Now the reason I was so shocked was because watching a film on a small device (for convenience I will define this as just a few inches in size, the iPhone is 3.5″) seems like such an unappetising and, to be honest, unthinkable proposition. Why would you watch a film in such an inferior way? Aside from the visual issues in watching a film designed to be projected on a large screen on a tiny screen there is also the importance in immersing yourself in a film. Immersion must be quite hard when you are holding a phone on a busy commuter train.
It is important though that any debate surrounding this issue is treated in an intelligent and mature way. Although I personally will never watch a film on a phone this subject is not a dichotomy, a simple argument about being right or wrong. I do not believe that anyone who disagrees and is willing to watch a film on their phone is wrong. Unfortunately the internet has the irritating effect of polarising any debate, “Avatar’s the greatest film ever made”, “Avatar’s the worst film ever made”. This is not what draws me to film criticism, intelligent debate draws me to film criticism.
On the day of the iPhone announcement, Roger Ebert tweeted the following:
This generated a mixture of positive and negative responses and unfortunately they were just that, positive or negative responses, not a debate. Although Ebert has not yet elaborated further, he was, I’m sure, quickly responding with his opinion on the subject. It was a statement regarding a personal attitude he holds, one I also hold, and not necessarily a judgement call, although it was treated by many as such.
So with this in mind I will briefly outline the reasoning behind my statement and hopefully this will encourage further debate on the subject and not just negative or positive confirmations.
I believe that watching a film on a small device is the far end of a sliding scale of compromises. Films are made for an intended viewing experience. I will concede that in some cases films are made with the understanding that they are going straight to Video/DVD or that they will be watched in 4:3 and in these cases the filmmaker may deliberately make the film in certain way to accommodate this. I will even concede that if at some point a filmmaker makes a film that he/she intends to be watched on a phone I would then watch it on a phone, although the prospect does not excite me. For the most part though films are intended for theatrical distribution and for a large number of years this was the only consideration. For these films the filmmakers made the films with a cinema in mind. The intended audience watched the film in a cinema with a large screen projected by a professional.
One such filmmaker is David Lynch who, in the clip below, makes his feelings very clear on the experience of watching films on your phone.
Even just watching a film in a screening room at a Post Production facility highlights the difference between how the filmmakers will watch a film and how films are generally seen in cinemas. From the post production screening I see it as a downward sliding scale that currently ends with watching a film on a phone. Barry (also from HeyUGuys) mentioned to me that he felt that watching a film on an iPod was preferable to watching it on VHS, thereby making the VHS the bottom of this scale. This is his choice and view but it is not one I share and I think it is worth briefly mentioning why. Watching a well kept widescreen VHS made from a well sourced print on a good television is preferable, in my opinion, to the same film viewed on an iPod.
I believe though that any way in which one watches a film is a compromise and this debate boils down to how much of a compromise are you willing to make. As I have said, even a cinema experience is a compromise. I came across a good example of that this year.
When I reviewed Kick-Ass in March it was after attending a large press screening. In my review I mentioned the “super-saturated colours” and the positive effect this had on my enjoyment of the film.
Upon rewatching the film again at the cinema, but this time not at a press screening and two weeks after its release, aside from the change in atmosphere (something I also consider important) the first thing I noticed was the big difference in how the film looked. The “super-saturated colours” were gone and the print had been poorly treated, with noticeable damage. The film was also probably projected as a single reel and the joins between reels had been poorly done and their were noticeable jumps and pops. Although I still enjoyed the film, it just wasn’t the same. This is, of course, anecdotal but it highlights where, even in viewing films at the cinema, there is a compromise. This is a compromise I try and eliminate where I can (attending trusted cinemas helps) but one that is still preferable to what I consider greater compromises represented by the experience outside of a cinema.
I also feel that the so-called ‘home cinema’ is a compromise but one that mostly due to the availability of films showing at cinemas and my own finances is a compromise I have to constantly make. In an ideal world I would only watch films in cinemas, expertly projected from director approved high quality prints. I except though that in order to see the number and variety of films that I want to, this is not a realistic prospect and I have to make compromises and watch films at home. I am still careful though to ensure my compromise is as slight as possible. Well sourced prints, good quality transfers, correct aspect ratios, good quality original audio tracks are all important when I rent or buy a DVD or Blu-Ray and I will import or wait if I know there is a better version that I could watch. Some may say this is going too far or that I care too much but this is the ‘price’ of loving films and wanting to experience them in the best way you can, with consideration given to your finances, time and location.
I love cinema and to me it is important. If its not that important to you I understand why you might not care but I find it so strange that so many people who appear to love cinema are so willing to compromise and watch films in a way that I believe is at the very bottom of a downward sliding scale of compromise. I feel that films deserve better than the experience of watching them on a phone; this is, for me, a compromise too far.
So in the interests of open debate I encourage you to respond to this piece with your own take on my thoughts regarding this scale of compromise and your own viewing habits. Please leave your comments below or head over to the forum to discuss the subject and I will be happy to respond to any questions or criticisms.
Photo Source: The Prince Charles Cinema as photographed by :: K a t e ::
You raise some interesting points but I fear alot of people are being far too precious. I agree, immersing myself in something with the scale of Lawrence Of Arabia or 2001: A Space Odyssey on an iPhone would be difficult and is probably a compromise too far, but I don’t feel that watching Anchorman or Big Trouble In Little China on such a small screen is enough to spoil my enjoyment of those films. Of course, like most, it would not be my preferred option but, sometimes, on a long journey etc, needs must…
Just to play Devil’s Advocate for a second: some might say, anyone willing to embrace new technologies to watch the films they love, wherever they may be, is certainly no less a fan of cinema for doing so, and could be best placed to appreciated all that the art has to offer.
