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Coming Only to Theaters!

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:58 pm
by Kram Nebuer
Why bother putting this phrase in commercials/trailers of movies? It's a lie since they all eventually come to VHS and DVD. :lol:

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:45 pm
by Jens
I think the phrase means that at that specific moment it's only available to see in theatres and not on dvd and video... I'm sure it really confuses people sometimes... But hey, it's just another way of getting people to the theaters ;)

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:11 pm
by Kram Nebuer
Oh, okay. Thanks, Jens! :) It has always confused me ever since I was little. Maybe they should rephrase it to: "Coming Only to Theaters temporarily until we make the DVD in _#_ months!" :lol:

Speaking of which, how long does it take for a movie to go from theater to DVD?

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:27 pm
by Jens
That can differ. Most companies decide on each movie seperate when they will release the dvd. If they see that the movie can still make money in theatres they let it play in theatres untill the popularity has decreased. Then they release the dvd...

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:36 pm
by Loomis
I don't think there is any truth in advertising at all now, especially from Disney (who seem to use the phrase "Coming only to theatres" the most).

They do, after all, keep insisting certain films are the "first time on DVD" when they quite clearly aren't (even though technically a Special Edition of Pinocchio hasn't been on DVD before, it was advertised as "First Time on DVD").

I guess it is to give people a reason to go and see it. Disney, to use the example again, release so many things simultaneously on both DVD and at the cinema, it helps to differentiate in their ads I guess.

Still, it IS a bit misleading...

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 6:26 pm
by umbreongirl
I asked my dad why thy said that.

He said it waas so ppl would see it in theatres.......I dun think ppl are THAT stupid. they all know it'll come to DVD......>.> I honestly dunno why they say it........

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:32 pm
by Christian
Keep in mind that nowadays they have to be specific so people don't think, "Oh, I bet that's another one of those sucky direct-to-video things."

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:26 pm
by Loomis
Christian wrote:Keep in mind that nowadays they have to be specific so people don't think, "Oh, I bet that's another one of those sucky direct-to-video things."
Yeah, because 99% of the time, Disney whack a "Only in theatres" trailer in the middle of 5 DTV trailers.

And DTVs don't suck. They sometimes blow, but never suck.

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:50 pm
by DDMAN26
Who is the "coming to theatres" guy? What's his name?

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 2:39 am
by 2099net
Don't overestimate the inteligence of the general public. I was in WH Smiths the other day, and overhead a conversation where a customer was asking where the Shrek 2 DVD was - never mind the film only opened in the UK the other week. When told it wasn't out on DVD, and wasn't likely to be available until close to Christmas, the customer insisted it was out. They had a polite argument, until the customer swore loudly, insulted the shop and walked out in a huff.

So that's why they say "Coming only to theaters".

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:47 am
by deathie mouse
Yeah, "Coming only to theaters" means "If you wanna see it NOW, you wont be able to find it in Blockbusters."

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 12:20 am
by Rebel
It is particularly annoying when a movie company puts those trailers on a DVD though. Then when you go back and watch the DVD a couple years later, you are told that the movie is coming to theaters after you already own it.

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 1:49 am
by Loomis
Rebel wrote:It is particularly annoying when a movie company puts those trailers on a DVD though. Then when you go back and watch the DVD a couple years later, you are told that the movie is coming to theaters after you already own it.
Yes, they date a DVD very quickly, those forced trailers. It does seem like an odd thing to annoy me, but for some strange reason it does always feel odd to sit down and watch a DVD now that has a "Atlantis...in cinemas soon" trailer on it.

That is why we need George Lucas to run Disney PR. That way, every few years he can go back and replace the trailers with NEW "Coming only to theatres" trailers (and he would explain "These are the trailers I would have put at the start of the DVD if I were to release that DVD now").

Not only that, it would mean WE get a new edition of a Disney Classic every 4 years, HE would get to live out his desires to "revise" classic films on a regular basis, and EVERYONE is happy.

Couldn't ask for more, really.

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 3:19 am
by yoda_four
Loomis: :lol: :lol: :lol: Too true!

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 7:18 am
by deathie mouse
Loomis wrote:and he would explain "These are the trailers I would have put at the start of the DVD if I were to release that DVD now
that was so funny I could almost hear him in my mind!

Next he would be replacing Pinocchio's animated whale with a CGI one, making his nose light up like a lightsabre and have Goofy slowly morphing into Jar Jar (or whatever his name was) through the years.

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 7:23 pm
by Uncle Remus
i think they do that because when they say "Coming only to theaters", they should have a date showing that on that day, that is where the movie can be seen at.

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:50 pm
by Loomis
Uncle Remus wrote:i think they do that because when they say "Coming only to theaters", they should have a date showing that on that day, that is where the movie can be seen at.
You truly are one of the great thinkers of our time, aren't you?

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:14 pm
by Uncle Remus
Loomis wrote: You truly are one of the great thinkers of our time, aren't you?
Loomis: do you somehow have a problem with me or something. cause if you do, we can sorta solve the problem. ok?

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:17 pm
by Jens
LOL :lol: Sorry couldn't help myself... Come on Uncle Remus, do you even think before your post? Loomis doesn't have a problem with you, I'm sure. As we all know Loomis, he's probably just messing with you. Don't take it too hard :)

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:23 pm
by AwallaceUNC
I loved the Lucas joke :lol:. I kind of like popping in an old VHS and seeing the really old trailers and previews. Disney VHS are my favorite, because they have those really old commercials for WDW with the kids packing up, and it's weeks away. :lol:

-Aaron