Shyamalan Versus DVD

The most important issue facing movie fans right now isn't the box office slump, or piracy. It's a ridiculous plan to simultaneously release movies on DVD and in theaters. This is the movie industry's response to their overblown claims that they're losing millions to movie pirates. This is their response to audience disinterest in going to the theater. They're not lowering ticket prices, they're not trying to make better movies, they're not even considering simultaneous, global theatrical releases. Nope, they're basically abandoning the theater and trying to sell more DVDs.

What's really sad about this is that there are one or two respected filmmakers out there supporting this half-cocked idea. Steven Soderbergh in particular. So far, everyone else has been silent… at least until last week when finally, someone of note spoke out against this shortsighted idea. M. Night Shyamalan has come out against it, and he has this to say about it, "It's heartless and soulless and disrespectful. And of course, cable companies are behind it, and internet companies. They need their product. But they have to wait their turn. Wait for the thing to finish its life."..."If you inspire audiences, cinemas will be packed." And the man is right. This isn't about what's best for the art form, or what will help bring more movies to more people or whatever malarkey is inevitably going to be used to sell it, it's about green corporate greed.

The thing is, there's a difference between watching a movie on DVD and in theaters. Don't talk to me about how kickass your home theater setup is, that's not what I'm talking about here. Seeing a movie in the cinema is an experience, and that experience is also a part of the film itself. Now in some cases this is irrelevant. Crappy, low budget Indies play just as well on your television as they do on a theater screen. But a movie like King Kong needs the heart and soul of a movie theater. It needs the big screen, it needs to be a shared experience. Shoving a movie like that, which was made and intended to be seen on a big screen out on DVD is just flat out wrong headed.