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Peter Jackson and JJ Abrams 'Back' Sean Parker's Screening Room (variety.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Reports claim that Napster founder, Sean Parker, is working on a new service, called Screening Room, which would make major blockbusters available at home on the same day as they hit cinemas. The service would apparently charge users $50 per movie, and provide them with a 48-hour window to watch it. Now a new report claims that Hollywood titans Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams are among backers of Screening Room.

288 comments

  1. A famous book of literary criticism once said... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A fool and his money soon parted.

  2. Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that pr by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    Better have Dolby atoms and at least 4k at $50. Also the system should let you do offsite downloads just so the people with low caps can use other places to download at.

  3. It's all about the benjamins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The studios have never had a problem with same day in home viewing. They just have had a problem with the price.
     
    One of the component of piracy is the pricing. People shelling out $7-15 per person for a ticket to a movie to only be gouged for food. This $50 would probably net the studios more than through the theaters.

    1. Re:It's all about the benjamins by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      The significance I see in this is for families. A family of four can easily be close to $200 to see a movie, and it's not even a comfortable setting. I'll take it for $50 any day. Although that said, there are very few movies that I won't wait for the blu-ray release.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    2. Re:It's all about the benjamins by zlives · · Score: 1

      or for the used blueray a month after that...

    3. Re:It's all about the benjamins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait, how do you get to 200 for four people? Are they buying 30 bucks worth of food each? How about a little self control, or just eat ahead of time?

    4. Re:It's all about the benjamins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The most likely answer is that they are all fat and unhealthy. Instead of going to the theatre, they should be going to the gym.

  4. $50 is 'high end' by CanEHdian · · Score: 1

    It's a bit too much for me, even if you watch it with a few other people; perhaps in the future we'll see the price drop to maybe $20/movie after a week or two, and $10/movie after 4 weeks. I usually go with just the wife and that $50 is about what I pay for 2 tickets for a 3D movie with popcorn and pop combo deals.

    --
    When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
    1. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Lose · · Score: 1

      I think the price point is $50 due to it competing with the establishment (e.g. brick and mortar movie theaters). If they charge too much, nobody will use the service. If they charge too little, they are competing with existing streaming services like Netflix and Hulu which would otherwise be declined such early access agreements which could result in lots of lawyers having a very merry Christmas this year.

      I wonder how it would affect their gross revenue on these movies at the lower price point. Apart from the fact it could disrupt food and merch sales for the theaters, it would be cutting into the high price point ticket sales which would mean Michael Bay would have to wait at least an extra 2 years for his tenth private jet purchase. Can't have that now, can we?

    2. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'll spend more than 50 for tickets for you and 3 friends to see a current blockbuster at an evening show. The price is reasonable in that context.

      Considering that, I'm willing to bet the studios will impose DRM and equipment restrictions that kill it's viability. HDCP is a joke (Event he the new one they require for 4k. It's already broken.) and I don't really see them giving out digital copies of Day 0 blockbusters when you can strip and dump an HDMI stream with equipment that costs less than a hundred bucks off ebay.

      I'd almost bet they'd require having a video camera watch you to make sure you're not violating your license by showing it to too many people.. While soaking up demographic information by face recognizing everyone in the room.

      I'm sure they'll fuck it up somehow.

    3. Re:$50 is 'high end' by CaptainLard · · Score: 1

      Might not make sense for you and your wife now but if you have kids you probably won't have a good opportunity to go to a theater for several months at least (my experience anyway). A year after that its $30 for tickets plus $xx for a babysitter plus finding that babysitter, etc. A few years after that its over $50 for the whole family just for tickets. Our solution is just wait for redbox or streaming no matter how much advertising and buzz makes us want want to see something. Which works out just fine for us but as far as the studio is concerned, they just left $48.50 on the table. They're crazy not to give me the option. ...not sure that a set top box is really necessary though, aside from another big data monitor...

    4. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope. 3 tickets = ~$30.

      Also it's much less tacky to tell your friends to buy their own tickets than it is to charge them 1/3rd of the $50 price to watch it in your home (it would also be illegal).

    5. Re:$50 is 'high end' by jfengel · · Score: 1

      I think it's the theater popcorn and merch sales that figure into the price more than Netflix does. The theater owners are going to want to pay much, much less for movies if they don't have a monopoly on (legal) early viewings.

      The total amount of money spent by consumers on the movies (including snacks) will probably about come out in the wash at this price point, but theater owners won't stand for 100% of it going to the studio. They'll demand a cut. I'm not sure in what form they'll get it; it might be a profit sharing on the tickets they do sell (rather than sending practically all of it to the distributor). But they won't survive long if they don't get something.

    6. Re:$50 is 'high end' by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      $50 is completely unrealistic for me as well.

      The last movie I saw in the theater was a Rifftrax live event about a year ago and even that was less than $50 for 2 people.

      Clearly I am not the target market here.

      Not saying it is a bad idea though. The MPAA could make a killing off of this if it takes off.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    7. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the price point is $50 due to it competing with the establishment (e.g. brick and mortar movie theaters).

      Great. Another excuse for my local cinema to raise the prices. Again.

    8. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'll spend more than 50 for tickets for you and 3 friends to see a current blockbuster at an evening show.

      No, we'd spend less than $10 each for tickets and have infinitely better experiences.

      Watching movies at home is ghetto. It's what you do when you're alone and bored, not when you have friends.

    9. Re:$50 is 'high end' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For the mathematically impaired, You + 3 friends = 4 (unless you work at the theater - in that case, never-mind, carry on).

  5. Yes Please by Bruha · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have a 4K HDR Dolby Atmos dedicated theater in my basement. Sure a 100 foot screen is great and all, but I have better sound and video on my 133" screen than any theater within a 18 hour drive. I would gladly pay that fee, it would be cheaper than me and my wife going because of the cost of a sitter.

    1. Re:Yes Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure a 100 foot screen is great and all

      No, not really. I have a 250" theatre/gaming setup at home and even I know it's not nearly as good as the real deal.

      I have better sound and video on my 133" screen than any theater within a 18 hour drive

      Either all of the theatres within a 1000+ mile radius of you are run down little shacks or you're rich and own industrial grade audio equipment and an auditorium with proper acoustics.

      Sorry, I'm calling utter BS on your statement. There is no way you have better visuals or sound on your dinky home system than is available at the theatres.

    2. Re:Yes Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a 4K HDR Dolby Atmos dedicated theater in my basement. Sure a 100 foot screen is great and all, but I have better sound and video on my 133" screen than any theater within a 18 hour drive. I would gladly pay that fee, it would be cheaper than me and my wife going because of the cost of a sitter.

      Fuck, yeah. And I'd thought all the real* slashdot users had left.

      * Yes I'm aware of that fallacy, you can put your claymore down now.

    3. Re:Yes Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When you say "your basement" we need to be clear that you're talking about your mom's basement, where you live, and she brings you sandwiches.

    4. Re:Yes Please by shawn2772 · · Score: 1

      I have a 4K HDR Dolby Atmos dedicated theater in my basement. Sure a 100 foot screen is great and all, but I have better sound and video on my 133" screen than any theater within a 18 hour drive. I would gladly pay that fee, it would be cheaper than me and my wife going because of the cost of a sitter.

      Also... if it's a movie for the kids too, $50 can easily be cheaper. I took my kids and my wife to see Zootopia last night and spent $52.50 on six tickets, plus another $45.40 on overprices sodas and popcorn, not to mention gas. The theater is a little better experience in some ways, worse in others, but all in all I'd consider my home theater a reasonable alternative, and for the whole family $50 is much cheaper.

      Of course, we could also wait a few months and buy or rent it on Google Play, Amazon, etc. for between $4 and $20, depending. But we're probably not going to do that.

      However, I don't think I'd use this to see movies with my wife even if it were cheaper (which for us it wouldn't be; we don't need a sitter). The point of date night is getting out of the house and doing something together, and without the kids around. The theater is far better for that, even if it costs more.

    5. Re:Yes Please by twistedcubic · · Score: 1

      Yup. I'd pay this. Since having kids, I average about 2-3 movie outings a year, and getting a babysitter last minute is always a hassle.

    6. Re:Yes Please by twistedcubic · · Score: 1

      Sounds like a nice arrangement, don't you think?

    7. Re:Yes Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's so cool, I bet your dick is huge!

  6. You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by eumoria · · Score: 2

    "and along with Screening Room’s robust anti-piracy strategy" LOL are they serious? If you can see and hear the movie you can record and redistribute it. Period. At first I'm sure they'll have the stream locked down but pirates will just record it using a capture system and re-encode. And quickly the stream will be compromised and they won't even have to do that. Don't get me wrong I like the idea but if they're under some delusion that there won't be releases on every torrent site after a couple hours they REALLY don't get it. Love the idea (maybe not for $50 a movie) but you'll be able to get copies from everywhere less than a few hours after release.

    1. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe they'll try for some kind of watermark. That's not a "robust anti-piracy strategy" though, just punitive. That's cool and all, but self gratification != deterrence.

      And I imagine they're unlikely to survive a re-encode, without being explicit. And even then shuffling some audio/video sliders will surely smear the trace.

    2. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      You already could get copies of movies everywhere, sometimes even prior to release. The only real change is that you don't get a lot of shaky cam releases from someone who tried to film it in a theater.

      If they were really serious about anti-piracy measures, they'd give each person a custom version of the film that inserts slight, but largely unnoticeable graphical anomalies that would likely persist through any capture and re-encoding or even if someone just points a camera at their screen to side step any other forms of DRM or HDCP-like protections. Then you know exactly where the leak came from and have a pretty easy time making a case in court.

      But I doubt it will even come to this point as the studios aren't going to want this any more than the movie theaters. No matter how much they charge, the argument will be that someone will start their own unauthorized theater by charging $5 or something like that which will hurt the current business model.

    3. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      There's always the analog hole. People make cam versions in cinemas - won't be hard to make an even higher quality cam from a TV set.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    4. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by eumoria · · Score: 1

      Correct also HDCP is completely and totally broken I work in the industry and have an HDCP stripper box. HDCP signal in --> Unencrypted out so I doubt they'll use that as the primary protection measure. The idea of watermarking individually isn't bad one though it would probably stop your average person from supplying rips.

    5. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Exactly. Even if the data stream is 100% secure (impossible, but I'll allow it for the sake of argument), all this means is next day "good enough" home cam versions all over the place. $50 for 48 hours doesn't sound like a bad deal if you have more a few people interested, but I'll be surprised if the movie studios will go for it unless they have some sneaky way to encode the exact subscriber information into the stream in a way that would also show up in a cam version (i.e. some kind of subtle watermark). Even if they did that they'll be playing whack-a-mole forever trying to prosecute people.

      But maybe they already know this and still think it will make money. They might be right.

    6. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

      They'll probably have individual watermarks for each subscriber so they can point directly to who leaked it. And considering it's not a large theater, it'd be quite obvious they were complicit in the filming.

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    7. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >unnoticeable
      >makes it onto camera capture

      Gotta pick one, son.

    8. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure that your copy will be watermarked and fully traceable back to you if you cam it; so that watermark will have to be IDed and removed before the analog hole opens up :)

    9. Re:You Will Not Stop Anyone from Ripping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could still record the movie for future personal viewing and just not distribute it. At $50 a pop, I certainly would.

  7. SubjectIsSubject by p0p0 · · Score: 1

    Well $50 isn't that bad if you plan on having friends over to watch it together instead of going to the cinema. I don't see how they can make real money on it because most people are tired of shelling out $15+ just to go see the movie so I doubt they'll pay $50 just for the sake of staying in.

    On the other hand, at least pirates will be able to a good rip on day one to enjoy at home.
    I don't see this really coming to fruition because of that.

  8. Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The service would apparently charge users $50 per movie, and provide them with a 48-hour window to watch it.

    Nope.

  9. $50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by turp182 · · Score: 1

    When I take my twins to a movie it goes like this:
    $40 for tickets
    $20-30 for food/drink (not counting the trip to Walgreen's for candy)

    So $60-70 total (minimum actually, game room is another money sink at some theaters).

