Arthouse vs. Mainstream

[The Delfonics]

I was wondering what type of theater going people prefer. I ask this because recently I have found myself going to art house theaters to see art house flicks. Most recently Swimming Pool and Owning Mahoney and after seeing Dickie Roberts and Jeepers Creepers 2 at my regular theater I am starting to get annoyed by Mainstream movies. I know Arthouse flicks are supposed to be the better flicks more often but until recently I never went to these theaters and waited for all good arthouse flicks to come to me on DVD. But after many years of mainstream movie going, Im starting to prefer going to the arthouse theater for a better experience. Maybe it was just that JC2 and Dickie Roberts were terrible films... I dunno. Either way Im going to see American Splendor at the Arthouse and Cabin Fever/Once Upon a Time in Mexico at the regular theater. Also Im not sure If im using the term arthouse correctly but I mean basically all those movies that are in limited release and indie flicks.

[chasingbanky]

I wish I had the oppurtunity to go to an "Arthouse" theater...I mean I don't know if there are any in the area I live (VEGAS) so Im basically stuck with the shitty shit that Hollywood keeps dumping on my head....It pisses me off sometimes to the point were I'd like to call and bitch and moan at my local theaters but most of em don't have operators just a machine that picks up so it'd be kinda pointless...If anyone knows of an "Arthouse" theater in vegas drop my some info.....DIG IT

[BorderEevilIII]

I have noticed some theaters formally mainstream turn into arthouse or do a combination of both which I think is good.
Century has been doin this practice for quite some time. I have noticed the Loews over here finally devoting to art house movies. This doesnt mean that I am dissing the original art house theaters. I like to go to them when I can. It's just who just screens what is another story.

[XvoorheesX]

I would rather go to an art house, but there aren't any around here. Sometimes theatre's are good when your in the mood for something big to go with some pop-corn, but if I want to see any indie stuff, I need to buy it, or drive ten minutes to rent it.
Which sucks.

[zeppelin]

Well, it doesn't really matter to me, to tell you the truth. Art house doesn't always mean good, and mainstream doesn't always mean bad. There's good and bad movies from both. And actually, there aren't any art house theaters anywhere near where I live (that I am aware of), so I guess I have no choice anyway.

[RickySlade]

Originally posted by zeppelin
Well, it doesn't really matter to me, to tell you the truth. Art house doesn't always mean good, and mainstream doesn't always mean bad. There's good and bad movies from both. And actually, there aren't any art house theaters anywhere near where I live (that I am aware of), so I guess I have no choice anyway.

Ditto.

[Annie Hall]

There is a lovely little arthouse theater in my town, and I must say, it has its ups and downs;

Art house Pros;

~Interesting movies
~Welcoming environment
~More intimate
~Better concessions (offering cookies, beer, BIG liquorish bags, even pizza)
~More accepting; figure if someone is there, they want to see the movies...let younger kids in to 'R' movies at times.
~Great film festival.

Maintream Pros;

~Big theater
~GREAT equipment/screens/sound
~More showings

Art house Cons;

~Lesser quality of equipment
~Thin walls (you can hear other movies playing sometimes)
~Smaller theater sizes
~Fewer movies can play at one time.
~Play some EXTREMELY pretentious, shitty movies

Mainstream Cons;

~Annoying people
~Strict workers
~Often terrible movies
~Trouble makers
~More corporate vibe.

On the whole, I prefer arthouse...but...it TRULY depeonds on my mood and the film.

[Slim]

Originally posted by zeppelin
Well, it doesn't really matter to me, to tell you the truth. Art house doesn't always mean good, and mainstream doesn't always mean bad. There's good and bad movies from both.

Exactly. There are no guarantees, but you'll probably see something a little different in an arthouse theater rather than the generic stuff that Hollywood tends to crank out.

[Scarface98.9]

In general, I prefer mainstream, since many that come out are movies I can watch twice. There's no art house theaters nearby, and usually the indie movies they show here are movies with no replay value at all, which is a big thing for me. But there's good and bad to each, and the answer constantly changes depending on the situation

[Beeblebrox]

Im starting to prefer going to the arthouse theater for a better experience. Maybe it was just that JC2 and Dickie Roberts were terrible films... I dunno.

Gee, you think?

You're comparing the best of arthouse films with the worst of mainstreams films. Of course you're going to get skewed results.

I go to both. Both experiences have the same pros and cons. If you see a good movie, it's fun; and if you don't, it's not.

[Shakamaker]

Originally posted by BorderEevilIII
I have noticed some theaters formally mainstream turn into arthouse or do a combination of both which I think is good.
Century has been doin this practice for quite some time. I have noticed the Loews over here finally devoting to art house movies. This doesnt mean that I am dissing the original art house theaters. I like to go to them when I can. I just who just screens what is another story.

That's partially a finance thang, and I'm all for it. I'd rather combine mainstream films with arthouse films under the one roof, than see my beloved arthouse flicks on less screens, in less sessions. I think of it as a means to an end. I also think of it as a chance for strictly mainstreamers to expand their horizons. "It's playing in the same cinema as Spider-Man, so let's give it a chance." Bing!

As for the 'vs.' thang, well it's a non-issue for mine. It often depends on what you want to get out of your films, but is obviously not bound by that sentiment.

Arthouse over mainstream, but there are exceptions to the rule.

[chasingbanky]

Originally posted by Annie Hall

~More corporate vibe.



