Author Topic: Do today’s movies suck?  (Read 6057 times)

Ron Scott

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Do today’s movies suck?
« on: March 11, 2023, 10:02:31 AM »
Amazon Prime offered the new movie Women Talking for a few days this month and I watched it. I thought it was a simple but really well done analogy to life that could be viewed from a societal level, within a community, or even just one couple’s relationship. It was low key and they nailed it. Worth a $20 ticket and $9 popcorn? Pass.

But this one movie aside and price notwithstanding, movies seem to suck nowadays. To me anyway.

I’d like to see The Fablemans but I’ll wait for it to show up in a streaming service. Other than that, not feeling it.

sonofsven

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2023, 10:18:04 AM »
I also have trouble finding films I want to watch on Netflix and Amazon. I don't like the superhero genre, no offense to those who do
But I also don't put the effort into seeking out good and interesting films like I used to when I was pretty involved with cinema, so no surprise there.

lost_in_the_endless_aisle

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2023, 10:44:10 AM »
Just judging from the 9 (of 10) best picture nominees I watched (no way am I watching Avatar!), this is my summary:
good+: 1 (Banshees)
good-: 2 (Everything Everywhere, Triangle of Sadness)
okay: 4 (Tar, All Quiet, Fabelmans, Elvis)
not good: (Women Talking, Top Gun)

The book version of Women Talking seems like it would be better since so much of the context apparently got stripped out (didn't read it, so this is based on looking at a synopsis).

Netflix is pretty horrible because they push their high volume/low quality shit at you and they don't have much of a back catalogue unless you opt for the DVD plan. Even Amazon doesn't have a lot of good free stuff on Prime; most of the stuff I actually want to watch is $3-5 to rent. I think there is something to the notion that we have seen a cultural decline in the US in terms of both average and peak quality, which may be why foreign movies (like Parasite which I would say was good+ but not great) are winning awards in the US.

For the record, the best movie I've seen so far this year is the 2012 movie Starlet.

Extramedium

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2023, 10:48:53 AM »
All Quiet on the Western Front is up for a bunch of Oscars tomorrow, and it's on Netflix.  Everything Everywhere All at Once is available on Prime.  Several other nominated films are available, and only two of them are (quasi-) blockbuster superhero movies (Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar II).  I'm a late adopter on the Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion, but think they're fantastic, and are available. 

Saying there are no good movies coming out is a pretty broad statement.  Maybe it means you just aren't finding the good movies.  Maybe you should read a film critique site for ideas?

slackmax

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2023, 11:54:23 AM »
I would have to be paid $100 each to sit through most movies today. But I would assume that is true for everyone, since people have different tastes.

Good movies, IMO, lately are Banshees, and Living (Bill Nighey stars, but no one has heard of this movie, probably).   

I will be watching The Oscars. I always enjoy that show. But I don't think it will be more exciting than last year's, lol.   

 

wageslave23

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2023, 11:54:40 AM »
I think there are a couple of things going on here.
1. The superhero/marvel thing is way overdone. But they are trying to appeal to the 8-17 yr olds who are the prime movie going age.
2. (Follows from 1) You are too damn old to be going to the movie theater- all adults should be. We own our damn entire homes, with the couches and chairs that we like the best, popcorn and snacks at pennies on the dollar, 75" HD screens for $500, no stupid people talking (unless you chose to marry them or conceive them), no traveling or waiting in line, go to bed halfway through or watch something else if it's not good, etc. I'm 38 and I hope I never set foot in another movie theater again regardless of movie quality.

So yes, many movie industry members have also acknowledged that the quality of story has decreased in the last 15 yrs. It's objectively poorer quality. But it's not the whole reason why you can't justify going to see a movie in the theater.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2023, 11:56:51 AM by wageslave23 »

Chris Pascale

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2023, 12:02:54 PM »
It varies. Some are trying too hard to show they aren't racist or sexist and have clunky dialogue that is like, "white men are the worst."

"Barry" is pretty good. What saves it more than anything is the growing complexity of the developing characters.

Funny Story about Me and Barry: In 2018 a co-worker says, you should watch this show Barry. The main character really reminds me of you. Intrigued, I want to know more. Yeah, I'm told, he kills people. 'Ok, that's impolite,' I'm thinking, and store away the offense for later retribution. Recently, my 17-yo daughter and her BF are like Dad, there's this really great show and you should check it out. You're a lot like the main character. He was a marine and everything.