    $50 to watch it at home? Shoot, I'd almost pay a higher premium.

    And even if it's just my wife and I watching, it's still cheaper than the UFC (which we watch regularly - mixed martial arts if you aren't familiar with it).

    --
    BlameBillCosby.com
    1. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And even if it's just my wife and I watching, it's still cheaper than the UFC (which we watch regularly - mixed martial arts if you aren't familiar with it).

      Do you put on an Affliction t-shirt and keep some ice-cold Monsters next to the couch?

    2. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't spend that much to go to the Arc-light, which is the most expensive movie theatre I've been to.

      First way to save money. Neither my wife, nor I, every buy anything but a ticket at the the movie theatre. Candy from CVS/Walgreens. No food or drink there. All the drink does is make me have to pee anyway.

    3. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      Wait till the movie comes out on PPV. Spend $5. Done. There's a tax on your kids' impatience.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    4. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by turp182 · · Score: 1

      Are you suggesting that I'm not impatient!

      --
      BlameBillCosby.com
    5. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could just tell your children "no" to the food and games. Unless your reference to twins was not your children but something about your wife.

    6. Re:$50 is reasonable to me, bring it on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bet he thinks that mixed "martial" arts would actually be effective in a real fight too.

  10. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by cayenne8 · · Score: 2

    Are there actually THAT many people that HAVE to see it on release day.....and can't wait for a later, more convenient day, or maybe just do like I do...and wait for it to come out on BLuRay...rent and watch in the comfort of their own home...?

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  11. I wonder what their anti-piracy strategy is... by JMZero · · Score: 1

    I assume they'll be leaning on some kind of "unique purchaser identification" - like, we can identify your copy of the film in some kind of robust way, we'll require some kind of secure ID/credit in order to purchase, and we'll come eat your face if "your" copy of the film gets leaked?

    Because it's obviously not going to be possible to prevent people from setting up a video camera in their own house.

    --
    Let's not stir that bag of worms...
  12. As long as by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    they make the shows $2 after it goes to dvd/br release.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  13. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This reminds me of my college days. I always asked my roommates if they wanted cable. They all say YES! I then asked them if they wanted to pay for cable. They all say NO! We never had cable when I was in college.

  14. Raids by sycodon · · Score: 1

    Just watch. If you have more than X people, it will be considered a violation of the license.

    SWAT raids will follow.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:Raids by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      I am thinking the same thing.

      Something tells me that if this does make it to market, it will be with some pretty crazy restrictions.

      Perhaps you will need a special device and agree to some invasive snooping or something.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  15. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by crashumbc · · Score: 1

    True, but for say a family of four.

    This could easily be MUCH cheaper then going to the movie theater, especially if you add in drinks/snacks....

  16. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by dpidcoe · · Score: 1

    A single viewer watching on their laptop in their parents basement probably isn't the target market.

    I have a friend with a home theater. Big projection screen, proper acoustic dampening, decent sound system, 3d capable, seats 6 (more if people sit on the floor and/or double up on the couch). $50 split 6 ways is cheaper than a movie ticket, and it's way better viewing experience.

  17. Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh goody! I can't wait to spend some quality time with one of my favorite literary characters: TOM BOMBADIL..

    Oh wait...not in the movie.

    Oh well, I will just love to see what they did with the spectacular "FIRE OF ISENGARD" scenes!

    Hm...one orc, running with a torch...trips, ooof... So the fire of isengard was turned into "The Olympic Torch of Despair"...how very....dignified...

    But how about the proud warriors of the Rohirrim...hm, they became bedraggled peasants

    Fangorn forest....uhhhh.... wait...Arwen saves Frodo...uhh wait no that didn't happen that way AAAAAGGGGHH

    Dude's a hack. Admit it.

    1. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by Dunbal · · Score: 2

      But you got a million tedious fight scenes that were never in the books.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 3, Funny

      wait no that didn't happen that way AAAAAGGGGHH

      Dude's a hack. Admit it.

      I agree. I boycotted those movies when I found out the dialogue was going to be in English, instead of in the original Westron with subtitles.

    3. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 2

      >> the dialogue was going to be in English, instead of in the original Westron with subtitles

      Coffee, meet keyboard.

    4. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair, the first Lord of the Rings film done by Peter Jackson was almost a scene for scene lift from the 1978 Bakshi film. I realise being based on a book that there was only so much liberty that could be taken with the story while remaining somewhat true, but the angles and cinematography were obviously copied.

    5. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      You take a non-popular stance here but I agree with you. Of course, not even the BBC radio play had Tom Bombadil and that is about as faithful an adaptation as I have ever encountered.

      When these movies first came out, I didn't see them in the theater.

      These were childhood favorite books that really sparked my imagination.

      The thing I hate about movies made from books is not so much the technical inaccuracies, it's that my memory gets overwritten with the face of whatever actor they decided to plunk in.

      I did finally see the movies long after they had been released and I was actually bored watching them. I guess another nice thing about a book is that you don't have to do the whole thing at once.. only when you are really in a place to enjoy it. I think that people watch movies just to fill time or to keep from having to talk to people for a little while.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    6. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      At least he didn't start inserting scenes from the upcoming video games into the LoTR movies. Those had to wait for 'The Hobbit' films.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    7. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by cmdr_klarg · · Score: 1

      posting to remove erroneous mod.... apologies

      --
      THE SOFTWARE, IT NO WORKY!!!
    8. Re:Peter Jackson, so you know it has to be.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be honest, Tolkien's mangling of even the simplest grammar and spelling rules in the Middle-Earth languages (common who doesn't know chu before bshz except after kaaaa) made it so that Jackson had no choice. It was either be the laughing stock of the linguistic world (I mean pre-post nullified neutral tense of the second deleted order without the requisite .75 second mewling? Really?) or just go with big simple English that even a dragon can understand.

  18. High end... by Etherwalk · · Score: 2

    There are plenty of people to whom $50 is not problematic at all for an hour or two of entertainment. Think what dinner at a nice restaurant costs even in a medium-sized city. They could charge more and still have many thousands of customers, but are obviously searching for the sweet spot between cost and number of customers that optimizes their return.

    1. Re:High end... by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's about what it costs to see it in a theater in many places, when you factor in "practicality". About $20 for tickets, then another $20 for overpriced snacks. Add another $8 or so if it's "3D".

      Still, I'd wait for it to come out cheaper elsewhere unless I hear the movie is exceptionally good from trustworthy sources (not paid for critics).

    2. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad I don't live where you live.

      Here, a movie costs about 7.50 to get in, and I bring my own snacks and drinks from a local store like Target or Walmart, all totaled, about 10 bucks a person for a movie.

      10 bucks vs 50 bucks means I won't be using this.

    3. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I live in Los Angeles and it only costs about $7 per ticket. $12 if you want it in IMAX. You just have to go during the day instead of at night.

      Snacks aren't a problem because I don't like to eat while I'm doing other things, so I never buy them anyway.

    4. Re:High end... by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 1

      I am assuming 2 people, which I think is a reasonable assumption. This doesn't work for a lone gunman, or two people who don't want to be robbed at the snack line.

      However looking around at theater audiences my assumptions are actually on the low side for most movies (I usually see groups of 3-4), but about right for R-rated movies.

    5. Re:High end... by Dan+Ost · · Score: 2

      So if you have a group of 6 or more, this would be a good deal in your case.

      In my case, this is a good deal for 3 or more.

      --

      *sigh* back to work...
    6. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really wonder where people see movies with those prices. For me, I go to a $5 per ticket and get a $5 slushie (or what ever you want to call it). It is the cheapest (and oldest) theater around, but they need to drive up attendance. The next closest place is about $9-10 per normal ticket. About $14 for 3d, and they charge more for snacks obviously. If I was that hungry, I'd stop at the gas station on the way there and just stuff my pockets.

      The only place nearby I can think of that would cost $20 per (just guessing), would be a Muvico with IMAX and all that jazz about half an hour away in downtown. These prices are in a pretty well off area.

      I do miss this one small theater where you could dine-in while watching films. Even their meals wouldn't cost $20+ unless you ordered something like steak.

    7. Re:High end... by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      The last movie my wife and I went to see (Deadpool) was just about $50; that's two tickets, two medium popcorns, two pops and a bag of M&Ms and a bag of sour candies. Not cheap at all, but Deadpool is the kind of movie that really is best seen with a theater full of people.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    8. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's sad you don't have friends. Even where you are, yourself and 4 buddies could watch in the comfort of your own home (and I assume with pause, rewind, rewatch capabilities) for the same price as the theatre.

      But at least you live in an area where the theatre Gestapo don't perform TSM level of body intrusions to ensure you aren't sneaking externally purchased sustenance into their insanely overpriced envionment.

    9. Re:High end... by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      This is almost, but not quite, as stupid as people who watch cellphone video of a movie, at home, when it is released.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    10. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot to include the cost of health care from the diabetes caused by two popcorns, two pops, a bag of M&Ms, and a bag of sour candies.

    11. Re:High end... by Agent0013 · · Score: 1

      That was basically what I thought. It seems really expensive and why not just wait to see it on disk or Amazon streaming. But if you had 5 or more people watching it together it would probably be cheaper to watch it at home. Add in the cost of snacks and that you could make a party out of it and get 8-10 people over depending on your room layout then it is damn cheap.

      Of course most people don't have the same sound system an in a theater. Even a fairly good one just doesn't have the size and number of speakers as you find an a cinema setup. Screen size might be ok because you are closer, but there is something about looking at that huge screen in front of you also.

      --

      -- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
    12. Re:High end... by greenfruitsalad · · Score: 2

      i still don't understand how they're going to secure it. if one can play it, one can record it. does the movie come with a policeman standing in the room? is it going to be watermarked for each user's dick pic and name/address? having to use a special 150 dollar set top box isn't going to matter if i then feed the hdmi cable into a "certain device from alibaba.com" instead of a TV.

    13. Re:High end... by OakDragon · · Score: 1

      Take four people to the movies, and you can easily move north of $50.00.

    14. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (Score:-1, Cannot refute)

    15. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about the amount for a day's wage since you have to take off work to go see the daytime showing on release day. Oh, I get it, you don't have a job so the net cost is really just the matinee ticket.

    16. Re:High end... by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why? Because it's not how you like to spend your dollars?

      My wife and I could easily have another couple over and this becomes $12.50 per person, which is below the price of good tickets in my city, before factoring in any supplemental costs. Even if I just watch it with my wife, $25/person isn't particularly outrageous for entertainment - especially since it's only another option in long list of entertainment viewing choices. Sometimes, I just want to stay home, order a pizza, maybe put a few drinks in me and not worry about a taxi, and watch a movie. I imagine Deadpool would have been a good candidate for this service - especially if I can pause and rewind.

      Despite the fact that Safeway has rib roasts for $5.77/lb, lots of people still prefer to have people prepare them and serve them to them for $20-50/lb. And, by the same token, despite the fact that I can get good pulled pork with little to no effort at a reasonable price from the nice place up the street, sometimes I like to spend an entire weekend smoking my own pork shoulder, despite the fact that it's not an "efficient" use of my time.

      It's not "stupid" when people place different values on their time and comfort than you do.

    17. Re:High end... by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      Buy the popcorn hard to seek the good stuff in but for the candy seek it in. As for the pop get the Fountain or seek it in.

    18. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I usually go on my lunch break with co-workers. We are salaried employees with flex time and allotted personal time, so it's never a problem.

      I am sorry to hear about your poor working conditions however.

    19. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Only if you pay for all of them.

    20. Re:High end... by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      There are plenty of people to whom $50 is not problematic at all for an hour or two of entertainment. Think what dinner at a nice restaurant costs even in a medium-sized city. They could charge more and still have many thousands of customers, but are obviously searching for the sweet spot between cost and number of customers that optimizes their return.

      I happen to have a very goodly amount of disposable income....$50 here and there, are random bar tabs on a weekend, much less dining out at a nice restaurant....

