Jim Ross: What are the coming attractions for the movies?
Almost four months ago, this column lavished praise on the newly opened Epic Theatre building at the Market Street at Heath Brook mall in the State Road 200 corridor.
That part of town had long longed for a movie theater, and the result was worth the wait. The building is beautiful and seemed destined for success.
Should that forecast change?
Movie theaters went dark during the coronavirus shutdown. They got the green light to partially reopen on Friday, but as the Star-Banner's Carlos Medina reports, local theaters have been slow to fire up the projectors — primarily because there are no first-run films to screen yet.
That won't last long, and it's a safe bet that people sick of being cooped up eventually will make their way to Epic's comfy seats. The place might even be jam packed at some point — if Hollywood sends out some blockbusters and if the health department sends out some "all clear" signals.
But I will be curious to see if Epic (and other movie theaters) achieve the epic results that once seemed so guaranteed.
I pose the question after reflecting on my own reactions to the shutdown.
I have missed eating at restaurants and eventually will go back. For now, takeout and drive-thru are fine.
I have missed going to Mass and eventually will go back. For now, watching on YouTube is OK.
I have missed going to the gym and eventually will go back. For now, doing in-home workouts on my back porch is fine.
I cannot say I have missed going to the movies.
The in-home substitute — streaming services, on-demand services — are fine. I think they will continue to be fine. The variety is good, the convenience is obvious, and the prices (for content and especially snacks) are much more reasonable.
The social aspect of gathering and engaging in an activity with a big group is desirable. For me, that element seems minor for movies but major for dining and worshiping and exercising.
I wouldn't have said that about the movies six months ago. But until now, I've never endured a forced absence from so many parts of public life.
The only thing I would miss is going to the big blockbuster film. But maybe Hollywood will start pushing those more to in-home screens instead of the big screens? Time will tell.
Please don't take this as a wish for movie theaters to struggle. Not at all. The hope is that all businesses survive and thrive.
But you know that old saying: I've seen this movie before and I know how it ends? Well, we haven't seen this movie before and we don't know how it ends.
Contact Jim Ross at jim.ross@starbanner.com