Going to the Cinema during Covid

silverharp

pixelburp wrote: »

Last I saw an update was in March IIRC, and since then don't believe there's any movement for all sorts of obvious reasons; and given the makeup of the senior echelons of the DoJ may be about to change in the next few months, unless it's a huge priority for GOP downers and lobbyists, it may get scuttled.

Cinema might have changed, but I don't believe cinemas should be driven or lead by the very studios producing films; that's ripe for abuse and market manipulation. Disney already screw chains with higher percentages on their Big Ticket films (IIRC Rise of Skywalker saw a particularly high jump in the states).

I suppose it depends on where you stand generally on the issue of Free Market vs. Some degree of regulatory control, but I don't particularly want Disney Brand Cinemas further squashing the institution into a niche, restricted product.

Edit: just saw ixoy's comments. Shoot. Well that's Cinema in the STates dead as we know it. Disney Brand Cinemas here we come.

it might be an acknowledgement that at least for now its a loss leader industry. Given the sheer wealth on the movie making side of the fence it wouldn't be right that cinema chains themselves get government handouts.

sheepsh4gger

So the norf is closing? Those lockdown restrictions from Arlene Foster sound like what a referee would say in a game of twister.

santana75

One thing I cant understand is how cinemas are closed and schools are open? Surely a crowded school is less socially distanced than a cinema were every other seat is unoccupied.

sheepsh4gger

santana75 wrote: »

One thing I cant understand is how cinemas are closed and schools are open? Surely a crowded school is less socially distanced than a cinema were every other seat is unoccupied.

Because adults need to go to work and they can't do it with kids

mikhail

santana75 wrote: »

One thing I cant understand is how cinemas are closed and schools are open? Surely a crowded school is less socially distanced than a cinema were every other seat is unoccupied.

Lower cost (risk of spreading), but lower benefit too (entertainment vs education). They're trying to reduce the total spreading, so they're cutting out as much 'low benefit' activity as possible. How you weigh these things up is not obvious, and economics and mental health are all relevant benefits of businesses like cinema too, but that's a complex discussion.

santana75

mikhail wrote: »

Lower cost (risk of spreading), but lower benefit too (entertainment vs education). They're trying to reduce the total spreading, so they're cutting out as much 'low benefit' activity as possible. How you weigh these things up is not obvious, and economics and mental health are all relevant benefits of businesses like cinema too, but that's a complex discussion.

So its not an issue of whats more risky in terms of infection then? It would seem that theres a far higher risk of infection in schools but yet theyre open. This is all very inconsistent.

pixelburp

My understanding is that transmission rates in schools haven't been very high in general, despite the perception that they "must" be worse 'cos of all the kids and their germs. And I'd sooner trust an institution like a school to maintain certain standards of hygiene over retail "luxuries" like cinemas, which are kind gross and unkempt at the best of times TBH.

But at this stage, there has to be a mental health judgement too: we can live with out cinemas without an advser effect on our health; but the last 6 months were often a strugle for parents to manage their kids. Especially if the parents were out of work, or trying to work remotely in a tiny flat. Closing the schools would be a nightmare for so many.

H8GHOTI

I wouldn’t be arguing that cinemas should remain open by comparing them to schools.
But I would like to see the number of cases attributed to cinemas. It must be tiny & I wouldn’t be surprised if it was zero, with all the measures in place. On that basis, I think the risk of keeping them open would be minuscule.

santana75

H8GHOTI wrote: »

I wouldn’t be arguing that cinemas should remain open by comparing them to schools.
But I would like to see the number of cases attributed to cinemas. It must be tiny & I wouldn’t be surprised if it was zero, with all the measures in place. On that basis, I think the risk of keeping them open would be minuscule.

I was under the assumption that the reason some places were closed and others werent was just because of the risk of infection. But if thats not the case then why close cinemas at all, if there hasnt been even one case attributed to the movie theatres. Some might argue that the cinema is a luxury but what about the people who work in them, like the people in cineworld for example.

H8GHOTI

I think cinemas were lumped in with bars & restaurants as indoor venues where 100s of people could be in close proximity.

