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Am I just getting older and can’t hear as well, or has the sound in movies gotten bipolar?

Tell me something, doesn’t it seem that for as technically advanced moviemaking has evolved over the years, the soundtrack is erratic? One minute you can barely hear it, but then the next it’s BLASTING thorough your TV speakers so that your neighbors, three apartment doors down, can hear what you’re watching.

I literally have to sit there with the remote in my hand; constantly adjusting the sound.

UP, DOWN…UP, DOWN…UP, DOWN.

Watching a movie has turned into such a multitasking event.

And god help you if there’s music in a scene or some kind of violent bomb explosion, because then the volume of the movie suddenly goes up so high, you FLY off the couch. But then during a dialogue scene, you have to STRAIN your ears to hear what the actors are saying. I’ve gotten to the point where if I’m watching a DVD, I’m tempted to use the English subtitle feature so that I can READ what they’re saying.

But do you know what I find totally ironic?

I have a lot of old movies on VHS tape, which I’ve noticed that the sound is much more consistent.

I even have more of these.

Yup…it certainly is. And if you don’t believe me, watch a movie on VHS (if you still have one) and you’ll see what I mean.

In fact, the other day I was watching the Neil Simon film, The Goodbye Girl on a VHS tape, and once I started the movie I NEVER had to adjust the volume – not once. And that movie was made back in the 1970’s!

Sorry, but for all the phenomenal advancements we’ve made in moviemaking when it comes to special effects and HD picture quality, the sound department lacks greatly because it’s frustratingly inconsistent.

It’s either really, really low….or really, really high.

It’s like you have to invest in both a hearing aid and a set of ear plugs to watch a movie nowadays.

Nope…give me the old movies any day.

The effects may not have been as technically dramatic, but the sound was SPOT ON.

Excuse me now while I pop in a DVD and watch a movie…
Have a fabulous weekend everyone!
X

68 comments:

  1. In the rare instances I watch a DVD, I know EXACTLY what you mean!!! What is up with that? When my kids watch movies, I usually shut my bedroom door, but then I will hear BLASTS of music like they've turned the sound up to 100 and I'm like WTF?

    I don't get the purpose in it at all, unless film makers are in cahoots with the makers of Advil, because it gives me a headache.

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  2. "I don't get the purpose in it at all, unless film makers are in cahoots with the makers of Advil, because it gives me a headache."

    Bwhahahahahahaha! OMG...that made me HOWL! Too funny, Bijoux!

    "When my kids watch movies, I usually shut my bedroom door, but then I will hear BLASTS of music like they've turned the sound up to 100 and I'm like WTF?"

    WTF is right!? Sometimes I will literally JUMP off the couch and frantically grab the remote and turn the volume down.

    OH. MY. GOD!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. I just this second published this post. You must be up late tonight. I'm such a night owl myself.

    Have a super weekend!
    x

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  3. Night Owl indeed Ron! I am just checking a few blogs and going to sleep now! I agree with you on the sound thing...in fact, I think the FTC passed some sort of law that made it illegal for tv stations to CRANK the volume for commercials like they used to do. Now...if only they would do the same for movies! I am getting more hard of hearing...according to my doc. Not sure what is up with that. Did you know heating aids are ridiculously overpriced and NOT covered by insurance! One would think that hearing would be considered a sort of necessity...especially for driving! I am one of the few that still has a VHS player and all of our tv's have those tube things and weigh a TON! Well...they still are functional! Happy Friday! Xo

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  4. Hey, Ron, thanks for writing this post. I thought it was just me!


    I gave up and started using the subtitles a long time ago. I've been having trouble hearing the dialog in DVDs for a while now.


    I can't stand rewinding every two seconds and I don't want to miss something important. So I light up the subtitles and pretend I'm watching a foreign movie.


    Interesting point about the old VHS tapes. I guess old school isn't always so bad.


    See you at the movies and SPEAK UP!!


    Have a great weekend, buddy!

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  5. ... and I thought it was just me. Duh! Because Joe IS hard of hearing I have to control the remote ... even the hand gets weary sometimes.
    It's not the same with subtitles but it's the only answer I know. Yes, give me the oldies. Mind you, it's the same with ordinary studio and outside broadcasting, one is quiet, the other as noisy as hell. Rest assured, Ron, it's NOT you going deaf.


