Calebs Video Store Issue #10
The tenth issue
Introduction
Hey everyone and welcome back to another issue of Calebs Video Store. This is the series where I talk about anything film related whether its recent news, something I got to experience, or something I just want to talk about. We have finally made it to the double digits and I think that is very exciting. I’ve been doing this series for almost a year now and it’s been a fun time being able to have an outlet to talk about different film topics like this with you guys. I’m looking at how to reinvent some of the stuff that we’ve been doing here and I’m hoping to have those changes coming in the months that follow. I hope that you continue to read it all. With that said, we have a fun issue this month as we talk about Gen Z’s impact at the theaters, my dream movies I want in the criterion collection, some recommendations for the criterion sale at Barnes & Noble, and taking a look at my dads Letterboxd top 4. Without further ado, let’s enter the video store.
Is Gen Z Really Saving the Movie Theaters?
Over the past couple video store issues, I’ve talked about the rise of video game movies and YouTube filmmakers coming into the scene. One of the things that I think has led to the success of both these elements is the Gen Z audience. There have been stats going around that have talked about how Gen Z is the leading force of going to the movies more than anyone right now. As someone that is part of Gen Z (born in 2000), this makes a lot of sense as I’ve noticed many reasons why this is the case. I wanted to explore the different elements that I believe are leading this wave.
The biggest reason why I think Gen Z is showing up for the movies is because of well the movies themselves. Just last month, we got some of the biggest horror releases in recent years with Obsession and Backrooms. I think it’s fair to say that a majority of the audience that did go watch it is part of Gen Z and it makes sense since both filmmakers are from that generation as well. I think as long as there is intrigue in the story and having new filmmakers come up in the industry, people are going to want to show up for that. Bringing it back to the video game movies as well, movies like Five Nights at Freddys and A Minecraft Movie were all big with that demographic as well. People like to see properties that they are familiar with and they will show up if the intrigue is there as well as adapting the material in a way that will drive people in. Also it feels like recently where people are excited more than ever to watch movies in different formats like IMAX and on film. Ever since Sinners, it feels like people are willing to see the films in the formats that they are meant to be seen in and it seems like theaters know this as well. It was a big deal to see movies like One Battle After Another, Project Hail Mary, and next with The Odyssey in the best format possible. I think we are seeing that audiences want that experience in a theater that they wouldn’t get from home. Plus anytime I go to a film that gets re released in theaters now, it feels like a decent amount of people show up as well. It’s letting people be able to watch their favorite movies on the big screen. You get something out of seeing a movie you love on the big screen.
Not only that, but we have things like Letterboxd and movie theater subscriptions that have only intrigued people more into watching more movies. With Letterboxd, it brings a whole community in watching movies and people will go out and see the new releases so they can talk about them. It’s a nice way to bring conversation in the mix as well. Then we have theater subscriptions like Regal Unlimited and AMC A-list that lets people go to the theaters multiple times at a set price, so they don’t have to worry about paying each time which in turn, also makes it an inexpensive activity. I think theater subscriptions especially have made it so people like me and others can go watch more movies. It makes it accessible for people and I think Gen Z especially gets a kick being able to go to the theater multiple times in a week.
So is Gen Z saving the movie theaters? I think that yes this is the case. Like yes, it’s always been the younger generations that go to the movies more than anyone else. But it still seems to be Gen Z leading that theater revolution and from the reasons listed above, it’s easy to see why this would be the case. Hopefully as long as those elements are still working, I expect Gen Z to continue being the audience that shows up to the movies for the years to come.
My Dream Movies I Want in the Criterion Collection
So the criterion sale at Barnes & Noble is currently happening right now. This is always an exciting time of the year because we get to see many people’s hauls of what they get. I’m always fascinated to see what people get and sometimes, I’ll even get one of those movies of my own when I do my own haul. With this going on though, it got me thinking of movies that I would love to see added to the collection in the future and how likely the possibility of my picks would happen. I named 4 movies that I thought about that would make a perfect additions to it and my reason for wanting them added. Here are those movies:
Blood in Blood Out (1993): I always remember seeing the vhs and dvd lying around for this movie growing up as my dad loved it, but I hadn’t seen it until a couple years ago and I fell in love with it. Yes it’s quite cheesy, but a Chicano epic crime drama is just amazing to watch all the way through. For a while, you couldn’t stream it anywhere, but about a year ago, it finally appeared on streaming platforms so maybe there’s a chance of a physical media release in the future. I would love to see the film get a 4K release and I think it would be perfect for the collection.
Jackass (2002): I think out of every film on this list, this is probably the film I want the most on here and maybe even a box set of all of them. Jackass was a huge part of my life growing up (I was 3 when I watched the first movie lol) and I think it was definitely culturally relevant during that time the show and movies were coming out. It has appeared in the criterion channel so I think maybe there is a bit of hope here we could see a release of it. Whenever that day is, it will be a good day when it happens.
