Media Chatter

I don’t go to the theaters that often.

It’s not that I don’t like movies, because I love them. I go to the good old local Amstar once every one or two months. The thing that keeps me from going more often is the fact that after going to the theater for a few movies, I can’t even feel my wallet in my back pocket because it’s become so thin!

I would say my rental habits are a bit more aggressive. I don’t actually have to go into the local Blockbuster to get movies, but I have them shipped to me! I joined the Blockbuster Online deal that’s been going on for some years now because of the high value I get from it.

When I go to the movies, I spend about $8 on a ticket. After that, I’m usually always thirsty – I drink something all the time. So if I want a cup of water, it’ll cost me the same as a normal drink because they “charge for the cups.” That’ll run me at least another $3 or $4. If I’m hungry (which I am a lot), I’ll be forced to drop another $4 to get some popcorn or other overpriced rubbish.

Since I got into the whole Blockbuster Online thing, I pay a total of $10.59 (split between 3 roommates) per month, which becomes little more than $3 per person. I get one movie shipped to me at a time. When I’m done, I simply put the DVD back into the pre-addressed and postage pre-paid envelope in my mailbox. Or, if I don’t mind going into the store, I can bring the watched DVD inside and get a free rental. While I’m watching my free rental from the store, my other DVD is being sent back to a Blockbuster warehouse, where a new DVD will be sent to me upon arrival.

All of this happens in a matter of three days or so, depending on how soon a person watches a DVD once it arrives.

I can watch two DVDs in the comfort of my home every three to four days for around $3 a month. Or, I can spend my hard-earned college student money on an $8 movie ticket that I’ll enjoy only once.

I personally enjoy the movie experience much better in the comfort of my own home and the fullness of my wallet. It’s just that much better to me!

Look, it doesn’t matter where a film is produced, if it is a hit. Harry Potter is the talk of the movie industry right now. This book made movie is unreal. The popularity continues to grow. Fans from all over love these films.

The US does play a significant role in global culture and that is good. The US is making money and people are watching what they want. Everyone gets something. People from all over want to watch films and be entertained. The US has found out what people like to see and they produce such things. This doesn’t mean that other countries can not or do not produce hits also. They do and this is how it works. Produce a hit and it will be a hit.

As for Harry Potter, Variety’s statistics say it all. Harry Potter is a fantasy film produced by Warner Brothers and is loved the world over. This fantasy film is not just for US children or US adults. People from all over and all ages, 1 to 99, love this film. It has made millions and continues to rack in the money. Again I say, people like what they like. They want to be entertained and if the US is doing a good job at fullfilling the needs of all differant kinds of people all over, so be it. The US does a good job at offering something for everyone and that’s the way it should be. 

In this day and age people have many options when deciding to see a movie. Movies can be rented from the story or viewed in the theaters. There are even options in what kind of theaters a person wants to see a movie in, outdoor theaters or indoor theaters. Movies have created a very bonding atmosphere between people in society today.

On an average I probably go out to see a movie in the theaters once every couple of months. Usually my friends and I will have a girls night and go see a chick flick or scary movie together. Its always a lot of fun, but I personally prefer to rent a DVD and stay in. I rent movies probably once a week depending on the time of year. I like watching movies at a house better than a theater because you can talk and make as much noise as you want without disturbing other people who are also watching. In a theater serious people are always shushing those who are whispering, and sometimes with good reason. If I paid $10 to go see a movie, I definitely wouldn’t want to be disturbed. That’s why I’d rather rent a movie and watch it at home. Another benefit to renting is you can watch it whenever you want, and as many times as you want. Renting gives more freedom and allows the movie to be adapted to a person’s time allotments.

Some of my favorite memories with my family are the nights we rented a movie and watched it together. With my dad and brothers we would rent a war movie. I’ll never forget the first time I saw ‘The Patriot’ with Mel Gibson. I was struck by how realistic the movie was and it really changed the way I personally viewed the Revolutionary War. My mom and sisters and I would rent chick flicks or historically based movies, or movies that never made it to the theaters and laughed and talked about how good or bad the film was. Watching movies together at home, growing up, really created a close bond between my family. To this day we have jokes relating back to some of those movie nights. I hope when I get married and have a family, we will share moments just like those that movies gave me.

Throughout middle school, and for the first half of high school, going to the local movie theater was the “thing” to do.  Not only did my friends and I enjoy seeing the latest film, the movie theater was a popular hang out, a place to meet up with your friends.  During my junior and senior years, most Friday nights were spent at my house with friends watching a rented DVD or VHS.  We went to the movie theater every once and a while, but preferred renting a variety of movies and being able to watch them when we wanted to.

Now that I’m in college, I still prefer to rent DVD’s rather than go to the movies.  I probably go to the theater about once every two months, while I rent about twice a month.  There are several reasons why I prefer to rent.