      That being said, I just can't see "renting a movie" for $50, when if I wait just a bit longer, I can get it for like $3 or so at RedBox....

      I don't mind spending money, but I still want value for my money....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    21. Re:High end... by Junta · · Score: 1

      Keep in mind it's not unusual for a family of 4 to go out together.

      I can personally wait the typically 4 months between theatrical release and home release, even for things I really care about.

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
    22. Re:High end... by lgw · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'd bet on watermarking, since that survives the analog hole. There's a proven technology used for "awards screeners" - proven in that people have been arrested for leaking.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    23. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To amend with some arbitrarily chosen Fandango numbers:
      At a 6:30 showing, one adult is $13.10, a child is $10.14. Ignoring other costs, $50 is nearly break-even for a mathematically standard family of 4. ($46.48 vs. $50)

      Added benefits:
      Only your own crowd.
      No additional traffic.
      Only gluten-free low-carb soy-cakes for the kids to munch on. (or whatever dietary tyranny you prefer)
      Pause button.

      Drawbacks:
      Bad deal for singles with no friends interested in the movie.
      No chance to hit on the snack-girl at the theater.
      Limited to your current screen size and audio system.

      Supplemental benefit:
      Reduced likelihood of the snack-girl at the theater calling the cops on you.

    24. Re:High end... by tnk1 · · Score: 1

      That's true. We need to remember to socialize the long term costs of diabetes into the price of candy.

      I think we also need to do a carbon contribution assessment of the snacks and add a surcharge. Especially for the chili dogs. That has got to be causing the massive release of methane into the environment.

    25. Re:High end... by tnk1 · · Score: 1

      As other have pointed out, that could be a nice event for some friends and family. You do need a decent sound system and screen or you are missing out on the movie to some degree, but I have to admit that I know many people that live in relative hovels who have nonetheless taken great care to have a huge TV and sound system. So, my objection may not actually hold much water for most people.

      I just don't know that I want to pay $50 for something like this. I don't like paying $50 for a movie and snacks at the theater, but at least I know it is supporting a local business and a few jobs in the area. Here, I'm just paying through the nose for the privilege of seeing it at home, which I already know is cheap to distribute to, and on the day of the release, which is just an upcharge for priority.

    26. Re:High end... by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      The last movie my wife and I went to see (Deadpool) was just about $50; that's two tickets, two medium popcorns, two pops and a bag of M&Ms and a bag of sour candies. Not cheap at all, but Deadpool is the kind of movie that really is best seen with a theater full of people.

      I usually eat before I go to a movie....

      I"ll usually spring for a beverage, as a mixer and spike it from my flask I bring in.....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    27. Re:High end... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Even if you can afford the $50 it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Remember that the rich people didn't get that way by spending their money. I can certainly afford that $50 for a movie once a week and it would in no way hurt me financially, but I most certainly would never pay that amount. I could pay $50 for a cup of tea also but it's a stupid idea ("but it's just the cost of a nice dinner!").

      That $50 could buy me a streaming movie, or it could by me an in-theater movie for 4 people, or it could buy me one in-theater ticket plus a dinner afterwords, or I could just subscribe to a larger streaming service that gives me lots of new movies during the month with money left over, or a handful of video games, or whatever. Wait 6 months and pay-per-view has that movie streaming for $3-4. They should be able to charge exactly the price of a cinema ticket and still have larger profit margins than actual cinema tickets.

      By focusing on the fact that $50 is affordable it misses the entire point that this is amazingly overpriced. It's premium pricing with no premium.

    28. Re:High end... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      $20 tickets? Wow, I thought I lived in a high cost of living area. 3D full price ticket, with luxury lounge chairs, $15.50. 3D Matinee with luxury lounge chairs, $9.75. Non-3D full price, $9.50. That's in the same block as Google, home of the gentry.

    29. Re:High end... by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      I know we're all basement-dwelling loners on here but can't a single one of you imagine more than 2 people for the $50 viewing?

      If you've got 4 (or more) friends (LOL!) then the $50 option is really cheap, especially since you can provide your own nachos and popcorn.

      I came here thinking the thread would be about piracy. I'm leaving disappointed.

      --
      No sig today...
    30. Re:High end... by Joce640k · · Score: 1, Funny

      This is almost, but not quite, as stupid as people who watch cellphone video of a movie, at home, when it is released.

      I was on the metro the other day and there was a girl watching a movie on her cellphone. It was a letterboxed movie and she was holding the phone vertically so only the middle few pixels of the screen were being used.

      The temptation to lean over and rotate the phone 90 degrees just to see the look on her face was strong, but I figured "no", somebody _that_ stupid doesn't deserve to have their life improved.

      --
      No sig today...
    31. Re:High end... by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      nice burn

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    32. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      of course it will be ironic when the "high end" customers get together in front of their high end technology and get to watch the always-buffering video in low quality when Comcast throttles the connection because "Screening Room" decided to not pay their extortion fee.

    33. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My wife and I could easily have another couple over

      No you can't. Technically, you can't even let your wife watch it. It's licensed single viewer only. If you're going to commit copyright infringement by letting others share in your movie, you might as well do it for free by downloading a ripped copy. Its illegal either way.

      The service is just a customer milking service. There's no reason they can't make same day real releases to homes expect the industry absolutely loves charging people again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again for the same content (screening room, theater, DVD, Blue-ray, Special editions x3, Cable, book, audio book, e-book, etc...). I'll start paying for movies again when Star Wars makes a profit.

    34. Re:High end... by ravenscar · · Score: 1

      If you have a family it's even more cost effective. My kids get excited to see certain movies and it's fun to take them now and then. When I factor in the ticket price + snacks it's generally more than $50 to see a movie (tickets are around $10 each here). If I don't take my kids then I have the cost of a sitter to include in my movie experience.

      The convenience factor makes it even nicer. At home I can provide cheaper and healthier snacks. I can also pause the movie for bathroom breaks (an inevitability with younger kids) and such. On top of this, my kids can be their natural, "bouncy" selves without me worrying that they are disturbing other patrons.

      I'm sure I'd do this now and then.

    35. Re:High end... by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      If it's watermarked, i.e. a "bug" through the entire picture that's _not_ in a "letterbox area" (which wouldn't even exist in all movies), that would be a reason for me to demand my money back.

      I "put up" with bugs/logos on the screen on TV, even TV I pay for, since overall it's still relatively cheap entertainment (I'm one of the apparently few who actually think cable is a reasonable deal for the tons of entertainment I get)... But at $50/pop, I don't want crap covering up the picture.

    36. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was on the metro the other day and there was a girl

      You should have asked her for a blowjob.

    37. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That wasn't really my intent, but even hourly employees have days off (at least I hope they do) when they could catch a movie. The person I responded to acts as though it's impossible to have free time during the day.

    38. Re:High end... by Master+Moose · · Score: 1

      It costs more than $50 to take a family to a movie and around that for a couple.

      Being a sufferer of Misophonia, a trip to the cinema is always a stressful event for me as I don't know how bad the "eating, drinking" noises of the other patrons are going to be for any particular session.

      Depending on the set up cost, I would happily pay around the same to watch a picture at home and relieve myself of such stress. Of course, I am not impatient and can wait to see most films I want to watch when they make it to home media.

      --
      . . .gone when the morning comes
    39. Re:High end... by Hussman32 · · Score: 1

      Nor does it seem that the posters have children, $12 an hour for three hours is $36-40 dollars, plus $20 for the movie, plus $75 for dinner and snacks...or just pay $50 and make your own popcorn.

      --
      "Who are you?" "No one of consequence." "I must know." "Get used to disappointment."
    40. Re:High end... by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      >No you can't. Technically, you can't even let your wife watch it. It's licensed single viewer only.

      I've looked at all of the source articles, and I can't find anything that says single viewer only. Details are vague, at best: a $150 set top box and $50 rentals with a kickback to theaters and a complimentary **PAIR OF TICKETS** to a brick-and-mortar theater. A pair!

      I agree that inviting others over and making them pay a portion of the price is likely in violation of the license, but I'm probably still free to pony up the dough and let whomever *happens* to be in my house watch it.

    41. Re:High end... by delt0r · · Score: 1

      What the fuck are you smoking?

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
    42. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...Deadpool is the kind of movie that really is best seen with a theater full of people.

      Rocky Horror Show excepted, there is no movie that is best seen with a theater full of people.

    43. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Never mind smoked pork shoulder. I'd have paid extra to watch Deadpool at home and enjoy an entirely different kind of smoked joint.

    44. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The temptation to lean over and rotate the phone 90 degrees just to see the look on her face was strong, but I figured "no", somebody _that_ stupid doesn't deserve to have their life improved.

      Or you could have been that little bit less rapey and just told her, no?

    45. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being a sufferer of Misophonia

      Oh great, another fake disorder. Do you also have ADD/ADHD?

    46. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish I made as much money as you. I won't spend more than $2 on a movie, and here you are saying $25 isn't outrageous.

    47. Re:High end... by Etherwalk · · Score: 1

      I wish I made as much money as you. I won't spend more than $2 on a movie, and here you are saying $25 isn't outrageous.

      A significant portion of the world lives on $1-2/day. $25 may be an outrageous amount to spend, since you could spend it in a thousand charitable causes--but it's not an outrageous amount to charge if it gives you the highest ROI, and provided there are other, less expensive distribution channels available to others so that eventually, everyone can see it.

    48. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nor does it seem that the posters have children

      That's because we aren't stupid.

    49. Re:High end... by samwichse · · Score: 1

      This is now how digital watermarking works, at all.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    50. Re:High end... by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      Thanks, but that doesn't actually answer my question.

      They talk about perceptible and imperceptible ones there -- that was my point. If they're perceptible, if they cover up the picture, that's unacceptable to me (at these prices). If they're perceptible but entirely in black screen area, possibly acceptable.

    51. Re:High end... by lgw · · Score: 1

      Modern watermarking, as I understand it, works by subtly altering the color balance in different areas of the screen. It's below the threshold of human perception, but survives the analog hole even with fairly crappy cameras (it's not sensitive to resolution or encoding, depending only on color accuracy being consistent across the screen).

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    52. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I take my wife and 3 boys to see a Marvel movie or the latest Pixar film, we routinely spend over $60 just on tickets. Let alone overpriced snacks.

      If I take my wife to go see Deadpool and pay a sitter, that's also $60 before snacks.

      So $50.00 plus home-popped corn sounds like my dream come true.

    53. Re:High end... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The last movie my wife and I went to see (Deadpool) was just about $50; that's two tickets, two medium popcorns, two pops and a bag of M&Ms and a bag of sour candies. Not cheap at all, but Deadpool is the kind of movie that really is best seen with a theater full of people.

      LMAO. Your fault for buying overpriced snacks at the movies. I learned back when I was a kid that they're a rip off, even before I started working.

    54. Re:High end... by Hussman32 · · Score: 1

      By your logic, as your parents had children, that would mean that they are stupid, and if stupidity is hereditary...

      --
      "Who are you?" "No one of consequence." "I must know." "Get used to disappointment."
  19. Shut up and take my money! by rnmartinez · · Score: 1

    As a parent here is some simple math 2 tickets almost $30 (not 3D or IMAX or anything) Babysitter - $30-$40 Snacks - $20 Not missing something awesome because I have to go to the washroom (let's assume this thing has hi-tech functions like pause and rewind) then great, although I would really like a $75 package that includes a digital copy once the blu ray or whatever hits the stores, because it irks me that if I want to watch something in 3D or IMAX, by the time I factor in babysitters its almost $100 for a 2 hour movie that I get to watch ONCE.

  20. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

    Are there actually THAT many people that HAVE to see it on release day.....and can't wait for a later, more convenient day, or maybe just do like I do...and wait for it to come out on BLuRay...rent and watch in the comfort of their own home...?

    Sure, why not? I can see friends getting together, it's not particularly expensive split between 4. I don't usually go to the cinema at opening, but it was super exciting to see Star Wars at the first midnight showing.