In reality though that isn’t true. I went to see Tenet. When I booked online, two seats to the left & right were automatically blocked, as well as the seats in front & behind, so nobody else could sit there. I’d say even a “fully booked” movie would be about 1/4 full. Without new releases, you’d have to imagine they were quiet anyway. Don’t think the risk was high enough to close them. It’s harsh on movie goers & staff. It’ll cost the government in welfare payments & they are losing out on VAT & PAYE.

sheepsh4gger

Cinemas are bad because droplets travel far, the air isn't fresh and there is no sunlight to kill viruses and bacteria. It's bad for health in general to be in a room that never sees sunlight.

branie2

Before the new restrictions came in, our local cinema were observing the rules: assigned seating, masks on in the foyer and shop, and social distancing.

kerplun k

I think they just need to open up. Personally I won’t be going myself until I’m vaccinated. I’m a big boy, I can make my own decisions, but they need to just open it and let people decide for themselves. From what I hear cinemas went above and beyond to make things safe. The industry is crumbling, it’s very depressing.

Banjaxed82

With all the talk about the death of cinema, does anybody here actually rent videos on demand? As in new releases?

I have rented one I'd say in the last 5 years.

For example, I like the James Bond series of films, I'd go to see it in the cinema, but would I pay even 5 quid to watch it at home. No. it's definitely a film I'd wait until it came on streaming service. There are very few films that I would pay to watch at home. I don't doubt they're a good few people who rent new releases but is it on a par with the same people who would actually see the film in the cinema. Not sure.

It would be an interesting case study that obviously no rational thinking studio with do, but if you put tenet or the new James Bond film exclusively on video on demand.... How much are they actually going to make compared to a cinema release..?

Long story short, financially, I just don't see how the film industry would let cinemas die.

pixelburp

kerplun k wrote: »

I think they just need to open up. Personally I won’t be going myself until I’m vaccinated. I’m a big boy, I can make my own decisions, but they need to just open it and let people decide for themselves. From what I hear cinemas went above and beyond to make things safe. The industry is crumbling, it’s very depressing.

Thing is, simply from a business perspective why would they want to open? There's barely anything new in the mainstream that might pull in a box office worth opening over; while showing classics to 3 or 4 people isn't much of an ongoing business plan IMO either. By all accounts they weren't exactly bursting with custom when they WERE open during CoVid. So regardless of the health risks of the type of venue, being closed & only paying rent & utilities on the property might be the more appealing tactic anyway

kerplun k

pixelburp wrote: »

Thing is, simply from a business perspective why would they want to open? There's barely anything new in the mainstream that might pull in a box office worth opening over; while showing classics to 3 or 4 people isn't much of an ongoing business plan IMO either. By all accounts they weren't exactly bursting with custom when they WERE open during CoVid. So regardless of the health risks of the type of venue, being closed & only paying rent & utilities on the property might be the more appealing tactic anyway

I’m not sure what business was like during the brief opening, but if the government continues to pay wages and the cinemas can renegotiate a fair rent and somehow break even, I’d like to see them open tomorrow. There’s still films out there that could keep things ticking over, Soul, The Witches, Mulan, etc. They could have a dual release of cinema/VOD,

I know this isn’t going to happen, but it’s what I’d like to see.

kerplun k

Banjaxed82 wrote: »

With all the talk about the death of cinema, does anybody here actually rent videos on demand? As in new releases?

I have rented one I'd say in the last 5 years.

For example, I like the James Bond series of films, I'd go to see it in the cinema, but would I pay even 5 quid to watch it at home. No. it's definitely a film I'd wait until it came on streaming service. There are very few films that I would pay to watch at home. I don't doubt they're a good few people who rent new releases but is it on a par with the same people who would actually see the film in the cinema. Not sure.

It would be an interesting case study that obviously no rational thinking studio with do, but if you put tenet or the new James Bond film exclusively on video on demand.... How much are they actually going to make compared to a cinema release..?

Long story short, financially, I just don't see how the film industry would let cinemas die.

Normally I didn’t. I’d just wait for them to show up on Sky if I wasn’t too bothered to go the cinema. But since the pandemic, I started renting films at home. The invisible man, A beautiful day in the neighbourhood, the hunt and the king of staten island.

I won’t be renting anything now, purely because I have no time to set aside, and give something a decent watch. But I hope when I do, the cinema will be an option.

RasTa

They are showing football matches over here.

https://www.myvue.com/event/premier-league-west-ham-v-man-city

MJohnston

Banjaxed82 wrote: »

With all the talk about the death of cinema, does anybody here actually rent videos on demand? As in new releases?

I have rented one I'd say in the last 5 years.

