Does Size Matter?

[Nate DaMac]

Misleading Thread Titles. Yep.

I'm actually talking about screens. Be it a television or a theater screen, everyone has a preference. So would you rather watch a movie on a large TV screen, an average screen, a theater screen, or are you one of those people who can actually sit and watch movies on your phone/iPod?

Personally, I would rather watch a movie on a large to average sized TV. I know I've admitted to being somewhat of a hermit crab and that I would rather stay at home and watch a movie, but I honestly don't care for massive movie screens. I tend to leave with a throbbing headache. I also can't understand the appeal of watching a movie on a hand held device. I have friends who watch movies on their PSPs or iPods and I just don't get it. Sometimes I can watch a movie on a computer screen, but not too often.

So how's about you? What's your preference?

Sidenote: If you are someone who can watch an entire movie on a hand held device, I'd like to hear why. It's just something I'm really curious about.

 

[ABMorales787]

Well as long as I don't have to squint to see, then I don't care. So IPods are out of the equation. I have loaded movies to my PSP in case of boredom and yeah it works. Why? Because I watch movies to be entertained by it's contents and not because I wanna be blown away by it's presentation. Why else would I watch Blazing Saddles or Dirty Harry over The Expendables and Iron Man?

Hell, I still use VCR's and slap them on 15' TV's. Quality's low as fuck, but I don't care. At least I'm watching what I want.

 

[Sparky]

I don't care as long as It takes up at least half of my line of sight. I get distracted easy so if I can see anything else that moves I will watch that instead of the tv no matter how good the movie or show is. I watch raw sometimes on my Iphone if It don't download straight away and I stay at the inlaws before I have seen it. It don't bother me though as I can put my head phones in and zone out.

Most movies I download wont play on my Xbox so my partner and I will watch it on the laptop. Except it gets a bit uncomfortable laying on the bed There is no difference then on the tv for me.

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

I'd rather not watch a film on a PSP or iPad (or anything of that nature) size screen. I just find it really difficult to focus on the film. It's something that happens to me on planes too as I have to look over several rows of seats, sometimes straining my neck just to watch, what is usually, an average film. That being said, I don't necessarily care if my TV being a 42 inch HD ready plasma screen or just a crappy one from the 80's. As long as it gets it's job done and doesn't make me strain myself, I'm not too bothered either way.

 

[Dave]

I used to watch movies on my iPod Classic a couple of years ago. This was mainly because I was on public transport a lot and I would rather be entertained on long journeys than have to talk to Joe Hobo; who smells of piss and has chosen to sit next to me. That being said, it is by no means an idea way of watching a movie. For me, you need to have the full cinematic experience and a 4 inch screen is not my idea of that by any means.

The reason I love the cinema is not because of the screen, it is more because of the atmosphere and the sound. There is nothing better than watching a horror movie and seeing 400 people jump at the same part. The same goes for comedy movies. It is so satisfying to be one of many who laugh at the same joke or be entertained by something. The screen plays very little part in the cinematic experience to me when I am at the cinema but it does mean more when I am watching movies at home.

At home, I have a 32” inch TV in my bedroom that I watch all my movies on and it is hooked up to a newly-purchased stereo system. For me, it is just as good as the real thing and as long as I catch some of the details that I would miss on an iPod or PSP, then I know it has been worth it. To me, screen size doesn't really matter as long as you are getting the full experience of the movie. Most of the time though, that is dependant on what you are watching it on. I wouldn't watch Paranormal Activity on my iPod because there is too much to miss. However, a stand-up comedy show is perfect for hand-held devices.

 

[Fizzy]

I really believe the size of the screen you are viewing a movie on really depends on the movie itself. Some movies, let's take Lord of the Rings for example, have just to much of an epic-feeling to watch on a tiny TV that you are having trouble seeing. I may be biased because of how big of a fan I am of those movies, but I think it holds the same for everybody. If you watch your favorite movies on a tiny screen, it doesn't feel the same. The awesome atmosphere of a great movie just doesn't feel the same on a tiny screen. Also, a problem with tiny screens is you can miss some small details that make a movie even greater. Back before plasma TV's were in everybody's home, I remember laying a few feet away from my TV because it was just to difficult to see from my bed.

