Comments about ‘Elaborate gimmicks to entice moviegoers are nothing new’

Here's an idea that just might work: cut your movie's budget in half and make a movie that focuses on characters instead of effects.

When a movie is released I know I only have to wait at most six months, and often quite less time, until the studios release the film on DVD (to make more money on them)... where I can then watch the movie at home, with captioning, pausing as needed for a bathroom or kitchen break (where I can prepare and eat inexpensively whatever I'd like), rewind a scene, use slow motion, access extras, pay less (free at library, $1.50 Redbox, part of Netflix, or just buy for the price of two tickets) to watch with family and friends... all while sitting in my favorite chair. All it takes is a little patience to wait for the release.

Now if the films weren't released on DVD (for years perhaps) then there would be reason to see films in a germy, crowded theater, snack on over priced popcorn and slimy nachos, and try to hear the film over cell phones and giggling tweens.

Since the option is provided, is it any wonder that more and more people choose the pleasant option to maximize their home's gadgets?

The modern state of movies is sad. For the most part, heavy on style, light on substance. I recently watched the movie "Thor" with a bunch of the youth in my neighborhood at a big movie night that they planned. They all loved it, and I found myself totally bored. It wasn't that bad of a movie by today's standards--I really appreciated that it was pretty clean--but it was just nothing to get too excited over. I see these types of film--Thor, Tron, Avatar (which I actually have not seen) and all I can think of is the dude at his computer who made most of the movie. Sadly, though, the youth seem trained to enjoy that sort of show. All I could think of was how much better a great film like "The Sting" or "Lawrence of Arabia" is, yet I know that these guys would find those boring. Oh how I wish we could get back to great dialogue, character development, meaningful plot (heck, plot of any kind would be a start). I am generalizing. There have been some good films made as of late, but nothing truly great.