Yep, same show.

JupiterGreen

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2023, 12:08:10 PM »
I think there are a couple of things going on here.
1. The superhero/marvel thing is way overdone. But they are trying to appeal to the 8-17 yr olds who are the prime movie going age.
2. (Follows from 1) You are too damn old to be going to the movie theater- all adults should be. We own our damn entire homes, with the couches and chairs that we like the best, popcorn and snacks at pennies on the dollar, 75" HD screens for $500, no stupid people talking (unless you chose to marry them or conceive them), no traveling or waiting in line, go to bed halfway through or watch something else if it's not good, etc. I'm 38 and I hope I never set foot in another movie theater again regardless of movie quality.

So yes, many movie industry members have also acknowledged that the quality of story has decreased in the last 15 yrs. It's objectively poorer quality. But it's not the whole reason why you can't justify going to see a movie in the theater.

Yes I agree with this. An interesting and good point about Marvel movies marketing to younger people. I also find myself watching more shows than movies because I don't usually have 2-3 hours to sit in front of the tv. I like that I can just change the media if I don't like something.

Metalcat

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2023, 12:17:21 PM »
I find all "good" movies these days to be painfully slow and I don't like most superhero movies because I also find them painfully slow in terms of plot because so much time is spent on repetitive smash bang with little to no dynamic plot within it. So I end up agitated by the end, or asleep if I'm at home.

I've become extremely wary of any new movie that's ranked over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes now because of what I call "long silent pauses" movies that get reviewed so well these days.

Just not my vibe. I like well paced dialogue. I don't care if it's a comedy or horror or mystery, as long as there's ongoing, engaging dialogue.

wageslave23

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2023, 12:55:31 PM »
My formula for trying to find a movie I will like is to look it up on rotten tomato but then require at least an 80 critics and audience score. And not an action movie because for some reason those are always 90+ critic and audience score.

curious_george

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2023, 01:06:25 PM »
Yes.

I haven't watched a movie or tv show yet this year. I have spent the last 10 years trying to watch all the episodes of big bang theory...at this rate it will be another 10 years before I'm finished. And that's my favorite show even.

When I can't walk anymore I'm planning on locking myself in a studio apartment somewhere and binge watching all the tv shows and movies I never saw in my life, starting with all the episodes of "Friends" and "whose line is it anyway".

...assuming I can still find blue ray copies of those shows still by then...or a blue ray player. Or a studio apartment.

Log

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2023, 01:35:25 PM »
Lots of new movies are really great, just not always the ones with huge budgets. If you cast a wider net and read reviews to get an inkling of what will align with your tastes, there are excellent movies coming out left and right.

It is hard for a 90-180 minute commitment to compete against the convenient drip-drip-drip of dopamine from our smartphones though. Why watch a 2 hour singular artistic vision when you can idly flick through short-form YouTube videos or TikToks for 30 minutes (oops it became 2 hours, where did the time go??). And with short-form video, you can constantly just move on to the next one whenever you get momentarily bored.

Our collective psyche has been turned against long movies. So naturally, studios get scared and lean heavily on the nostalgia of popular IPs to get butts in seats.

There’s certainly an analogy to be drawn between film and book publishing. How many people have actually read the last few years of Pulitzer winners? Probably fewer than the last few years of Best Picture winners, but the movies are certainly trending in that direction. Film was the medium for the masses in the 20th century. It’s now still reckoning with the fact that it’s been replaced.

I really value the theatrical experience, and have started spending more money on “going to the movies” in the last year. It’s about the atmosphere of a movie being an event. Carving out the time to be 100% committed, without distraction. No temptation to look at your phone or pause and grab a snack. And sharing the experience with an audience makes it better, not worse, 95% of the time. People who really ruin the experience are rare. It’s like going to a concert instead of listening to an album at home. In our age of degraded attention span, giving yourself over to completely focus on a work of art requires a little bit of ritual, and the artistic experience is better for it.

J.R. Ewing

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2023, 03:59:22 PM »
Dear Hollywood,

No more super hero or remakes please. 

HenryDavid

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2023, 06:19:49 PM »
Watch some 50 year old movies, say on Kanopy.
Soooooo slooooow. Westerns with really long pauses. Gangster films with long walks for no reason down sidewalks.
I enjoy this but it’s really weird by current standards.