For one, it’s cheaper!  The price of going to the theaters is constantly increasing – tickets cost as much as $10 at some theaters!  Plus, if you want a snack, you’ll more than likely pay about $12 for popcorn and a soda.  Renting a DVD only costs about $5, and you can re-watch the movie  as many times as you like! 

Another reason I prefer to rent on DVD is for the variety.  A movie is shown in theaters for only a certain amount of time.  However, if you rent a VHS or DVD, you can choose movies from the past.  It’s an interesting way to learn more about historical entertainment.

Overall, renting movies is much better than going to the theater.  Saving money and getting more of a variety are definite pluses.

If I were a movie producer, I would like to create more family oriented films that bring light to everyday situations. I feel that people can relate to movies like those simply because we are all humans and we all have problems. I would like to bring a comedic aspect to the problems and the solutions that will be provided. I would try to attract all age groups with concerns and the way to overcome those concerns that afflict the various age groups.

In today’s theaters, Tyler Perry is a producer who is doing a very good job of displaying this type of movie. I have respect and I appreciate him taking the initiative to enlighten the communities on situation that affect families daily which have not necessarily been touched upon before; especially in the black community. His success shows that audiences appreciate these types of films.  I don’t find anything wrong with the films being displayed however I would focus on that particular area. Many of the films recently made have strong story lines that are portraying important issues and telling stories that people should be aware of. In addition to the serious films made, you can’t rule out the comedies made. It is refreshing to have something that tickles your funny bone every now and then.

If I were Adolph Zukor, or another movie executive, movies would have taken a turn for the worse.  I am more into the suspense movies or something that teaches us a lesson.  The best movies are the ones about real life, or true-life events.  The sympathy for the real person is more imaginable.  While it is necessary to suspend disbelief at times, I am more interested in seeing truth up close and personal.  I would have followed the mob, befriended myself with slimy, confused people to make the real news.  Just as today I would follow the drug overlords.  No one in their right mind would try to learn a drug overlords way of living.  I dare Katie Courick to try!!  It isn’t good or nice in any way what so ever, but it is real.  Drugs are one of the biggest problems known to the world today.  There is no way to overlook them.  Look closer next time you drive down the road.  Someone who has cars in and out all day may be listening to Pink Floyd…… and selling drugs.  So, if I were Adolph Zukor I would point out the down side of George Jung, and not the next impossible mission of Tom Cruise.

I guess movie theaters have just about had their hay day. When they were extremely popular, say around the 40s, going to theater was a priveledge perhaps rather than just “something to do.” Today, I find that more and more I am browsing on Netflix rather than searching through the paper for showtimes. More and more I see going to the theatre more of a hassle. Its only advantage in showing the newest movie is overshadowed by the ticket lines, sticky floors, and ice cold theaters. From the comfort of my home I can simply go on Netflix and choose what I want to see. The control that one may have over their viewing pleasure is easier to manage when you can order multiple movies at a time rather than paying to see one movie.

In the past few years I have rented more movies than gone to the theater only because in the long run I am paying a lot more if you count the ticket along with snacks. At the same time, you never know if someone is going to ruin the movie by talking or if you are going to get the sticky seat. Within your own home, there is privacy and you have the power to pause and rewind the movie at your leisure. No longer do you have to hold it so you “don’t miss that part,” you have the control.

    Today in our society, we have allowed Hollywood set our mental boundary(or no boundary at all) when it comes to what we understand to be appropriate to see. What may seem to be an enjoyable movie at the moment, could be written off as a money waster just because of the excessive cursing and/or provocative scenes. If I was given the right to be a Hollywood film producer, I would make films with substance and with interesting twists. The genre that I would be most interested in developing would most likely be drama. Although I do have my fair share of comedys that I like to see, I would also like to produce comedys that would not always have to result to perverted come-backs to make the audience laugh. Resulting to this sort of humor only means that the script was unable to be creative in my opinion. Although a recent film that has all the things I consider uncreative in my opinion, caught my attention as a movie-seer. “Knocked Up”is a movie that portrays a situation that every guy or girl fears, but yet in this movie it shows the struggles and success in the problem. Although it had the raunchy language, sexual and drug scenes, the movie catered to all kinds of audiences.

Changes I would make in movies today, if given the chance to would be to make films more accurate that have been taken from a book. More often than not whenever a movie is made from a book, most people I know are dissapointed. When I hear this, it makes me wonder what are the movie companies doing to make viewers dissapointed? I know its literally impossible to put every detail in a movie derived from a book, but if I knew anything about filming I would find the answer to making viewers a little less dissapointed.

Overall, moving making is a hard industry, like any other. Yet it’s important to be updated in this area of our society, because wether we admit it or not, it affects us and shows us in a sense, where our society is moving toward.