    And obviously there's value in seeing a film at the same time as general culture, we are social creatures and seeing something while the world is experiencing something is being part of the world around you. Waiting months for DVD means you don't get to have any conversations about the film with friends, have to avoid spoilers in media or opinion pieces about the film...

  21. For me this is kind of pointless by JudgeFurious · · Score: 1

    I like going to the theater. I always have. The home theater is great but for the kind of movies that I think would motivate someone to spend $50 to sit at home and watch I think the giant screen and the crowd add something to the experience. I won't really have much use for this service.

    --
    Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
    1. Re:For me this is kind of pointless by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 1

      The home theater is great but for the kind of movies . . . I think the giant screen and the crowd add something to the experience.

      Yeah, it just isn't the same watching at home. Just getting my living room floor authentically sticky is already bankrupting me. When the new Star Wars came out I dropped a couple hundred dollars on a 55-gallon drum of corn syrup, but it still wasn't quite enough to replicate the experience.

    2. Re:For me this is kind of pointless by JudgeFurious · · Score: 1

      We've all been to that theater you're alluding to but honestly I haven't been to a theater with the stereotypical sticky floor in years. Maybe I've just been lucky but usually they're pretty clean where my wife and I go.

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
  22. Will save me money ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1 wife + 3 kids + 1 one me = 5 tickets, 3 sodas, 2 popcorn, and at least one "Daddy, I gotta go potty."

    Less cost, my own bathroom, my own food (and beer), and the pause button? Genius!

    1. Re:Will save me money ... by shellster_dude · · Score: 2

      Also there is a lot of value in NOT dealing with the asshole talking and texting in the movie.

  23. Can I be among the first to predict failure? by Zontar_Thing_From_Ve · · Score: 1

    It seems extremely unlikely that this will work.

    What Abrams, Jackson and the other rich director/producer types are thinking:
    Movies cost about $15 each ticket and up so a family of four could find this to be a good deal!

    What will really happen:
    The same family of four that will pay $60 or more to go to the movies will balk at paying a slightly lower charge at home because they won't make the "This is cheaper than 4 individual tickets" connection that the big shots think. They will see it as "I could pay $15 to see this film. Why should I pay $50?"
    This seems to be very unlikely to be anything that groups smaller than 4 will want (ie. singles, childless couples, etc.).
    Some in Hollywood will refuse to cooperate and see this is a threat to their standard business model. Not to mention push back from the theater chains. All hell broke loose over the release of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Sword Of Destiny" to home video on the same date as theaters and all the major theater chains in the USA refused to show the film as they viewed it as a threat. Do Abrams and the others really want to risk having all the major chains tell them "Yeah, we're not going to carry your film if you do that"? They'll back down. if this ever ever gets off the ground I expect that it will only show films with limited audiences, which will make it seem to be a failure.

    1. Re:Can I be among the first to predict failure? by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      ...because that family of four gives a lot of that money to the theater, not to the movie distribution company.

      On opening weekend, which is who this service is marketed for, a family of four might pay the same $50 for four theater tickets as for the PPV service, but the $50 they give at the theater might only return 70% of that -- the percentage is higher on opening weekend -- or $35. If they can keep $45 of the $50, this becomes a win for them if the average tickets "lost" per $50 sale is fewer than 5.

      Also, any $50 views during week 2 and 3 likely only return 50% of the ticket price to the movie distributor. Sales that week generate a lot more money.

  24. $50 seems like a lot... buuuuut by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    when you add in all the overpriced food (that I generally avoid) and multiple tickets, it seems to work out in consumer favor. However, it's still a hard sell when cheaper or free is only a couple months away (weeks? days?).

    1. Re:$50 seems like a lot... buuuuut by luther349 · · Score: 1

      its been proven if you make a legile way to get content people will use it look at how huge Netflix and hulu are.

  25. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Dunbal · · Score: 2

    This could easily be MUCH cheaper then going to the movie theater, especially if you add in drinks/snacks....

    Eating Kraft macaroni and cheese at home is also much cheaper than going out to a high class restaurant. Your point? Watching a movie in the cinema is not the same as watching a movie at home, even though in both places you get a "movie". Just like horrible, boxed mac and cheese and a $60 angus steak are both "food". But if you can't see the difference then you deserve to pay more for less. If your family of four waits a few months the same movie will be on pay per view for $5, or on cable for the price of the subscription you're paying anyway.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  26. Re:Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that by rubycodez · · Score: 1

    nah, home is better than theater. Movie in 40W stereo and 1080p is good enough. $50 for family to go to theater?, I think it's more!

  27. This will be a huge success by EmagGeek · · Score: 2

    When you consider that it costs $150+ to pile a family of 5 into the Canyonero and drive to the movie theater, pay $15/ticket and $15 a piece for a small bag of stale popcorn and small sugary soda, and watch a movie surrounded by people talking on their phones and calling a play-by-play of the film, I would HAPPILY, VERY VERY HAPPILY pay $50 to watch a first-run movie at home on the night it is released in theaters.

    1. Re:This will be a huge success by jjbenz · · Score: 1

      Bonus points for mentioning the Canyonero.

    2. Re:This will be a huge success by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you buy your Canyonaro in Ogdenville or New Haverbrook?

    3. Re:This will be a huge success by skapunker21 · · Score: 1

      can you name the truck with 4-wheel drive,
      smells like a steak and seats 35?
      Canyonero, Canyonero.

  28. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    $50 split 6 ways

    Don't let Hollywood know your friend is you charging money to see movies on his home theater. The movie studios will send their lawyers around real quick - that's a no no. Public performance? OK, pay a million dollars.

  29. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Kokuyo · · Score: 1

    For one, I spend much more when I go see the movie with my wife if you factor in drink and food, parking and travel.

    Not to mention with twins under two years, we had to bend over backwards to go see Deadpool. And yes, not waiting too long is important. On the one hand you want to be able to discuss it with others as long as the memory is still fresh and on the other, you do know people are dicks on the internet, yes? Spoilers are a major issue.

    Not to mention that you never know whether you'll have a douchebag in the room at public venues.

  30. I agree by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    At first I thought, $50? Way too much.

    But then I thought, to be able to see a movie I've really wanted to see the day it opens, instead of waiting for six months to a year for the Blu-Ray...

    As long as I could watch it a few times in the viewing window, I'd be interested.

    The price is also more reasonable if you think about splitting the cost among a small group of friends who watch it together (I'm sure explicitly disallowed by license but whatever).

    I do see that DRM could kill this idea dead by making the system nearly unusable though. Hoping it's an AppleTV app.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The price is also more reasonable if you think about splitting the cost among a small group of friends who watch it together (I'm sure explicitly disallowed by license but whatever).

      If you already don't care about breaking the law, why not just pirate the movie? Any movie that is released via this service is going to get a 0-day release on the warez sites and torrents.

    2. Re:I agree by ThePyro · · Score: 1

      IANAL, but I bet the license only mentions public performances. If only your friends are viewing the movie then it's not a public performance, it's private. The fact that ya'll agreed to split the cost would be moot - it's not like you're making a profit here.

    3. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't matter if you make a profit or not. It is illegal to charge any admission fee for your friends to watch a copyrighted movie, even if it's just to recoup your cost.

      Also, if your screen is larger than 55", you better make sure it's not viewable from a public space through a window, because that would also be illegal.

    4. Re:I agree by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      Well here's a simple solution: Ask your friends to chip in for the wine *wink* *wink*

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    5. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh yes, there are definitely ways that everyone can pitch in that would be legit in the eyes of the law. Even asking your friends to give you some money with no reason whatsoever. Just don't go around broadcasting that you're charging for a movie and you'll be ok.

    6. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Patience is a virtue.

    7. Re:I agree by delt0r · · Score: 1

      For home games of poker in at least 2 different EU countries. It is perfectly legal as long as the host charges ZERO. So same thing. If there a rake or house cut, then your just become an illegal poker game. Incidentally we had the cops show up in Austria. They didn't care as long as we were quiet.

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
    8. Re:I agree by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      Since you would be supplying the movie then your friends would supply the meal and snacks for the evening. Getting take out and some drinks would easily cover the cost of the movie as long as they didn't get something cheap like a pizza. No need to try and work around an admission charge.

    9. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What does poker have to do with charging admission to see copyrighted movies?

    10. Re:I agree by delt0r · · Score: 1

      Private verse not so private. A private viewing is not private when you charge. A private poker game is not so private when you charge. Seriously this doesn't need a fucking car analogy.

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
  31. $15 movie $10 popcorn $5 drink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No thank you Sir. $50 is too rich for my blood.

    1. Re:$15 movie $10 popcorn $5 drink by luther349 · · Score: 1

      not factor that in for more then yourself.

  32. Re:Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

    Better have Dolby atoms and at least 4k at $50. Also the system should let you do offsite downloads just so the people with low caps can use other places to download at.

    Probably not.

    First off, not every movie has Atmos, or DTS:X. Plenty are just plain old 7.1 Dolby Digital or DTS. A lot of them, actually.

    Secondly, even in the movie industry they may film with 4K+ cameras, but CGI is often still done in 2K, so the resulting output is actually 2K. Most movies are still released in 2K Digital Intermediate format - maybe only one or two are 4K Digital Intermediate, and this is the past 6-12 months of releases. (Star Wars is 2K DI, as is The Martian).

    Now, 2K is 2048x1080, so the frame content is only slightly wider than 1080p. However, it is not 1080p as the letterboxing is absent - 2K DI is sent through an anamorphic lens that stretches things out to the 2.2:1-2.4:1 anamorphic format. A 1080p Blu-Ray has to be converted to maintain aspect, so those are letterboxed to around 900-odd pixels high.

    As for downloads - the people this caters to are NOT the ones who have low caps. They're likely to have proper home theatre setups with stadium-style seating, properly tuned rooms and projection systems (holding 4-8 people). When you spend $100K+ on a home theatre, worrying about your internet caps is quite unlikely.

  33. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Joss Whedon is my master now . . .

  34. Service Already Exists for Wealthy/Well-Connected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The wealthy already have this service. $35,000 for the machine, thumbprint security, + hundreds for the movies.

    http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/7/8361475/prima-cinema-luxury-movie-watching-furious-7

  35. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Watching a movie in the cinema is not the same as watching a movie at home

    You're right. It's actually a much more pleasant experience. :P

    I jest, but I'm also partially serious. No obnoxious talkers, no cellphones, if you missed something you can rewind.. just a few of the benefits of watching at home vs at the theater.

  36. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    All and all, until "Into the dome, motherfuckers" is done in theaters, having a device like this is a decent alternative to keeping the kids entertained without having to make the run a pilgrimage or an exercise in hair-pulling.

    Of course, the heavily DRM-ed set top box bothers me. Will it be like the proposed Kinect DRM where if it detects four or more people and stop playing? Will it have a camera and demand it snoop on the area supposedly to guard the IP... but then uses that info as additional revenue, sold to advertisers who now can peer into peoples' homes, perhaps be used as plain view doctrine for searches, if someone lights up a spliff? Will it store all conversations to sell or perhaps be used as evidence?

    I'd consider that set top box... in a dedicated, sound-dampened room in a detached garage. Not in my house proper.

  37. Why wouldn't you for a Party? by DumbSwede · · Score: 1

    It wouldn't take many guests to justify this cost.

    I don't plan on using it (though I have an awesome Entertainment room). But who knows.

    The real question is how they will keep Mom and Pop from trying to make a buck off the Neighbourhood?

    The cost is trivial for large families and those that entertain.
    High for us one child family or smaller types.

    Expect some future iteration to include a camera monitoring the audience size.

  38. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    A fool and his money soon parted.

    Possibly, but for people with their own home theatres this may be a good deal. The real question is what are the conditions around the price. For example, non-commercial, limited to 6 people, etc?

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  39. You know what this means, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This heralds a return to the glory days of movie piracy, when an ordinary man could download lord of the rings in dvd quality the week before it came out in theaters.

    I cannot wait to have guaranteed blu ray quality footage available on bittorrent the same day the movie drops in theaters.