    Wishing you a happy weekend, whatever you get up to xx

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  6. I thought it was just me! You are so right and I've also noticed the same thing happens on TV programmes too. So annoying.

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  7. Oh Ron! Mo and I are always complaining about that. I truly miss so much of the dialogue that I choose not to watch most movies. I really can't stand all the straining to hear dialogue, over the loud background music, in most scenes. Add the fact that the actors (trying to be more real) speak in such a lazy way, that they don't pronounce their words properly, or so fast that no matter how many times we rewind it, we cannot make out what they said. Add the American accent and phrasing and it makes it a nightmare to hear.

    I love watching the old movies and have no problems hearing every single word of dialogue. It makes it a pleasure to watch. Why do they drown everything out with loud music now days? get the balance right, for goodness sake!

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  8. Ron, you're spot on here! I, too, have noticed this strange phenomena and wondered about it. My mom continually complains about it, but I just attributed it to her age -- until I noticed I was having similar troubles, ha!

    Sometimes TV programs are the same way. The dialogue sections are like the actors are whispering, while the action scenes holler at you! It's quite frustrating, given as you say, our technological advances. Perhaps if we all went back to the "oldies-but-goodies" on VHS someone might take notice??

    Have a SUPER week!

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  9. Ron, you're right about this. I'm not hard of hearing, but often I will have to turn the volume up in a movie to hear what they're saying. But then as soon as there's any music intro or something like a car crash, the volume goes up about 800 decibels!



    You are so funny. I laughed at the last image of the hearing aids and ear plugs!


    Have a wonderful weekend, Ron x


    I love the movie The Goodbye Girl!

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  10. Get out of my head!
    I'll be on the other side of the house when music comes blaring from the man cave. "That's too loud!", I complain, and he retorts with, "I can't hear the conversations."
    That the sound doesn't have to be adjusted on 70's movies BLOWS MY MIND!

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  11. "Night Owl indeed Ron! I am just checking a few blogs and going to sleep now! "

    HA! Don't you love stay up late? I always feel more creative at night. And I also enjoy reading blogs later too.

    "in fact, I think the FTC passed some sort of law that made it illegal for tv stations to CRANK the volume for commercials like they used to do. Now...if only they would do the same for movies!"

    That's so interesting! I didn't know about that because I don't watch TV at all. And yes, if only they would do the same for movies!

    " Did you know heating aids are ridiculously overpriced and NOT covered by insurance! One would think that hearing would be considered a sort of necessity...especially for driving!"

    Wow, you're kidding? One of my dear friends wears a hearing aid in only one ear because she has tinnitus. I had no idea they were NOT covered by her insurance?!

    " I am one of the few that still has a VHS player and all of our tv's have those tube things and weigh a TON!"



    I have about 45 movies on VHS. The only thing I don't like about them is that they take up so much space on my shelves.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, Jeanne! Have a FAB weekend!


    X to you and the girlz!

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  12. Hey there Rob!

    "I can't stand rewinding every two seconds and I don't want to miss something important. So I light up the subtitles and pretend I'm watching a foreign movie."

    Bwhahahahhahaha! CRACKED ME UP!!! And hey, I may start doing that myself! But isn't it sad that we have to do that in order to watch a movie spoken in ENGLISH?!?!

    "Interesting point about the old VHS tapes. I guess old school isn't always so bad."



    I made that discovery earlier this week. I did a test with both a movie on DVD and then a movie on VHS. And the VHS was much more consistent, hands down. And I also tried doing it with an old, old black and white film on VHS, and it too had better sound.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a super weekend!
    X

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  13. Good morning Valerie!

    ".. and I thought it was just me. Duh!"

    No, it's me too. And if you read the comments on this post, you'll see that MANY say the same thing.

    "Yes, give me the oldies. Mind you, it's the same with ordinary studio and outside broadcasting, one is quiet, the other as noisy as hell."



    And what blows me away about that is for as advanced as technology has become over the years, the sound STINKS - HA!


    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, dear lady. Have a lovely weekend!


    X

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  14. Good morning Pearl!


    Yes, even though I don't watch TV, others here have shared the same thing about TV programs as well - especially the commercials. Maybe that's all part of it though, they want you really hear the commercials to GRAB your attention -HA!


    Have a lovely weekend, m'dear! And thanks for stopping by!


    X


    P.S. I stopped back at your blog this week to see if you had re- posted your picture post of Canada, but I didn't see anything.

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  15. Hey there Babs!