Though it takes much work to sufficiantly driect a successful film, I would say that I dream to do it, just as everyone else. I think that we all agree that there are so many opinions that float around about an upcoming movie, or premiere showing. “Well, I would have made the ending like this…,” “it would have been so much better if this had happened.” I would love to produce a movie with characteristics that I would like to see.

We are all in one way or another changed by media, and influenced in some way, but yet we have so many movies with violence and hate. We see our american kids fighting just like they see in movies, the “super villian, and the super hero.” They say words and do things that “teens movies” portray. You may see where I am going with this. No, I am not saying take out all the curse words and fighting and make all films for virgin ears, and shelter children for the rest of their lives. I think it is a great idea to have situations in movies that may not happen in everyday life, but still enightens us about real world issues. With that said, I would produce more films about poverty and issues that are happening world wide. I would love to introduce films that are entertaining yet challenge us to see real issues across the globe. Movies like, Blood Diamond, Invisible Children, and Hotel Rwanda are films that do just that. They challenge us to act upon what we watch, and see current issues that are important to know. Movies that we are going to spend time watching should not only entertain, but teach, and I would produce movies that do just that.

I think choosing between a movie theatre and the comfort of your own home all comes down to who you are with and what type of movie you are seeing. Personally, I love going to the movies. I think I would pick going out to see a movie over staying in to watch one. They both have their perks.

 We have all been there… you’re sitting in the movies and RIGHT behind you are these kids that don’t know how to keep their mouth shut and it completely ruins your night at the movies. Normally, things like this just don’t bother me but to some people..it makes their whole night go downhill. One thing I love about the movie theatre is  the smell! The yummy popcorn and all the tempting candy! Sure, it’s a lot less personal, as far as setting goes….but It is also a lot of fun.

 Watching a movie at home can be great too. You can pause the movie… play the movie… take it out, use it as a frisbee.. you know just anything really. It’s a fun time. But if you get it from somewhere (IE-Blockbuster) you have to return it. To be completely honest.. I normally forget to turn them in on time.  It’s fun watching them at home because it’s comfortable. I think I would have to go with the Theatre though.

Some people have books, some have music, but me….my favorite past time is without a doubt movies. Theres nothing like a good Saturday night movie to entertain you. My love for movies can’t be described in mere words, so just take my word for it. It all started as a child, I was a twinkle in my mothers eye and simultaneously a pain my fathers. So it was safe to say I was in trouble a lot but be that as it may, the free time I obtained while serving my sentences on punishment led me to movies.

Today I go tot the movies at least once every two weeks. Most people would say that they would need someone to go with. This is definitely not the case with me. Give me a bag of sour patch kids and some popcorn and I’m game. I do buy a good many of movies on DVD. I also rent movies from time to time. If you take a look in my DVD library, the genres that you will find consists of comedy, action, sports and adventure. I’m not big on chick flicks, but I do like the occasional drama.

I don’t have a preference when it comes to viewing movies. I love to go to the movies and to watch them on DVD. Its the best of both worlds in my eyes I get the same enjoyment from both. Movies are an escape from reality used to entertain, please, and excite the mind. I’m thrilled to see what technology will do to movies in the years to come.

Movie theater prices have been on an incline for the past 10-15 years. Due to this, I tend to go to the movie theater on a very little basis. I would have to say that I go to the movie once every two months, or whenever I feel a movie is good enough to get my eight dollars worth.

When it comes to renting movies, I feel that I am getting my money’s worth. When I rent a movie, I am able to go back and see a scene that I was not able to see in the movie theater, or even if I wish, zoom in on a selected clip. I can also watch the whole movie over and over again for as long as I have the rental.

However, there are both positive and negative sides of the theater and renting a movie. The negative side of renting is that you will not be able to see the movie until it is released on DVD. However, the positive side of renting is that you will be able to enjoy the movie in the own comfort of your home and watch it countless number of times if you so wish. The positive side of going to the movies is you have the “movie theater” experience. But the negative side is you may waste your money if you do not like the movie.

My personal choice would have to be renting the movie when it comes out on DVD.

“The truth is I love the insecurity part of it, it keeps me on my toes. I think you become bland and predictable without the stress and angst. There’s a certain lethargy that sets in.” – Liam Neeson

While Neeson was talking about acting, the same can be applied to different types of film.  No film is a guaranteed success.  No film is a guaranteed failure.  Really, there aren’t many guarantees at all.  So why would a film producer take on such a risk?  To get a message out.  To tell a story.  To leave the audience wanting more.  Or to leave them thinking “Wow, I’ve never thought about it like that before.”

As a filmmaker, one must have a vision.  Each vision is different and unique.  Currently, the film world is unusally varied.  While this past summer was filled with such blockbusters as Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Shrek, this fall has brought a different genre with it.  Resident Evil: Extention, Good Luck Chuck, and The Brave One all topped the box office last week.  So, with the new varitey, what’s really missing from the film industry?

