I personally hope that the film industry sues and wins against everyone they can. It amazes me how much piracy is going on, and even worse, the general carefree attitude of most people, and the pure lack of any interest whatsoever in the quality of the content and appreciation of film as an art.
2 friends in particular, Trevor and Robert. Trevor just the other day told me that he downloads movies all the time for free. When I told him that what he was doing was illegal, he insisted that it wasn't. His actual response was "Why should I pay to watch a movie on my computer? ". The idea that he obtained a free copy of a movie cost millions to produce way ahead of the owners planned release date did not even phase him as possibly wrong.
Robert on the other hand loves buying cheap DVD's when he visits China town. The movies are mostly made by people who point video cameras at the movie screen but in his mind and therefore look and sound like hell. However, he doesn't care. He's the first on his block to get these movies. The Jones now have to keep up with him. He's got the biggest cock in the neighbourhood. Sigh.
Both of these "friends" are more than happy to enjoy stolen content like Avatar and are completely convinced that there is nothing at all wrong with what they are doing.
I also have to point out that they both claim to be "Real" movie fans, yet have no problem with over compressed images of pirate downloads or the partially obscured images of shaky-cam recordings off of a movie screen. Robert actually complained about that. "I'm never buying from that vendor again. This is a rip off!". Yes, he actually said that.
Even though I have a nice setup at home, I am happy to spend $15 to watch a movie in a theatre. I love GOING to the movies and really enjoy the image detail on big screens and sound detail of movie houses. It's easy to dismiss movies you don't like, but I for one appreciate the art of movie making, even Michael Bay movies... ..ok, especially Michael Bay movies. (Yes yes I know, shut up.. Transformers 1 was great. The Island was great too. Transformers II sucked but everyone knows that. Still glad I saw it in Imax though.)
