Vending machine tally: This rule can go to hell.
May 3, 2015 9:04 PM Subscribe
My high school BFF took her teenage son to one of these as a celebration of their birthdays. They had a blast, napping in shifts through some of the movies, partaking in free soda refills, and just generally enjoying themselves. I don't think my behind would stand up to it, but I'm glad theirs did!
posted by angeline at 9:25 PM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by angeline at 9:25 PM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, I normally enjoy AV Club articles, but this one is about as much of a slog to read as attending the marathon apparently was for its condescending, insufferably smug author. This was doomed from the moment they saddled this with stupid rules, although I don't really feel sorry for them, what with the aforementioned insufferable smugness.
posted by angeline at 9:32 PM on May 3, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by angeline at 9:32 PM on May 3, 2015 [8 favorites]
The rules were dumb. Why make it more unpleasant than it has to be? If you're going to watch these movies and be entertained, why limit yourself to concession candy for 28 hours, and so on? If he wanted to be really hardcore, he should have worn a Depends and prohibited himself from using the restrooms. Like I did while reading this article.
posted by Auden at 9:35 PM on May 3, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by Auden at 9:35 PM on May 3, 2015 [12 favorites]
"By the end, I will look like Gollum."
posted by boilermonster at 10:11 PM on May 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by boilermonster at 10:11 PM on May 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
The story from the writer who gamed TGIFriday's "Unlimited Appetizers" was way more interesting. On a related note, after extended discussion with peers, pretty much just watching Cap. 2: Winter Soldier was enough to get the family all up-to-date with what was going on before seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron...
posted by mikelieman at 10:21 PM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mikelieman at 10:21 PM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm a decent MCU fangirl-- I am unlikely to shut up about the Defenders ever-- but this doesn't seem like fun to me. Maybe a week of this, spread out, or a weekend with breaks, but this is the movie version of eating so much of something you love you get sick, which seems... pointless?
posted by NoraReed at 11:11 PM on May 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by NoraReed at 11:11 PM on May 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
I did this same marathon in right before the new movie!
Well, nearly the same. No silly rules. I ate anything I wanted. Oh yeah, instead of RIGHT before, I spaced it out watching all of the movies over the course of about a month before Ultron. In my living room. And I missed a couple of movies.
It was fun.
posted by el io at 11:14 PM on May 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
Well, nearly the same. No silly rules. I ate anything I wanted. Oh yeah, instead of RIGHT before, I spaced it out watching all of the movies over the course of about a month before Ultron. In my living room. And I missed a couple of movies.
It was fun.
posted by el io at 11:14 PM on May 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
I had tickets to the pre Return of the King marathon and gave them back when I realized I didn't want to sit in a theater for that long, and that was only 12 or so hours. I heard about this and at no point thought it sounded fun at all.
posted by kmz at 11:26 PM on May 3, 2015
posted by kmz at 11:26 PM on May 3, 2015
Oh, fun! I'm in Chicago on business, but flew in early to get settled and network. One of my froworkers suggested we see ultron, which I was happy to do. One of the salespeople at the AMC mentioned the marathon. I just blurted out, "that sounds fucking awful!", and his face just crumpled. Who wants to do 28 hours of anything?
Nobody, that's who.
posted by boo_radley at 11:31 PM on May 3, 2015
Nobody, that's who.
posted by boo_radley at 11:31 PM on May 3, 2015
I ... I might want to do this. It's easier, more entertaining, and less dangerous than ultramarathoning, and I know a couple of people who do that. You don't have to stay for the whole thing if you don't want.
Also, I liked the author's voice - I thought he was very understanding of his fellow fans and that probably the stupid rules were to stop his report from being mainly an enthusiastic tale of having fun.
posted by gingerest at 11:41 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
Also, I liked the author's voice - I thought he was very understanding of his fellow fans and that probably the stupid rules were to stop his report from being mainly an enthusiastic tale of having fun.
posted by gingerest at 11:41 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
I once went to a marathon of all the non-TMP Star Trek movies to date, which I think went up to The Undiscovered Country at the time.
That taught me.
posted by Artw at 11:43 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
That taught me.
posted by Artw at 11:43 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
I remember seeing tickets to this before. When I was 15, I think I would have enjoyed this. These days, well, I'm impressed that the writer was coherent enough to have notes by the end.
posted by Hactar at 11:51 PM on May 3, 2015
posted by Hactar at 11:51 PM on May 3, 2015
This sounds like the kind of shit me and my friends would do in high school over the summer or during breaks. Except we'd do something like "watch ALL of star trek TNG", or "watch pokemon until it gets bad".
