aixcentric

Just after my post on Thursday about hopes that ‘Wonder Woman 1984s’ release on 16 Dec will pull in crowds to Aix’s newly opened cinemas, Warner Bros announced that all 2021 releases would be streamed on HBO Max at the same time as their cinema release.

Starting with Wonder Woman, the move will enable film fans to stream the forthcoming sci-fi epic Dune, the Matrix sequel, Godzilla vs Kong, Mortal Kombat and The Suicide Squad instead of travelling to the cinema.

I understand that this won’t affect Europe until the second half of next year when HBO Max is set to launch. I also understand the Hollywood’s studio’s need for what they call a hybrid model as a ‘strategic response to the impact of the global pandemic’.  They need to fund these expensive blockbusters.

But for me, nothing will beat setting off for the Renoir with friends, or maybe dropping in mid-afternoon for a couple of hours pure escapism.  I even like the trailers – then seeing the film on the big screen uninterrupted, and afterwards coming out blinking into the beautiful, sunny cours Mirabeau, discussing the film and maybe having a coffee at one of the terraces under the trees.  Nothing can replace that cinematic experience. Ever.

It really is more than just the film.