IMAX and The Hunger Games

Last year we took a look at the emergence of 3D and IMAX in cinemas and home theatre. Now, heading into this year’s blockbuster summer season, let’s take a fresh look at where those technologies stand.

3D and IMAX
First, the bad news for the film industry: moviegoers are staying away from the theatre in droves, with the number of tickets sold in 2011 at their lowest level since 1995.¹ Box office numbers have been in decline since 2002, and it seems the proliferation of 3D films has been a contributing factor in that decline. The feeling is that 3D is seen as gimmicky with audience members being put off by both the glasses and, more importantly, the higher ticket prices 3D demands.²

However, despite the frightening numbers, it’s not all doom and gloom in regards to the box office. There’s one area in which ticket sales are booming, and that’s IMAX. During the first six weeks of 2012, IMAX ticket sales totaled $55 million, a 45% increase from the same time period in 2011.³

One reason IMAX sales are growing is that the giant-screen experience is one that cinema lovers simply can’t replicate at home, unlike standard theatre and even 3D. Also, IMAX generally dedicates itself to blockbuster “event” movies to make the experience really worthwhile. IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond himself describes their core audience as “fanboys and fangirls,” which explains why even a movie like John Carter, which has generally been seen as a flop, made 17% of its box office gross from IMAX screens.⁴

The Hunger Games
And of course, those promising 2012 numbers for IMAX were measured before the really big 2012 films came out. Like Titanic, the second highest grossing film of all time, which returns to theatres (including 3D and IMAX) this week. Oh, and another one you may have heard of called The Hunger Games, the hottest ticket so far this year, which opened recently to the fifth highest opening day of all time.⁵ IMAX screenings of the film brought in $10.2 million during its opening weekend, an IMAX record.⁶ That being the case, it will be very interesting to see the IMAX numbers at the end of the year, when they will include such films as The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, and Marvel’s The Avengers.

What Do You Think?
Are IMAX films worth the premium ticket price? How do you feel about 3D? Let us know in the comments section below.

¹ http://moneyland.time.com/2011/12/28/thumbs-down-2011-saw-least-movie-tickets-sold-since-1995/
² http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/analyst-pirates-was-hurt-by-3d-as-consumers-tire-of-high-ticket-prices/
³ http://business.time.com/2012/03/26/can-imax-save-the-movie-business/
⁴ http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/imaxs-gelfond-on-andquothunger-gamesandquot-and-global-growth/2012/03/28/gIQA7f9ygS_video.html
⁵ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hungergames.htm
⁶ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lionsgates-the-hunger-games-breaks-opening-weekend-records-in-imax-theatres-2012-03-26

Hunger Games-Like Movies on DVD

Written by Kirk Baird, film critic and Detroit Film Critics Society member

Given the record-breaking popularity of The Hunger Games at the theater—$152.5 million for the film’s opening weekend, the largest for a non-sequel—fans of Suzanne Collins’ book-to-film as well as those wondering what the buzz is all about are sure to pack theaters for the next several weeks.

To sate the appetites of those who have already seen the movie and want more, or are simply not yet ready to brave the lines, here are some similarly themed films about dark future societies that feed on life-or-death contests:

• The Battle Royale Complete Collection: These controversial Japanese films were released in 2000 but are finally making it to the U.S. for the first time. Set in a near future in which our world is nearly in ruins, each year a ninth-grade class is sent to a remote island to hunt and kill each other until there is a single survivor. 
• Series 7: The Contenders: Released in 2001, this media/pop culture satire has developed quite the cult following. The film focuses on a reality show where randomly selected contestants must kill to earn freedom and fame.
• The Running Man: Stephen King wrote two stories about games of death set in the future, but so far only one has been adapted into a motion picture—1987’s The Running Man. This Sci-Fi actioner set in 2019 stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in his movie-star prime as a framed prisoner given one chance at freedom by participating in the gladiator game-show spectacle known as The Running Man. 
• Death Race 2000: Roger Corman’s film posited a dystopian future where participants in a cross-country car chase earn points by running down innocent pedestrians. The 1975 film stars David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone. The 2008 remake stars action-film extraordinaire Jason Statham and Ian McShane.

Every Title Plus Original Artwork Now from Scholastic

In December, we excitedly announced that we had begun carrying every title, including exclusives, all with original artwork from Random House, Books on Tape, and Listening Library.

Great news! The best in audiobooks has gotten even better! We here at CVS Midwest Tape are excited to announce our partnership with Scholastic. We now offer every Scholastic audiobook with their original artwork. These titles are available for order at www.cvsmidwesttapes.ca and will ship in our exclusive SoundSafe™ case.

CVS Midwest Tape Offers Collection of Described Videos

Described video, or Descriptive Video Service (DVS)—pioneered by WGBH Media Access Group—provides audio descriptions of key visual elements within such visual media formats as TV and film to visually impaired and blind audiences.¹ WGBH, the Public Broadcasting Station in Boston, Massachusetts, developed its Media Access Group roughly 30 years ago with the mission of creating and delivering captioned and described media “to people in their homes, classrooms, at work, and in the community.”² With over 20 million people in the U.S.—12 million of them movie watchers—possessing some form of significant visual impairment, major studios have really stepped up to enhance the public’s media-viewing experience.³

Such studios as PBS Home Video, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment provide described video on select DVD titles. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment also provides described video on select Blu-ray Disc™ releases.

With the increase of described video-enabled DVDs and Blu-rays, CVS Midwest Tape has created a collection of DVS titles to help libraries fulfill the needs of their patrons. To shop our collection of Described Videos, click the image below or follow this link.

¹http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/resources/the-abcs-of-dvs.html

²http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/about/

³http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6687351.html

Dragon Tattoo Has Unique DVD Design

We would like to address some confusion caused by the DVD version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Upon opening the case, librarians and patrons will find what looks to be a burned DVD-R with the movie’s title scrawled across it with a marker, as seen below:



If you have ordered The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on DVD, rest assured that you did not receive a bootleg copy of the film. This is the authentic DVD direct from Sony Pictures. Sony designed the DVD and its packaging to reflect the theme of the movie and its popular hacker protagonist, Lisbeth Salander.



We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact us at info@cvsmidwesttapes.ca or 866.698.2231.

The Descendants to Street on March 13

Due to the Academy Awards, Fox has announced a quickly approaching street date for The Descendants, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay and starring nominee George Clooney. The film will now street March 13. Click the following links to view the DVD or Blu-ray and add it to your cart.

CVS Midwest Tape to Migrate to New Software System

CVS Midwest Tape is currently migrating to a new software system, which is similar to a library’s migration to a new ILS. This new system will allow us to provide you with better service and higher quality information.

As is the case with new library systems, most modifications take place behind the scenes. However, we do want to take this opportunity to notify you of some changes you’ll experience:

Website

Site users will notice that they have new account IDs, but we will also continue to display original account numbers. Orders will now have Cart IDs and Order IDs. Please note that all open orders will have “n/a” for their Order ID until they become an official order. Stock numbers will display new Product IDs. Note that you will still be able to search by our original stock numbers on our site.

Documentation

The changeover will produce a set of new documents, replacing the traditional documents you may have been receiving. We encourage you and members of your organization to familiarize yourselves with our new documents. These forms include:

• Debit and credit memos 
• Return authorizations 
• Invoices
• Packing slips

We appreciate you taking the time to review these changes. If you or any of your staff have questions regarding the changes discussed above, please contact Customer Service at 1.866.698.2231 or info@cvsmidwesttapes.ca.