The difference is that we'd eat normal food, take breaks sometimes, and pass out after 20 hours or something, sometimes more.(but wake up and keep going)
Why make something that's already ridiculous not fun? It's like those "weed kills brain cells!" tests with chimps where they fed them such thick smoke that they were getting hypoxic. What weird zany tiresome clickbait point are you trying to prove?
I once went to a marathon of all the non-TMP Star Trek movies to date, which I think went up to The Undiscovered Country at the time.
I still don't understand people who hate TMP, but like undiscovered country or save the whales(which is an entertaining movie, but a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai). It's like saying "I hate cheese! but i love kraft cheese and velveeta".
posted by emptythought at 11:52 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
The difference is that we'd eat normal food, take breaks sometimes, and pass out after 20 hours or something, sometimes more.(but wake up and keep going)
Why make something that's already ridiculous not fun? It's like those "weed kills brain cells!" tests with chimps where they fed them such thick smoke that they were getting hypoxic. What weird zany tiresome clickbait point are you trying to prove?
I once went to a marathon of all the non-TMP Star Trek movies to date, which I think went up to The Undiscovered Country at the time.
I still don't understand people who hate TMP, but like undiscovered country or save the whales(which is an entertaining movie, but a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai). It's like saying "I hate cheese! but i love kraft cheese and velveeta".
posted by emptythought at 11:52 PM on May 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
It dawns on me that some of the reason this doesn't sound completely repugnant to me is that I travel between Australia and the US at least once a year, which means I watch movies, eating bad food, surrounded by farting strangers and confined to an uncomfortable seat, for stretches of 14 to 17 hours. The bonuses of the theatre marathon are that the screen is full-size and you can leave and come back, which aren't possibilities even on the A380. (I know that 17 hours isn't 29, but my transition is north of 24 hours door-to-door.)
posted by gingerest at 11:58 PM on May 3, 2015 [20 favorites]
posted by gingerest at 11:58 PM on May 3, 2015 [20 favorites]
I think he might have enjoyed it more if he'd slept during some of the duller films and gone out for breakfast like they suggested.
posted by betweenthebars at 12:35 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by betweenthebars at 12:35 AM on May 4, 2015
That's a good point gingerest. It's even worse when you're flying New Zealand to Europe - 14 or so hours to the US or Hong Kong, a two hour break and then another 10-11 hours. Sitting in a movie theatre is a breeze by comparison.
The major turn-off for me would have been the announcers, the constant trivia, food announcements and exhortations to tweet. I've done a 24-hour movie marathon, which was great because we didn't have to put up with that sort of thing. I enjoyed the article as well.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:41 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
The major turn-off for me would have been the announcers, the constant trivia, food announcements and exhortations to tweet. I've done a 24-hour movie marathon, which was great because we didn't have to put up with that sort of thing. I enjoyed the article as well.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:41 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
For those really gruesomely long trips from the Antipodes, if you can possibly swing the money and time, a overnight in a hotel in your transfer point is worth it for the de-swelling and shower. Definitely comparable to nipping out for breakfast during your least favorite Marvel flick, albeit more costly.
posted by gingerest at 12:55 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by gingerest at 12:55 AM on May 4, 2015
gingerest for the win. This sounded so, so familiar, which made no sense, as I have never been to a movie marathon anywhere near that long. But I did binge watch all of Season 1 of The Last Ship between Dubai and Sydney last week, (got a spare seat next to me though, so I totally won the economy class lottery).
posted by kjs4 at 2:57 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by kjs4 at 2:57 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
27 Hours of Marvel: Surviving 11 Comic Book Films in One Sitting
Similar insanity via Topless Robot.
No less stupid, but with less strict rules.
posted by Mezentian at 3:45 AM on May 4, 2015
Similar insanity via Topless Robot.
No less stupid, but with less strict rules.
posted by Mezentian at 3:45 AM on May 4, 2015
Is it too late to get into the Marvel movies marathon post reading marathon? Rules: I have to read at least the first five hundred words of each post before deciding that it sucks, and have to avoid getting caught doing this at work.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:30 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:30 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is it too late to get into the Marvel movies marathon post reading marathon?
Yes.
But good news, chum, the DCU is coming at CHU!
posted by Mezentian at 4:40 AM on May 4, 2015
Yes.