Cranky

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2023, 07:39:14 PM »
I think that Covid was extremely disruptive to the movie industry and they are having a really hard time getting people into theatres. It’s a vicious cycle - if people aren’t going to the movies they won’t release as much and if there’s nothing good to see, people won’t go to the movies.

I personally have seen one movie in the theatre since 2019 and it was Puss In Boots, because I took a 6yo. It was great!

I thought Women Talking was absolutely fantastic.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2023, 07:44:20 PM by Cranky »

scottish

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2023, 07:42:31 PM »
Watch some 50 year old movies, say on Kanopy.
Soooooo slooooow. Westerns with really long pauses. Gangster films with long walks for no reason down sidewalks.
I enjoy this but it’s really weird by current standards.

yep, at this rate "Terminator" will soon be viewed as  a slow paced romance.

Ron Scott

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #16 on: March 11, 2023, 08:25:37 PM »
Dear Hollywood,

No more super hero or remakes please.

Dear Bears,

No more shitting in the woods.

charis

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2023, 08:26:06 PM »
I find all "good" movies these days to be painfully slow and I don't like most superhero movies because I also find them painfully slow in terms of plot because so much time is spent on repetitive smash bang with little to no dynamic plot within it. So I end up agitated by the end, or asleep if I'm at home.

I've become extremely wary of any new movie that's ranked over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes now because of what I call "long silent pauses" movies that get reviewed so well these days.

Just not my vibe. I like well paced dialogue. I don't care if it's a comedy or horror or mystery, as long as there's ongoing, engaging dialogue.

Agreed.  What's considered a "great" movie these days has become a red flag - it's the long silent pause or attempting to up the ante in shock value, which was tolerable in my 20s but I've lived too much life to be entertained by absolute misery.  It's interesting that personal recommendations have now become so valuable in the era of unlimited content.

Metalcat

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2023, 11:11:02 PM »
I find all "good" movies these days to be painfully slow and I don't like most superhero movies because I also find them painfully slow in terms of plot because so much time is spent on repetitive smash bang with little to no dynamic plot within it. So I end up agitated by the end, or asleep if I'm at home.

I've become extremely wary of any new movie that's ranked over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes now because of what I call "long silent pauses" movies that get reviewed so well these days.

Just not my vibe. I like well paced dialogue. I don't care if it's a comedy or horror or mystery, as long as there's ongoing, engaging dialogue.

Agreed.  What's considered a "great" movie these days has become a red flag - it's the long silent pause or attempting to up the ante in shock value, which was tolerable in my 20s but I've lived too much life to be entertained by absolute misery.  It's interesting that personal recommendations have now become so valuable in the era of unlimited content.

I really want to see "Women Talking" because I'm hoping it's actually women talking. Plus I know Sarah Polley, not well, I doubt she would remember me, but we have had a number of good conversations at events. I used to meet virtually everyone in Canadian media in the late 90s/2000s, not in a cool way mind you, I lived with a regulator, but it gave me access to be sexually harassed by quite the selection of D grade Canadian film/tv/music nobodies, so that's... glamorous. So she and I being about the same age had a few talks about gender and power, so it will be cool to see this movie decades later.

She's also a total icon from my childhood, she was for an entire cohort of little Canadian girls. I think half of my sister's identity is tied up in that character, lol.

So yeah, of course I'm going to watch it, I'm just hoping it's women actually talking and not women intensely staring silently at each other with moody score for most of the movie.

vand

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #19 on: March 12, 2023, 04:03:20 AM »
In short, yes.

There's only so many ideas in the world and most of them have been revived from the grave once too often. Studios aren't out to make good movies - they are out to make money... and that means recycling proven formulae, using bankable stars, directors and producers who all fit the same mold, a healthy stance against toxic masculinity, a marketing drive, a line of merchandise, a plot and world that lend itself to serialisation on a predictable timeline.

That's not to say that there aren't good movies still made, even from the big studios if enough people give a shit about making it the best experience they can.

Ron Scott

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #20 on: March 12, 2023, 05:34:11 AM »
I really want to see "Women Talking" because I'm hoping it's actually women talking..

They talk, mostly when they have something of value to say. Some more than others.  But the movie is more about how they listen.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2023, 05:37:31 AM by Ron Scott »

bill1827

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #21 on: March 12, 2023, 05:48:08 AM »
Good movies, IMO, lately are Banshees, and Living (Bill Nighey stars, but no one has heard of this movie, probably).