The Cat in the Hat (2003): Ok the possibility of this is basically zero. But someone made a criterion cover for it and it’s something you can set on Letterboxd. So Criterion if you’re listening to this, this would be your greatest achievement putting this film in your library.
Ratatouille (2007): A couple of issue’s ago, I did talk about a bunch of animated films that should be added, but I forgot that Ratatouille which I think would be perfect for it. They already have a Pixar film with WALL-E in the mix so I think this one would be the one that makes the most sense to add next. It’s Pixar at its peak and just so good. I hope one day it happens because I know the bonus content would go insane.
Let me know any films that you would want added into the criterion collection. I’m always curious about different films that might have the chance to be there one day. Now fr Criterion, make The Cat in the Hat thing happen.
Quick Tangent: Criterion Recommendations for the Barnes & Noble Sale
Speaking of the Barnes & Noble sale, I want to give some recommendations of films you should get during it. I think the experience of looking at the films can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many films in the criterion collection to choose from and sometimes, you might not know what to get. So I wanted to recommend films that you should get if you feel a bit lost on what to look for. Here’s a couple here:
House (1977)
La Bamba (1987)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Paris is Burning (1990)
Close-Up (1990)
Chungking Express (1994)
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
Mulholland Drive (2001)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy
Exploring My Dad’s Letterboxd Top 4
So for those who might not know, my dad was one of the leading figures that got me interested in watching films. I have a ton of memories watching so many movies with him and I got introduced to so many amazing films this way. My dad passed away a couple years ago and I’ve seen so many films since then that I wish I could show and talk to him about. Before he passed, I helped him make a Letterboxd because I wanted to see the films he had watched and the ratings he would give them. He gave an extensive list of films that he rated that I like to look back at his profile now seeing many of the films he watched. He also made his own Letterboxd top 4 which had two films that I had already seen and two films I had never seen. This month, I decided to finally watch those two films that I hadn’t seen and wanted to talk about each film that did appear in the top 4. Here are those films:
Goodfellas (1990): One of the most iconic mafia films of all time. My dad loved a ton of the mafia stuff with The Sopranos and movies like this. I had watched this film with him and loved it so much. It’s something that keeps you engaged from start to finish and doesn’t stop moving. . Probably my favorite Scorsese film even and there’s a reason it has the status that it does.
Back to the Future (1985): One of my favorite films from my childhood and even still now one of my favorite films. This was one of the films that my dad introduced me to as a kid and I’ve loved it ever since. Even now, I get so excited watching the climax of the film and it’s something that will always be a big part of me. It makes sense that it has a place here.
Casino (1995): Two Scorsese films making it in and this was one that my dad talked about a decent amount of times. After watching it I can see why. Similar to Goodfellas, The pacing of this movie flies by. It feels like something is always happening and it keeps you engaged from start to finish. I love the production design of it all as well. Something about the way that Vegas looked during this time is fascinating and the movie does a great job at taking you to that time. So many great sequences in this and a great movie overall.
Giant (1956): Out of all the movies on this list this was one that my dad talked about the least. I do remember him watching it late at night multiple times, but I never asked too many details about it. He had a fair share of long movies that he liked to watch late at night and this was one of them. I was surprised with how much I loved this though. Even though it’s 3 and a half hours, the runtime of this film goes by quickly and the main 3 leads are fantastic especially James Dean. I was also surprised how progressive this film was for its time talking about topics like racism and interracial marriage and I found it a fascinating watch. I would love to watch it again in the future and grab a 4k of it because this film does look gorgeous.
Those were the movies on his list. I look at this list of movies and it basically represents most of his movie tastes that I remember from him. You have the mafia movies, the 80s representation, and an epic drama from the 50s that I would probably catch him watching in the middle of the night. I miss being able to watch movies with my dad, but I’m grateful for getting to experience so many movies with him and those are memories that I will always hold deep inside me. Also just so we don’t end things on a complete downer, I present my dad’s one Letterboxd review that he left.
June Recommendations
As always this is a segment where I recommend the media that I watched throughout the month. I wanted to do something a bit different this month though for the recommendations. As we approach the end of pride month I wanted to leave a thread that I’ve been updating throughout the month of my favorites of queer cinema. Queer representation in film is important and I have seen so many films with amazing queer stories and I think it deserves that spotlight as we approach the end of pride month. So this is for the media that you should watch not just during pride month, but throughout the year because these are important stories to tell. You can click the thread below to see all the films I put in the list.
Conclusion
That’s all for this issue of the video store. I’m glad that we have made it to ten issues and before you know it, we'll be at the triple digits, but that’ll be a while from now so I hope you stay with me for that journey. If you liked reading this issue, make sure to give it a like, comment, share, and if you haven’t yet, you should go and subscribe to the newsletter as you’ll get a new issue of this at the end of each month as well as other reviews and essays throughout the month. Thank you again for stopping by the store and I will see you next time for another issue.