Occasional Reader 8/11/2023 9:16:23 AM

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Happy Friday.

So, I finally saw Oppenheimer last night.  And I thought it was... pretty good.  But that's all.  After all the hype, I was expecting more.  On the plus side, it doesn't insult the audience's intelligence; you need to keep up in order to follow the film, and (e.g.) realize that when the characters refer to "the Super", they mean the H-bomb.  On the negative side: I'm finding Nolan's chopped-up, jumping-around narrative style a little played out.  

And speaking (ironically) of "the audience's intelligence"; the moviegoing experience was rather marred by the young woman who wandered into the theater about a half hour after it started, took a seat, and began yelling nonsense intermittently.  And no, I was not about to intervene, because she was of a "protected class", so no good would have come of it. 

doppelganglander 8/11/2023 9:32:29 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 1:

I saw it Wednesday morning (the only time I could get a decent seat). I was absolutely blown away (pardon the pun). I did a little research beforehand, mainly Wikipedia and the BBC documentary, so I think I hit a good balance between being confused and knowing too much. I knew enough to follow the jumps back and forth in time. I didn't think it was too loud, as some people have complained; every boom had a purpose. All the performances were excellent, but I swear if Robert Downey Jr. doesn't finally get his Oscar, I'm resigning from the Academy (that I don't belong to).

Occasional Reader 8/11/2023 9:36:11 AM

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Reply to doppelganglander in 2:

I'm just wondering how the "typical" moviegoer is following the film (at the risk of sounding elitist).  

E.g., teens who aren't entirely clear who fought on what side in World War II, much less who Leo Szilard was.  

doppelganglander 8/11/2023 9:48:46 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 3:

I suspect most of them went to Barbie instead. You can't judge from one showing, but I saw quite a few father-and-son pairs as well as small groups of young men. My audience was attentive and well-behaved, probably because they cared enough to pay nearly $30 and drive out to the far reaches of Metro Atlanta to see it in IMAX 70mm. 

Occasional Reader 8/11/2023 9:52:35 AM

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Reply to doppelganglander in 4:

I had the choice of IMAX, or 70mm, but not IMAX 70mm (nearest one is in King of Prussia, PA, I think).

I went with 70mm.  Can't say I noticed a big difference.

The weird thing was, at this downtown DC theater, there was no one actually checking tickets, even for this reserve-seat, premium-price showing.  I walked in, ticket (printed from online purchase) in hand, but never had to show it to anyone.  I suspect that Crazy Young Lady just wandered in.  

doppelganglander 8/11/2023 11:05:15 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 5:

Could be. I couldn't find anyone to scan my ticket, and when I finally did, he just waved me in because the movie was starting.