Are you trying to tell me the VIBE is a negative thing? Cuz I can totally dig on the corporate vibe....As for troublemakers isn't it easier for them to fuck up an arthouse flick? I mean smaller theaters right?

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by chasingbanky
Are you trying to tell me the VIBE is a negative thing? Cuz I can totally dig on the corporate vibe....As for troublemakers isn't it easier for them to fuck up an arthouse flick? I mean smaller theaters right?

I would think that a smaller theater would be hurt easier than a large corporate theater.

[Annie Hall]

Originally posted by chasingbanky
Are you trying to tell me the VIBE is a negative thing? Cuz I can totally dig on the corporate vibe....As for troublemakers isn't it easier for them to fuck up an arthouse flick? I mean smaller theaters right?

There is something very cool about walking into a small, strictly LOCAL theater where you recognize the people who work there, and don't have to deal with AMC slogans or Regal rollercoasters. That's all I meant.

And, from my experience, you are FAR more likely to find troublemakers in the newest Jim Carrey movie than, say, The Magdalene Sisters. This is a bit like my Gosford Park argument in the Rant, Rant, Rant section...there are fewer teenagers that would want to go to an arthouse picture and fuck around, than, say, The Matrix and fuck around.

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by Annie Hall
There is something very cool about walking into a small, strictly LOCAL theater where you recognize the people who work there, and don't have to deal with AMC slogans or Regal rollercoasters. That's all I meant.

And, from my experience, you are FAR more likely to find troublemakers in the newest Jim Carrey movie than, say, The Magdalene Sisters.

Yes, but the audience for Bowling for Columbine was just terrible at my local small theater! The audience kept yelling at the screen for Michael Moore to take his clothes off! ;) ;) ;)

[Annie Hall]

Originally posted by Lynn Minmei
Yes, but the audience for Bowling for Columbine was just terrible at my local small theater! The audience kept yelling at the screen for Michael Moore to take his clothes off! ;) ;) ;)

Sounds like a personal problem ;)

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by Annie Hall
Sounds like a personal problem ;)

Well, I do suppose those love handles are irresistible!

(Just Kidding, I like Moore's documentaries)

[rushmore beauty]

This is a question I'm constantly asking myself because I used to pretty much jyst go to art house cinemas but lately I've been going to more and more mainstream and I think it's just because recebtly, more of the better looking films (to me) have been mainstream. Example: I just went and saw American Splendor (8/10), but Once Upon a Time in Mexico is opening this weekend and I'm more excited about it than I was American Splendor. It also depends on the year though because like in 2001 we got a shitload of amazing art house flicks (Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn't There, Memento, The Royal Tenenbaums, Donnie Darko) and other years, it's mostly mainsteam (2002; Road to Perdition, Gangs of New York, LOTR: TTT). So I'm not really sure if anyone's realyl a "mainsteam" guy or an "indie/arthouse" guy...it just depends on the movies.

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by rushmore beauty
This is a question I'm constantly asking myself because I used to pretty much jyst go to art house cinemas but lately I've been going to more and more mainstream and I think it's just because recebtly, more of the better looking films (to me) have been mainstream. Example: I just went and saw American Splendor (8/10), but Once Upon a Time in Mexico is opening this weekend and I'm more excited about it than I was American Splendor. It also depends on the year though because like in 2001 we got a shitload of amazing art house flicks (Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn't There, Memento, The Royal Tenenbaums, Donnie Darko) and other years, it's mostly mainsteam (2002; Road to Perdition, Gangs of New York, LOTR: TTT). So I'm not really sure if anyone's realyl a "mainsteam" guy or an "indie/arthouse" guy...it just depends on the movies.

I have my anticipated films from both categories. There are my Arthouse films I want to see and the mainstream films I want to see. I take the best of both worlds.

[chasingbanky]

Originally posted by Annie Hall
There is something very cool about walking into a small, strictly LOCAL theater where you recognize the people who work there, and don't have to deal with AMC slogans or Regal rollercoasters. That's all I meant.

And, from my experience, you are FAR more likely to find troublemakers in the newest Jim Carrey movie than, say, The Magdalene Sisters. This is a bit like my Gosford Park argument in the Rant, Rant, Rant section...there are fewer teenagers that would want to go to an arthouse picture and fuck around, than, say, The Matrix and fuck around.

Well i personally wouldn't know of this "New" Vibe you speak of ....Its foreign to me considering las vegas is an art death trap....I don't believe we have a museum unless you count the elvis one by The Crazy horse(I don't)......Its sickening I need to move back home I can't take this dissappointment much more...:(

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by chasingbanky
Well i personally wouldn't know of this "New" Vibe you speak of ....Its foreign to me considering las vegas is an art death trap....I don't believe we have a museum unless you count the elvis one by The Crazy horse(I don't)......Its sickening I need to move back home I can't take this dissappointment much more...:(

Look at the bright side...

...Um...

...Elvis Museums pay well...

[chasingbanky]

Originally posted by Lynn Minmei
Look at the bright side...

...Um...

...Elvis Museums pay well...

Yes they pay well cuz only like two people work there so they share a 100% of the profits.......Believe me lynn there isn't a bright side......

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by chasingbanky
Yes they pay well cuz only like two people work there so they share a 100% of the profits.......Believe me lynn there isn't a bright side......

Um...Well...We'll always have Paris, CB.

[chasingbanky]

Originally posted by Lynn Minmei
Um...Well...We'll always have Paris, CB.

Yes Always........:D

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by chasingbanky
Yes Always........:D

...


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