    "Add the fact that the actors (trying to be more real) speak in such a lazy way, that they don't pronounce their words properly, or so fast that no matter how many times we rewind it, we cannot make out what they said. Add the American accent and phrasing and it makes it a nightmare to hear, for us."

    Yes! Yes! Yes! I totally agree! In fact, I was watching a movie this week on DVD, where they had Australian accents (which to me is not a very difficult accent to make out). However, because of the volume in the film AND the mumbling they did, I had to keep rewinding certain scenes and adjusting volume to HEAR them. But sure enough, as soon as there was any kind of music or yelling in a scene...the volume went SKY HIGH!

    "I love watching the old movies and have no problems hearing every single word of dialogue. It makes it a pleasure to watch. Why do they drown everything out with loud music now days? get the balance right, for goodness sake!"



    Yup! Somehow the music and dialogue in those older films had a balance. They didn't jump from low to high, so drastically.


    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely weekend!


    X to you and Mo!

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  16. Hey there Debbie!

    " My mom continually complains about it, but I just attributed it to her age -- until I noticed I was having similar troubles, ha!"

    No, it's not always due to age and hard of hearing because so many other people here have shared the same issue.

    "Sometimes TV programs are the same way. The dialogue sections are like the actors are whispering, while the action scenes holler at you!"

    Although I don't watch TV, I believe you because others have shared the same - especially when a commercial suddenly comes on. The sound BLASTS.

    "Perhaps if we all went back to the "oldies-but-goodies" on VHS someone might take notice??"



    Amen!


    Much thanks for stopping by, Debbie. Have SUPER weekend too!


    X

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  17. "It’s like you have to invest in both a hearing aid and a set of ear plugs to watch a movie nowadays.'

    ROFLMAO!



    Yes, I know what you mean. The sound in movies is all over the place. The action scenes blast you though the roof, while the spoken scenes cause you strain to hear.


    I noticed you have the Bram Stoker version of Dracula in your movie collection. The best! I have it too, only in DVD.


    Funny post, dude!

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  18. It is erratic and especially when watching on Netflix! Drives me nuts!

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  19. I was complaining about this recently to my son. He said he had noticed it as well. I think this all began years ago with TV commercials. They made them louder to get people's attention. They certainly got mine and it irritated me. I began intentionally NOT buying some products - the ones with the loudest commercials.


    With some of the movies I've tried to watch lately, they probably need some sort of gimmick to hold people's interest. The last three I tried to watch, I quit after 30 minutes. Oh well, Anathem is laying on the coffee table with page 20 marked, maybe I'll get to page 30.


    http://davidloliver.blogspot.com

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  20. Yes, doesn't it drive you nuts, Suzi?


    I've never watched a movie on Netflix, but I believe you.


    Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantabulous weekend!


    X

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  21. I hear ya Ron (tee heee...) and I agree.


    I actually have exceptional hearing (a trait from my mom, who could hear everything!!!) anyhooo...I have noted that too about the newer movies on DVD, don't know why that is.


    We also have a bunch of old VHS movies that can play at a lot lower level on the remote setting and can hear everything just fine.


    I write a LOT of reviews over at Amazon and I have noted that a lot of movie reviewers there make this same comment, that soundtracks are so erratic on a lot of newer movies. Back to the drawing board I think, for the sound engineers.


    Mr. Cheddar loved your comment today, I did too!


    Happy Weekend, G


    PS: Any snow on the way for Philly? It's almost all gone here.

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  22. Hiya Matt!

    "The sound in movies is all over the place. The action scenes blast you though the roof, while the spoken scenes cause you strain to hear."

    All over the place is right! Up, down...up, down...up, down!

    "I noticed you have the Bram Stoker version of Dracula in your movie collection. The best! I have it too, only in DVD."



    Freaking LOVE that version! Gary Oldman is a flawless Dracula! I also have a version of Dracula, portrayed by Frank Langella, which is awesome too. Lawrence Olivier is in it as well. Check it out if you want. I think you would enjoy it.


    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a super weekend!
    X

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  23. Hey there David!

    " I think this all began years ago with TV commercials. They made them louder to get people's attention. They certainly got mine and it irritated me. I began intentionally NOT buying some products - the ones with the loudest commercials."

    I don't watch TV, but when I did, I do remember that the commercials were SO loud. And I think you're right...they do it to get people's attention. But WOW...it's so irritating!!!