But good news, chum, the DCU is coming at CHU!
posted by Mezentian at 4:40 AM on May 4, 2015
I'm actually doing this myself when AoU comes out in Japan! I have a slightly different ruleset though:
1) Instead of watching all of the movies in the cinema, just watch the ones you want
2) And not all in a row, I mean wow. Maybe like one a week or something
3) And not necessarily in the cinema, I mean a DVD is fine
3b) Actually let's just wait for the DVD of AoU too
4) Oh hey, Fury is in, do you just wanna get that instead
posted by No-sword at 4:41 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
1) Instead of watching all of the movies in the cinema, just watch the ones you want
2) And not all in a row, I mean wow. Maybe like one a week or something
3) And not necessarily in the cinema, I mean a DVD is fine
3b) Actually let's just wait for the DVD of AoU too
4) Oh hey, Fury is in, do you just wanna get that instead
posted by No-sword at 4:41 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm actually doing this myself when AoU comes out in Japan!
I tip my hat to you for your spoiler resilience.
posted by Mezentian at 4:45 AM on May 4, 2015
I tip my hat to you for your spoiler resilience.
posted by Mezentian at 4:45 AM on May 4, 2015
Meanwhile everyone who sat through the three day Wanger opera cycle is laughing.
posted by The Whelk at 4:47 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:47 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
Not to derail, but to me, a hipster is someone who considers themselves "of, but not part" of a group - a refusal to commit to a shared experience by staying apart via aloofness or irony. This guy is a good example. Even though he's a Marvel fan since age 10, he can't just go an enjoy the movies or the tribal bonding you get out of watching 28 hours worth with the same people, he needs rules that keep him apart. I wonder how often he mentioned "I'm only here because I'm a paid writer..." to strangers? He went in with a rule where he had to hassle people in costume! What was he imagining? "Hi, I'm sort of a modern Diane Fossey, totally no big deal, but..."
Ungh. If you like something, like it. If other people like something, let them like it. If you want to find out what it's about, go into it looking to like it, not with eyebrow arched and rules of engagement at hand.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:57 AM on May 4, 2015 [21 favorites]
Ungh. If you like something, like it. If other people like something, let them like it. If you want to find out what it's about, go into it looking to like it, not with eyebrow arched and rules of engagement at hand.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:57 AM on May 4, 2015 [21 favorites]
I've seen all of these (except parts of the Incredible Hulk) and at this point have no desire to see any of them again. I'm sure that I'll see Age of Ultron in the next week out of obligation but I'm really burnt out on the whole thing.
posted by octothorpe at 4:59 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by octothorpe at 4:59 AM on May 4, 2015
The Whelk: "Meanwhile everyone who sat through the three day Wanger opera cycle is laughing."
How long does it get?
posted by octothorpe at 5:04 AM on May 4, 2015 [17 favorites]
How long does it get?
posted by octothorpe at 5:04 AM on May 4, 2015 [17 favorites]
I still don't understand people who hate TMP, but like undiscovered country or save the whales(which is an entertaining movie, but a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai). It's like saying "I hate cheese! but i love kraft cheese and velveeta".
Which is like saying that you don't get the essential appeal of the movies, which is something that you have in common with Gene Roddenberry. TMP was slow, draggy and boring because he was trying to take his space opera and turn it into 2001, and Nicholas Meyer (and Leonard Nimoy, who got what Meyer was doing) turned them back into the Fun Adventures of the Space Navy, which is why their movies succeeded, despite some serious overtones. (Star Trek V was awful precisely because Shatner tried to do both at once, and failed at both.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:11 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Which is like saying that you don't get the essential appeal of the movies, which is something that you have in common with Gene Roddenberry. TMP was slow, draggy and boring because he was trying to take his space opera and turn it into 2001, and Nicholas Meyer (and Leonard Nimoy, who got what Meyer was doing) turned them back into the Fun Adventures of the Space Navy, which is why their movies succeeded, despite some serious overtones. (Star Trek V was awful precisely because Shatner tried to do both at once, and failed at both.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:11 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Well, also remember that they needed to cram everything into ST:TMP that they *ever* wanted to do, because it wasn't the time where the planned a franchise before writing the screenplay. That was the ONE Star Trek Movie there was likely to ever be, so they needed to fulfil every vision they had.
