The genius behind “Blade Runner” and “Alien” warns that new technology is killing off the big-screen experience.
I mentioned last month how Sir Elton John railed against the evils of the internet and for which he held responsible for “destroying good music” and stopping “…people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.”
Well, now another “Sir” has entered the fray of artists criticizing the Internet with director Sir Ridley Scott voicing his distaste with the way the internet has revolutionized the ability of consumers to access content whenever and wherever they choose.
From mobile phones to desktop PCs, the internet now provides the opportunity for end users to stream and download an increasingly large variety of digital material that has turned movie theaters into simply another access terminal of sorts, a twist of technological fate that Sir Scott laments is killing the cinema experience.
“People sit there watching a movie on a tiny screen,” Scott noted. “You can’t beat it, you’ve got to join it and deal with it and also get competitive with it. We try to do films which are in support of cinema, in a large room with good sound and a big picture.”
“I’m sure we’re on a losing wicket, but we’re fighting technology,” said Scott, the genius behind such classic films like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator.” “While it has been wonderful in many aspects, it also has some big negative downsides.”
It isn’t clear whether he’s advocating a movement to tear down the internet as did Sir John, but he certainly dislikes the way that his movies are now able to be viewed in a way that he never intentioned. Each of his movies are filmed, edited, and produced with a creative vision in mind that takes into account the size, sound, and picture of movie theaters. When it’s screened on anything less he thinks that viewers are being shortchanged.
Now while I do disagree obviously that the internet is to blame for killing cinema, I do agree with his disdain for the way in which the experience he worked so hard to create for each of his movies is then ruined when people watch it on mobile phones or PCs.
It’s not hard to sympathize with the genius behind “Blade Runner” and the real beauty of that movie when seen on the big screen, and how it it pales in comparison when watched on anything less.
But, to his credit he does recognize the garbage that Hollywood has been spewing out over the years, a real reason I believe for low ticket sales when the MPAA otherwise tries to blame piracy.
“I think movies are getting dumber, actually. Where it used to be 50/50, now it’s 3% good, 97% stupid.
If Sir Scott is smart enough to recognize that most of what Hollywood makes is stupid, then the least I can do is sympathize with him for the way in which his movies eventually become disposable pieces of consumer goods, and his lamenting over how his works of passion become just another mans distraction while in line at the supermarket.
Bottom line? Maybe the internet is killing the cinema experience, but so long as people keep producing QUALITY films that people actually want to see (you know that 3% crowd?) then he has nothing to fear. His upcoming movie “American Gangster” is a perfect example of why people do go to the movies.
TRAILER FOR AMERICAN GANGSTER
**NOTE: Sir Scott was in Venice to screen his new “Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” which removes Harrison Ford’s voiceover that was originally demanded by Warner Bros. for the “hard-of-thinking.”
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i can just picture sir elton stomping his feet and waving his arms in a little lords tantrum – “oooh! where’s the coke”
forgive me sir elton i meant to say little gay lords tantrum
There are very few movies that I would bother going to see on the big screen. Like “Transformers” it was a pretty damn good movie. It was a movie I wanted to see on the big screen! Other movies I would just rather rent on DVD if I want to see it.
I’m absolutely certain that Sir Elton and his royal peer Sir Ridley are both enraptured with all that technology including that of the internet has brought to fore in enhancing their very own charmed lives.
It’s just that when it is your very own sorry coddled ass that is on the line all rationale logic and reason goes the way of the dodo bird. The threat of losing all the power money and influence does take its toll on your sanity as demonstrated by these Royal Johnnie-come-late-lies.
Well you know if it’s your ox that’s being gored as the aying goes if it encroaches on your little patch of
Sorry about my poor editing skills from the previous message. Please disregard the last sentence.
LOL! I was wondering how an ox being gored had anything to do with the subject!
Im studying DirectingCamera and Cutting in the German Film Akademy.I think that in some point he is right.At least the movies will be cheaper or there will be less movies.
Fuck this jerk-off he’s rich and he can go to the movies as many times as the little old gay wants. I go to the movies to play with my balls in the dark space with a lot of people around me. I also fart into people’s popcorn as i pass by………………
If the internet is where people want to get their entertainment then let them. It’s a free country. It’s our decision to make. The Hollywood types and music industry are upset because control is slipping through their hands.
I like the way that this article also proves that the internet is destroying the art of writing. Any fool with a thesaurus suddenly thinks that they’re a writer. Showing a horrid misuse of grammar along with everything from commas to apostrophes and quotation marks the writing and editing of this article is simply an embarrassment. I lost track of the point the writer was trying to make by the second paragraph. This is simply a suggestion but you might try reading through what you wrote before posting. Better yet have someone else give it a read preferably someone with an understanding of how the English language should be structured.