For example, I like the James Bond series of films, I'd go to see it in the cinema, but would I pay even 5 quid to watch it at home. No. it's definitely a film I'd wait until it came on streaming service. There are very few films that I would pay to watch at home. I don't doubt they're a good few people who rent new releases but is it on a par with the same people who would actually see the film in the cinema. Not sure.

It would be an interesting case study that obviously no rational thinking studio with do, but if you put tenet or the new James Bond film exclusively on video on demand.... How much are they actually going to make compared to a cinema release..?

Long story short, financially, I just don't see how the film industry would let cinemas die.

I'm not renting, but I am buying. A lot. I buy them on the Google Play US store, then watch them on the Youtube app on my telly. I also got a US-based friend to sort me out with a Movies Anywhere account, to which I connected Google Play, iTunes, and Microsoft Movies.

The benefit of Movies Anywhere is I can keep my eye out for digital sales (Microsoft has them most often in my experience), buy them on whatever service I want, and then they'll be available on all the other services too (Paramount movies aside). A recent example is there was a sale on the Mission Impossible series (in 4K) so I snapped them all up for less than €30.

My digital library is over 100 movies at this stage, most of those bought in the last year.

As for why — well I haven't really been able to go to the cinema for a few years thanks to having a child. He's 4 now, and in those 4 years the only time I've been to the cinema was for Little Women (while he was at creche!) and Gemini Man (while I was on a business trip in the US, because I wanted to experience the HFR thing).

Combine that with the unpleasant parts of cinema-going (even at the best of times) and I've completely lost the appetite for it. I'm used to waiting until VOD releases before seeing most films, and I've learned not to care too much about spoilers. Plus we have an excellent 4K TV at home which largely negates the visual advantage of going to a cinema (although I was heavily contemplating going out to see Tenet in IMAX).

The films I most enjoy are low-budget indies which don't have a large cinema window, so I generally don't have to wait long. And a large number of things I enjoy are going straight to streaming these days too. There's so little to draw me to the cinema.

gmisk

branie2 wrote: »

Before the new restrictions came in, our local cinema were observing the rules: assigned seating, masks on in the foyer and shop, and social distancing.

I was in the lighthouse a few times when it re opened.
They were doing a brilliant job.
Half the rows gone and two seats on either side of each booking.

I miss the cinema more than the pub tbh

branie2

Same here

The White Wolf

MJohnston wrote: »

I'm not renting, but I am buying. A lot. I buy them on the Google Play US store, then watch them on the Youtube app on my telly. I also got a US-based friend to sort me out with a Movies Anywhere account, to which I connected Google Play, iTunes, and Microsoft Movies.

The benefit of Movies Anywhere is I can keep my eye out for digital sales (Microsoft has them most often in my experience), buy them on whatever service I want, and then they'll be available on all the other services too (Paramount movies aside). A recent example is there was a sale on the Mission Impossible series (in 4K) so I snapped them all up for less than €30.

My digital library is over 100 movies at this stage, most of those bought in the last year.

As for why — well I haven't really been able to go to the cinema for a few years thanks to having a child. He's 4 now, and in those 4 years the only time I've been to the cinema was for Little Women (while he was at creche!) and Gemini Man (while I was on a business trip in the US, because I wanted to experience the HFR thing).

Combine that with the unpleasant parts of cinema-going (even at the best of times) and I've completely lost the appetite for it. I'm used to waiting until VOD releases before seeing most films, and I've learned not to care too much about spoilers. Plus we have an excellent 4K TV at home which largely negates the visual advantage of going to a cinema (although I was heavily contemplating going out to see Tenet in IMAX).

The films I most enjoy are low-budget indies which don't have a large cinema window, so I generally don't have to wait long. And a large number of things I enjoy are going straight to streaming these days too. There's so little to draw me to the cinema.

Well I must admit that the cinema had lost its charm for me a bit in the past 3 years or so. No particular reason other than that I never went to the cinema for the shared experience so as I got older, having to deal with show times around work, ads and the very odd asshole just became unnecessary nuisances for me. I've been a bit disillusioned with Hollywood recently.

I've also just invested in a 4k set up and starting to use services such as google play so I'll see how I get on.

The only thing I struggle with is that I do like to give my patronage to local outlets, from the local coffee shop to the local cinema. I'd hate to see my local cinema go under so if I can contribute to keeping it open I will. I mean the second our local outlets and sports clubs start to shut down we're in trouble. Both kids and adults need some distraction from the sh1tiness of life these days.