And sitting there, in the theater, seeing it after years of nothing but reruns in syndication.... It was glorious!
posted by mikelieman at 5:32 AM on May 4, 2015
And sitting there, in the theater, seeing it after years of nothing but reruns in syndication.... It was glorious!
posted by mikelieman at 5:32 AM on May 4, 2015
Even though he's a Marvel fan since age 10, he can't just go an enjoy the movies or the tribal bonding you get out of watching 28 hours worth with the same people, he needs rules that keep him apart. I wonder how often he mentioned "I'm only here because I'm a paid writer..." to strangers? He went in with a rule where he had to hassle people in costume! What was he imagining? "Hi, I'm sort of a modern Diane Fossey, totally no big deal, but..."
You couldn't pay me to watch one Marvel movie, much less a marathon, but I agree with this. If you are going to go, you should genuinely go. Maybe imitate Hunter S Thompson and get fucked up first, and as a writer you need to be able to maintain a critical distance, but don't set up ground rules that keep you from engaging fully.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:49 AM on May 4, 2015
You couldn't pay me to watch one Marvel movie, much less a marathon, but I agree with this. If you are going to go, you should genuinely go. Maybe imitate Hunter S Thompson and get fucked up first, and as a writer you need to be able to maintain a critical distance, but don't set up ground rules that keep you from engaging fully.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:49 AM on May 4, 2015
And sitting there, in the theater, seeing it after years of nothing but reruns in syndication.... It was glorious!
I'm going to comment, but first I'm going to slowly walk around my computer for 20 minutes or so, staring at it from different angles while not saying anything.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 5:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
I'm going to comment, but first I'm going to slowly walk around my computer for 20 minutes or so, staring at it from different angles while not saying anything.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 5:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
Look, we put a lot of detail in to this model so we're damned well going to have the camera linger on it for at least 1/4 of the movie.
posted by Foosnark at 6:02 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by Foosnark at 6:02 AM on May 4, 2015
a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai
Well, I found someone who will no longer be sold lithium on credit.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 6:22 AM on May 4, 2015 [8 favorites]
Well, I found someone who will no longer be sold lithium on credit.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 6:22 AM on May 4, 2015 [8 favorites]
octothorpe: "The Whelk: "Meanwhile everyone who sat through the three day Wanger opera cycle is laughing."
How long does it get?"
If it lasts longer than three days, burn the libretto.
posted by Splunge at 6:34 AM on May 4, 2015 [6 favorites]
How long does it get?"
If it lasts longer than three days, burn the libretto.
posted by Splunge at 6:34 AM on May 4, 2015 [6 favorites]
a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai
Remember; no matter where you go, there you snark.
posted by Splunge at 6:38 AM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Remember; no matter where you go, there you snark.
posted by Splunge at 6:38 AM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Stan Lee Applause-O-Meter: Just off the scales. Christians don’t love Jesus as much as we love Stan Lee.
Literal LOL.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:46 AM on May 4, 2015
I'm going to comment, but first I'm going to slowly walk around my computer for 20 minutes or so, staring at it from different angles while not saying anything.
I'm truly interested in what your impressions were sitting in the theater in 1979 watching Star Trek on the Big Screen?
posted by mikelieman at 6:54 AM on May 4, 2015
I'm truly interested in what your impressions were sitting in the theater in 1979 watching Star Trek on the Big Screen?
posted by mikelieman at 6:54 AM on May 4, 2015
This is a marathon in the truest sense -- way too long, way too destructive on the human body and soul, and pointless except to say "I ran a marathon!" The swag should include an oval "28.0" sticker.
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 AM on May 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 AM on May 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
If anyone is taking notes, this is a model for my personal hell. Overwrought and formulaic popcorn film at this extreme is how I pay for my sins.
So, yeah. There are too many lazily written superhero films. If that is how you really measure my other abilities then I can't help but feel you have made some poor life choices.
At this juncture in my life I can feel secure in my notion that, yes, there is such a thing as bad pizza. Similarly, after successive multiple decades of teen-age power fantasies I am very selective about what I feed my eyeballs.
I'd like to see some different stories, about different sorts of people doing different sorts of things with different outcomes. Revenge fantasies are getting a little stale.
posted by clvrmnky at 8:25 AM on May 4, 2015
So, yeah. There are too many lazily written superhero films. If that is how you really measure my other abilities then I can't help but feel you have made some poor life choices.