In my case it’s entirely a 50/50 split between refusing to pay cinema ticket prices and my preference for the ability to sit in my favorite chair trap on the headphones and fire up the portable DVD player. The internet doesn’t even enter the equation in my decision. The last time I did watch a movie at theater it was not a particularly grand experience. The sound was too loud and boomy and it was cold. I much prefer to be in charge of the ambience and that’s just another reason to pass on the cinema experience. As for the big-screen experience being killed off I think that was done by loud mouth chatters cell phone talkers wannabe movie reviewers and commentators all of whom made going to the movies hell and that was long before the internet became so prevalent.
“I like the way that this article also proves that the internet is destroying the art of writing. Any fool with a thesaurus suddenly thinks that they’re a writer. Showing a horrid misuse of grammar along with everything from commas to apostrophes and quotation marks the writing and editing of this article is simply an embarrassment. I lost track of the point the writer was trying to make by the second paragraph. This is simply a suggestion but you might try reading through what you wrote before posting. Better yet have someone else give it a read preferably someone with an understanding of how the English language should be structured.”
As far as I know he never claimed to be an english language teacher. LOL!
I found a lot of things wrong with the article….but the english language and it’s use were not one of the top things that I found so horrible.
@SergeantTibbs
As u in fact admit writing is truly an “art” and much as is the case with all other arts everybody’s a critic.
BTW haven’t used a Thesaurus since college….
Fuck grammar and spank your monkey a couple of times that should do the trick. Yep flipping and a flopping with the big throbbing salami and squeeze out the salty garlic sauce. Then sit on your French fries and fart all over them make em all nice steamy and sweaty. Them barf in your milkshake and drink it up yep that should do the trick!
Works for me every time!
At least the name Sargent Tibbs is an important one to animal people.
There are big screens in home theaters too but I watch mostly on my 17″ in. inch pc monitor and don’t feel like I’m missing out. I do have some great memories of seeing films for the first time in theaters movies that have meant a lot to me. There is something special but all in all when the lights are out it’s just another screen in front of me.
I meant to say
Then barf into your milkshake and drink it up….adds that bitter salty flavor to the whole thing!
@Boomer
Yah I still remember watching an “american werewolf in London” in the theater when I was like 13 believe it or not was frickin crazy!
The first time I saw American Werewolf was on late night TV flipping through the channels. I came in where one of the transformations was happening and felt a little funny watching it and being fascinated because mom was in the room watching too. Silly but those were earlier times.
Who’s to say that everyone watches movies on ’small screens’? And who cares? I think sitting in the comfort of my home and watching a video on a ’small screen’ is far better (and cheaper) than sitting in one cramped seat the entire movie without the ability to pause or go back. These technology-scared bumbling idiots better get with the program and realize they’re going the way of obsolescence.
These people need to get a life. The new devices as Ridley Scott put it aren’t ruining the big screen experience. What’s ruining the big screen experience is the nonsense people have to put up with in theatres these days.
1. Solicitations for god knows what before the movie starts by theatre employees (I’ve seen members of the audience throw popcorn candy and soda at them while yelling expletives to get them to shut up)
2. People that won’t shut up during the movie and think it’s perfectly ok to talk.
3. People that talk on cell phone during the movie.
4. Noisy kids.
5. 15 to 20 minutes of commercials before the movie starts in addition to commercials you see on television. (Uh excuse me but didn’t I just pay a hefty fee to see this movie in this theatre. Why do I have to see commercials?)
6. Not being able to see over Buster’s head in front of you unless you’re lucky enough to have theatre’s with stadium seating.
7.Uncomfortable cramped seats that are even uncomfortable for a thin person. I can’t imagine what overweight people have to deal with
8. Incredibly long lines at the booth.
9 Exorbitant admission prices
10. Exorbitant snack prices. Who wants to pay $5.00 for a cup of soda… Ridiculous. It’s enough to make anyone sneek their own food in the theatre. :
11. Oh and let’s not forget the trouble of finding parking etc..
Get a life Ridley Ipods have nothing to do with the detracting from the allure of the big screen. You might want to investigate the shortcomings of the business model. I’m sick of these technophobic old fogies that can do nothing but cry simply because the needs of customers have changed and they can’t adapt. Well too f*ckin’ bad.
On a similar note If the music industry had negotiated a deal with Napster like they should have they wouldn’t have been in the mess they’re in now. Napster would have been what ITunes is today except much larger than life. But no the music industry decided to skip what was a critical and important opportunity.