I saw Living at what passes for our local flea pit. Lots of those pauses that Metalcat likes so much.
There's also Empire of Light featuring Olivia Coleman and the OHs heart throb Colin Firth. Another uK film that probably only has local interest.

Things have never been what they used to be since the ancient Greeks or earlier.

charis

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #22 on: March 12, 2023, 08:47:18 AM »
I find all "good" movies these days to be painfully slow and I don't like most superhero movies because I also find them painfully slow in terms of plot because so much time is spent on repetitive smash bang with little to no dynamic plot within it. So I end up agitated by the end, or asleep if I'm at home.

I've become extremely wary of any new movie that's ranked over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes now because of what I call "long silent pauses" movies that get reviewed so well these days.

Just not my vibe. I like well paced dialogue. I don't care if it's a comedy or horror or mystery, as long as there's ongoing, engaging dialogue.

Agreed.  What's considered a "great" movie these days has become a red flag - it's the long silent pause or attempting to up the ante in shock value, which was tolerable in my 20s but I've lived too much life to be entertained by absolute misery.  It's interesting that personal recommendations have now become so valuable in the era of unlimited content.

I really want to see "Women Talking" because I'm hoping it's actually women talking. Plus I know Sarah Polley, not well, I doubt she would remember me, but we have had a number of good conversations at events. I used to meet virtually everyone in Canadian media in the late 90s/2000s, not in a cool way mind you, I lived with a regulator, but it gave me access to be sexually harassed by quite the selection of D grade Canadian film/tv/music nobodies, so that's... glamorous. So she and I being about the same age had a few talks about gender and power, so it will be cool to see this movie decades later.

She's also a total icon from my childhood, she was for an entire cohort of little Canadian girls. I think half of my sister's identity is tied up in that character, lol.

So yeah, of course I'm going to watch it, I'm just hoping it's women actually talking and not women intensely staring silently at each other with moody score for most of the movie.

I'm not Canadian, but I loved Sarah Polley as a child and young adult actress (I need to rewatch some of my old favs), and obviously she's had an impressive career since then behind the camera.  My interest in Women talking has been piqued by this thread.

slackmax

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #23 on: March 12, 2023, 11:12:34 AM »
Lots of new movies are really great, just not always the ones with huge budgets. If you cast a wider net and read reviews to get an inkling of what will align with your tastes, there are excellent movies coming out left and right.
...snip ...

I really value the theatrical experience, and have started spending more money on “going to the movies” in the last year. It’s about the atmosphere of a movie being an event. Carving out the time to be 100% committed, without distraction. No temptation to look at your phone or pause and grab a snack. And sharing the experience with an audience makes it better, not worse, 95% of the time. People who really ruin the experience are rare. It’s like going to a concert instead of listening to an album at home. In our age of degraded attention span, giving yourself over to completely focus on a work of art requires a little bit of ritual, and the artistic experience is better for it.

I enjoy being at the 'scene' at a theater, too. I'm even thinking of blowing $10 to see a play at a high school or college. I hear the acting is pretty good. 


YttriumNitrate

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2023, 11:30:12 AM »
Perhaps it's just me getting older, but it does seem like movies and shows are getting darker and harder to hear. It's almost like it was decided that it was "artistic" to have the actors mumble, loud background/ambient sounds, and sets illuminated so poorly that the actors are mostly shadows.

Fru-Gal

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #25 on: March 12, 2023, 11:40:43 AM »
They are too dang long!!!! A movie should be 1.5 hours, maybe 1.75 max. I saw Everything Everywhere All at Once with my teenager and ironically I thought it was too long more than he did (he liked it). There was so much repetition and I kept thinking, this should have been cut, that should have been cut…

I have been watching 1940s-60s film noir movies on YouTube since cancelling my streaming services at the start of FIRE and I highly recommend it! Some are great, some are crappy, but usually the music, scenery or beauty and elegance of the actors make up for it.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2023, 11:43:05 AM by Fru-Gal »

Catbert

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #26 on: March 12, 2023, 12:57:48 PM »
I find all "good" movies these days to be painfully slow and I don't like most superhero movies because I also find them painfully slow in terms of plot because so much time is spent on repetitive smash bang with little to no dynamic plot within it. So I end up agitated by the end, or asleep if I'm at home.

I've become extremely wary of any new movie that's ranked over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes now because of what I call "long silent pauses" movies that get reviewed so well these days.