 New work.  Audiences crave more stories.  New ones that haven’t been recycled over and over again.  Audiences know the story and know how it will end, but continue to flock to the box office.  What ever happened to a message?  What happened to going to the movies to see a brand new idea come alive on screen?  Seeing a film used to be important for good dinner conversation.  “Did you see the film Schindler’s List?”  “Oh yes, I could not believe the direction they took with that film.”  “I know.  It was simply stunning, and yet subtly powerful.” 

 Films need a breath of fresh air.  Why not take a step as simple as putting a new spin on it?  Portray the assassination of John F. Kennedy through a sympathetic eye towards his killer.  Or tell the story of two friends who vow to be together forever and are torn apart by life.  Or maybe have a character who doesn’t win.  He faces the world knowing he is up against unspeakable odds, yet he fights anyway, simply because it is the only thing he can do.  The world could always use something that’s a little Stranger Than Fiction.

Growing up i never did too many things behind my parents backs but sometimes i let my friends have a bit of an influence on me. My family has always been very conservative so rated R movies are completely out of the picture. The week that Red Dragon came out everyone was talking about it. All of my friends wanted to see it so of course i couldnt be left out. I ended up going to see it and telling my mom i was seeing a different movie. The whole time i was at the theater i had this guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach. When i got home that night all i could think of were the scary parts in the movie and how i should have listened to my mom in the first place. The next day my mom was ironing my pants and came into my room with a ticket stub. I had forgotten to take it out of my pocket. She put me on the spot so i ended up telling her what i did. She put me on restrictions for a week for lying and disobeying. Needless to say that wasnt the last R movie i saw. I think every teenager disobeys their parents when it comes to seeing movies. Its one of those things that kids have to figure out on their own!

When I was younger, going to the movies was a big thing. I mean, it’s pretty much what you did on a Friday night.  Since then however, the novelty of going to the movies has worn off. I still enjoy going to the movies and hanging out with friends, but I’m just not as willing to spend six dollars and the money is gas to go see a movie that I may not even like.

     There are of course those movies that you really should experience in a theater.  Some movies special effects can not be fully appreciated outside of the theater. Theaters will also always have their place for socializing. Whether it’s going to the movies on a date or going to see the newest Disney movie with the family, movies will always be a fall back for what to do on a Friday night. However, on a regular basis, going to see a movie isn’t as convenient as renting.

     With the option of renting movies through stores, or even with companies like netflix, movie theaters seem almost impractical. Through Blockbuster and Netflix, you can rent movies and have them shipped to your home. This allows you to watch the movies on when it convenient for you. Granted, you can’t see the latest movies, but who cares if you have to wait a few months.  You can always rent Titanic again.

Hollywood is flooded with different types of films.  All attract different different audiences who have varying tastes.  I would make movies that have storylines surronding characters usually depicted as the “bad guys”.  Hollywood has washed up good vs. evil.  It’s time we see the other side.

My films would make the audience empathize with the characters who are usually the antagonist.  Traffic is a good example of this.  It presents two sides of the story, yet at times, we find ourselves hoping the drugs get across the border and the drug lord be set free.  These are the types of movies that spark an interest simply because they are fresh and present both sides.

Too many times we go to the movies these and see cultures depicted as they weren’t.  Recently, in the movie 300, an actor with a Scottish accent played the lead role.  The movie took place in Greece, not Scotland.  All the supporting actors were the same as well. 

If it were me calling the shots, I would make certain the cultures down to accents were represented right.  An accurate depiction comes from The Passion of the Christ. The entire movie was in Arabic.  American actors were in the movie, and it was directed by Scotsman.  More movies should make an effort to represent the cultures they depict. 

Going to the movies has always been a pretty major deal with my family. My sister and I have always thoroughly enjoyed going to see a movie at the local theater with our parents. It was quite the ordeal to transport my sister and I from one location to another, so of course, we weren’t able to actually go to the movies as often as we would have liked.

Today, I still enjoy going to the movies. I like to see movies when they first arrive on the Big Screen. I love the thrill of knowing a particular movie is brand new. I love discussing the most hilarious, most devastatingly sad, and the most thought-provoking scenes with my friends. A simple trip to the movies actually turns into a journey. The actual ride to the movies, the payment (of course, quite steep usually), the viewing of the movie, and the car-ride-discussion after the movie. All of these aspects make theater what it is today-one of life’s simplest indulgences.

Aside from going to the movies, I also love to rent movies. No experience parallels a night alone with a bowl of popcorn and a DVD that I have seen numerous times already. The only negative aspects that go along with movie renting is the trip to the rental store, and the trip back to the rental store to prevent late fees; that experience I could do without.

I go to the movies and rent movies quite often. I most likely go to the movies the same amount of times I rent movies: 1-2 times a week. Of course, these numbers fluctuate based on my schedule and how heavy/light my workload is.

I tend to prefer going to the movies more than renting a movie simply because of the fresh experience that goes with a trip to the movie theater.