  40. The deal with this is piracy by barfy · · Score: 1

    Ok, Anti-Piracy is going to be a big deal. There has to be some sort of camera visible, not human visible watermark on the film, so that it can be traced back to an individual user. Cue the scrubbing video crowd. But for some time this will be difficult to discern. I suspect the reason for the box is so you don't have to create an individual version on the fly, but the box adds the watermark. The other point of the box is to keep the software from being hacked easily.

    The biggest problem is going to be bandwidth. Hopefully they make a deal with MLB.com or like netflix to settle the bandwidth problems. This is a problem for any video service that has at least some number of subscribers.

    But, this doesn't need to be mainstream to be successful. A gigantic portion of movie revs are made in the first 2 weeks, and the first weekend is the largest. If this increases first day revenues, this will be a success for the entire industry. (At least if the model that first day revenue leads to ultimately leads to end revenue holds true). I would suspect that even 100K units will result in positive results for the industry, and if this gets as high as 1M units, this will be great. I am not sure what everyone here is worried about. This won't change anything. Theaters will still be theaters. You can go there. If price is too much, go to a matinee. If it is still to much wait for redbox if it is still too high, wait for netflix, if it is still to high wait for tv.

    I for one think opening day movie parties with friends will be awesome. There have always been movies that I want to see but don't need to see them on big screens, and there will always be movies I want to see in a theater. I can't wait to get the box.

  41. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    $50 split 6 ways

    Don't let Hollywood know your friend is you charging money to see movies on his home theater. The movie studios will send their lawyers around real quick - that's a no no. Public performance? OK, pay a million dollars.

    Actually, makes me wonder how they are going to prevent people bringing in cameras and sharing the movie with 'friends'? There is no one is kick you out of your own theatre room.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  42. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by bleh-of-the-huns · · Score: 1

    Actually, $50 is perfectly reasonable. Just because you do not like movies, does not mean many others do not find them entertaining.

    A typical family will easily spend over $50 to see a movie in the theater, when you take into account concessions and ticket cost, parking. Double that if you need a baby sitter so that you and your spouse could go out to dinner and a movie. Quadruple that if it is a family movie and you want to take your kids.

    So no, $50 is not unreasonable, especially you split the cost with friends.

    This is also geared towards people who many not have gone to the movies to begin with and would have waited for the DVD or download to be released.

    Me, I actually enjoy the theater experience, maybe I am just weird, who knows, but the last movie I took my toddler too (Deadpool.. just kidding), Minions Movie, and lets just say it was not a pleasant experience (at least it was for a birthday party and the theater was rented out for the group, so it was a ton of toddlers and everyone was understanding)

    --
    I came, I conquered, I coredumped
  43. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    But he can watch it without being in the same room as you.

    Invaluable.

  44. Genie out of the bottle by tekrat · · Score: 1

    Wait a minute... they are trusting the guy who created Napster, who essentially "let the genie out of the bottle" regarding music as MP3s -- to do something that *won't* have the exact same effect on films?

    How fast before the Chinese develop a box that plugs in between HDMI cables, intercepts the stream to the monitor, and spools out the movie via USB to any convenient hard drive? In fact, I'm willing to bet such a box already exists. If I can think of it, so can someone else with more talent than me.

    John Oliver showed a box for sale on Alibaba that brute forces open an iPhone, and can do it in a few seconds, apparently without utilizing the touch screen -- it all works directly via USB -- if they can build that, no streaming service is safe, first run movies will be pirated before their opening day is over.

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
    1. Re:Genie out of the bottle by phishybongwaters · · Score: 1

      Napster didn't invent anything. They took MP3 (already out there) and the internet full of people sharing files (since the fucking BBS days before the internet) and created a platform for them to do this, easily. As easily as sorting your own collection of music in winamp (yeah, i'm that fucking old, I whipped the lamas ass.) Naspter created NOTHING but a culture of entitled college students and mislabeled music. Anyhoo, this system would likely work on secured HDMI only, so there's no routing the stream through a device capable of recording it. Go ahead, blue your blueray player into a device that could copy the stream. Exactly. This is why hollywood might actually attempt this, they have much greater control over our consumption of their media than you'd think.

    2. Re:Genie out of the bottle by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      water marks will still make it easy to track down the leakier and that person may be looking at life when you add up all the time for each user in the stream counting for 1-5 years.

    3. Re:Genie out of the bottle by Black+LED · · Score: 1

      NAPSTER BAD!

  45. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or just directly capturing the decoded signal that is sent to your television. This system is going to allow for any movie released on it to be pirated immediately.

  46. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Tomahawk · · Score: 2

    It's more that there are a lot of people who want to see something at home and don't want to go to the cinema. With large numbers of people have good home cinema setups, they'd like to use their equipment to view these blockbusters. There are some movies that I really couldn't be bother going to the cimema to see, but may watch at home. (There are some that I'd still go to the cinema for, though). Also, some people just can't get to the cinema for various reasons.

    So, yeah, I probably be tempted to fork out some money to watch a movie at home instead of a noisy cinema, where I can enjoy it more. $50 is a lot (€45, which is 4 cinema tickets here), but with a few people around to watch it, you'd break even.

    And I'm sure it will lead to a certain degree of reduced piracy, where some people will be happy to pay to have a good copy streamed to their TV, rather than download a low quality (and illegal) camera copy. But the impact likely won't be huge. I'm sure most will still just download the cemera copy, but at least the option would be there to allow you to purchase it for viewing, legally, and in Blu-Ray quality (or even 4K!)

  47. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by war4peace · · Score: 1

    It's amazing how many people here on /. are alone.
    Say a movie comes out and I pay 50 bucks to watch it day-one. I'll be joined by wife, brother-in-law, sister, mother-in-law and (if the movie allows it) my kids. Now divide that 50 bucks to 5 and the price is 10 bucks a person. If it's a kids movie and you divide 50 bucks by 7, it's cheaper (7 bucks per viewer).
    No cinema would beat this.

    --
    ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
  48. Honeypot by phishybongwaters · · Score: 1

    Let me tell you how this will play out. You pay 50$ to stream the movie, you do so during the 48 hour in your home. Using various technologies you pirate the movie, and because you have no morals and need to recover the 50$, you provide an pristine HD copy of the movie, on release day, to a release group. This group then releases said movie to the internet. And.... you go to jail for 10 years because the thing is audio/video digital fingerprinted. $50? No, sorry, that's never going to work. The exact same price as a theater ticket? Yes, that my friend, will actually work. BUT..... it has to be ATLEAST 50$ because two adults are not seeing a movie opening weekend for 50$. They just aren't. And no one is going to pay 50$ to watch a new release at home, by themselves. I just don't see this working. Give us everyone VOD and be done with it.

    1. Re:Honeypot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If anyone is dumb enough to pirate a direct rip without wiping any individualized fingerprint header data, they deserve the jail time.

    2. Re:Honeypot by Fwipp · · Score: 1

      Not all fingerprints/watermarks are in header data. There are many papers on transformation-resistant watermarking - which survive the "analog hole" by embedding the watermark into the visual or audio signal: https://scholar.google.com/sch...

    3. Re:Honeypot by delt0r · · Score: 1

      Yea but Hollywood is to stupid to use it, and 99.9% of pirate to dumb to remove basic meta headers anyway. They even advertise who they are!

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
  49. Quality, and morals by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    If you already don't care about breaking the law, why not just pirate the movie?

    First of all an official release will probably be of higher quality (I only say "probably" because there has been a history of DRM or fear of rights holders meaning an official digital release of something has been worse than what you can download). For Day1 material though, the likelihood of the quality being better from an official release is much higher. I'm at the point where taking even even two hours to watch a movie is a lot of time so I want it to be worth doing and only have to see it once if possible...

    But the second thing is, morally I don't want to just download something and not pay the creators for it. So even if I could download a higher quality version for free I'd rather at least pay for it for real and then watch the free version (I've done that before). You seem to conflate morals with the law, but the two are pretty much wholly disconnected at this point. I can easily say I break the law many times per day now (I won't say how but there are many common things that almost everyone does) so worrying about "breaking the law" means nothing to me anymore in comparison to behaving morally. Getting a small handful of friends together to me seems reasonable, so I will do it regardless of what the actual contract wording may be.

    There's also the side aspect of risk; studios are particularly finicky about going after pirates of newer material.

    All around it's way worth $50 to me to have an official release with great quality.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Quality, and morals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But the second thing is, morally I don't want to just download something and not pay the creators for it.

      If you enjoyed it, then buy the movie when it gets a Blu-Ray release. Nobody loses anything that way and it's morally sound.

      This is how I discover new music. I pirate a bunch of it, weed through and delete the stuff I don't like, then go buy all of the stuff that I do like. I get new music and the musicians get money.

    2. Re:Quality, and morals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is the way it should be done.

    3. Re:Quality, and morals by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      These days the pirate releases are often just rips of the steam captured with a packet capture software. The quality is exactly the same.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Quality, and morals by delt0r · · Score: 1

      Yes and no. It is often way over compresses and often re sized, ripped from R5 regions or worse. I would gladly pay quite a bit for a good online movie service. But the fact is even netflix listings are crap here (NZ). Quality of even digital TV is very poor, and i can't see 4k being worth it as most services don't even keep up with 1080p.

      In the end i am just years behind current releases. I use to go to the movies 1 a week, but now there really is nothing much i want to see, so only about 2-6 times a year these days

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
    5. Re:Quality, and morals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You might want to get your videos from someone other than Yify.

  50. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hadn't thought of that. It would be rather annoying to be around some delusional idiot who thinks his home system is better than a proper cinema. Thanks for the insight fellow AC!

    I take back what I said, dpidcoe. You go on with your $50 per movie, small screen, tinny speaker experience.

  51. Sounds cheaper than going to the theater by MasseKid · · Score: 1

    This is much cheaper than going to the movie theater if you have kids. Baby sitter and movie tickets are easily 50$. Add in cost of food or drinks it swings even more towards the staying home. Also, you can have as many drinks as you want and not have to worry about driving. Even if you don't have kids, 4 adults watching the movie and this is cheaper than a theater.

  52. Why would the film industry trust Sean Parker. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I expect that there are people who will pay $50 to see a still-in-theaters movie at home, but why should the industry trust Sean of all people.
     
    This will mean high-quality copies posted to torrents the day of release. It's not possible to lock someone out of a PC they have physical access to.

  53. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You should punch your toddler in the face for being a little shit.

  54. usual suspects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Peter Jackson: Promotes tech over story. Really. The LotR trilogy was more about the technology in bring the story to life than the story itself (since it's well known--and to break it up into 3 movies was easy).

    Steven Spielberg: Has tried every gimmick in home/venue entertainment, video games, 3D, sound, his chain of chuckie cheese/DnB knock offs. Likely tired of distribution deal making.

    JJ Abrams: Needs ti get his name out more and has consulted in a number of video games--he's likely sick -n- tired of working with distribution houses and the producing business.

    Where's Lucas? Oh, he's pioneered stuff like this and likely concluded: doesn't want to deal with it anymore.

  55. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have declared my family to be a non-profit organization. As long as I pay the $25 screening fee, and ticket prices are considered a suggested donation, the lawyers can go jump in a lake.

  56. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    There were a bunch of assholes right here on Slashdot broadcasting spoilers for The Force Awakens.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  57. Great for piracy by Not-a-Neg · · Score: 2

    This will greatly improve the quality of cam torrents as pirates use stolen credentials and private VPN service to capture the latest movies day&date with theatrical release in their own home.

    --
    -==- Buy a Mac and leave me alone!
    1. Re:Great for piracy by Not-a-Neg · · Score: 1

      "stolen credentials" should be "stolen credit cards".

      --
      -==- Buy a Mac and leave me alone!
    2. Re:Great for piracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe they're finally starting to realize some people are going to pirate either way so you might as well take money from people who just don't like going to theaters?

    3. Re:Great for piracy by delt0r · · Score: 1

      your giving way too much credit to the pirates.

