Devin from CHUD says: HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THE DARK KNIGHT ENOUGH ALREADY, LOSER?

[The Fake Shemp]

He uses The Dark Knight as a catalyst to talk about repeat viewings in general and I'd be interested to hear back from Solo, TVC, etc. on this issue...

Remember when you were a kid and you ran to the theater and saw Star Wars twenty times in a week? It was amazing, and without the promise of an eventual home video release, it was essential - you needed to memorize every line so you could act them out with your Kenner figures. That kind of obsessiveness is endearing in a child, even when it gets irritating, like the kid who wants to watch nothing but The Little Mermaid on DVD again and again and again and again.

For adults it's less endearing. In fact, it's sad. I've been hearing reports of people seeing The Dark Knight this past weekend a multitude of times - a couple of people seeing it five times, in fact - and this makes me sad. First of all, and most frank of all, I think it's a touch pathetic to be a grown person and see a movie more than twice in a weekend* since that not only indicates a serious lack of other things in your life, it's the kind of behavior that other people find weird. When you go to the office on Monday and say that you saw The Dark Knight four times since Thursday's midnight show, everybody pegs you as the weird guy. Maybe you're the nice weird guy, but you're the weird guy nonetheless, the guy who is possibly jockeying for second place in the 'Who will shoot up the office?' pool. It's childish behavior**, the kind of thing you should be ashamed of, like how you're ashamed that you jerk off to Thundercats slashfic***. It's likely that if you're the kind of guy who sees a Batman movie more than twice in a weekend you're also the kind of guy who wonders why women don't like you. Seeing a Batman movie more than twice in a weekend is the reason why.

It's also sort of sad from a moviegoing point of view. There's no movie ever made that benefits from such intense repeat viewings. You're not doing yourself, or the movie you obviously love, any favors by gorging on it. It's like eating a good meal - just because it's good doesn't mean you should go back for fifths or sixths. You're numbing yourself to what you liked in the first place, and you're also likely to make yourself sick. In the case of the movie, you'll burn out on it. This is another reflection of childish behavior, the need to have it all right now and in impossible amounts.

There's another moviegoing point of view on this that makes me sad, especially since many of the people who have seen the movie an insane number of times are self-professed film lovers, or run movie websites, and it's that you're ignoring the other great movies out there. It's unlikely that you've seen every movie playing in your local area, or that you've rented all of the movies that you need to see. There are so many options out there for film lovers and yet you're seeing the same film five times, dropping a bunch of money on the same movie again and again. This especially goes for people who live in bigger cities; when the urge to see The Dark Knight for the fifth time hits, go to your local paper and find an indie or documentary that's playing and go see that instead. Expand your horizons instead of acting like an obsessive freak.

This last point is the one that bums me out the most. People who see a movie more than twice in theaters have a lot of expendable income, but I also suspect they're the people on internet message boards most likely to chime in that they haven't seen this critically acclaimed small film or that awards nominated documentary. On some level I understand the people who have limited abilities or means to get to movies and who choose the blockbusters - they need the bang for their buck and they want to be in the main conversation around them. Everybody's talking about The Dark Knight, but who's talking about The Visitor or Baghead?**** - but if you have the time and money to see a movie more than twice in a weekend, surely you should be using at least some of that time and money to be a better movie lover instead of a better Batman movie lover?

Some people will think that I'm ragging on the folks who saw The Dark Knight multiple times because I don't like the Batman movies. Let's get one thing out of the way: I liked this film. If people start going to see Pineapple Express five times in a weekend, I will be just as creeped out by them*****. It's not healthy. The urge to see a movie again and again in a short period of time is not a healthy one, no matter how you're escaping reality.

So my plea to you is this: stop seeing The Dark Knight. Don't turn this into some kind of competition to see who has the most hollow existence; simply be happy that you've seen it and wait contentedly for the DVD/Blu-Ray, surely coming this Christmas. And you know what? Having some time between your viewings may help you appreciate the movie more, instead of mindlessly sinking into the comforting womb of Christopher Nolan's movie.

Wake up. Grow up. Go see something else. Anything else.

* twice in a weekend is still a lot, but sometimes you see a movie on Friday and then a broad wants to see it on Sunday or something, so you go again. It happens, but you shouldn't make a habit out of it.

** which must be noted is different from childlike, which is marked by an innocence and sense of play and wonder. Being childish means you're a loser who makes death threats on Rotten Tomatoes against critics who didn't like a movie you liked, among other creepy behaviors.