While I've not watched many films on my iPod Touch, I find that for long trips, particularly long flights, it's really good and definitely preferable to the quality you get on the inflight entertainment. The picture is very crisp, the sound perfectly clear and the screen still retains the widescreen format. It's also incredibly convenient. On top of being able to watch it on the go, I can easily just plug it into my HDTV and watch it on there.
Having said that, I don't think I'd watch a film on the iPod that I had been anticipating for a while and not seen already. I would also avoid big action flicks as you miss out on the scale of the effects and threat.
For those who don't think it's immersive though, try watching a film on your iPod/iPhone late at night under the covers – you'll feel like a kid again (except when I was a kid I'd dream of being able to watch films long past my bedtime wherever I wanted). It's probably the most immersive environment without having the distraction of people shuffling next to you or munching loudly on popcorn.
While I've not watched many films on my iPod Touch, I find that for long trips, particularly long flights, it's really good and definitely preferable to the quality you get on the inflight entertainment. The picture is very crisp, the sound perfectly clear and the screen still retains the widescreen format. It's also incredibly convenient. On top of being able to watch it on the go, I can easily just plug it into my HDTV and watch it on there.
Having said that, I don't think I'd watch a film on the iPod that I had been anticipating for a while and not seen already. I would also avoid big action flicks as you miss out on the scale of the effects and threat.
For those who don't think it's immersive though, try watching a film on your iPod/iPhone late at night under the covers – you'll feel like a kid again (except when I was a kid I'd dream of being able to watch films long past my bedtime wherever I wanted). It's probably the most immersive environment without having the distraction of people shuffling next to you or munching loudly on popcorn.
I agree with Dimitri in the sense that i would never watch a film for the first time on my iPhone. i try to see every movie im excited about in the cinema and then for repeat viewings DVD suffices. The films I watch on my iPhone are films I've seen a lot. I must have watched The Rock one hundred times at least and at least 4 or 5 of those times were on my BB and more recently my iPhone. when you know a movie so well i dont think its a problem watching it on such a small screen.
its kinda like when you watch a film adaptation of a book you know so well, if the film is good you sometimes will in gaps with your knowledge from the book and in your memory they never left that bit out. when i watch films like The Rock on such a small screen I'm sure I'm missing the detail of some of the sequences but because its so ingrained in my head, my mind fills it in.
i commute to work every day and i love the fact that i can rewatch my favourite movie or watch new TV episodes (i dont feel the need to watch a TV show for the first time on a decent sized screen as i feel its a different experience to something cinematic)
Thats my two cents anyways
I agree with Dimitri in the sense that i would never watch a film for the first time on my iPhone. i try to see every movie im excited about in the cinema and then for repeat viewings DVD suffices. The films I watch on my iPhone are films I've seen a lot. I must have watched The Rock one hundred times at least and at least 4 or 5 of those times were on my BB and more recently my iPhone. when you know a movie so well i dont think its a problem watching it on such a small screen.
its kinda like when you watch a film adaptation of a book you know so well, if the film is good you sometimes will in gaps with your knowledge from the book and in your memory they never left that bit out. when i watch films like The Rock on such a small screen I'm sure I'm missing the detail of some of the sequences but because its so ingrained in my head, my mind fills it in.
i commute to work every day and i love the fact that i can rewatch my favourite movie or watch new TV episodes (i dont feel the need to watch a TV show for the first time on a decent sized screen as i feel its a different experience to something cinematic)
Thats my two cents anyways
I think this has been a slippery slope that we've all been on since Betamax. I remember thinking that I would never succumb to watching a movie on my television at home when they were made to be watched on the big screen. While I have not managed to maintain my initial elitist stance on home viewing, I do still separate movies by “must see in a theater” and “won't lose anything in the translation to dvd.”
I completely agree with your “immersion theory”. When I go to the movies, I generally sit in the first or second row so that I can not only block out the proscenium but also the ppl behind me (talking, munching, crinkling cellophane, texting or shushing crying babies.) Although, I also agree that there are definitely films for which the audience played an integral part to my overall experience. (I will never forget seeing The Untouchables on opening night in a packed theater applauding the credits, particularly the costume designer, Giorgio Armani.) Kick-Ass is definitely one of those movies.
For me the needs must argument is a bit sad, I constantly feel compelled to watch films but when stuck on a bus, train etc I happily read a book or listen to a podcast and save the film for when I get home or to a cinema.
Also, I saw Big Trouble In Little China at the cinema and loved it, Carpenter's direction actually benefits greatly from the big screen. The Thing is phenomenal on a big screen.
For me the needs must argument is a bit sad, I constantly feel compelled to watch films but when stuck on a bus, train etc I happily read a book or listen to a podcast and save the film for when I get home or to a cinema.
Also, I saw Big Trouble In Little China at the cinema and loved it, Carpenter's direction actually benefits greatly from the big screen. The Thing is phenomenal on a big screen.
I appreciate your point about TV but with recent shows such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar Galactica or the forthcoming Boardwalk Empire do you feel that the gap might be narrowing between cinema and television and these shows also deserve a larger screen experience?
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