Nigel Fairservice

gmisk wrote: »

I was in the lighthouse a few times when it re opened.
They were doing a brilliant job.
Half the rows gone and two seats on either side of each booking.

I miss the cinema more than the pub tbh

Same here, it makes no odds to me that pubs are closed because I'd rarely visit one at the best of times. I do realise the pub means a lot more to some people than it does to me. I feel the same way about the cinema that a lot of people feel about the pub. I miss my after work on Friday cinema visits.

santana75

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

Same here, it makes no odds to me that pubs are closed because I'd rarely visit one at the best of times. I do realise the pub means a lot more to some people than it does to me. I feel the same way about the cinema that a lot of people feel about the pub. I miss my after work on Friday cinema visits.

Im the same. Im working and studying so my week days are full on, Im always surrounded by people, theres never a moment to myself. So when the weekend comes I love to slip off by myself to the local cinema, grab some popcorn, kick back and relax. Its my idea of heaven and its something I really miss.

Sad Professor

I saw this notice at the start of a recent AVClub review and have seen similar elsewhere:

Note: The writer of this review watched Let Him Go from home. Before making the decision to see it—or any other film—in a movie theater, please consider the health risks involved. Here’s an interview on the matter with scientific experts.

I wonder if the writer/publication would still feel this way if there was no VOD and their livelihood depended on cinemas being open and surviving?

Sad Professor

Cinema re-openings:

IFI from Tues 1st December
Lighthouse from Fri 4th December

Any others?

dublinman1990

Odeon Cinemas here has launched a new website. I can't find any dates about when they reopen for Level 3.

I still can't find the news about Stillorgan being open because there has been no showtimes on it for a while.

Odeon Cinemas have 8 movies + 1 concert film available for viewing in their cinemas that are open.

Sinister 2
Home Alone 1 & 2
Two by Two Overboard
Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular
A Muppet Christmas Carol
It's a Wonderful Life
Wolfwalkers + Q&A
Paddington
Elf

Odeon have a new app to book your tickets & seats whenever they reopen once the restrictions are over.

Mr Crispy

Oooh I've been dying to see Wolfwalkers.

Niska

Omniplex reopen in Limerick (and elsewhere) Friday 4th. Still wary of going, but they're showing Wolfwalkers so will probably go Monday or Tuesday next.

OU812

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Odeon Cinemas here has launched a new website. I can't find any dates about when they reopen for Level 3.

I still can't find the news about Stillorgan being open because there has been no showtimes on it for a while.

Odeon Cinemas have 8 movies + 1 concert film available for viewing in their cinemas that are open.

1. Sinister 2
2. Home Alone 1 & 2
3. Two by Two Overboard
4. Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular
5. A Muppet Christmas Carol
6. It's a Wonderful Life
7. Wolfwalkers + Q&A
8. Paddington
9. Elf

Odeon have a new app to book your tickets & seats whenever they reopen once the restrictions are over.

1. No interest
2. Own them
3. No Interest
4. On Prime
5. Own it
6. Own it
7. On Apple TV (without the Q&A)
8. On Prime
9. Own It

No cinema for me

Mr Crispy wrote: »

Oooh I've been dying to see Wolfwalkers.

Niska wrote: »

Omniplex reopen in Limerick (and elsewhere) Friday 4th. Still wary of going, but they're showing Wolfwalkers so will probably go Monday or Tuesday next.

It's on Apple TV

Niska

OU812 wrote: »

It's on Apple TV

Just checked, release date is 11th Dec. And 1 month sub is less than a cinema ticket. May not be going to cinema...

johnny_ultimate

Mank and Wolfwalkers are both out on streaming platforms within days.

I nonetheless can’t wait to see them both on the big screen this week Nothing like that experience for me, and cinemas have measures in place that to me feel substantially safer and more robust than what I’ve seen in the likes of restaurants.

OU812

Niska wrote: »

Just checked, release date is 11th Dec. And 1 month sub is less than a cinema ticket. May not be going to cinema...

And there’s some great stuff on there to fill that month.

branie2

I'll be going on Friday week, as my local cinema is reopening that day

CinemaGuy45

branie2 wrote: »

I'll be going on Friday week, as my local cinema is reopening that day

My local Cinema is closed for good.