At this juncture in my life I can feel secure in my notion that, yes, there is such a thing as bad pizza. Similarly, after successive multiple decades of teen-age power fantasies I am very selective about what I feed my eyeballs.
I'd like to see some different stories, about different sorts of people doing different sorts of things with different outcomes. Revenge fantasies are getting a little stale.
posted by clvrmnky at 8:25 AM on May 4, 2015
I am very selective about what I feed my eyeballs.
is it good pizza?
posted by griphus at 8:26 AM on May 4, 2015
is it good pizza?
posted by griphus at 8:26 AM on May 4, 2015
I rewatched ST:TMP not that long ago (after having first watched every episode of the original series), and if you were to edit out all of the overly long model shots, it would be the Trek movie most in keeping with the feeling and spirit of the series--which isn't that surprising considering the plot is almost identical to one of the TOS episodes. I do sort of prefer the later Adventures of the Fun Space Navy in Space (heh) feeling of II though VI (minus V), but it was a departure.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:26 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:26 AM on May 4, 2015
I will say that TMP was much improved in the Director's Cut.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:44 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:44 AM on May 4, 2015
if you were to edit out all of the overly long model shots
That's in the context of 'does it still work cinematically?", and I wouldn't disagree, but in the context of producing and watching it in the late 70's after a long drought, and post-star-wars those overly long model shots on the BIG SCREEN ( and in 79, most of them were pretty big ) are what put asses in seats in 1979,
posted by mikelieman at 8:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's in the context of 'does it still work cinematically?", and I wouldn't disagree, but in the context of producing and watching it in the late 70's after a long drought, and post-star-wars those overly long model shots on the BIG SCREEN ( and in 79, most of them were pretty big ) are what put asses in seats in 1979,
posted by mikelieman at 8:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm reminded of how Roger Ebert used to rate films not just on whether they were good but also on whether they fulfilled the intended vision. With that in mind, in the context of "extreme fanboy wankfest", ST:TMP is mission accomplished!
posted by mikelieman at 8:51 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by mikelieman at 8:51 AM on May 4, 2015
Halloween Jack: "I will say that TMP was much improved in the Director's Cut."
I agree but I was bummed to find out that they hadn't rendered the new work in HD so there will never be a blu-ray.
posted by octothorpe at 8:53 AM on May 4, 2015
I agree but I was bummed to find out that they hadn't rendered the new work in HD so there will never be a blu-ray.
posted by octothorpe at 8:53 AM on May 4, 2015
I'm actually a fan of TMP, it just wasn't a part of the marathon, and it's got its own distinct flavor so it probably wouldn't have fit.
And let's face it, the non-TMP movies start a rapid downwards slide after Khan and never again match it, with maybe a tiny rebound for First Contact and the new guys which slid away even faster.
And I'm more likely to rewatch TMP than either of the NuTreks, that's for sure.
posted by Artw at 9:02 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
And let's face it, the non-TMP movies start a rapid downwards slide after Khan and never again match it, with maybe a tiny rebound for First Contact and the new guys which slid away even faster.
And I'm more likely to rewatch TMP than either of the NuTreks, that's for sure.
posted by Artw at 9:02 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Aw, I love the Undiscovered Country.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:43 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:43 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
As someone who has done at least two 24-hour movie marathons (and a handful of other multi-film screenings) a year for the last 7 or 8 years, I just don't get why these writers thought it was funny to go into this show completely unprepared. It's not a lot of work to spend a few minutes thinking about what it's going to be like sitting in a movie theater for over 24 hours and planning accordingly.
This calls to mind the piece that kicked off this recent thread. The author of that piece was annoyed at people making fun of old movies that she loves. The authors of these pieces on the Marvel marathon seem to be on the other side of that conversation, where they think it's funny and ridiculous that anyone would care enough about movies to watch them for 24 straight hours. If you want to feel superior to people who do care that much, you could do that at home.
But I guess "a piece that points out how people are wasting their lives by spending time doing stuff they care about and enjoy" probably doesn't make for a super compelling story pitch.
posted by rabbitroom at 9:48 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
This calls to mind the piece that kicked off this recent thread. The author of that piece was annoyed at people making fun of old movies that she loves. The authors of these pieces on the Marvel marathon seem to be on the other side of that conversation, where they think it's funny and ridiculous that anyone would care enough about movies to watch them for 24 straight hours. If you want to feel superior to people who do care that much, you could do that at home.
