[SteveJohnsonIn0z]

Watched J Edgar on CX last month, impressed by the movie (Di Caprio does an amazing job!) but also by the fact that it was at the time a current recent release here in Australia. QF did the same, they had The Iron Lady on in Feb (or maybe March) when it had only been showing in Aussie theatres for a short while.

I think the funniest in-flight movie experience I had was watching Casino Royale on BA when they

1. edited out Richard Branson’s uncredited cameo (he’s getting a security scan at Miami Airport, to the right of the screen as Bond goes through the scanner). Juvenile behaviour by BA!

2. edited the ending of the movie when Vesper deliberately drowns herself by pushing away from Bond in the elevator cage rather than let herself be rescued. They showed him diving in after her, swimming down to her and then cut to him bringing her back to the surface. Because, you know, you wouldn’t want to encourage suicide by drowning when you’re on a plane 30,000 feet in the air. That would be irresponsible! 😛

[Binman62]

Qantas had mission impossible, J Edgar, Iron Lady and we bought a zoo….all latest releases and not yet available on DVD which in my experience is where BA get their movies, especially for kids.
We bought a zoo I saw in the USA just after Christmas with my kids and was a lot of fun.
Best thing for me was IFE worked, something you don’t hear everyday on BA…..oh and I could see the screen.

[RichHI1]

I welcome the showing of more modern movies in flight. TO me one of the best innovations in this area was the inclusion of classics on various airlines. Often there is a comforting familiarity in seeing your favourites once again. I thnk BA could extend this runnign seasons of very British cinema. Ealing Comedies, Bond FIlms, etc.

My main complaint about IFE and the reason why I carry my own, is the way it is displayed. Once the terrible blurred little screens of the older systems, the modern systems are not comparable to what you expect at home. Why is there no HD? Itunes, BBC Iplayer, Blu Ray are all HD why not in flight? Some airlines have nice big screens in First but you still get awful quality pictures. Other bug is why oh why oh why does verything have to be chopped down? If the movies is shot in 2.35 why chop it to 4×3 (1.66) or 16×9 (1.85)? With the really old screens that look like Baird built them I can see the reason bu with decent screen size, let us see the whole movie and not some chopped down effort.

By the way, had conversation with fellow passenger a few weeks back who is involved in this industry who tells me that both autostereoscopic displays (3d no glasses) and Dolby Surround Noise Cancelling headsets are being worked on. No timings but maybe one day I can just bring my favourite movie on a USB stick and leave all the electronics at home.

[VintageKrug]

It is ridiculous to suggest BA doesn’t show movies which aren’t already on DVD release.

I saw J.Edgar last month on BA, Iron Lady was also showing.

Plus BA already had a significant back catalogue of older movies such as the Bonds, and indeed there was a CarryOn film for those who like that sort of thing also available in March.

Add to that the BBC programming and audio and it’s hard to beat the BA IFE offering.

There’s even a short film “Boy”, commissioned by British Airways, which I saw last week and it’s highly recommended:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/entertainhighlights/public/en_gb?post_type=movie&p=8587

[RichHI1]

I acknowledged that airlines are showing classic films, my point was that having collection promotions could be an added value. So if you want to sit through 4 or 5 Bonds you can or if you need a heavy dose of Alastair Sim or Kenneth More it is there. British film is often underrated, particularly the classics. One welcome trend is the expansion of availability through technology. It will soon be the norm to have around 500 movies available on every flight. A far cry from the one shown on the LHR-LAX route and the Europena demand that US carriers charged for the service when certain US carriers started showing films on transatlantic services. I fear that movie charging is coming back. I would expect IFE charges to be the norm in 2-3 years time. Perhaps with limited free content and pay movies (lie the old hotel model).

[Binman62]

VK…. absolutely correct….. it was ridiculous to suggest that the IFE offering was released on DVD, sorry………The Bond Films and Carry On were originally released on 8mm and some in black and white. Leading edge in their day …..a bit like BA was once………..