      --
      If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
    4. Re:Great for piracy by luther349 · · Score: 1

      good point how do you deal with people using a screen recorder. the one advantage they ave vs pirates is the real ting is in better then the pirate version.

  58. Far too expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can see first run movies at the drive in, 4 of them, back to back, for just $15. That's $60 for the family. Even if we do buy $50 of food there, this is way cheaper than the $200 it would cost to see 4 movies this way.

    If I just want to see a couple of movies, drive-in theatres usually offer carload days with just 2 movies for under $20. I certainly don't buy $80 worth of food.

    Terrible deal. Pass.

  59. So close.. by monkeyman.kix · · Score: 1

    ..and yet so far. Zero day release thats not a cam +1, only 48 hour rental? -1 net 0 benefit

  60. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    Just because you do not like movies, does not mean many others do not find them entertaining.

    I'm curious as to how you came up with that insight that I don't like movies based on a Biblical quote. I usually see one or two movies per month. If I want to watch a movie at home, I wait for the cheapest option becomes available. That can be Redbox, Hulu or a $4.99 special on iTunes.

  61. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Damn, I want to watch movies at your house. For me, I've got the first 2 of the three pretty much nonstop... and the third is useless when you rewind and people are still talking over the movie and playing on their phones.

    I totally understand the draw of watching at home, but it's also nice to have a thing to go out and do, as opposed to stay home. Sometimes getting out is important.

  62. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by dpidcoe · · Score: 1

    You really can't say that without knowing the specifics of this setup and referencing a specific theater for comparison. It's obviously not as good as an idealized cinema set up for some posh exclusive viewing, but it's well past the point of caring unless you're one of those people who thinks they can hear the difference between a 512kbps mp3 and a 256kbps mp3 and buys the 5x more expensive graphics card because benchmarked 2fps faster than the cheaper one. The picture is fine, the sound is fine, and it's most definitely better than the chain theater down the street with the sticky floors, kids who won't shut up, and poorly maintained equipment.

  63. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They need to price the service at that price-point so as not to gut the theater operators revenues. It will always be a niche market. But if they priced it better, say $20-25, then it could be more popular but the theater operators would revolt.

  64. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I could have easily gotten 5 people together to watch deadpool on release day for $10 each.

  65. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by dpidcoe · · Score: 1

    I don't think splitting the cost between a group of friends watching it would count as "charging money" in the sense of it being a public performance in this context. If Hollywood is going to claim otherwise, then $50 for a single viewer watching a movie from home is retarded and I take everything back.

  66. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by jjbenz · · Score: 1

    My Wife and I went to see Deadpool last weekend and after the babysitter and tickets it was around $45.

  67. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 0

    There were a bunch of assholes right here on Slashdot broadcasting spoilers for The Force Awakens.

    One time I gave out the ending for Battlestar Galactica six weeks after the TV series ended in 2009. A bunch of asshats got mad at me because they haven't seen a pirated copy of the final episode.

  68. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

    Are there actually THAT many people that HAVE to see it on release day.....and can't wait for a later, more convenient day, or maybe just do like I do...and wait for it to come out on BLuRay...rent and watch in the comfort of their own home...?

    Are there that many people who have different priorities than you do? Yeah, I guess there are, weird how that works. Go ask the UFC how much their fights make on pay per view sales, and also feel free to get their opinion on whether or not they care how you choose to spend your time.

    I like how you mention "the comfort of their own home", as if this isn't exactly what is being sold. I've only watched one or two UFC fights in public, and you have to either reserve space or get there hours early for a decent spot. Everything else has been at my house or a friend's place where we order or make food, people chip in on the cost, etc. It's really not a big deal. The recent Star Wars made almost $248 million in the opening weekend, so get out your calculator and figure out how many tickets they sold to that. There are actually THAT many people who WANT to see it on release day, and instead of standing in line with hundreds of other idiots they can get their group of friends together and watch it, in the comfort of their own home.

    --
    "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  69. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    Were those 'asshats' living outside of the United States?

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  70. Re:Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that by zlives · · Score: 1

    so just like the fights, invite a bunch odf people at home and watch in home theater and split the cost. over 2 days...

  71. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by CrashNBrn · · Score: 1

    It's called Kraft Dinner , thanks. And it's hardly horrible.

  72. As of now, only for the rich snobs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The rest of plebiscite will have to wait for a price drop, let's say half of current price. $50 for a single viewing... Preposterous...!

  73. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    Were those 'asshats' living outside of the United States?

    Nope. Cheap American bastards who didn't have cable and didn't want to pay $1.99 per episode on Amazon or iTunes. Pirated copies took longer to circulate back then. These days you can get a pirated copy of a blockbuster movie weeks before the release date.

  74. Re:Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    unless you are in a rural area or you only ISP choice is one with shit caps.

  75. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by CWCheese · · Score: 1

    No intemperate jerk kicking the back of your seat every 2 minutes

    --
    Have a Day!
  76. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Say a movie comes out and I pay 50 bucks to watch it day-one. I'll be joined by wife, brother-in-law, sister, mother-in-law and (if the movie allows it) my kids. Now divide that 50 bucks to 5 and the price is 10 bucks a person. If it's a kids movie and you divide 50 bucks by 7, it's cheaper (7 bucks per viewer).
    No cinema would beat this.

    Wanna bet? $6.79 is what a ticket at the theatre costs here. It would be incredibly stupid for my girlfriend and I to spend $50 for a vastly inferior viewing experience cooped up at home.

  77. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by mythosaz · · Score: 1

    Spoilers can be a pretty big factor.

    I PPV most UFC events. I'm a fight fan, and I can afford them. Friends watch them with me, and bring food. We all win there. ...if I'm watching a fight delayed, I have to live in a spoiler-free bubble of caution and the fear of looking at my phone. ...but other than some movie with a twist, there isn't too much other than a whodunnit, a "blockbuster" Marvel where someone dies, or a Star Wars type spoiler that I think can genuinely ruin a movie for me.

  78. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    Pirated copies took longer to circulate back then.

    No, they didn't. In fact one of the big arguments made for piracy, especially in that era, was the time it took (6+ months) for content to legitimately reach over-seas. It wasn't until 2010 or so before shows started appearing world-wide on iTunes within two weeks of their original airing.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  79. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

    In Japan I like going to the cinema, because people are considerate. In the UK I prefer to watch in the comfort of my home on my THX certified TV.

    The best thing about this is that about 15 minutes after the steam goes up the torrent will follow.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  80. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    I guess you've never had the real thing.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  81. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    In fact one of the big arguments made for piracy, especially in that era, was the time it took (6+ months) for content to legitimately reach over-seas.

    I generally avoid pirated materials. When a boss insisted that I contribute MP3s to the department file server back then, I ripped a bunch of Patsy Cline CDs and dropped the MP3s on the server. The mp3s were deleted five minutes later after my boss screamed, "What's this crap!" and played 30 seconds for the entire department to hear. Lots of groans and catcalls. Some people just don't appreciate early 1960's country music.

  82. Price is high, but not entirely ridiculous by enjar · · Score: 1

    I'm married and have two kids. To go to see a movie in the theater, we shell out $44 for two adult and two kid tickets just to get in the door. If the kids bring friends, we break fifty bucks. Then, of course, you have the overpriced concessions. Mom can only stuff so much candy in her purse.

    If the wife and I want to see a movie alone, we have to shell out probably $60 for a sitter plus $24 for tickets alone, plus we generally add in dinner, too. Spend $50, skip the tickets and add in a nice bottle of wine and it's a much cheaper date night.

  83. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Some theaters are better than others.

    I don't in fact have a miss-focused projector, speakers blown out by 10,000 high volume showings of 'blowed up real good' films, seats full of loud talking ass hats and 16+ screens packed so close together you hear the loud parts of neighboring films.

    I do in fact have a decent HD screen and non-blown speakers that are 99% as good as any. That last 1% is REAL expensive.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  84. Re:Service Already Exists for Wealthy/Well-Connect by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    and at the that price it's still better to go to VIP setting with food and drink at the movies.

  85. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Handle them like opposite George

    Or alternately, have them ejected from the theater.

  86. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Gibgezr · · Score: 1

    My 60" LED tv has much nicer colour and contrast than the local cinema chain's digital projector. My couch is much more comfortable than those cinema chairs where there is room for one elbow, but two people want the space.

  87. $50 a movie is actually a bargain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Especially when you consider the following factors:

    1) You'd save massive money on popcorn and pop and food, since you're at home

    2) You'd get to watch the movie multiple times over a 48 hour period

    3) You can watch it with your friends, without having the hassle of seat selection etc, and spread that $50 over multiple people. Even if it was just you and your significant other, a night out at the movies (including dinner, snacks, and reserved seating at a 3D IMAX showing) can easily run $100-150.

    4) You can drink alcohol

    and most importantly

    5) You don't have to worry about gun-toting terrorists ruining your movie experience by shooting up the joint

  88. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's called Kraft Dinner [kraftcanada.com], thanks. And it's hardly horrible.

    Eww. 410mg of sodium and 7g of sugar per 3/4 cup (1/4 box) serving? Not only does it taste horrible, but it's also really unhealthy.

  89. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Rising+Ape · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your point? Watching a movie in the cinema is not the same as watching a movie at home, even though in both places you get a "movie".

    No, it's worse. Not starting at the scheduled time so they can show you adverts, noisy people, no pausing to go to the toilet, expensive (and non-alcoholic) drinks.. I really don't see the point in the cinema any more - is there anything *so* good you can't wait six months?

  90. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My 60" LED tv has much nicer colour and contrast than the local cinema chain's digital projector.

    Doubtful. Turning on "vivid" mode or boosting the contrast does not mean better colour, it means inaccurate colour.

    My couch is much more comfortable than those cinema chairs where there is room for one elbow, but two people want the space.

    Sure, but then you miss out on everything else, like the large screen and the superior sound.

  91. Re:Better have Dolby atmos and at least 4k at that by Kagato · · Score: 2

    Nope. If you want that service it already exists and has for many years for the ultra-wealthy. $500 for a single screening. Credit Check required. The equipment has a fingerprint scanner to verify you authorized the screening. It uses a satellite connection to pull down an encrypted file ahead of time and then the internet connection to get the key to decrypt. It's basically the same source material a theater would use.

  92. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where do you live, some burnt out husk of a city?

    None of the cinemas around here have any of those problems. They are all crisp and clean. And no, your little home speakers are more like 1% of what they have in the cinema.

  93. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

    And I'm sure it will lead to a certain degree of reduced piracy, where some people will be happy to pay to have a good copy streamed to their TV, rather than download a low quality (and illegal) camera copy. But the impact likely won't be huge. I'm sure most will still just download the cemera copy, but at least the option would be there to allow you to purchase it for viewing, legally, and in Blu-Ray quality (or even 4K!)

    It will result in reduced piracy. It sounds expensive, but when computed out, it's not too bad. You're not going to use it all the time, but maybe you and a bunch of friends will hang out for dinner, then go to your house and catch the blockbuster opening that very day? That's one heck of a day!

    People have been wanting reduced theatre-to-home delays ever since home video came out back in the 80s. Back then it could take 6 months to a year before a movie came to VHS. These days, it's around 3 to 6 months, and there have been experiments where you could buy the disc the same day, at the end of the movie, where it came out on Netflix and theatres the same day, etc.

    This seems to be the ultimate ending.

    And to be honest, I only go to the movie theatre to experience the enhanced effects - either IMAX or the 3D, DBox or Atmos showings. Regular 2D showings don't impress me as it's just a larger screen. Theatre owners will have to innovate and make their places better than home. Not a bad thing.

  94. How will they stop partys where you can change by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    How will they stop party's where you can change $3-$5 a head and get 20 people with food.

    1. Re:How will they stop partys where you can change by luther349 · · Score: 1

      they wont thats the idea.

  95. All well and good but ... by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: 1

    Having the "backing" of producers and directors is nice and all but lets not forget that it is the owners of the movie distribution companies that will have the final say. I suspect that if they do not get a sizable chink of that monthly fee to license the movies the MPAAFIA will shut Screening Room down so fast it will make your head spin. And that assumes they even allow the service to go live in the first place.