It was a bit of a kip so I have mixed feelings.:)

branie2

Sorry to hear that; Hopefully a new one will replace it.

titan18

Was pretty surprised at the films Omniplex picked. Kinda like they don't want people with some of them tbh.

Lots of films that were released between August and November, and the bring it back films are a poor choice. I reckon Love Actually and Nightmare before Christmas might do ok crowd wise but nothing there that would really tempt me out

1o059k7ewrqj3n

I was in the cinemas before the last lockdown. Saw Jurassic Park, Bill & Ted 3, Dirty Dancing. For the most part it's fine and the measures in place are good, but when it comes to assigning seats they dropped the ball once or twice.

Odeon would randomly place you anywhere - you could end up sitting right in front of the screen - which is far from ideal. Another time someone was place sitting beside me after I was randomly assigned. It was just a bit of a mess and hopefully they figured that one out.

I will probably go and see Home Alone as its a great Christmas film and would love to see it on the big screen, not sure I did when I was a kid.

Sad Professor

Vue re-opening from Friday 11th December.

Homelander

Saint Maud out in the cinema this weekend, dying to get back to the cinema so anything would've done, but that I specifically want to see.

AMKC

Sad Professor wrote: »

Vue re-opening from Friday 11th December.

Feck sake 🙁

Why so slow?

They have had a whole week to prepare to reopen.

They should be reopening next week not in 2 weeks time.

If it was the wet pubs they would have been open the very first day they were allowed.

Cinema's should be the same.

The Davestator

Booked for the Jack Charlon movie on Monday and very excited to be getting back to the cinema. I'll enjoy it as often as I can in December.

MJohnston

AMKC wrote: »

Feck sake 🙁

Why so slow?

I'm assuming they're taking a while because they know that opening will probably end up costing them more money than remaining shut.

AMKC

MJohnston wrote: »

I'm assuming they're taking a while because they know that opening will probably end up costing them more money than remaining shut.

Ye your probably right unfortunatly.

Rearing to go to the cinema to see a good film myself but them not opening straight away means unless something decent comes out I will just wait till Wonder Women 1984 is out before I see anything.

The cinemas should have re-opened with Tenet and whatever other big films were out. Lots of us still not seen that. They could have had that out today hell yesterday even and got decent crowds in if advertised right.

kerplun k

Wonder Women 1984 confirmed for Irish cinemas. That’s great news. Really hope I can get vaccinated in January to go see it.

OU812

WB have just announced they're to release their entire 2021 slate to HBO Max.

We'll most likely still get cinema releases here, but with the level of piracy this will produce, you have to ask yourself if it'll be worth their while opening.

Personally, I'll be looking into setting up a VPN & HBO max sub.

pixelburp

OU812 wrote: »

WB have just announced they're to release their entire 2021 slate to HBO Max.

We'll most likely still get cinema releases here, but with the level of piracy this will produce, you have to ask yourself if it'll be worth their while opening.

Personally, I'll be looking into setting up a VPN & HBO max sub.

Seems a weird decision really, given as you say the immediate piracy will hurt cinema tickets in the countries that will still see a theatrical release - certainly the wonder woman sequel will ask questions towards that theory.

OU812

pixelburp wrote: »

Seems a weird decision really, given as you say the immediate piracy will hurt cinema tickets in the countries that will still see a theatrical release - certainly the wonder woman sequel will ask questions towards that theory.

Not a weird decision at all.

It's not piracy, I'll be paying for the sub, just as I would if they offered it here, I'm just accessing it differently to their usual subscriber.

I have a decent home cinema here, large 4k screen, atmos speakers & decent broadband. I've spent close to €2.5k on movies this year so far., I don't smoke & rarely drink, so that's my thing.

I'm got someone in my immediate family in a very high risk category, so I wouldn't take the risk to potentially infect them.

Sam Hain

kerplun k wrote: »

Wonder Women 1984 confirmed for Irish cinemas. That’s great news. Really hope I can get vaccinated in January to go see it.

I think you might be in luck, the official list from government will read something like this for priorities
1 - Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2 - All those aged 80 and over. Frontline health and social care workers
3 - All those aged 75 and over
4.- People who want to go to the cinema.
5 - All those aged 70 and over. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
6 - All those aged 65 and over
7 - All individuals aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality

Penfailed

kerplun k wrote: »

Wonder Women 1984 confirmed for Irish cinemas. That’s great news. Really hope I can get vaccinated in January to go see it.

You don't need to get vaccinated to go to the cinema.