But I guess "a piece that points out how people are wasting their lives by spending time doing stuff they care about and enjoy" probably doesn't make for a super compelling story pitch.
posted by rabbitroom at 9:48 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
A nearby single screen theatre reopened in 2004 after twenty years of being a golf-shop-with-indoor-driving-range. Their opening weekend was a triple bill of all three Lord of the Rings movies in their extended cuts. There were one-hour breaks in between films for meals and such, and it ran from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
I can safely say that fourteen hours is about as much time as I care to spend in a cinema, newly renovated seats or no. Fortunately (?), the place has changed hands since then, so the prospects of a Hobbit+LOTR marathon are dim.
The addition of a zany host quizzing people on trivia makes it depressing, and the revelation that trivia answers were incorrect makes it hellish-sounding.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:43 AM on May 4, 2015
I can safely say that fourteen hours is about as much time as I care to spend in a cinema, newly renovated seats or no. Fortunately (?), the place has changed hands since then, so the prospects of a Hobbit+LOTR marathon are dim.
The addition of a zany host quizzing people on trivia makes it depressing, and the revelation that trivia answers were incorrect makes it hellish-sounding.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:43 AM on May 4, 2015
The thing about Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country that makes it great isn't the heavy-handed political/social commentary about the Cold War ending (that sort of anvilicious allegory is what killed TOS after three seasons, IMO), but the plot, in which the conspiracy not only has a plan B, they practically have a plan J, in terms of places where the peace process could fail or be made to fail. Plus, of course, Christopher Plummer with an eyepatch bolted directly to his face and declaiming Shakespeare while Bones grumbles, "I'd give real money if he'd shut up."
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:50 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:50 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
I did the Marvel Marathon for Avengers and had a blast with it, even though my selected character-specific 3-D glasses wouldn't align over my real-life glasses and I had to trade when the marathon shifted into 3-D. 10am to 2am is not that bad. And being in a crowd of fully dedicated nerds actually does add to the experience.
I looked at the full day and change marathon for this and said oh heck no. I might have gone along with two 14-hour marathons on subsequent days, but not something like this with no sleep break. I even considered the one that was just a double feature of Avengers and Avengers:AoU.
posted by Karmakaze at 11:39 AM on May 4, 2015
I looked at the full day and change marathon for this and said oh heck no. I might have gone along with two 14-hour marathons on subsequent days, but not something like this with no sleep break. I even considered the one that was just a double feature of Avengers and Avengers:AoU.
posted by Karmakaze at 11:39 AM on May 4, 2015
ST:TUD (nice) just feels like a really good cap to the whole thing, which is possibly part (but potentially a small part) of what made Generations feel so goddamn flat. They just stretched it out too long, like the 8th season of That 70s Show.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 12:41 PM on May 4, 2015
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 12:41 PM on May 4, 2015
BATMAN BEGINS AND THE ROOT OF THE WARNER BROS./DC SUPERHERO PROBLEM
In an alternate universe, Iron Man was only a modest success, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk hobbled the franchise, and Marvel never had a chance to deliver on the promise of an Avengers movie. By the time Thor hit theaters, there was no saving the studio, and they lost the rights to the very characters they were hoping would save them.
In this parallel world, the superhero craze continues at half strength, Warner Bros. is in no real hurry to force a Justice League movie to work, and most of the best Marvel characters are owned by Merrill Lynch.
There is also no Daredevil Netflix show, there is no Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., there is no Avengers: Age of Ultron.
posted by Artw at 1:13 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
In an alternate universe, Iron Man was only a modest success, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk hobbled the franchise, and Marvel never had a chance to deliver on the promise of an Avengers movie. By the time Thor hit theaters, there was no saving the studio, and they lost the rights to the very characters they were hoping would save them.
In this parallel world, the superhero craze continues at half strength, Warner Bros. is in no real hurry to force a Justice League movie to work, and most of the best Marvel characters are owned by Merrill Lynch.
There is also no Daredevil Netflix show, there is no Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., there is no Avengers: Age of Ultron.
posted by Artw at 1:13 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
The longest I ever spent for a movie marathon was 8+ hours for all five Planet of the Apes movies. During the second movie we smelled smoke and someone started yelling, Fire! A bunch of people sprinted out the emergency exits. My friend and I stayed. This was during the part that the mutants reveal their true nature to the bomb. It was a bit surreal. But we stayed put. Even at the risk of a theater fire. Of course I was a teenager at the time.
