I think I speak for everyone when I say the pandemic has not done anyone any favors. Businesses have closed, people have lost their jobs, and more importantly, people have lost loved ones. March, and the first slew of shutdowns, seems like forever ago. 2020 has been an awful year.
I’m finally starting to feel optimistic, though. COVID-19 vaccines are beginning to be distributed throughout the world – maybe there’s an end in sight! I cannot wait for life to start returning to normal – businesses will reopen, people will get their lives back on track, and we’ll be able to go back to movie theaters!
Seeing films in the theater is one of my favorite pastimes, and truly the one I miss the most. The last movie I saw in theaters was Onward, back in March. Hollywood had so many exciting things in store for us this year (click here for my list of the most anticipated films of 2020). Sadly, most of them haven’t seen the light of day yet. Several were pushed back to 2021, except Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984, the latter of which was released in some theaters and on HBO Max. I did finally get a chance to see Tenet– I was so excited for something new!
The pandemic caused theaters to shut down. AMC, one of the finest theater chains I have been to, is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. This is mind-boggling because AMC has always seemed like one of the most profitable theater chains in the world. AMC also had a dispute with Universal Pictures because the latter wanted to release their films both on-demand and in theaters simultaneously. I was relieved to hear they resolved their differences by agreeing to release Universal films solely in theaters for a brief period before being available on demand.
This news was disheartening to learn about because I want to go to AMC again and have the option of seeing F9 (2021). Hopefully, AMC will also still be around in 2021.
Christopher Nolan, one of the most prestigious filmmakers of our time, has publicly criticized Warner Bros. for releasing their films on HBO Max and in theaters simultaneously. He says that it will hurt Hollywood’s working class. Having a man like Christopher Nolan speak out against the dealings of Warner Bros., the company that distributed most of Nolan’s films, says a lot.
The other directors who support Nolan’s opinions are Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old-Virgin [2005]) and Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners [2013]). That is a good group of supporters, and I am sure more will come. Surely, Steven Spielberg will weigh in. He once said that streaming films should not have consideration for Oscar nominations.
I am an admirer of Spielberg’s work, but I do not share the same opinion. Films should have the same considerations however they are available. Artistic and production values go into many streaming films (look at The Irishman [2019].) The same amount of work goes into making a film, regardless of how it is distributed after completion.
However, I think films meant for viewing on the big screen should remain that way. Of course, films will get their releases on video and streaming someday, but it shouldn’t be initially. I am sad that I never got to see Tenet in theaters. I did, however, rent the Blu-ray, so I think I got the effect Christopher Nolan intended: superior picture and sound quality.
Watching new movies solely on my iPhone or desktop is something I cannot fathom. It seems that is how people are watching new films these days. I walk by several Redbox kiosks almost daily, and I cannot remember when I last saw someone renting a movie from one. Of course, that may simply be a sanitation concern these days – Clorox wipes were certainly involved with the copy of Tenet I rented from Redbox.
Don’t get me wrong, I love streaming services, but it seems like things are changing. It reminds me of the music distribution evolution: from vinyl to cassettes (let’s not talk about 8-tracks) to CDs to digital download. I think movies have reached that point. I am still sad that video stores are no longer in existence, but I am sadder that hard copies of films are nearing their end. At least it seems that way. My wife has a friend who sold ALL of her family’s DVDs when they moved. I can’t fathom not having DVDs around. Heck, my wife still has VHS tapes and a VCR (she’s a keeper)!
Nobody wants things to go back to normal more than I do. I want to go to movie theaters again. I want to see several previews before the film because they are half the fun to me, like getting to the destination on road trips. Hopefully, once the theaters open again there will be proper etiquette involved. Though, I am reminding myself that it may take time. I will take what I can get at this point.
Hopefully, you all are staying safe and taking care of yourselves. There is an end in sight to this thing. It may take a while, but I am still optimistic. In the meantime, allow me to wish you a Happy New Year! Hopefully far happier than this one!
And as always, happy watching!
