projection Tagged Articles at Cinematical

While video display glasses are nothing new, this pair from Lumus Ltd. actually looks like normal sunglasses -- bringing science fiction to life. While I doubt these will ever replace your local movie theater, it could easily move into places like your living room and airplane cabins, replacing the wall-sized plasma displays and drop down screens. They could potentially be a lot less expensive and easier to maintain than trying to build your own home superplex.

It occurred to me while I was flying from Burbank to Dallas over the holidays that we don't always want to see what our neighbors are watching in the seats right next to us. The guy I flew next to was watching some movie on his portable DVD player that included a scene at a strip club. (You know the place where people in thrillers or mysteries normally have to go to get a clue to the puzzle from a dancer named Fantasia? Well, this particular scene included a lot of jiggling flesh and bouncing silicone, and the guy sitting next to me had to rewind it and watch it several times. I guess to make sure he was hearing the crucial lines and getting all of the information.)

It sort of stole all the thunder from my own laptop, which was showing National Treasure. Everyone who walked by his seat stopped for an eyeful of bosom, while Nicolas Cage wasn't even glanced at. So do I think these video glasses could come in handy? Most definitely. I, for one, welcome our new video glasses overlords, but don't think they'll replace the "Let's go to the theater!" feeling anytime soon. They'll just help us duplicate it at home. Plus, it'll soon be a necessity for airplanes, helping to drown out crying babies, talky passengers, and seat partners with odd choices in viewing material.

After reporting last week about plans to soon equip one-third of American cinemas with digital projectors, I received a few comments telling of disappointing encounters with the new format. It got me wanting to do some more research on the technology and the experience, and hopefully soon take in a digital showing somewhere. I haven't yet become an expert on the subject, but I did come across an interesting set of articles in Sunday's Ventura County Star, both written by Allison Bruce, which give the pros and the cons of both digital and film projectors.

Aside from the obvious factors that make digital attractive -- clearer picture, cheaper distribution -- Bruce includes an amusing comment from director Barry Sonnenfeld in which he says studios could easily change a movie that has been badly received by critics or audiences, after it has opened in theaters. He cites King Kong as a good example of a movie that would have benefited had Universal been able to cut out 40 minutes of the film after hearing that viewers complained of it being too long. I highly doubt that any studios would actually take advantage of this, though. After all, isn't that why they have test screenings?

One thing I think that hurts digital, evident from Bruce's article supporting digital, is that most of the format's pros are beneficial to studios and theaters more than to audiences. The cheaper distribution, the ease of projector use, the issues with piracy and the scheduling ideas for exhibitors are all meant to save the businesses money. But will it trickle down the savings to the consumer? No way. In fact, I see digital being used as an excuse to raise prices for the ticket buyers. Consider that the big theater chains are about to borrow a collective billion dollars. It is obvious that we, the audience, will be depended upon to pay those loans back.