I am a simple guy who likes all the typical guy movies.  I love action movies that will keep me on the edge of my seat anticipateing the next loud explosion.  I like a comedy that will keep me laughing for hours and be the source of inside jokes with my friends for weeks.  Unlike many men i will admit to watching the occasional chick-flick, and yes i have been known to shed a tear or two. 

Although i love going to the movie theaters i don’t very often.  I am a college guy with little to none extra cash so i catch a movie about once a month.  Although i am short on cash I find myself renting the new releases at the video store quite often.  I probably rent about twice a month and maybe more often then that if there is a good movie out.  I would have to say that the convenience of renting is more attractive then the expense and hastle of going to the movie theater. 

If I had to chose one over the other I would have to choose the movie theater because there is something about being at a movie theater and watching a movie on the big screen that makes me feel like i am actually part of the show.  I have feelings for the character and I occasionally talk to them even though I know they can’t hear me.  When something sad and depressing happens I start to feel those same emotions myself.  When something exciting happens I have to stop myself from jumping up with joy and cheering, sometimes i am not able to do so.  The movie theaters let me forget about reality and sit back and be entertained for an hour or two.

There are so many new movies coming out. Funny comedies, intense action movies, and horror movies seem to spread like wild fire through the culture. If I were a film producer or executive I would redefine a good movie. I would take the good clean humor and make it appeal to the roughest of crowds. There are always classic movies and shows that everyone of every age can enjoy. Taking ideas from those shows I would make a movie that doesn’t have the offensive type of material that is played today. It could change the culture, if the movies were more centered around morals instead of the wild hearted kid that gets into trouble and then some how makes it out to become the hero. Who cares about if he is the hero or not? Lets make it a good movie and not just some trash that polutes our minds.
The movies would have to changed the vulgarity and the rating system. More and more young kids are going to the movies and seeing the pollution that is up on the screen. The sex and drugs look amazing when they aren’t real, but few of them know the real problems you run into with those lifestyles. As the culture turn more away from God we can see the entertainment decaying as well. I would love to see the movies turn to a more moral angle and not the trash that ist here now.

Being a Hollywood film producer or executive I would like to more movies to have a an encouraging moral and/or inspiration in the films nowadays. One of my favorite movies is “Remember the Titans,” this particular movie has a moral that teaches us how to become on another by standing for what right from wrong in the decade of racism. The movie teaches us how to become united together no matter what color you are or where you are from, but as to work as a team. You see, most of these movies aren’t made anymore, now its all about killing, horror, violence with drug uses and nudity.

      Movies today have made our society desensitized to the reality of what we see on the screen. We as a culture are so used to seeing war films that what we see on the news about our own war issues hardly phases us. Sexual content is also thrown in our faces on a daily baisis. Our world thrives on sex and porn as a medium. There is no need for a movie to host numerous sex scenes in order for it to be a sucess and it is sad that, that is what some hollywood producer think. If I was producing or directing a movie I would prefer to be know for my artistic eye for things and my creativity not the idea that all my movies contain intense bed scenes. I would want my movies to be seen as an art form. Movie containing obsessive sexual material aren’t offten recognized for their story line or art form.

If I could I would change the way our rating systems for movies. It is a confusing system we currently host and is not informative at all. The public does not know the difference between PG and PG-13.  Some PG movies I believe should be rated PG-13 and can’t beleive that they aren’t! The public needs to be informed of what each rating really means. There is such a discrete line between each rating it makes it hard to judge them. Take disney’s latest hit Cars. One of the main characters (Mator) uses the term “Hillbilly Hell” on several occasions. When I was younger there was no way that would have had those words and still be rated G. In today’s world I guess a foul word doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be rated G. That idea would make me uncomfortable as a parent though because it seems like the system will continue to decline in the standards for ratings.

      Today going to the movie theater is a  treat for me.  When I was in my early teens going to the movies was something I did almost every weekend. Everyone was excited to ” Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or the latest Jason movie.    Now that I am in college I usually go to the movies as a date.  My boyfriend  and will pick a movie that we really want to see and then go to the movies for a date night.  I normally go to the movies once or twice every other month.

     I never rent movies or DVDs anymore now that I do not live at home.  I would normally just watch the movie the first time it comes out or I would just buy the movie.  I only buy movies because if I really enjoyed the movie I want to keep them instead of turning it back in.  Stores such as “Blockbuster” are trying to upgrade by not charging late fees to keep customers coming back.  T.V. is also stealing customers from video stores buy offering pay-per view and premiere cable stations. ”Showtime”, “HBO”, and “Cinemax” are networks that show movies which allow people the ability to watch the movies they want to see with out leaving their house.

