You can’t fault the theatre for wanting to make a profit – and showing a movie that is all the buzz right now is going to make them more money than an indie flick that brings 10 people into the theatre.
I like that the Oxford plays less mainstream stuff most of the time, but I’d be curious to see how much money that particular theatre actually makes. Maybe showing a Potter-type movie once in a while is how they keep it profitable to show the other stuff.
A lot of actors/directors/etc have to do a big budget film every once in a while so they can afford to do the independent films they love. The Oxford is in a similar situation, I guess.
Its a quote from a movie (Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal) that Martin Scorsese references (or was it Staney Kubrick?) about how he’s only allowed to make ‘arty personal movies’ if he makes blockbusters, to ‘keep the masses happy’.
Now I got ya Cranky. Well put.
Sobeys-owned Empire Theatres simply plays what will bring in the most cash at the box office. Call the Oxford’s office and give your opinion to the manager or call their Stellarton divisional office.
Since the oxford is now owned by Empire Theatres and is no longer truely independant they will play what pays.
its nice that they DO still play some of the smaller indie movies. However don’t think for one second they choose the oxford for the indie films because they give two shits about the arts. Its because empire theatres, like most big corporations know their customers demograpgics.
Since there is no big box parking lot to share or parking structure they know most of the audience who attend movies at the oxford tend to be people in the immediate neighbourhoods since they arrive on foot. Those tend to be two main types – students and leftist upper class homeowners – who these movies tend to go over well with. ( think Fahrenheit 9/11, supersize me and Religulous )
* which happen to be three of my favourite movies by the way.
Go see The Hurt Locker at Parklane, it’s critically acclaimed and is limited release, so it may not be there for long.
To make money to survive. It’s called business.
Well, in defense of Empire Theatres, I’ve watched several indie films I thought I’d never see at their theaters… Choke, Moon… plus they do the Friday night midnight screenings of old films… for fucks sakes I watched Jaws…. a few..weeks,…ago…so drunk…
While I like the Oxford for those limited release films, I’d say that they’re showing it because they have to. I don’t think the theatre itself has much say in what is shown, they’re told to show X movie, for X long, and then onto the next one. The OP’s been spoiled by megaplexes I think.
Agreed, I enjoy HP, but the Oxford should be for movies that aren’t playing at every other theatre in town.
They could make a killing on concessions if they brought Thrillema over to the Oxford. Seeing Conan was one of the highlights of my year.
You think Harry Potter is typical blockbuster crap? Wow, you should actually watch one. They’re amazing movies. And I have yet to see Matthew McConaughey starring in one, which would the qualify the movie as typical blockbuster puke. That guy was born from puke, did you know that? Someone shot jizz in puke and he grew up. True story!