Halforums Movie Nights!

So! Let's watch some movies/TV/etc together!

tl;dr: look for bold headlines in posts in this thread, get the movie, and watch it at that time, posting comments on shoutbox as the movie progresses.

We need to pick a movie, a night, and a time. Then we'll all hit play at the same time and use the shoutbox to banter while the movie is playing. For the first movie or two we should probably pick something we've mostly all seen before, is readily available, and is fun or funny - more to kibbitz about. Also, no pausing - we want things to stay in sync within a minute or so.

It'll have to be late evenings on the east coast and early evenings on the west coast. I'm thinking 9 to 10pm eastern time, simply because my kids'll likely be mostly in bed by that time, and 6-7pm is probably as early as we can get for many of the folks on the western side of the country.

I don't want us to get caught up in long discussions about what movie and when and never have it happen, though, so while we will use this thread to discuss dates and movies for larger parties, feel free to announce your own smaller movie nights where you plan on being on halforums at the same time. Given enough notice, others might join you. It'll also provide more time variations since you might want to do an early east coast time, or a later west coast time. Who knows, if you do it early Saturday morning or afternoon you might be able to convince North_Ranger or bubble181 to join.

Try to use a large bold heading when announcing a movie night so it's easy to pick out. Something like:

Friday August 23, 10pm eastern time (7pm pacific time), Princess Bride
(1:39, Amazon rent $2.99)

Don't start the movie right at that time - plan on starting the movie 5-10 minutes after the listed time, which will give everyone the chance to get their video in their player, get on the shoutbox, and when the leader says "GO!" in the shoutbox everyone presses play - it'll lead to the best sync possible, given everyone's clocks are likely to be off by a minute or two. If your online service buffers for awhile at the beginning, play and then immediately pause it during this "get ready" part.

Try to announce movie times with as much notice as possible for greater participation, but don't shy away from giving only a few hours notice, you never know who might join you. Also let people know if the movie you've chosen is available on netflix, amazon, or hulu. Don't feel like you have to restrict this to movies - TV shows, press releases, anime, etc might be interesting to watch in a group. It'll be harder with prime time TV since the west coast is delayed, but some events like sports, live TV, and internet entertainment can be viewed at the same time without worrying about spoilers.
 
Well, for those who are free tonight, I'll be watching princess bride and I'll have the shout box open, so the bold announcement in the op is our first movie night, tonight, at 10pm/7pm.

If everyone interested posts days, times, and movies or genres they want to watch with others then it'll be easier to find good times for everyone.

My availability varies, but on most nights after 9pm, and most of the day Saturday are my best times. I typically don't watch horror or anything above PG-13, but other than that my movie interests are pretty broad. I'd enjoy watching young Frankenstein together in particular, that's one of my go-to group movies.
 
@filmfanatic joined me for The Princess Bride tonight - its was lots of fun! The transcript of our discussion is in the shoutbox now, and will be archived in the shoutbox thread later tonight.

He suggested we put Errol Flynn's Robin Hood on our list of movies to watch together sometime.

I look forward to doing this more often!
 
I don't know if I will be able to attend (life is ABSOCRAZILUTELY right now), but I will see whether I can, time permitting.

--Patrick
 

Dave

Staff member
I wish I could have attended. But with everything going on I watched TV with my wife last night. She needed me more than you all. ;)
 
Not sure if it's still the case or not, but when the Netflix app first launched on Xbox, you could invite party members to watch a movie & still voice chat over XBL (providing they had Netflix subs as well).
 
So, you have to have an X-box and X-box Live Gold?
and Netflix, yes. Obviously not everyone will be able to get on board for that. But the OP mentioned rotating sources for viewing choices. I'm just suggesting that when the selection is available on Netflix, those with XBL can get together more easily while the rest can carry on via Shoutbox or Vent or whatever.
 
I think this would be way more fun with vent than just the shoutbox.
Probably should be a combined event, so folks can send this around while watching, talking and laughing!




Gosh, I love this movie!
After everything else you also get Claude Raines and Basil Rathbone with it!
 
If you go to the main forums page, there is a box to the right of all the subforums. That's the shoutbox, a quick communication tool wherein we can all comment there.
 
Ok, @blotsfan, you got me. I'm actually not too lazy to look.
It's just that Kati is trying to get me to go to the store so I really shouldn't be

--Patrick
 
Reminder that tonight we're watching The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn, 1939), which can be rented online from Amazon ($2.99) and Youtube ($1.99)

Here's the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/movie/the-adventures-of-robin-hood

I'm sure those with more time than money on their hands will be able to procure other less expensive copies for tonight's viewing.

If no one has suggestions for other movies and times to watch together, I'll probably start cribbing from north rangers must watch list and choosing relatively random times.

Speak up if you have suggestions, or particular time requirements, I would love to have everyone participate, even if at different viewings!

Also, as a way to know what level of participation to expect at each viewing, if you plan on or think you might watch with us, please "like" the post announcing the time/movie so everyone can see who is planning on participating.
 
I've got to take a miss on this one but I'd love to join in on others.

Can we do "The Emperor's New Groove" one night?
 
Top