  96. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by tnk1 · · Score: 1

    This could be valuable for movies as big as Star Wars was, since the theaters were packed and you *might* see a die-hard fan who wanted to be absolutely certain they would get a screening that very day.

    But I don't see enough of those sorts of movies out there to make the $50 price tag a good price point for this.

    I mean, all I did was stop looking at the Internet for a week or so, and I went to a matinee on a day off a week later. It was still a little crowded, but I don't feel like I missed anything by not seeing it that very day.

    Moreover, those people who do go same day, they're probably there for the whole experience, which includes standing in line, in costume, hanging out with everyone else. They might not actually want to see it at home, in some cases.

    As for Blu-Ray, yeah, if you're not interested enough to see it in a theater, you're not going to need this service. I'd *hope* that they did understand that much when they created this new service.

  97. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by boristdog · · Score: 1

    You and your roommates never figured out how to steal cable?

    I had cable all through college. Never paid for it. Vampire taps are easy.

  98. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by EdwardFurlong · · Score: 1

    I would think so as well, I would think the incentive would be even greater to pirate it, pay 50 bucks or wait wait a few hours to pirate it? They must be thinking enough people are going to be paying to account for that.

  99. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by lgw · · Score: 1

    There were a bunch of assholes right here on Slashdot broadcasting spoilers for The Force Awakens.

    There were a bunch of asshole /. editors who posted spoilers to the ending of the X-Files spinoff The Lone Gunmen on the front page minutes after the show ended. Ah, the early days of /..

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  100. Yes, Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This would be cheaper than paying for a babysitter. I could watch a movie at home with my wife, after the kids go to bed, and not have to pay $60 just for someone to watch the kids.

    It would also be better for those new kids movies, like Frozen or Kung Fu Panda. It may cost a little more than the total price of tickets for my kids, but it would save me from having to pay for gas, deal with parking, and wrangling the kids (AKA cat-herding).

    The only situation where it wouldn't be preferable would be for watching those movies which only I'm interested in. For those, I'm fine waiting for it to be available for streaming on Amazon.

  101. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    You and your roommates never figured out how to steal cable?

    My roommates and I were in the campus ministry. So thievery was out of the question.

  102. I'm in! $50 is a bit expensive but I'm in! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I spend $20 per person at the theater anyway. And I have a serious home theater that makes most theaters a disappointment to go to. (FWIW: dual 18" subs, 65" TV and 5.1 surround.) About to upgrade to 5.2.4 or 7.2.4 surround this summer.

    I'd happily have people over at $10 per head.

  103. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That would explain the $50 price. Maybe it's to help offset piracy?

  104. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by ganjadude · · Score: 1

    not so easy anymore with the digital conversion

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  105. Concept reasonable, but downsides abound by cfalcon · · Score: 1

    Consumer downsides:

    1)- This will require some idiotic set top box. The set top box will go next to everything you already have for this purpose, add two wires to however many you have (so if you have a nest it got crappier, and if you are a minimalist you now have a nest). This means that whatever your solution for inputs to your TV is (select with a remote, autodetection, whatever you got) will also get slightly crappier. You already have at least one box here, and this one would be useful very rarely compared to those.
    2)- The set top box will ASSUREDLY show you ads- that's pretty much the only reason to give you a locked down box like this. This will be an absolute ad festival.
    3)- Fifty dollars is a lot of money for a single movie. In order for this to be a decent deal, you either need to invite everyone over, or have the family all want to see it.
    4)- Your home setup is weak compared to a modern theater. If you didn't spend a zillion bucks on it, then it is *hella* weak compared to a modern theatre.

    Consumer upsides:
    1)- You can eat well, or eat cheap, and you aren't thirsty. A lot of theaters have drama with food and drink, and even if you are lucky enough to live next to one that is reasonable (serves food to you, doesn't give you grief for carrying in, doesn't give you water in a urine sample cup), it's still stuff you don't have to worry about with this.
    2)- You can fit it around your schedule.
    3)- You don't need to deal with theater hassle. Again, to some, this is no big deal, but if the close theater isn't nice, and if the nice theater isn't close, this could be a big deal.
    4)- You can easily come in over 50 bucks taking even just one person to a movie theater, depending, and if you have a bunch of people (family or friends) you can easily save money with this setup.
    5)- No one will scream a spoiler about Han Solo from the back of a slow moving pickup truck as you walk into the theater.

    So, that's interesting, right? But there's also some other effects. Movie theaters are a *rough* business, and first run movies on opening night is sort of their big draw. Most (and in some cases effectively all) of a ticket sale go directly to the studio, leaving theaters forced to upcharge to stay around. Some do this sketchily with strange and aggressive setups for candy sales, others do this more straightforward by serving you a restaurant quality meal (often with optional booze), but all have been pinched to some degree by the pricing structure. Theater operators may simply flip out at the attempted erasure, causing drama. Meanwhile, studios might not trust the technology wholeheartedly, or be willing to go through the efforts of getting all the movies over to the service, leaving you with the fifth box next to your television that offers pay per view content... but not the pay per view content you actually want.

  106. Sounds good by inicom · · Score: 1

    Two people, snacks & parking in Miami Beach easily can exceed $50. I have a home theatre with a 104" screen, so I'd absolutely go for this over dealing with going to the local AMC for most films. The only time it doesn't make sense is for movies which I'm the only one that wants to watch them.

    --
    -a.e.mossberg
  107. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by ganjadude · · Score: 1

    will it? or will people simply wait for the person who does buy it to rip it and put it on tpb?

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
  108. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by LT218 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some people were taught right from wrong by their parents and have some moral integrity. I know it's a crazy idea, but just because you think it's okay to steal doesn't mean everyone else does. I would guess that most of us did some morally questionable things when we were younger. Most of us have matured enough to realize that we should not be proud of those things and brag about them by the time we graduate from college though.

    Cue the "it's not stealing if nothing gets taken" crowd. I'll go ahead and preemptively respond to that, too.

    There are different types of theft but at the simplest level theft is taking something that is not yours without permission from the owner/creator. Note that "something" can be a physical item, a valuable idea, an identity, a service, etc.

    If you go to buy a car and think the dealer's asking price is too high, do you come back after they close for the day and steal it? The cable TV company spent the money and did the work necessary to provide the infrastructure so they could offer a service. They set a price for this service based on what they thought it was worth. If you thought their asking price was more than the service was worth, you should have done without rather than stealing it.

  109. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My home theater has special one way flow power cables for optimal clarity and sound fidelity so it must be better than going out, right?

  110. It'll be nice... by Excelcia · · Score: 1

    ...not to be downloading cam versions any more.

  111. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bah. Fuck you it's not so simple. The Cable Company was given tax money from the state to run high speed access that they never ran and instead still continue to overcharge while at the same time limiting access to the internet through backroom partnerships to control traffic. The car dealer is living sale to sale, and is hurt far more by the loss, it's not the same. The movie industry is not hurting for fucking cash, bro, and they have a strangle-hold on all production staff, actors, writers, directors via their unions. Just look at what how they go after anyone who tries to work outside the system. If the system is broken, no we shouldn't all continue to play nice, and it is not "morally correct" to abide by a corrupt anti-competitive system. If the system is broken, FUCK THE SYSTEM.

  112. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone who has gotten anywhere in life has done "morally questionable" things in the past. You don't break new ground by being a philistine.

  113. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The last time I saw a movie in a theater I took my kids. Best theater in the area. 'Normal' one of the 10 or whatever screen they had.
    I had not watched a movie in a theater in 2 years.
    It was a first run popular (for family) movie.
    There were spit wads on the screen. Like 10 of them.
    Obvious tear or other damage that was repaired but the seam was very visible and distracting.
    Movie was out of focus.
    The sound 'system' was obviously actually just stereo with extra speakers as there were no surround effects.
    Bass was weak and muddled. Highs were piercing and not at all adjusted to the room. Strange echos off the corners.
    Seats were uncomfortable, floor was sticky, and after about 30 minutes the crowded space smelled like farts.
    And worst of all:
    Sitting where there was space near the back of the theater the apparent screen size was smaller than my basement home theater.
    I'll take my $800 HD projector with self painted 97 inch screen, $500 7.1 surround with 400 watts of cheap (partsexpress) under seat 15 inch woofer's any day.
    And when my 5 year old has to pee no one misses any of the movie!
    My whole setup is like maybe $1,600... Maybe $2k if you include wires, harmony remote, mounts and other various little parts I already owned.
    Nothing fancy at all.
    And it blows away the local theater experience.
    A few month later I saw another movie, this time an action movie with the wife at the theater. She knew I bitched about the kids movie but this time we went to a newer theater in a bigger town.
    First thing she said after the movie.
    "That sounded like shit and looked crappy"

    So, now the wife just lets us go to the basement and watch a rental on weekends. We just wait for the bluray release and rent it at redbox or wait a little longer and stream it if it is not action.
    Maybe if we had a nice IMAX in the area, or even just a 'normal' theater that has owners that are OCD about image and sound I could justify it.
    I feel bad, going to movies was a big part of my childhood.
    But if you have ANY space at all.. And live someplace you can turn the sound up..
    I really recommend you spend a thousand or two and get yourself a projector, cheap component stereo, a few speakers and a woofer.
    Heck, even just a $500 720p projector and home theater in a box will probably get you something better than most theaters can provide.
    If you and one or two other people in your household see a movie every weekend it will pay for itself in just 1 year or less.

    And you can drink booze, pee when you want, eat what you want, and start the show when you want.

  114. I dunno about this. by Chas · · Score: 1

    While I MIGHT consider it at $50. I think theater chain owners are going to pitch an ever loving fit.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
    1. Re:I dunno about this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think theater chain owners are going to pitch an ever loving fit.

      Fuck them and their price-gouging. Surely NATO (national association of theater owners) could be grow a spine and collect a higher percentage from the studios. I mean, where else are they gonna show movies?

  115. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by markdavis · · Score: 1

    >"For one, I spend much more when I go see the movie with my wife if you factor in drink and food, parking and travel."

    Except there is no expense for parking for most of us, and food isn't included with this $50 thing either. My nice theater is down the street, a 2 min drive with free parking and $5 to $12 ticket price depending on time, per person. Eat before going.

    Or wait for the Bluray on sale for $25 and own it.
    Or wait for it to be on Netflix and stream it as much as you like for no extra charge than what you already pay for Netflix.

    I don't see how $50 is reasonable to time-bomb "rent" a streaming-only movie. Now, if it were $25, that might compete with 2 people going to the movies (or the above options)...

  116. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    I've never been to a reasonably soundproofed theater, you can always hear the next one over. 'Projectionists' are a thing of the past. Minimum wage schlubs can't even be bothered to check the focus the once per week they visit the projection hardware.

    You don't know what you are talking about regarding audio. Seriously, get a clue. Getting to 90% of 'perfect' is cheap and easy. It's all diminishing returns after that.

    There are no theaters with electrostatic speakers. It would kill the finances of the place.

    Theaters have lots of bass heavy watts. Great for reproducing explosions so they can be heard 2 theaters over. But for people who's ears aren't tuned to rap music it sounds like shit.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  117. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just make sure your $10,000 Denon ethernet cables are plugged in the right way around. You wouldn't want to get the bits reversed.

  118. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You obviously don't understand a thing about acoustics.

    I'd like to see your setup actually. It would be hilarious to see the gear and space that you think competes with a cinema.

  119. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you go to buy a car and think the dealer's asking price is too high, do you come back after they close for the day and steal it?

    No, but I'd sure as hell press one button to make a copy of the car and take that, leaving the original exactly where it was for the dealer to sell at his inflated price.

  120. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by LT218 · · Score: 0

    Such a mature, intellectual response...

    I disagree, theft really is that simple. The extent to which someone is "hurt" by a theft doesn't what determines whether theft is good or bad. How much or little money an industry makes has no bearing on the moral correctness of theft. Taking something that doesn't belong to you is wrong. Period.

