I love anti-piracy adverts. From those old black and white cartoons that the Federation Against Copyright Theft used to run in computer magazines in the early 80s, usually featuring a couple of kids foolishly buying some dodgy copied cassette tapes of games from a bloke at the market, through to those Simon Bates ads, the implication that if you ever so much as think about copying a cd, it means the terrorists win, and that funny little sticker on your new iPod that asks you ever so politely not to steal music, there’s always been something rather quaint and ridiculous about them (especially looking back on them some years later–cf. “home taping is killing music”). I particularly enjoy it when the anti-piracy message is delivered to me as designated “must watch” content at the start of a legitimately acquired DVD. Because there’s nothing that discourages your genuine customers from going anywhere near pirated DVDs than forcing them to sit through 5 minutes of propaganda every time they settle down to watch their favourite disc, now is there?
On Sunday, Sal and I went to the cinema for the first time in absolutely ages, and before the film started we were treated to not one but two examples of this sadly overlooked genre: one was just the now familiar message asking you not to try to video the film from your seat (I honestly have no idea why anyone would ever want to do this in the UK, considering we get our films several months after most of the rest of the world), but the other was one I’ve not seen before–it used clips from King Kong as an example to suggest that it’s far better to watch the latest big budget blockbuster on the big screen, instead of at home on that DVD you bought off the bloke in the pub, with the poor picture quality and the people in front of whoever filmed it getting up to go to the toilet half way through (actually, I’m not sure why the official line has to be that all dodgy DVDs have been obtained through illicit in-cinema copying–I don’t have the patience to bother trying to download films over the Internet, but I was under the impression that most of the content out there has originated from ripped screener tapes–perhaps it suits the anti-piracy advocates to pretend that all this sort of thing is the fault of the less reputable elements of the general public rather than admit that the source for much of the material is in fact people within the film industry themselves, I don’t know).
Anyway, it’s better to watch new films at the cinema, on the big screen, we were told, because “it’s the experience that counts”.
An hour and a half into Ang Lee’s excellent Brokeback Mountain I was thoroughly feeling that authentic cinema experience for myself, as, having paid more for our two seats to see this one film than I pay for an entire month of DVD rentals from Lovefilm, the throbbing pain in my lower back began to spread to my legs and I felt myself shifting uncomfortably in the tiny seat into which I was wedged at the top of the Camden Town Odeon, the rustle of sweet wrappers from all corners of the room only partially drowned out by the chorus of coughing and sniffing from my fellow patrons ringing around the cinema.
The film is, as I said, great, but I think we might stick to DVDs for the foreseeable.
Does this mean I’m officially old?
Match Point had the same King Kong bollocks at the beginning. I love watching films on the big screen, but being amongst other cinema goers means I go less and less – in M.P. I was treated to a couple of middle-aged, middle-class (i.e. they should have known better) bastard twats commenting at the beginning and end of each scene, mainly him telling her where the scene was shot and her not hearing and asking him to repeat it (I heard “Sloane Square” “Swiss Re:” and “New Bond Street” the first time, and I was in the row in front.)
By the way, I don’t think Simon Bates was talking about piracy, but certification, e.g. “This film is rated 15. You can expect to hear the words ‘fuck’ and ‘shit’ but not ‘cunt’. If you’re lucky you might get to see some tits, but not for long enough to get you going” etc etc.
Oh yes, I think you’re right. I thought he was the piracy guy, but I guess I’m wrong.
Is Match Point any good, by the way? Worth seeing now or should I just wait for the DVD?
Worth seeing – I’m still not sure if it’s a “good” film, but it’s stayed with me for days, like a dodgy curry.
Match Point? The basic plot was okay but i thought the acting was shoddy, the dialogue was stilted, and its grasp of London was at best, embarrassing. Put it this way – some people at my office have started an email campaign to stop anyone paying money to see it.
The London in Match Point isn’t meant to be any more real than the Manhattan of Allen’s other films – they are all knowingly artificial environments in which to set his fables. Just because he crosses the Atlantic to make a film doesn’t mean his we should expect uncharacteristic gritty realism. And although certain actors were less than accomplished (Rhys Meyers was particularly poor), I thought the dialogue and the plot pretty engaging.
Did anyone ever tell you, you have very sensual lips?
ps why do all my comments post twice?
ps why do all my comments post twice?
Dunno Claire–I’ve deleted the dupe on this thread. Are you hitting “refresh” after posting the comment? You shouldn’t need to, but if you do, that would cause your browser to resubmit your comment a second time.
Anyway, sounds like I shouldn’t waste my money seeing MP at the cinema. I’ll wait for it on Lovefilm, then.
Like it’ll ever turn up if you put it on your lovefilm list.
Indeed, but they’ve been quite good recently. Then again, maybe that’s because I’ve only got 7 items left on my list (and it makes me laugh every time they send me an email telling me they’ve dispatched one of my top five titles to me…)