No Feature Length Films On iPhone

Avant-garde filmmaker David Lynch is on rant. His mission?

To convince you that watching a feature-length major motion picture on a 3" screen is—to put it mildly—sacrilege.

To quote, "If you're playing the movie on a telephone, you will never in a trillion years experience the film. You’ll think you have experienced it, but you’ll be cheated."

Which is on one hand true, and which on the other misses the point entirely.

Rob Toole, commenting on the same story, feels much the same way, indicating that "mobile devices are great for quick format videos like you get at youTube." And that "only a masochist would want to squint their way through Apocalypse Now on an iPhone."

Now, it's true that watching a film on an iPhone will never carry the same emotional impact as watching it on your home theater, just like your home theater will never match the power of an IMAX.

And I think I know how and where most of us would prefer to watch a film... given a choice.

But what happens when you don't have the choice?

If I'm on an eight-hour flight to Europe and my choice is not watching a film because I'm not going to get the same "experience", and being bored out of my skull... I'm sorry, but I think I'll watch the film.

Besides, it's likely that nearly every movie that one would have on DVD or download from iTunes to play on your phone is a film you've probably already seen. And if not, is one that you decided wasn't worth the "theatrical experience".

One could always split the difference with the venerable TV show, which many might believe is better suited to the smaller screen. Perhaps sit back a few episodes of The Closer or Dexter.

Then again, if I'm on that eight-hour flight, I've got time to burn. And lot's of it.

There are also those films that you've seen before, perhaps dozens of times, but still pull out to watch when you're in one of those moods. Much like curling up with a well-read book or spending time with an old friend.

And like old friends, don't require a major production when they come to visit.

Just being there is enough.

As a photographer, I'm all for artistic expression, and I recognize full well that the surrounding environment plays a huge role in how one's work is experienced.

But I also understand that I don't always have a choice in the matter.

So while David has a point worth making, and considering, I don't believe it's the only factor in the equation.

And that most of us are smart enough to make that decision on our own.

[via Rob Toole]

Comments

[Rob Toole]

Some very good points Michael. When you're a captive on a a long flight escapism is key and watching a film to pass the time seems like a good way to do this. I guess I would do the same faced in this situation but if it were a film I found appealing, I probably would re-watch it later in my home. Of course I should also pick up a book here and there on these long flights as well.

I don't think that we're actually being "tricked" into feeling we experienced a movie on a cell phone, as David so eloquently puts it. I think it comes down to your last sentence, which is basically, to each his own.

btw Your blog looks great!