    "Oh well, Anathem is laying on the coffee table with page 20 marked, maybe I'll get to page 30."



    HA! Exactly! It's much easier (and less aggravating) reading a book!


    Thanks for stopping by, David! Have a fabulous weekend!


    X

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  24. Hellooooooo Geraldine!

    "I actually have exceptional hearing (a trait from my mom, who could hear everything!!!) anyhooo...I have noted that too about the newer movies on DVD, don't know why that is."

    Perhaps because of the way technology has advanced on DVD (making sound more realistic), the soundtrack is ultra sensitive to either low or high ranges; magnifying each. I really don;t know what it is, but they need to figure out a way to balance the soundtrack.

    "We also have a bunch of old VHS movies that can play at a lot lower level on the remote setting and can hear everything just fine."



    Yup...you can hear everything just fine.


    Thanks for stopping by, Geraldine! Happy weekend to you too!


    X
    P.S. No snow, but the temps. suddenly dropped back down into the 40's and 30's. But I'm not complaining because I love being cold.

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  25. I noticed that when I received the Lord of the Rings trilogy on DVD. It drove me crazy! One would think with all the advances in technology that they could even out the levels. Geeeesh! Hope your weekend is really super great.

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  26. You know I never really thought about it until you brought it up but you are right! I wonder if the movie makers are focusing so much on making everything "look" cool that they aren't paying as much attention to the soundtrack. I guess its true what they say, things were made better in the older days, including movies apparently!

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  27. "I noticed that when I received the Lord of the Rings trilogy on DVD. It drove me crazy!"

    Yes, Lisa, and it especially seems that way with movies (such as the Lord of the Rings) with special effects that the sound is even more erratic.

    "One would think with all the advances in technology that they could even out the levels. Geeeesh!"

    Thank you!

    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a super great weekend as well!

    X

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  28. Hey there Shae!

    " I wonder if the movie makers are focusing so much on making everything "look" cool that they aren't paying as much attention to the soundtrack."

    I think you're absolutely right about that. Or it could be that the sound in movies has become so much more REALISTIC, due to technology, that they haven't figured out how to balance the lows from the highs.

    "I guess its true what they say, things were made better in the older days, including movies apparently!"



    I love technology and the advancements we've made with it, however, I think they need to go back to some of the ways things used to made and combine them.


    Much thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a super weekend!
    X

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  29. I agree with you Ron! I think it has a lot to do with "surround sound" because there are times I get so frustrated watching movies. Another thing bugging me really badly is how dark new movies are - everything seems to take place in a dark basement or a forest, a dark alley or somewhere else where they don't supply supplemental lighting so you can see what's going on! Besides not being able to hear half the movie, you can't see half the movie either! Now I've had my rant, I can go enjoy my weekend - like I hope you will do!

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  30. Hey there Benze!

    "I think it has a lot to do with "surround sound" because there are times I get so frustrated watching movies."

    Hey, I never thought of that but perhaps you're right.

    " Besides not being able to hear half the movie, you can't see half the movie either!"

    HA! To me, the whole experience of watching a movie in a theater is not fun. And not only the sound, but how noisy people are with talking on their cell phones, talking to each other, and how small movie theaters have gotten. I'd rather sit at home and watch a movie, anytime.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. LOVED your rant! Have a grrrrrreat weekend!
    X

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  31. Ron, great vent! And I agree with you! Have you also noticed how with many movies not only is the sound erratic, but also the darkness of the picture? If it's a scene in a dark room or a nighttime shot, it's so dark you can't see what's going on, let alone hear it. And not only when watching a film on a television, but also in a movie theater.


    And you're right about VHS tapes because I still have a few, and can hear and seen them fine.

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  32. We have an advanced sound system in our house. I did not approve when it was installed. Needless to say, I don't enjoy sudden explosions that send me and my cats flying. That said, when I went to visit JD and Lin in Chicago in October, my husband informed me that while I was gone, he could listen to movies as loud as he wanted and he only had to detach one cat from the ceiling.

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  33. Tara still has a VHS collection. I can't say we've watched very many for me to be able to notice a difference in sound, but I am well aware of what you are talking about with DVD movies. Actually, I've noticed the same thing with many TV shows nowadays, as well (Hawaii 5-0 is particularly notorious for doing this). Maybe there's such a thing as too much technology, and the world needs to give up the digital revolution and revert to analog!