     Personally I enjoy going to the movies more than I do just renting them.  I love the movie theater atmosphere with the lights, popcorn, and candy.  I have a better time at the movies rather than being at home having to pop my own popcorn.  Also having a date or just hanging out with your friends is a better when your at my movie theater.  There is no need to rent movies anymore when you can just go to the movies or just stay at home and catch the latest movies.

When was ten years old, the movie She’s All That came out on video. I wanted to see it really bad. I had seen all of the previews and I thought I would just love it. The only problem was, it was rated pg-13. My mother would not let me see it. So one day I got the movie from my older cousin and snuck into the back bedroom to watch the movie. About halfway through the movie I turned it off and went and confessed to what I had done. I felt so bad because then I knew why my mom did not what me to see it. The was bad language and other scenarios that a ten year old should not be exposed to.

I believe that the standard for the ratings of movies have gone down. I have a younger brother and sister so I am still exposed to a number of PG movies. There are things in PG movies now that would have never been in there ten years ago. I have heard everything from foul language to risque remarks. I told my younger brother and sister to see the movie Hairspray when it first came out. It was rated PG so I figured it was fine. But, it had cussing and very risque remarks in the movie. I was shocked. I could not believe that they had rated that movie PG. It should have definately been PG-13.

I believe that children younger than thirteen should not be exposed to that sort of thing. They hear enough at school, they do not need to hear it in the movies that they watch. Parents should be able to take their child to a PG movie and not have to worry about what is about to come out of their mouths.

Increased power means greater influence, which equals widespread impact. As one of several dominating countries in the world, the United States has much influence on the ideas, programs, symbols, and movies that spread across the globe. It simply makes sense that the countries with more widespread influence will have an increased amount of information crossing their borders and flowing into those of others. This does not mean, however, that simply because one nation has progressed into a place of power, that everything coming from that country is beneficial and worth sharing.

Looking at the top five grossing movies of the past week on Variety.com, one can see that all of them are American-made. The first of these, Transformers, made over $312 million dollars, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End at, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Ratatouille. While these movies, for the most part, do not contain highly offensive material to most of their viewers, many movies released in the United States do contain such material that is broadcast across the world when released to various countries.

America is steadily losing its image as a mostly Christian country, and while this matters little to many, the images and movies we popularize should not destroy morals that many people hold in general. Subjects such as obscene language, nudity, and violence show up frequently in American-made movies. Their presence, however, contributes nothing to an individual’s positive growth as a human being. The United States should consider carefully the negative impact that it has worldwide, even through something labeled simple “entertainment.”

My mother has an extreme dislike for horror movies. She labels that genre of movies as “from the Devil”. When “The Ring” came out in 2002, I was not allowed to see it, though all my friends had enjoyed it. One of them decided to show it at her Halloween party that year. Before the movie, I felt a little guilty and somewhat disobedient knowing that my mom would have forbidden this. But I watched anyway. I didn’t cover my eyes at the climactic scenes- I was glued. In the end, I did not think it was as bad as my mom made it out to be. I wasn’t hearing voices that told me to harm anyone. But I discovered a part of why my mom would not have wanted me to watch it. I had difficulty falling asleep that night because different scenes from the movie kept replaying in my head. I’m a very visual person, and I could see the character of that creepy looking girl sitting in the white room so clearly in the dark of my room. I would wake up in the middle of the night and that would be the first thing I thought of. This went on for several nights, but I never told my mom that I saw the movie. Now I am more careful about horror films, though I may enjoy them while I am watching them, it’s not the best idea for peace when I sleep at night.

Just like all teenagers, I love movies. Comedies, Chick Flicks, Action, you name it, and I’ll watch it. I usually go to the movies at least twice a month and rent a movie at least twice as well.

When I go to the movies, I feel as if i have truly experienced the movie. The big screen, people, loud sounds, and smells of popcorn are all movie musts. When i watch a movie on the big screen, I am forced to pay attention. There are no distractions and the screen and magnified picture is enticing. I always get popcorn which completes the movie trip.  The biggest downfall to going to the movies is the overpriced concessions and the fact that you cannot just put the movie on pause if you need to use the restroom or get something to drink.

At home when I have rented a movie, I love the fact that I can watch the movie at my own leisure. If i want to pause it and use the restroom or just take a break if it is a long movie, I can. I also like that, depending on how long i rented it for, I can watch it over and over. I like the comfortable atmosphere of my own house.

The question is, which do i prefer? Well, it ultimatly depends on my mood. If I am sad and not feeling to good, then I want to cuddle up in my bed and rent a movie. If I feel like going out, then I want to go see a movie. So each has it’s ups and downs and I just like what I feel like that day.

There are benefits to going to see movies in the theater, as well as renting movies.  I go see a movie in the theater about 1-2 times per month and I rent, at most, 1 movie per month.  I generally prefer going to the movie theater over renting a movie. 