Never again.
posted by Splunge at 1:18 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Never again.
posted by Splunge at 1:18 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gotta pipe in here as one of metafilters continual advocates for free speech.
You actually are allowed to shout 'fire' in a crowded theater if, in fact, you have reason to believe that there is a fire.
posted by el io at 2:38 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
You actually are allowed to shout 'fire' in a crowded theater if, in fact, you have reason to believe that there is a fire.
posted by el io at 2:38 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
You actually are allowed to shout 'fire' in a crowded theater if, in fact, you have reason to believe that there is a fire.
Thank you. This common and casual oversight is actually one of my major pet-peeves.
posted by mikelieman at 3:17 PM on May 4, 2015
Thank you. This common and casual oversight is actually one of my major pet-peeves.
posted by mikelieman at 3:17 PM on May 4, 2015
Artw: BATMAN BEGINS and the root of the Warner/DC Superhero problem.
I'm sympathetic to this idea, that Marvel had its back to the wall, and that's the only reason it could take a billion-dollar gamble on an interlocking series of superhero movies. But that's not the root of DC's problem, at least in my book. Their bigger problem is that the movies were/are so damn heavy handed and just - unlikeable.
I gritted my teeth to stick through the end of The Dark Knight Rises, wincing over and over again at the overbearing tone. Stomping jackboots everywhere, ugh. It was an utterly joyless experience. I didn't watch the Man of Steel reboot, and didn't miss it, and unless the reviews are something else altogether, I won't even be tempted by Batman vs Superman.
Meanwhile, even though the Marvel movies are also all about being saved by our betters - they're *superhero* movies, after all, and they feature a freaking literal demigod - they never lose sight of their fundamental playfulness and sense of joy. The bits of banter, the character development, the wisecracking, made me happy to sit through the mandatory final blow-everything-up scenes in the Avengers and CA:TWS. A cgi racoon and a talking tree stole the show in GOTG, and that soundtrack ...! So I'll go watch Ultron (not yet!) and even AntMan, whether or not it is part of Marvel's billion dollar grand plan. They've earned the benefit of my doubt for now.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:26 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm sympathetic to this idea, that Marvel had its back to the wall, and that's the only reason it could take a billion-dollar gamble on an interlocking series of superhero movies. But that's not the root of DC's problem, at least in my book. Their bigger problem is that the movies were/are so damn heavy handed and just - unlikeable.
I gritted my teeth to stick through the end of The Dark Knight Rises, wincing over and over again at the overbearing tone. Stomping jackboots everywhere, ugh. It was an utterly joyless experience. I didn't watch the Man of Steel reboot, and didn't miss it, and unless the reviews are something else altogether, I won't even be tempted by Batman vs Superman.
Meanwhile, even though the Marvel movies are also all about being saved by our betters - they're *superhero* movies, after all, and they feature a freaking literal demigod - they never lose sight of their fundamental playfulness and sense of joy. The bits of banter, the character development, the wisecracking, made me happy to sit through the mandatory final blow-everything-up scenes in the Avengers and CA:TWS. A cgi racoon and a talking tree stole the show in GOTG, and that soundtrack ...! So I'll go watch Ultron (not yet!) and even AntMan, whether or not it is part of Marvel's billion dollar grand plan. They've earned the benefit of my doubt for now.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:26 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
emptythought: "This sounds like the kind of shit me and my friends would do in high school over the summer or during breaks. Except we'd do something like "watch ALL of star trek TNG", or "watch pokemon until it gets bad".
The difference is that we'd eat normal food, take breaks sometimes, and pass out after 20 hours or something, sometimes more.(but wake up and keep going)
Why make something that's already ridiculous not fun? It's like those "weed kills brain cells!" tests with chimps where they fed them such thick smoke that they were getting hypoxic. What weird zany tiresome clickbait point are you trying to prove?
I once went to a marathon of all the non-TMP Star Trek movies to date, which I think went up to The Undiscovered Country at the time.
I still don't understand people who hate TMP, but like undiscovered country or save the whales(which is an entertaining movie, but a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai). It's like saying "I hate cheese! but i love kraft cheese and velveeta"."
See, it's comments like this that prove so many people are Wrongie VonWrongerstein (of the Wrongerton VonWrongersteins) and can't keep it hidden for long.
Buckaroo Banzai was not a bad movie. SCIENCE FACT!
(Should I have added EPISTONYRICAL! too?)