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  34. Hey ho Robert!

    "Have you also noticed how with many movies not only is the sound erratic, but also the darkness of the picture? If it's a scene in a dark room or a nighttime shot, it's so dark you can't see what's going on, let alone hear it."

    YES! And thank you SO MUCH for sharing that because I thought it was only me! OMG..sometimes a scene in a movie will get SO DARK, I need a FLASHLIGHT to see it! Case in point, I watched the movie, "la vien rose" several years ago and I had the hardest time seeing certain scenes. What's up with that?

    "And you're right about VHS tapes because I still have a few, and can hear and seen them fine."

    Yup...me too!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Hope you're Friday was super. Have a grrrrrrrreat weekend!

    X

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  35. Hiya Kathy!

    "my husband informed me that while I was gone, he could listen to movies as loud as he wanted and he only had to detach one cat from the ceiling."

    Bwhahahahhahahaha! OMG...when I read that, I HOWLED! How funny!

    "We have an advanced sound system in our house. I did not approve when it was installed."



    Holy shit...I can only imagine what that must sound like.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Your comment was hilarious! Enjoy your weekend!


    X


    P.S. That's right, I forget you visited JD in the fall. How cool is that! I miss her blog.

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  36. Howdy Mark!

    "Tara still has a VHS collection."

    YAY, Tara! At least I know I'm not the only one who still has VHS tapes. And yes, I kid you not, if you do a test of the sound on a VHS tape compared to a DVD, you will notice what I'm talking about. The sound is much more consistent.

    " Actually, I've noticed the same thing with many TV shows nowadays, as well (Hawaii 5-0 is particularly notorious for doing this)."

    Yes, a lot my readers have said that too. I don't watch TV anymore, but I believe you. Oh...and Hawaii 5-0...I remember watching that show!!!

    " Maybe there's such a thing as too much technology, and the world needs to give up the digital revolution and revert to analog!"



    Bingo!


    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a most excellent weekend!


    X to you and Tara!

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  37. Oh, I love that moment when he-who-watches-movies flips from tv mode to video. I'm thinking he must love hearing me scream obscenities while I cringe and cover my ears. HOLY #!$€!!! Iam not deaf, but I will be from having the darn speakers blaring.
    Surround sound isn't for folks like me...some might think it's "cool" to have noises pop up from behind you....NOT THIS WOMAN. And while he-who-does-have-hearing-issues likes it, he's courteous enough to change the volume settings to "stereo" so I'm not getting creeped out...you got it, up down up down...totally out of "balance". I'm still struggling to deal with it, no matter the movie. But action film are the worst for me with the explosions and soundtracks.

    I need to dig out some of the oldies. I'm sad that we no longer own a VCR player. And the tapes I had...not all replaced. *sigh* And now it's all about "blue ray", whatever the heck that is. LOL. Probably code for the colour of ear plugs you're gonna need.

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  38. "Oh, I love that moment when he-who-watches-movies flips from tv mode to video. I'm thinking he must love hearing me scream obscenities while I cringe and cover my ears. HOLY #!$€!!! Iam not deaf, but I will be from having the darn speakers blaring."

    HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHA! OMG Mel, I laughed out loud when I read that!!!

    "Surround sound isn't for folks like me...some might think it's "cool" to have noises pop up from behind you....NOT THIS WOMAN."

    Meeeeeeeeee neither! My ears are way to sensitive for sudden LOUD noises.

    "'m still struggling to deal with it, no matter the movie. But action film are the worst for me with the explosions and soundtracks."

    Yes! Yes! They're the ABSOLUTE worst! They make JUMP off the couch.

    " And now it's all about "blue ray", whatever the heck that is. LOL. Probably code for the colour of ear plugs you're gonna need."

    Bwhahahahahahaha! OMG...that made laugh out loud too!

    CODE BLUE.

    Bwhahahahahhahah! Hilarious, Mel!

    And no, I don't have blue ray playing machine and I probably will never get one because the sound is even MORE SO on those.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and making me laugh, dear lady. You crack me up!

    Have a fabulous weekend!

    (((((((( You )))))))

    X

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  39. i don't watch a lot of DVDs but they seem to be from low to okay and i usually turn it up on some scenes and then down on other scenes. i know in the theater the sound is too darn loud. guess you gave me a good idea to take my ear plugs. action movies are the worse. it looks nice out today, you enjoy too.