 Movie theaters are nice because it’s a big screen, other people to add to the environment of the movie (laugh when you laugh, cry when you cry, etc.), amazing popcorn,  and the sound quality is very good.  I feel more entertained when I go see a movie at the theater.  There are some definite disadvantages to a movie theater as well…other people in the theater it can be loud, if you don’t like the movie you have just spent $7 on a bad movie, and you can’t stop the movie if you need to get up and do something else.  But going to the theater makes the movie feel more like a treat for me, more adventurous, more fun.

 Renting a movie at Blockbuster can be nice too.  For one it is way more convenient, you can watch it when you want and however many times you want, it costs less, and other people can give you their opinion of it since it has already been in the theaters.  Some disadvantages to renting include losing some of the atmosphere of having a theater full of people, you might have to watch it on a smaller television, etc.  Blockbuster is definitely more cost effective, but I think the advantages of the movie theater out-weigh the disadvantages.  Part of what makes a movie fun, it my opinion, is the audience and the entertainment aspect of it all.  I would rather see a movie in a theater over renting a movie.

I love just as much as the next person a good movie. If you watch a comedy when you are sad or upset, there is a good chance that it is going to lift your spirits a little bit. Sometimes you just want a thrill and you get that when you go and see a scary movie. Movies have always been a great way for me to get away from what all there is that I have to do and just relax for a little while. When I have younger, I used to love going to the movie theater and seeing a movie that I had just been dying to see. As I got a little bit older and was able to drive, it was always the thing to do on a Saturday night. Everyone would get into the car and go see a movie with a huge group of friends. However, there are some down sides to going to a theater to see a movie.

When you go to a theater you have to wait in line to buy your ticket. I have even had some experiences where I would be the next person in line and the movie that I wanted to go see just sold out. That is the worst! If you go a little bit early and get your ticket, then the problem is finding seats. If it is just you and another person, you usually wont have a problem finding somewhere to sit. On the other hand, if you have a huge group that you went with, that can be a bit of a hassle. There are also problems with the noise in the movie theaters. Whether it be you and your friends or some little kid sitting behind you kicking your chair and screaming, there always seems to be that person who is being to loud and it just ruins your experience.

These days, unless there is a movie coming out that I really want to see and just can not wait, I will wait until it comes out on DVD so that I can just rent it. This would be the result of most of the things that I listed before. When you rent a movie you can watch it at you own pace, and if you miss something you can always go back and rewind it. You can take the movie back to you house and you can have as many people come over to watch as you want. And the big bonus is, there are no screaming children. That is why I would prefer to just stay at home and rent a good movie.

The 2004 comedy movie, Soul Plane, directed by  Jessy Terrero  became very popular. The movie is Rated R, contain very strong sexual content, language, and some drug use. My mother bought the movie when it came out in local stores without looking at the rating, I was interested in seeing what all my peers where talking about. I remember us setting together in the family room watching the opening of the movie. It was totally filthy and my parents did not like the content. I remember my mother ejecting the DVD and breaking it in half; I was then advised to never watch Soul Plane, until I was out of the house. I didn’t comprehend why my mom did that, but I realized that I wouldn’t want my kids experiencing something that filthy at a young age. The media is known to influence kids greatly and kids are the first to adopt many of the fags it displays to us. I wouldn’t want my child to be influenced to do drugs or have sex.  This is not the first movie to contain inappropriate content, there are numerous others that we constantly watch and allow children to watch and we wonder what is influencing there behavior. When children witness things they have a tendency to implement those habits, therefore must be mindful as of what children are exposed to. I believe that parents should be held accountable for allowing children to witness Rated R movies. Amanda Paulso explains it best in her article If it’s rated ‘R,’ who brought all these children?

I have learned an important lesson to be careful what you allow children to watch in or out of your presence and always check the rating of a movie before purchasing it. I am grateful my mother didn’t allow any Soul Plane for me, but how may children where there that did watch this movie?

I’m at a movie theater quite a bit. One reason is because I actually work at one. When I’m not working I’d say I’m at the movies about once a week. I go this often because I can get in the movies free. If I didn’t get in free I’d probably go every other week. As far as renting movies on video or DVD, I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never rented a movie before. My parents never did it so I never did. I normally just wait for the movie I want to see to come out on DVD. I prefer just going to the movies instead of renting them. With going to the actual movie theater to watch a movie you get the full experience. You get to enjoy the surround sound, comfortable seats, perfect lighting, and of course the big screen. With renting a movie, you have to actually go to the store and find the movie then pay for it. Then about an average of five days later you have to go back to the movie store and take it back. To me, it’s just a hassle to go do all that when I can normally just wait to see a movie that I didn’t see in theaters on HBO when it comes out. Yes, you have to pay a lot these days to see a movie at the theater, but it’s well worth it. You not only have a movie to look forward to but fresh made popcorn and drinks. Granted, going to the movie theater is costly nowadays, but in the end it beats renting a movie any day. Plus, with actually going to the theater you can make a date out of it. You can go to a nice restaurant then go to a movie in the theater. With renting a movie, you usually eat at home then go rent the movie or eat while watching the movie you’ve rented. In conclusion, going to a movie theater to watch a movie is more enjoyable than going and renting one. It may cost more, but the experience itself is well worth the money and you get so much more out of going to the actual theater than going to the store to pick up a movie.

