Is technology rendering movies disposable?

Is technology rendering movies disposable? We all enjoy checking outthe latest movie trailers using our mobile phones – and many of us will even download movies to watch while we’re commuting to work, or travelling long distances on planes, trains or buses. But with all this technology now available, is the movie-watching experience losing its magic? Do we now treat films as if they are nothing more than light entertainment? And with Hollywood now able to churn out CGI-heavy blockbusters that are high on budget but low on story at an alarming rate, are we right to do so? It may not be a new argument, but some would say modern attention spans aren’t quite what they used to be. Information and entertainment are now so readily available that film studios have to work harder than ever (or should I say, spend more money) to attract attention for their product – and lengthy plots with deep character arcs are not the way to do it. If you take a look at the 10 top-grossing movies from last year, nearly all were heavily reliant on the latest technology to produce ground-breaking special effects – and those that weren’t were animated entirely using CGI. But despite taking between $200 million and $400 million each, even these movies would run only get a few weeks in theatres to make money, as room would need to be made for the next batch of blockbusters set for release. And what of their life after their theatrical runs? Well, Disney caused something of a fury last year when they announced plans to speed up the release of Alice in Wonderland on DVD and Blu-ray, but with the way things are nowadays, who can really blame them? Millions of people across the world now download movies illegally as a way of getting their hands on them fast and free, while others use legal streaming options or pay for content from services like iTunes. Films are often passed between portable devices, watched on smartphones and tablets, and used as entertainment during people’s daily commute. But while film news websites will revel in bringing you the latest nuggets of information about upcoming million dollar movies, some might say the rate at which we are digesting all of this information and content is a little unhealthy. Shouldn’t cinema be cherished? Savoured? And based around good stories that don’t rely so heavily on effects? More importantly, shouldn’t movies be experienced in theatres, where they belong, rather than on the back of the bus? Let us know what you think check out the latest film trailers online.