    You claim to be disgruntled with "The System" because it is corrupt then turn around and state that theft is justified. That just means you're morally corrupt and no better than the broken systems you rail against. Additionally, theft just proves that whatever is being stolen does indeed have value, at least enough that people are willing to steal it it rather than simply doing without. Theft benefits the "system" by giving them grounds to claim that they have been victimized and need additional protections.

  121. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by LT218 · · Score: 1

    No, but I'd sure as hell press one button to make a copy of the car and take that, leaving the original exactly where it was for the dealer to sell at his inflated price.

    Don't be a pedant and don't be intentionally obtuse about theft of intellectual property.

    Even if you could press your magic unicorn dust button and copy the car, it's still theft. You'd just be stealing the idea since you're not the one who had the creativity to come up the valuable concept of said car in the first place. You'd just be the lazy freeloader who thinks it's okay for the rest of society to work and create things while you steal them.

  122. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    One of us doesn't, that is for sure. You are the one claiming home audio is '1%' of theater. (Apparently all theaters...) That makes it you.

    Do you even know what diminishing returns means? How about 'flat frequency response'?

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  123. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by delt0r · · Score: 1

    If they could provide it in 4k, i expect they wouldn't have a problem with plenty of people wanting to pay. After all what does a home cinema system cost? and well $50 is not exactly much of a night out at anyrate. Stay home with the girl friend and a few beers? Why the hell not.

    --
    If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
  124. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You know what, if you go to the car dealer and think that car price is to high and you come back latter than night and make a copy with you own machine and supplies, well, you know what, that's fan-fucking-tastics, and woo hoo, you are to be celebrated and congratulated. Gees, think about, don't like the price of a big mack and can make an instant copies to feed yourself as well as the rest of the planet, you would be celebrated no matter how much maccas would want to fuck you up.

    Dude, copying ain't stealing. In fact the only actually stealing that occurs is when the pigopolists with the backing of government storm troopers turn up to your door and actually steal and destroy the stuff you made with your equipment on your supplies, they also steal the equipment and suppliers and even your own self. The other big time actual stealing that is occurring is of course big time fraudulent DMCA claims where pigoplists do actually steal content that other people have produced by the pigopolists claiming it as their own.

    Now here is a tricky one, did the cable companies steal quality of life from it's users by maliciously and disingenuously promoting unhealthy and socially destructive practices and should they be prosecuted for the harm and suffering they have purposefully caused, that harm being the theft of years of a persons life.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  125. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by war4peace · · Score: 1

    To me, a vastly inferior experience would be to watch a forced 3D movie with cheap glasses and 2D subtitles. Been there, done that. Not to mention that spectators around you is really a lottery. You can end up with a really nice audience or a bunch of noisy teens or retards of all ages.
    On top of that, at home I can watch the movie in my underwear, pause it, vape and scratch my balls (really important!) while not giving a shit.

    --
    ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
  126. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    copying != stealing

  127. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

    According to your link it's KD. I remember that they changed they name recently. Something about trying to be hip again. Only tried the stuff a couple of times and can't stand it.

  128. Might consider it by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

    If Hollywood ever puts out a movie worth seeing. I've been to one movie in the past two years and that was only because the woman I was seeing at the time wanted to see it.

  129. Why can't by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

    Why can't anyone go to a movie and not buy snacks? Seems like everyone here is complaining about the cost of them so the easy solution would be not to buy them or are you physically incapable of sitting a couple hours without putting food in your mouth? I refuse to pay the concession prices at the theatre and so I go without. It's not that difficult.

  130. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Five years ago my cinema buddies and I started buying our tickets, grabbing a drink or two at the bar next door for a half-hour and then going back to the cinema to enjoy an ad-free movie just as we're all nicely drunk. It works, but lately I've been thinking about getting another round in and skipping the trailers for all the upcoming dreck. Chances are that if there's a movie worth seeing on its way we've already seen the trailer, teaser, pre-teaser trailer and whatever other "viral" crap that studios feel obliged to pump out.

  131. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by ayesnymous · · Score: 1
    > Are there actually THAT many people that HAVE to see it on release day

    and also can't just go to the theater and pay $12 instead of $50 with this new service?

  132. This would be great if... by The_Revelation · · Score: 1

    .. It brings with it the other typical benefits of streaming, such as being able to pause the damn thing! The worst part about seeing a movie (every movie) is that unless you manage to go to the toilet at the start of the film, you will probably need to go during it.

    I would say that 100% of the films I have seen in recent years I've missed something from the middle because whoever the idiots are who edit the films don't believe in intermissions, even though these same idiots provide data saying that the length of their feature exceeds the average expectancy of the bladder. Sometimes this is a blessing, obviously, because spending time in public bathrooms is actually significantly more enjoyable that watching The Hateful Eight, but sometimes I think "great, now I have to go home and download this entire feature to catch the 8 minutes I missed. Why didn't I just do that to begin with?".

  133. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Be quiet, adults are talking.

  134. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok, now I know you don't know your gear or anything about acoustics. Let me know when you have a music degree.

    What is the frequency range of your gear? How is it situated in the listening space? Have you accounted for reverberation, echo and space? I guarantee you that none of it is anywhere close to what they use in cinemas. You're being defensive because you don't know what you're doing and you spent a shitload on garbage and you don't want to admit it.

  135. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No no, information wants to be free! Copyright violation is ok...unless it's the GPL then copyright violation is bad.

    Seriously though people will justify it any way they can. They'll find something the company has done wrong (even if only from their point of view rather than any legal standpoint) and use that to justify their actions. Of course if somebody pointed out that they are not perfect and used that as a mechanism to justify not paying them something they were entitled to they'd be up in arms.

  136. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The cost of doing the work is amortized across the consumers. Nobody is expected to shell out the entire cost of producing a movie every time they want a copy of it so that cost is laid out by the content producer in the hopes that it can be recouped and ideally a profit be made. Then you get the anti-profit camp suggesting making a profit is "immoral" but I doubt you do any work on the basis of only satisfying your most basic needs, only charging what it actually cost you and nothing more. Do you really think the price of a car doesn't include some part of the R&D costs that went into making it? Do you feel you should be entitled to not contribute to that cost?

    For people like you it isn't about freedom, it is about greed. Taking what you want and not contributing back to the people who made it. This is why we see more intrusive DRM and more restrictions and more content producers targeting locked down platforms because tight asses like you are too greedy to shell out a few bucks for some entertainment.

    It goes both ways too, breaking the license agreement of restrictive free software licenses might seem trivial to you but if it is left to just become the norm then nobody will respect it and free software will die out by closed source software just creating derived works and not contributing back.

  137. not bad by luther349 · · Score: 1

    the 50$ seems steep but in the end if you think about it what it cost to have more then 1 ticket and food would go over 50$ easy for a family and your getting day one releases.

  138. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    pigopolists with the backing of government storm troopers

    Found the commie, guys!

  139. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by antdude · · Score: 1

    Heh, my family is like that as an adult. :/

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  140. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know what, if you go to the car dealer and think that car price is to high and you come back latter than night and make a copy with you own machine and supplies, well, you know what, that's fan-fucking-tastics, and woo hoo, you are to be celebrated and congratulated. Gees, think about, don't like the price of a big mack and can make an instant copies to feed yourself as well as the rest of the planet, you would be celebrated no matter how much maccas would want to fuck you up.

    Dude, copying ain't stealing. In fact the only actually stealing that occurs is when the pigopolists with the backing of government storm troopers turn up to your door and actually steal and destroy the stuff you made with your equipment on your supplies, they also steal the equipment and suppliers and even your own self. The other big time actual stealing that is occurring is of course big time fraudulent DMCA claims where pigoplists do actually steal content that other people have produced by the pigopolists claiming it as their own.

    Now here is a tricky one, did the cable companies steal quality of life from it's users by maliciously and disingenuously promoting unhealthy and socially destructive practices and should they be prosecuted for the harm and suffering they have purposefully caused, that harm being the theft of years of a persons life.

    BTW. I wrote all this.

  141. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Thumper_SVX · · Score: 1

    Except that this is still within spitting distance of two tickets to a movie plus snacks at the ridiculous theatre prices. And there are people (myself included) who have put a pretty decent investment into a home system that's more comfortable and in many ways better than a theatre system (you can control the volume yourself to start, pause the movie when you need a bio break etc.)

    On the flip side, I DO enjoy actually going to a theatre to watch a movie... and yes I enjoy new releases on occasion. I think this might be a service I will use because (a) I can afford it and (b) sometimes my girlfriend and I would rather sit home and watch a movie. Invite a couple of friends over for a "first watch" party and all of a sudden that $50 seems pretty damned cheap. In fact, I think I'd probably do that at least once a month.

  142. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hate to be the one to break this to you, but your "LED tv" (sic) is an LCD TV with LED backlighting (if you're lucky, otherwise it's LED sidelighting). It's nothing fancy, no matter what you paid for it. Now, an AMOLED screen would likely look amazing, but that is not what you have. The chair, yeah, you're right on that one.

  143. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude, copying ain't stealing.

    Art is a hard thing to monetize. The cost value of a work is subjective and someone will always think it should be given away freely. My wife is a photographer and these issues can present a real threat to her earning money. If she takes a photo and sells a copy of it to someone they have no right to make further copies and distribute them. Doing so cuts out her ability to make a profit on her work. As long as this world runs on money copying someone's intellectual property without consent is stealing in that you are taking currency out of the artists pocket.

    That being said, when the business model you operate on is no longer sustainable and it requires massive lawsuits and government intervention to maintain then it is time to reevaluate your business. Many portrait photographers have changed over from the old model of charging little for a sitting fee and making money off prints and moved to charging a larger sitting fee and offering the full rights to the prints from a digital media. While the service here will not be the solution it is perhaps a step in realizing that the theater model is no longer sustainable.

  144. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by EnglishTim · · Score: 1

    $50 (£35) is probably less than it costs for my Wife and I to go to the cinema, once you've factored in travel and babysittings costs.

  145. THE Screening Room by Bratch · · Score: 1

    Zuck should ask Sean to call it, "The Screening Room." That would be his contribution to the service.

    --
    Beware of the Redittor who loans you a Sharpie.
  146. Stewps toward something else? by martinfb · · Score: 1

    Could I open a 'block theater'? Perhaps put 10-20 seats in a large home room and have a showing at $5/person (11 person minimum)? Great rate for first-run movie! Use the minor profit to improve the facility, or parlay into more venues elsewhere. Better still, create mobile theaters at cheap rates! WOW! This opens all kinds of possibilities! (HEY! I thought of it first! Ummm! After Sean, JJ, Peter, and Steven!)

    --


    Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.
  147. Graphics Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is really a nice blog, all the things explained very well and i understand everything!!
    Thanks!For more nice tutorial you may visit clippingphoshop's website

  148. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude, copying ain't stealing.

    Tell that to someone who makes their living from creative works, and get back to me. You are not entitled to someone else's work without their say so.

  149. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, it's worse. Not starting at the scheduled time so they can show you adverts, noisy people, no pausing to go to the toilet, expensive (and non-alcoholic) drinks.. I really don't see the point in the cinema any more - is there anything *so* good you can't wait six months?

    1) Go to the toilet before the movie, problem solved.
    2) Don't buy food/drinks at the cinema, problem solved.

    And yeah, there are lots of good movies out there worth seeing on a big screen.

  150. Re:A famous book of literary criticism once said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There are different types of theft but at the simplest level theft is taking something that is not yours without permission from the owner/creator.

    Your post doesn't address retroactive copyright activation AFTER I HAVE PARTED WITH MY MONEY.

    Nor does it address the 6-figures of taxes I pay to EXTEND PROTECTION TO VIRUTUAL UNLIMITED TIMES.

    Yeah, so if unjust taxation and retroactive extension (making a mockery of 'limited' which was once 14/14 years (14 years with application and 14 year extension also with an application requirement) and having morphed a civil system to a criminal one are what you mean by "taking something that is not yours" then maybe you have a point. Otherwise, go fuck yourself.