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  40. Hey there Val!

    "i don't watch a lot of DVDs but they seem to be from low to okay and i usually turn it up on some scenes and then down on other scenes."

    Yup...up, down, up, down. And you're right....action movies, the WORST!

    ". guess you gave me a good idea to take my ear plugs."

    HA! And the ones you sent came in VERY handy, so thanks!

    "it looks nice out today, you enjoy too."

    Today was faaaaabulous! Cold and windy, but bright and sunny. I took a long walk up to University of Penn and took a bunch of pictures. Great day I had. Hope you did too!

    Thanks for stopping by, girl!
    X

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  41. I will, Ron. Thanks for letting me know about the other version. I didn't know about that one. And I like anything that Frank Langella is in.

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  42. Matt, he makes a faaaaaabulous Dracula! He played the role in the Broadway play too!

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  43. You're not wrong Ron, but if you watch an old movie on TV you'll find the sound is OK. This is probably because a lot of modern films are designed to be heard in cinemas with about thirty speakers. If you have surround sound you are more likely to be able to get the full effect of how the soundtrack is mixed. This makes the quiet/loud/quiet/loud problem less noticeable.

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  44. "This is probably because a lot of modern films are designed to be heard in cinemas with about thirty speakers. If you have surround sound you are more likely to be able to get the full effect of how the soundtrack is mixed. This makes the quiet/loud/quiet/loud problem less noticeable."

    Great point, Dale! And one that I never thought about.

    For some reason, I thought it might have to do with DVD's.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy, and sharing your insight!

    Hope you're having a super weekend!

    X

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  45. Ron, from this day forward you will be known as the "door man."


    You took some wonderful pictures. I love the painted door and wood door with the brick facade. I love walking down the West Side in Manhattan and looking at the architecture. I used to photograph homes and write brochures for a real estate advertising company years ago. I love looking at molding, windows, floors and ceilings. There's nothing more thrilling than old architecture.

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  46. Thank you, Lauren :) I love doors! In fact, I have a door board on Pinterest.

    "I used to photograph homes and write brochures for a real estate advertising company years ago. "

    WOW...that is so cool!!!!

    And don't ya just love the West Side in Manhattan? I lived on the East Side when I lived there, but it was the West Side that has all the character and old architecture.

    Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy your Sunday!

    X

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  47. I've noticed that, too. Not with every movie, but with lots of them. SOmetimes my kids will be watching a movie that has me yelling for them to turn it down, but then they say they can't hear the dialogue.

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  48. Hey there Secret Agent Woman!

    "I've noticed that, too. Not with every movie, but with lots of them."

    You're right, some more than others.

    "SOmetimes my kids will be watching a movie that has me yelling for them to turn it down, but then they say they can't hear the dialogue."

    And the action films are the worst.

    Thanks for stopping by, girl. Hope your weekend was awesome!

    X

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  49. Ya know what? It's not just you that's noticed this. Whenever Karin and I settle in to watch a blu-ray we invariably spend the first ten minutes tweaking the sound to find that "sweet spot" where we can both hear the dialogue and endure the special effects. It's much like television commercials where they crank the volume to make sure that I'm acutely aware that they're selling hemorrhoid creme or commemorative gold coins or some such hooey. But subtitles? That I can't bring myself to do, unless it's for a foreign film. I'd much rather listen to foreign films in their native language. Overdubbed dialogue drives me up the wall! :-)

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  50. "Whenever Karin and I settle in to watch a blu-ray we invariably spend the first ten minutes tweaking the sound to find that "sweet spot" where we can both hear the dialogue and endure the special effects."

    HA! Thank you, Herman, for saying that because I know what movie buff you are, like me, and watch movies on Blu-ray. Glad to hear you deal with the same thing!

    "It's much like television commercials where they crank the volume to make sure that I'm acutely aware that they're selling hemorrhoid creme."

    Bwhahahahahahahaha! Exactly!

    "But subtitles? That I can't bring myself to do, unless it's for a foreign film. I'd much rather listen to foreign films in their native language. Overdubbed dialogue drives me up the wall!"

    Meeeeeeee too! Overdubbed dialogue just looks so weird because they never seem to match the mouth with words.

    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Hope your weekend was awesome!

    X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!

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  51. I mean if people who are heterosexual would just think about that, they would realize that someone who is homosexual was born that way too.