Printed newspapers can be blamed for starting the news source frenzy hundreds of years ago.  Slowly, the newspapers are being replaced by 24-hour cable TV news and online news services such as CNN or MSNBC.COM.  The number of people who read their news online greatly surpass the number of people who still read the print edition.  It’s unfortunate that the printed newspaper is experiencing a slow, agonizing death – but people just expect more these days! I’m sure most people can remember when the newspaper was the only source of first-hand, front-page news and could have been their reason for waking up each day.  I can remember my father reading the newspaper every morning over a cup of coffee.  I had more important things to do, however, and failed to realize what a time-honored tradition the newspaper really was.

More and more publishing companies are making their newspapers and information available online.  This raises an interesting question though.  Should companies be charging viewers to read their online content?  Some people argue that these companies should in fact charge for online subscriptions and this will slow the decline in print subscriptions down.  The newspaper editors would love to slow the decline, because printing is so much more profitable than the other mediums.  Nobody wants to pay for online news.  It’s amazing how much money people spend each day on iTunes and online gaming, but they don’t feel like they should have to pay for news that’s not in the form of an actual newspaper. 

I used to work in Circulation at the Anderson Independent-Mail Newspaper which is owned by Scripps Howard.  Before I left, the company experienced major down-sizing due to the fact that readership was being shifted from print to online and newspaper cancellation requests were piling higher each day.  Jeffrey Cole, the director of the Center for the Digital Future at USC summed this particular situation up when he said “Sadly, today in America when a newspaper reader dies he or she is not replaced by a new reader.”  He was also hinting that as the older generations fade away, the newer generations will look for their news elsewhere.  And finally, I leave you with this thought: Advertising is the only thing that keeps online news and content available.  Bill Kellers, the executive director of the NY Times, concern is expressed as “What happens if advertising goes flat?  What happens when somebody develops software to filter out advertising – TiVo for the web?”  Think about it.  What if?

The silver screen in the past few decades has come to be nothing more than appeasement bargain with the masses. They give the people what they want, and the people do not create a mass chaos of complaint.  However, producers should not cater to the masses; they should develop film to show what the world is like in its raw form. The world would be able to see the problems that were self-inflicted by society, and then hopefully they will see the errors of their way and try and fix it. Another error that should be corrected in films is the exploitation of sex and violence. What are we teaching our future generations? Obviously it is not any type of valuable morals. About 750,000 teens are emitted into a hospital due to violence-related crimes. Where do they learn such behavior? It is mostly due to our friends in Hollywood, who think violence is the key ingredient to any great movie. What about sex? Every time you even watch a movie, it seems that the actors should to a nudist colony because their clothes are off half the time. So what can be done to fix these eminently sinful activities? Take it out. A movie can be great without the so-called smut. Take away the distractions so the audience can actually focus on the message the director is trying to create on film. Besides the moral degradation that movies portray, other simpler matters can be transformed too. For example, in some comedies, many ethnic groups often are ridiculed and stereotyped. While it may be funny, this genre of movies  set a certain stereotype of what other  cultures should act like, when we should be taught to have an open mind to different races.  All of these suggestions should be taken to heart when creating a movie. If I were a director, I would focus more on what is right, rather than what the people want. And there are chances that people would not want to see my work, but at least I would be stepping out as opposed to blending in with other filmmakers.

If I were a Hollywood producer I would like to see more action and comedy movies.  The the reason behind all this you ask? Well, to me the action movies are a way to take myself and put my life into a wild experience for an hour or so.  That’s a lot of fun because I don’t have to worry about the stress or hustle that life is bringing me.  I can go in that theater and pretend that I am in another world and I hope that this could be the same for someone else who may want that ultimate action experience.  As for the comedy movies I know that there are not to many people out there who do not enjoy a good laugh and there should be more comedies at the movies.  Not just trashy comedies, but ones that the whole family can enjoy because the movies should be family involved and a comedy is a way that could bring a family together.

In seeing these action and comedy fims more often, my hope as a producer would be that when people went to see my movies that it would excite them so much that they could not wait until the first day that the movies came out.  With my action movies being more thrilling I hope that I could provide someone with a purpose that these movies could actually happen in their own lives, maybe not to the exact way of the film, but it could give them a chance to dream for a moment.  And my comedies could be movies that would be classics that the whole family could enjoy for a lifetime and that they would never stop laughing.

Me a filmaker for Hollywood, crazy!  I know that my movies would bring a change to peoples lives and bring there expectations up even more until the next time they want to see a good action or comedy movie!