*** yes, this is a shameful thing to do. Ponder this while waiting on line for your sixth viewing of The Dark Knight.

**** snobby movie critics, that's who. feggits, the lot of them. They're not real men like Batman. They're not real men with chiseled abs and handsome features. They're not real men of action who would come in and throw you down and... guess it's time for a sixth viewing of The Dark Knight!

***** full disclosure: I saw Hellboy II: The Golden Army three times. The first time was a couple of months ago at a very early screening when most of the effects were temp. The second time was a junket screening where the finished film was shown; I was asked to attend as a prerequisite for writing a review that would run the day of the premiere. I also attended the premiere because how cool an opportunity is that? While I liked Hellboy II, I would never have seen it three times if it wasn't for work.

[demi]

What a faggit. Hot Fuzz multiple times

[demi]

Did he just say the word feggits in his article?

[FlameOfCallandor]

I saw Episode 1 three times

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the first day it was out.  

[close]

[bagofeyes]

How about we see whatever we want to see how many ever times we want to see it? Fuck you, fascist.

[The Fake Shemp]

My main grievance with the article is that it quickly devolves into name calling and telling us that we should not spend our money on what we want to see, but rather watch some indie flicks about gay cowboys eating pudding.

That's what Netflix is for, dummy!

[FlameOfCallandor]

Most film blogs are fucking terrible. This guys sounds like a closet nerd getting angry at everyone else embracing their nerdiness.

[The Fake Shemp]

Devin is the film nerd Harry Knowles wants to be.  While Harry parades as an all-knowing film geek that apparently has seen every cult classic and dusted-from-the-ruins oldie known to man, but really is a talking bowl of lard, Devin is really is an elitist.  I have no doubt he's seen crap I haven't even heard of and thinks his poop smells proportionately better for it.

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, he's kinda forgetting the whole "theatre experience" thing which is a big deal for some folks. not me; i fuckin' hate theatres. they're hot, loud, smelly, and full of hooting teenagers and freaks. but for some folks, those first two weeks of a big open is the ONLY time they'll be able to get that experience they love.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Harry Knowles<<<<<<<<<Dog shit

[Joe Molotov]

I hardly ever see movies twice in the theater, and if I do it's always because I'm seeing it with people that haven't seen it yet, but this guy sounds like a douchebag. If people want to see Dark Knight five times then let them do it and quit being such a twat about it. It's not like being are going to magically start watching little known indies and documentaries just because they aren't seeing Dark Knight 20 times.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Exactly, I saw the movie three times and I expect I'll see it again. It's worth the theater experience especially the IMAX!!

[The Fake Shemp]

yeah, he's kinda forgetting the whole "theatre experience" thing which is a big deal for some folks. not me; i fuckin' hate theatres. they're hot, loud, smelly, and full of hooting teenagers and freaks. but for some folks, those first two weeks of a big open is the ONLY time they'll be able to get that experience they love.

What?  Most theatres are frigid!

Although, when I went to see The Dark Knight opening night with Disposable White Guy, it was like a fucking sauna.  I lost ten pounds that screening.

[Van Cruncheon]

people generate heat

of course a late-night showing of syriana will be frigid

[bagofeyes]

I've been to some theatres that were unbearably hot (during the winter time). Made me nauseous.

[CajoleJuice]

I only want to see The Dark Knight again so this time maybe I can tell what the fuck is going on during action scenes.

[The Fake Shemp]

people generate heat

of course a late-night showing of syriana will be frigid

[cool breeze]

He uses The Dark Knight as a catalyst to talk about repeat viewings in general and I'd be interested to hear back from Solo, TVC, etc. on this issue...

STOP ENJOYING YOURSELVES!

This guy's favorite film is probably Triumph of the Will. 

Oh, and I only saw TDK once.  Only movie I have seen in theaters twice that I can remember is Star Wars Episode 3, but only because one set of friends dragged me to watch it once, then another one dragged me to watch it.  It sucked both times.

[The Fake Shemp]

I only want to see The Dark Knight again so this time maybe I can tell what the fuck is going on during action scenes.

You're like, the only person with that problem this time around.  Almost all the action sequences pulled the cameras back a distance and let them roll a few seconds longer than they should've.  As a result, Batman seems slow if anything.  It kind of irked me.

[thekavorka]

Devin probably watches every movie by himself

it's pretty easy to watch the same movie multiple times in the same weekend. especially as big as TDK.

when everyone wants to see it, it's only natural that you'll have different groups of friends that haven't seen it yet and you can just go with them to watch the movie again. who cares if you're watching the same movie again if you enjoy it.

[CajoleJuice]

Devin probably watches every movie by himself

it's pretty easy to watch the same movie multiple times in the same weekend. especially as big as TDK.

