News - Hollywood to roll out $30 film rentals

[HEXUS]

Quartet of film players to launch premium VOD service.

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[neonplanet40]

Why would I pay £20 to see a film that I can see in the cinema for £4? :s

[BobF64]

Why would I pay £20 to see a film that I can see in the cinema for £4? :s

You wouldnt.

Youd be paying £20 to see a film you forgot to see in the cinema.

It also depends on the price, £4 is cheap, the Odeon charges £8.75 a seat.

But if you and a few friends watched it together, the £20 doesnt seem so bad.

I can see its appeal to people with cinema rooms, or a group of friends and nice comfy sofas, but almost no use to people wanting to watch it on their own.

[jim]

Not a bad idea actually. Quite a few times now I've wanted to see a film, and then by the time I've got around to seeing it, it's not on at the cinemas any more. By the time the DVD comes out, I've typically forgotten I ever wanted to watch it.

Can see the benefits all round, think it just might catch on.

[neonplanet40]

But surely if you wanted to see it that much you would have already seen it? And if not then you would wait to buy it for cheaper?

Normal price here is £6 but £4 with student card. I guess it will have some interest but likely it will get pirated and HD copies of films will be released online even earlier.

[Andeh13]

....for the sake of £20 i'd watch a film that is out on DVD (there are enough of them) and spend the rest on a take away for us all. Stupid idea IMO.

[jim]

But surely if you wanted to see it that much you would have already seen it? And if not then you would wait to buy it for cheaper?

Normal price here is £6 but £4 with student card. I guess it will have some interest but likely it will get pirated and HD copies of films will be released online even earlier.

No, because I'm not that bothered about films, so I don't make the effort. If it was going to appear in my living room, then I can imagine doing it as a more convenient alternative to the cinema.

As I said, I never really buy films on DVD, because by the time they come out I've forgotten I was ever interested in seeing them.

[crossy]

Why would I pay £20 to see a film that I can see in the cinema for £4? :s

I'm pretty sure that this "service" won't be coming to the UK - or at least certainly not at that price.

Problem is that Virgin and Sky both do a similar film-on-demand service for a deal less money. Last time I checked VM's "FilmFlex" service you could hire a film that was only a month or two out of the cinema for about £5 or less. And the older the film, the cheaper it gets.

Plus, I thought this is exactly the kind of sales pitch (but again cheaper) that Sony gave for their Qriosity service on the Bravia TV's and their BluRay players.

Maybe the music industry will take up this idea - able to "hire" a chart CD for a day for merely £20?

[BobF64]

But surely if you wanted to see it that much you would have already seen it? And if not then you would wait to buy it for cheaper?

Id imagine most people would fit into either of those categories, but then, its being launched in the US, so the nearest cinema for some people might be a long way away.

Or they might not fit in the chairs

Some people dont want to sit in a cinema with other noisy people too.

Theres probably other reasons why someone would use the service, but I think most in the UK wouldnt bother.

[cheesemp]

The price of online film rental in general seems OTT with normal services and they expect even more for this? I can't see how a one off film rental is £3 when I can often buy the DVD for £6 or less (it only needs to be 3 or 4 months old to reach this price).

Wake me up when films can be rented for >£2... Until then i'll stick with £8 a month for lovefilm (for 4 films).

[jim]

The whole point of it is that the films aren't available on DVD

[TeePee]

Great alternative to the miserable experience that is going to the cinema.

I love films, love the big screen experience, even worked as a projectionist at university, but I've been to the cinema twice in the last year.

Paying $10.50 a ticket, ignoring the $12 buckets of popcorn and $8 basins of soda, and still feeling ripped off. Forced to watch 30 minutes of adverts because they can't start the film on time, before the trailers, which have been known to be one of the best parts, but ruined by the audience screaming in hysteria at the travesty that is 'Big Momma's House 14'. Half the new films will be in 3D, a medium which had no redeeming features in the 1980's, and is making a resurgence with identical technology based only on the fact that audiences now are too stupid to see through the cheap gimmick. Then the movie itself, punctuated by more audience screams and phone calls.

$30 to rent? I think it will do very well! Time to buy a home projector!

[bobharvey]

Let me see. I didn't pay 7 quid to go and see it at the multiplex, or 14 quid for two. So now I'm going to pay 20 quid to watch it at home?

Can anyone spot what is wrong with this picture? (pun intended)

[bobharvey]

I can see its appeal to people with cinema rooms

Knee deep in cinema rooms, here in rural lincolnshire. Oh no wait,

[MadduckUK]

Youd be paying £20 to see a film you forgot to see in the cinema.

that makes it worse!

[aidanjt]

I think I'd rather buy my 8 pints and wait a few extra months for the DVD release.