Barbie and the silver screen

Sir, – I agree with Finn McRedmond that Barbie was a bore of a cinematic experience (“Barbie is neither an anti-man romp nor an intelligent musing on a woman’s place – it’s a bore”, Opinion & Analysis, August 3rd). Unlike Oppenheimer, where I was glued to the screen for the full three hours, Greta Gerwig’s one hour and 54 minutes seemed like an eternity.

But what one can’t take away from the director of films such as Little Women and Lady Bird is that she will be the first female to have a billion dollar movie, a milestone most likely achieved this weekend. And one can easily see why with cinemas from Ballinasloe to Nenagh to Tralee are full.

At least in this country it is now very affordable to see blockbusters thanks to an attractive subscription model by one of the leading cinema chains. No need to feel guilty about almost falling asleep in a crowded auditorium full of bright pinks and crunchy popcorn. Unlike the pangs of regret one gets after sometimes seeing an expensive and, I might add, heavily subsidised opera production.

The Lighthouse cinema in Dublin reported its best and busiest week in its 11-year history with over 10,500 tickets sold following the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer, and not including food and beverages. If that is not something to be celebrated about the power of the big screen, I do not know what is. – Is mise,