    They didn't CHOOSE or LEARN to be heterosexual, they just ARE. Well, it's the same for homosexuals.


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  52. No worries, my friend. Stop anytime. But I am sorry to hear about your laptop :(

    Don't you hate that? I remember when my desktop died a few years ago - the pits!

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  53. Hello there Jean!

    "I'll be on the other side of the house when music comes blaring from the man cave. "That's too loud!", I complain, and he retorts with, "I can't hear the conversations."

    Bwhahahahhaha! See...what did I tell ya? The sound in movies nowadays sucks! It's either too low or too high; there is no consistency.

    "That the sound doesn't have to be adjusted on 70's movies BLOWS MY MIND!"



    Yup, blows my mind too!


    Much thanks for stopping by, Jean. Have a most excellent weekend!


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  54. Hola Denise!

    " But then as soon as there's any music intro or something like a car crash, the volume goes up about 800 decibels!"

    HAHAHAHHAHA! Exactly....800 decibels! And it scares the shit out of me!

    " I laughed at the last image of the hearing aids and ear plugs!"

    I made that image by pasting two separate photos together.

    "I love the movie The Goodbye Girl!"



    It's one of my FAVORITE Neil Simon films. The other one I also love is "Only When I Laugh." Both films had Marsha Mason in them, who I think is a phenomenal and underrated actress!


    Thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a wonderful weekend too!
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  55. Wow Ron.... I want to share this with EVERYONE! I have never heard an explanation like this from someone who is gay.... It was fascinating to hear! I had a proud moment when my 18 yo became furious with a co-worker who was saying to another that being gay was being against God. I knew I raised him right when he told me. How closed minded can people be!!!!! I think this is one of the most profound and well written posts you have ever done!

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  56. Ron, did you edit that photo to give it that look?

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  57. There have been many times when I fervently wished sexual orientation WERE a choice. I would not mind not having to deal with men as partners.


    But I don't think (and I'm speaking only for myself here) that my sexual orientation is about who I'm both emotionally and physically attracted to. I have deep emotionally intimate relationships with some female friends. If sex were not part of the issue, I could share my life with a woman. My sexual orientation is just that - a sexual one. It's just that damned physical chemistry that drives me.

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  58. "Well, ...there you go." I love & use that phrase all the time.
    Have a great weekend, Ron!

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  59. Hello there David!

    "While it is true that in the last few years homosexuality has become accepted by society, that acceptance is a tenuous thing."

    You are exactly right, buddy.

    "People are not born with the ability to accept others who are unlike themselves. It has to be learned, understood. And for it to be learned and understood, it has to be discussed from time to time."



    Thank you. Beautifully stated!


    Much thanks for stopping by, David. Have an AWESOME weekend!


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  60. Hey there Bijoux!

    You are so welcome, my friend. I've never share about this particular topic before, however, Mark's post inspired me to do so.

    Sometimes I'll read something online where people are still debating this topic and it just floors me.

    "Thankfully, his parents and I think all of the family will accept him for who he is, whatever the outcome."



    That's AWESOME! And I'm not at all surprised because after knowing you all these years, I can tell that you are a very open and accepting person.


    (((((((( You ))))))))


    Much thanks for stopping by and sharing on this post. Muchly appreciated. Have a fantabuous weekend!

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  61. Oh, Ron!! These are absolutely STUNNING!!

    My favs are #5 and #8!

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  62. "And god help you if there’s music in a scene or some kind of violent bomb explosion, because then the volume of the movie suddenly goes up so high, you FLY off the couch."

    Bahahhaaha! OMG! Yes!!

    Now - I am super hard of hearing and usually have my TV on full blast anyway - but when an explosion or music comes on - I TOTALLY jump ten feet in the air!!


    Also - that's crazy the volume stays normal with your VHS tapes!

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  63. "Now - I am super hard of hearing and usually have my TV on full blast anyway - but when an explosion or music comes on - I TOTALLY jump ten feet in the air!!"

    I'll tell ya, those explosion scenes could wake the DEAD!!!!

    "Also - that's crazy the volume stays normal with your VHS tapes!"



    Honestly, the sound track on VHS tapes is WAAAAAAAAY more consistent. The picture quality is not nearly as good as DVD's or Blu-ray's, but the sound is awesome!


    Much thanks for stopping by, girl!

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  64. Thank you, Meleah :)


    I had FUN putting this post together.


    #8 is one of my favs as well. LOVE that door!


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