It was kinda hard, considering it was SOLD OUT FUCKING EVERYWHERE.

[The Fake Shemp]

This article makes me want to see The Dark Knight again - out of spite.  Maybe one more time in IMAX too, because I haven't seen it in glorious IMAX.  Then maybe again in a budget theatre.  Take that, Devin!

[bagofeyes]

And mail him the ticket stubs!

[thekavorka]

Devin probably watches every movie by himself

it's pretty easy to watch the same movie multiple times in the same weekend. especially as big as TDK.

It was kinda hard, considering it was SOLD OUT FUCKING EVERYWHERE.

haha true. my imax is sold out until next monday. seriously, wtf.

[FlameOfCallandor]

This article makes me want to see The Dark Knight again - out of spite.  Maybe one more time in IMAX too, because I haven't seen it in glorious IMAX.  Then maybe again in a budget theatre.  Take that, Devin!

[TVC15]

The only reason to see a movie 5 times in a weekend is basically to be able to brag about seeing a movie 5 times in a weekend.

[The Fake Shemp]

Or out of spite.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Or because you buy the tickets in advance hopint it will be good.


Episode 1.  :'( never again.

[CajoleJuice]

Devin probably watches every movie by himself

it's pretty easy to watch the same movie multiple times in the same weekend. especially as big as TDK.

It was kinda hard, considering it was SOLD OUT FUCKING EVERYWHERE.

haha true. my imax is sold out until next monday. seriously, wtf.

I'm the opposite of everyone else. I've only seen it in IMAX, and it was a negative in my experience. I want to see it in a regular theater.

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, the fact that someone would offer up HAY I SAW TEE DEE KAY 5 TIMES THIS WEEKEND in any company, much less polite, can ONLY be categorized under bragging

WHO IS THE BIGGEST BATMAN FAN? I HAVE A METRIC FOR THIS

[The Fake Shemp]

Oh my God, I am going to start referring to it as Tee-Dee-Kay at work from now on.

[thekavorka]

The only reason to see a movie 5 times in a weekend is basically to be able to brag about seeing a movie 5 times in a weekend.

and the only reason to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire twice is because this girl asked you to watch with her. and you think it's just going to be you and her, but then it turns out to be you, her, and three of her other friends (one of them a guy).

[TVC15]

The only reason to see a movie 5 times in a weekend is basically to be able to brag about seeing a movie 5 times in a weekend.

and the only reason to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire twice is because this girl asked you to watch with her. and you think it's just going to be you and her, but then it turns out to be you, her, and three of her other friends (one of them a guy).

The only films I can recall seeing multiple times in recent memory (in a theatre):

King Kong - Managed to see it 3 times in one week.  I did not pay for a single viewing, though.  I did brag because I spent like 20 hours in a theatre because of that thing.
Harry Potter IV - Again, without paying, I saw this twice.  Or maybe 3 times.  Foggy.

[CajoleJuice]

Why would you subject yourself to three viewings of King Kong in the same week?

Actually, why would you watch it three times within any time period?

[Van Cruncheon]

work morale events unfortunately lead to multiple viewings of awful movies. that said, did i brag i saw the godawful episode iii THREE FUCKING TIMES? i try to pretend it never happened, like when you walk in on your dad inserting an entire bag's worth of cheese pretzels into your mom's rectum OH GOD

[The Fake Shemp]

I saw Batman Begins twice.  Spider-Man four times.  I think Disposable White Guy and I saw X2: X-Men United like five or six times within a 21-day span.

[Brehvolution]

I haven't seen tee dee kay yet. I hope for a blu ray.

[Van Cruncheon]

I saw Batman Begins twice.  Spider-Man four times.  I think Disposable White Guy and I saw X2: X-Men United like five or six times within a 21-day span.

cigarillo

[The Fake Shemp]

For which multiple viewing?

[Eel O'Brian]

i usually only see films in a theater once because it's too fucking expensive to keep going, and if i am going to watch it over and over again i may as well just save that money and buy it on home video

[TVC15]

I think I saw Episode III twice.

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, same here.  If I see it more than once, folks usually paid for my ticket.

[cool breeze]

First time I saw Batman Begins was in a downloaded cam copy that had a large section cut out.  Basically at one point you see Bruce talking to Ra's, then you see him flying out of the building.  I liked it so much I went to the theater to watch it.

[demi]

I saw Hot Fuzz TWENTY FIVE TIMES

[CajoleJuice]

First time I saw Batman Begins was in a downloaded cam copy that had a large section cut out.  Basically at one point you see Bruce talking to Ra's, then you see him flying out of the building.  I liked it so much I went to the theater to watch it.