I am sorry but whilst it may be useful to have collections and even the odd series available BA content has too often been hopelessly out of date.

Having looked at the current offering I note that it matches Qantas in terms of premier movies this month and that is rightly to be commended, perhaps things are changing. That said next month’s film selection on BA.com is definitely underwhelming.

They still in my experience have pretty dire reliability and of course you cannot escape the fact that in First you really cannot be sure if you will get a 4 inch screen with limited vision and no hope of reading the subtitles or a large screen with much the same isssues.

[RichHI1]

Maybe things will change with IAG. I remember being very surprised that IFE on Iberia to Mexico included full frontal female nudity on more than one mainstream Spanish film. No editing for content there (thought hey will probably cut out SRB cameos…)

[VintageKrug]

Next month’s looks good to me – War Horse, The Woman in Black and Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs all worth a look.

I’d imagine that for some, unless the content is tailored to their personal preferences – up to and including that cine film transferred to DVD of his late Aunt Mabel’s trip to Morpeth in 1963 which he still hasn’t got around to watching – they’d still be unhappy.

It’s good that Binman agrees that BA has a market leading IFE content, but as ever to expect BA to have influence over Hollywood as regards content which agrees with his preferences is somewhat unrealistic.

At least you be enjoying the movies using Avios for you and your family in premium cabins, apparently on your preferred dates and route. Which can only be good news.

[RichHI1]

In spite of my respect for the US motion picture industry, I am very disappointed at the lack of recognition on this thread for the British film industry. Over the years I have enjoyed a number of British films on BA and AA which did not get wider distribution in the USA. I find it disappointing that posters do not recognize this as one of the stronger parts of BA’s Britishness in offering.
Who the Sam Hill is Aunt Mable, what is a Morpeth and what type of film is a cine? Is is slang for cinema? I am afraid I do not understand some of the last post.
By the way, one point not raised is carriers get access to movies based on the theatre release date in the country they are based. So for instance the Muppets was released in the US at Thanksgiving whereas in UK it in the New Year. Not surprising if US carriers got it first.

[RogerVictor]

I just wanted to comment on Swissdiver’s commet. TED talks are amazing and well worth a download and watch. Some very interesting people talking about some very interesting things. I’ve spent hours on there

Nothing to do with ‘worst cabin movies on BA ever’ but hey!

[CXDiamond]

Have people who rate BA’s IFE really ever seen Studio CX, Krisworld or ICE Digital?

I suspect not.

[RichHI1]

It is apparent that the answer would be no. I suspect, hence the apologist stance.

[VintageKrug]

What a ridiculous statement.

I have used all the systems mentioned above, but this isn’t about BA vs. the rest of the world.

I think a lot of airlines have a better delivery system than the majority of BA’s aircraft. But the new BA Thales system is up there with the best, and that will be fitted on all new aircraft.

However, BA’s content – specifically including British films and BBC documentaries and audio – means that to my mind it trumps all the others. Even when doing a number of longhauls per month I have always found something to pass the time, and have often been rewarded with little gems like last month’s On Golden Pond which I would otherwise never have sought out. Quality wins over quantity.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/entertainhighlights/public/en_gb

[Henkel.Trocken]

If the poster above really does believe that BA IFE trumps all others it really is proof, not that any was needed that he hasn’t even tried the others.

Which version of flight simulator do you fly VintageKrug? Have you progressed beyond FS2000 yet? Do you do your long hauls in real time or do you speed it up after take off?

[VintageKrug]

Another nasty little post from Henkel.Trocken:

Henkel.Trocken – 14/04/2012 14:05 GMT

If the poster above really does believe that BA IFE trumps all others it really is proof, not that any was needed that he hasn’t even tried the others.

Which version of flight simulator do you fly VintageKrug? Have you progressed beyond FS2000 yet? Do you do your long hauls in real time or do you speed it up after take off?

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