For me, I watch every movie on either a 32'' screen, or a 50-something inch screen. It just adds to the experience of the movie. It seems better when it is on a screen that you don't have trouble seeing. Considering I also have bad eyesight, it really helps to have a screen that I am able to see everything going on, without squinting.

 

[Cookie]

I can't really think of a situation where a big screen wouldn't make the viewing better. If I could get a massive flat screen in my house, I would. Watching sports? Better on a big screen. Movies? Better on a big screen. Television? Better on a big screen. Watching something with a group of friends? Better on a big screen. Even if I'm seeing a movie that isn't a blockbuster or action or horror, I'd still rather see it on the big screen. You're able to catch the finer details and really get sucked in to what you're watching. I think what turns me off of attending some movies at theatres is a large audience where people are bound to make noise and be disruptive, not the fact that the screen is too large.

It largely depends on two other factors: quality and atmosphere. I'd rather watch a smaller HD television instead of projecting a film onto the side of a building for the sake of making a huge screen. I'll go out of my way to watch some things on the big screen like pay per view sporting events or World Cup soccer games with a large group of people or at a pub because the atmosphere makes it fun.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Well, it depends. Usually I will say that size does not matter for the movie screens. I can enjoy a movie whether it be on the big screen, on tv, or on an iPhone. However, something about seeing a movie of epic proportions on the bigscreen gives it much more of an effect on the viewer. I'm not saying the bigscreen viewings are better. I'm saying that some movies are better in that form due to epic scenes in the films. That's rare though. The overwhelming majority of films are equally enjoyable viewing from an iPhone so the size of the viewing screen really does not matter other than in a few circumstances when there is a movie experience one should not miss out on at the theaters.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I doesn't matter for me either, but I enjoy movies the old fashioned way at the movie theater for the best viewing experience. Of course with people talking, texting, and babies screaming it is hard to enjoy a film so watching movies on HDTV at home is sweet. It doesn't matter if I'm watching a regular movie on a 27" TV or a 50" HDTV. I am spoiled now with the HD so I enjoy it more on a larger TV. I use to stare at amazement towards my 27" TV 10 years ago, but now seems miniscule to me.

I have an IPod and Blackberry that I guess I could watch movies on. I watch youtube clips on my phone from time to time. I just cant sit still for 90 minutes or 2 hours at my computer desk to watch a movie. I have to be multi tasking all the time. Overall it really doesn't matter as long as the movie is enjoyable and you can see it. I don't care how bad I want to see a movie, I can't enjoy a bootleg. If it is a bootleg DVD then maybe, but not a bootleg cam video where the audio and video is terrible.

 

[Mac Attack]

I personally prefer watching movies on the biggest screen possible. I like having a larger viewing space because it seems as if to me that the more details you get into the movie the better the overall movie appears to me. I don't mind watching it on a smaller screen however I greatly prefer it on the bigger screen. I think also the bigger screen generally adds a better perspective to the overall movie where as in a smaller screen things aren't as size oriented as I would like.

As for watching a movie on the smaller screen I don't like it at all. I think it is incredibly annoying and in no way is it enjoyable to watch. I understand that it is useful in places like planes and car rides however I don't think I could put up with watching it on a small screen like that for too long.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

Hmm... the size of the screen doesn't matter, as long as I can see what's going on when I look at specific parts of the screen. I had this awesome little 10 inch LED screen that was awesome, and clear as ALL fuck, but my neighbor had this ancient big screen that was all fogged to shit, like you'd just spent an hour dipping your eyeballs in chlorine.

So no, the quality is more important to me.

In theaters, it's a slightly different story. I like a huge screen, but not IMAX huge. I don't like having to move my entire head to see what's going on across the screen.

 

[Richard]

Yes, size does matter when it comes to watching TV or movies.

My phone came pre-loaded with a preview for Tron legacy and while it was okay to watch the preview to see the capabilities of the phone I can't imagine watching a whole feature length movie on my phone with a screen the size of an iPhone.

I don't think I could watch any movie or very long tv broadcast on anything smaller than my laptop which I think is 18 inches which I watch DVDs on all the time with my girlfriend as I don't have a TV in my room which I will get after I find a new job.

I would also prefer a massive flat screen TV to a smaller one too because watching things like wrestling on a massive screen is awesome.