My friend bought a fucking bootleg that had the same section cut out! I went over to his house to watch (and I had already seen it), and when that happened I was crying from laughing so hard.

[Eel O'Brian]

i have probably seen jaws thirty times or more

[cool breeze]

My friend bought a fucking bootleg that had the same section cut out! I went over to his house to watch (and I had already seen it), and when that happened I was crying from laughing so hard.

I thought it was supposed to be like that until I saw it in theaters.  Finally things made sense.

[thekavorka]

First time I saw Batman Begins was in a downloaded cam copy that had a large section cut out.  Basically at one point you see Bruce talking to Ra's, then you see him flying out of the building.  I liked it so much I went to the theater to watch it.

My friend bought a fucking bootleg that had the same section cut out! I went over to his house to watch (and I had already seen it), and when that happened I was crying from laughing so hard.

whoa whoa. he bought a bootleg? smh

if they're going to cut out a section of the movie, they should at least insert dancing Elaine to make up for it.

[The Fake Shemp]

The first time I saw Jaws, I was a tyke.  It was the movie that made me love movies.  I watched it completely engrossed and then put it in the rewinder (remember when we had these?), then watched it all over again.  Back-to-back.

[drohne]

i went to see tdk in imax today. second viewing. place was fucking packed on a tuesday. i ended up sitting next to an obese hispanic teenager who

a. smelled like a locker room
b. had no concept of personal space
c. would start muttering 'oh shit...oh shit' to himself several seconds IN ADVANCE of a cool thing batman or the joker was going to do

fuck people. fuck theaters. and fuck seeing an overlong suspense-driven movie twice in a short span of time. i must have caught the autism from hanging out on videogame message boards

looked pretty great in imax though

[CajoleJuice]

First time I saw Batman Begins was in a downloaded cam copy that had a large section cut out.  Basically at one point you see Bruce talking to Ra's, then you see him flying out of the building.  I liked it so much I went to the theater to watch it.

My friend bought a fucking bootleg that had the same section cut out! I went over to his house to watch (and I had already seen it), and when that happened I was crying from laughing so hard.

whoa whoa. he bought a bootleg? smh

Yes. I had already made fun of him mercilessly before putting the DVD in, and once that massive cut happened, I've never let him hear the end of it. He paid 5 bucks for it! 5 BUCKS!

drohne

[TVC15]

The recent record for repeat viewings, for me, was when I watched Eyes Wide Shut like 6 times in one weekend.

kubrick

[FlameOfCallandor]

Nolan is a better filmmaker than Kubrick. There I said it. What nicca what?

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, as the years have progressed, my theatre-going experiences have become worse and worse.  If it wasn't for the fact that I just needed something to do in California, I probably would've purchased an all-time low of box office tickets.

But I really feel like people have grown incredibly rude as the years have gone on.  As if the increasing ticket prices give folks the right to act like they're at home.  By not showering or answering the phone (which happened twice to me last weekend) and such.

Maybe I'm just getting old, though.

[cool breeze]

Yeah, I hate theaters.  I got really lucky with The Dark Knight to sit by myself.  It was even better because they were announcing that the show was booked, so I really lucked out.  It was a really great location too.  I didn't need to look up or down or left or right.

[Eel O'Brian]

triple-leper FoC

make it so every time he hits the post button it deletes one of his past posts

[CajoleJuice]

The IMAX theater I went to was all-but-completely quiet the entire time. The only problem was some cunt before the movie even started. And even that was fairly entertaining.

[MrAngryFace]

What a moron. Do what you enjoy doing and keep doin it. Fuk off haterz.

[The Fake Shemp]

Last weekend, some black family got split up because the screening was sold out.  So the couple sat next to me and their kids on the other side of the theatre.  Right during the climax at the hospital, one of their kids walks up to the lady and goes, "Hey, your cell phone is ringing!"  She answers it and begins a discussion that lasts for minutes!  Then she plays with her dumb phone so you can see its bright LCD screen illuminating everything and being totally obnoxious.

I was flabbergasted.

Then the woman across from my brother answered the loudest cell phone ring just a few minutes later and had a discussion about the fucking movie.

Save for sure-thing events like The Dark Knight, I probably will avoid theatres after this year.

[cool breeze]

Worst part of the IMAX showing for me was during the Batpod sequence, some bitch was crying because they were so excited.  Other than that it was great.

I also think the good IMAX experience is due to watching the movie opening day at 9 am in the morning on IMAX.  The only people going to that show was a Batman freak...like me!