(Or however it is spelled?)
posted by Samizdata at 6:06 PM on May 4, 2015
The difference is that we'd eat normal food, take breaks sometimes, and pass out after 20 hours or something, sometimes more.(but wake up and keep going)
Why make something that's already ridiculous not fun? It's like those "weed kills brain cells!" tests with chimps where they fed them such thick smoke that they were getting hypoxic. What weird zany tiresome clickbait point are you trying to prove?
I once went to a marathon of all the non-TMP Star Trek movies to date, which I think went up to The Undiscovered Country at the time.
I still don't understand people who hate TMP, but like undiscovered country or save the whales(which is an entertaining movie, but a terrible movie. It's like buckaroo banzai). It's like saying "I hate cheese! but i love kraft cheese and velveeta"."
See, it's comments like this that prove so many people are Wrongie VonWrongerstein (of the Wrongerton VonWrongersteins) and can't keep it hidden for long.
Buckaroo Banzai was not a bad movie. SCIENCE FACT!
(Should I have added EPISTONYRICAL! too?)
(Or however it is spelled?)
posted by Samizdata at 6:06 PM on May 4, 2015
BATMAN BEGINS AND THE ROOT OF THE WARNER BROS./DC SUPERHERO PROBLEM
But DC did create a persistent and continuing multimedia franchise that spanned from multiple TV networks and film and then returned to comics again. It started in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series on Fox, moved on with Batman, Superman, and Batman Beyond with WB and then finally ended another with Justice League Unlimited on Cartoon Network in 2006. It had one movie released in theaters (Mask of the Phantasm) and three others that were direct to video. It was so successful that characters like Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya (and soon Terry McGinnis) are part of the main DC canon.
DC had this structure already built and they could have expanded on it, or built on it, copied it, or at least tap into the nostalgic good time memories of Millennial schoolkids watching their cartoons everyday after school. But they let it slip.
posted by FJT at 7:00 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
But DC did create a persistent and continuing multimedia franchise that spanned from multiple TV networks and film and then returned to comics again. It started in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series on Fox, moved on with Batman, Superman, and Batman Beyond with WB and then finally ended another with Justice League Unlimited on Cartoon Network in 2006. It had one movie released in theaters (Mask of the Phantasm) and three others that were direct to video. It was so successful that characters like Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya (and soon Terry McGinnis) are part of the main DC canon.
DC had this structure already built and they could have expanded on it, or built on it, copied it, or at least tap into the nostalgic good time memories of Millennial schoolkids watching their cartoons everyday after school. But they let it slip.
posted by FJT at 7:00 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
It was so successful that characters like Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya (and soon Terry McGinnis) are part of the main DC canon.
Bruce Timm and Paul Dini.... Just drive dumptrucks of money to their houses and beg them to come and fix everything...
posted by mikelieman at 8:22 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bruce Timm and Paul Dini.... Just drive dumptrucks of money to their houses and beg them to come and fix everything...
posted by mikelieman at 8:22 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Somehow you'd need Capemax-sized vessels of commonsense to crash into DC's offices.
posted by Mezentian at 3:33 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Mezentian at 3:33 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bruce Timm and Paul Dini.... Just drive dumptrucks of money to their houses and beg them to come and fix everything...
And still regret that we lost Dwayne McDuffie.
posted by Karmakaze at 5:28 AM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
And still regret that we lost Dwayne McDuffie.
posted by Karmakaze at 5:28 AM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
I've attended the same 24 hour movie marathon as Pink Frost (maybe even at the same time! 2008?) and they're a great time but yeah, it's a slog. It was sponsored by an energy drink company and I definitely had more of them than is healthy.
Last month I had 24 hours of flying (30 hours of travel) and I totally lost my grip on time, which is probably good for this sort of thing. Twenty of those hours were spent on Qatar, which happened to have all 8 Harry Potter films, they're all together about 20 hours long. I contemplated watching all of them but chickened out...kind of regret not doing it, actually.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 11:49 AM on May 5, 2015
Last month I had 24 hours of flying (30 hours of travel) and I totally lost my grip on time, which is probably good for this sort of thing. Twenty of those hours were spent on Qatar, which happened to have all 8 Harry Potter films, they're all together about 20 hours long. I contemplated watching all of them but chickened out...kind of regret not doing it, actually.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 11:49 AM on May 5, 2015
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But I don't understand why anyone would do this to themselves, even without any silly rules. That's just too freakin' long watching a screen.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:21 PM on May 3, 2015 [11 favorites]