Just not my vibe. I like well paced dialogue. I don't care if it's a comedy or horror or mystery, as long as there's ongoing, engaging dialogue.

Agreed.  What's considered a "great" movie these days has become a red flag - it's the long silent pause or attempting to up the ante in shock value, which was tolerable in my 20s but I've lived too much life to be entertained by absolute misery.  It's interesting that personal recommendations have now become so valuable in the era of unlimited content.

I really want to see "Women Talking" because I'm hoping it's actually women talking. Plus I know Sarah Polley, not well, I doubt she would remember me, but we have had a number of good conversations at events. I used to meet virtually everyone in Canadian media in the late 90s/2000s, not in a cool way mind you, I lived with a regulator, but it gave me access to be sexually harassed by quite the selection of D grade Canadian film/tv/music nobodies, so that's... glamorous. So she and I being about the same age had a few talks about gender and power, so it will be cool to see this movie decades later.

She's also a total icon from my childhood, she was for an entire cohort of little Canadian girls. I think half of my sister's identity is tied up in that character, lol.

So yeah, of course I'm going to watch it, I'm just hoping it's women actually talking and not women intensely staring silently at each other with moody score for most of the movie.

Currently free on American Amazon Prime although I've been told it's still $7 in Canada.  I enjoyed appreciated the film enough that I've put the book in my library queue.   The real life situation upon which the book was based was in Bolivia at a closed Mennonite community.  The movie was ambiguous as to the decade or place until a truck drove through asking people to come out and be counted for "the 2010 census".  I believe the book was set in Bolivia.  Warning:  I'm find with slow.

It use to be that *everything* would eventually come to Netflix.  I kept the "one disc at a time" option until the turn around time got so s-l-o-w I gave up.  Now there are so many streaming options it's hard to see everything you want unless you pay for a lot of platforms or rotate among them using various deals.

I'm not Canadian, but I loved Sarah Polley as a child and young adult actress (I need to rewatch some of my old favs), and obviously she's had an impressive career since then behind the camera.  My interest in Women talking has been piqued by this thread.

bmjohnson35

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #27 on: March 12, 2023, 03:11:39 PM »
Perhaps it's just me getting older, but it does seem like movies and shows are getting darker and harder to hear. It's almost like it was decided that it was "artistic" to have the actors mumble, loud background/ambient sounds, and sets illuminated so poorly that the actors are mostly shadows.

The following video explains why it's harder understand dialogue in modern tv/movies:     https://youtu.be/VYJtb2YXae8

I agree that it's much harder to find good movies these days.  We have no shortage of quantity, but the quality has went down.    Special effects seem to be emphasized over storyline or story development.  Remakes and regurgitated stories are relentless.  If it's an action flick, they don't appear to even want to make them believable.  Maverick was better than I expected it to be, but they still felt the need to insert an unbelievably cheesy ending.  Am I only one who things Maverick dying in the end to save his dead friend's son would have been a better ending? 

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever see another movie the quality of Shawshank Redemption.

sailinlight

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #28 on: March 12, 2023, 03:16:05 PM »
The only movie I've seen in a theater since probably 2018 was Top Gun Maverick and enjoyed it. Haven't seen another trailer for a movie I thought would be interesting to watch since then. I think movies are over, and long-form streaming at home series like Yellowstone are replacing that medium. Movie theaters are doomed.

Dave1442397

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #29 on: March 12, 2023, 03:46:44 PM »
You couldn't pay me to go to a movie theater these days. My daughter recently went to a local theater that used to be the best one around, and she said it was very run down and she wouldn't go back.

I've seen a few good movies lately, but they do seem to be in short supply. I was looking for something yesterday, and spent a while reading reviews before giving up and watch a blu-ray double feature - Arrival, and Reservoir Dogs.

I first saw Reservoir Dogs at the Angelika Theater in NYC, sitting a couple of rows behind Keifer Sutherland and his friends.


jim555

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #30 on: March 12, 2023, 04:12:19 PM »
I watch a lot of movies from the library.  Most are just terrible.  Only a few are good in a year. 

lost_in_the_endless_aisle

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #31 on: March 12, 2023, 05:24:22 PM »
They are too dang long!!!! A movie should be 1.5 hours, maybe 1.75 max. I saw Everything Everywhere All at Once with my teenager and ironically I thought it was too long more than he did (he liked it). There was so much repetition and I kept thinking, this should have been cut, that should have been cut…

I have been watching 1940s-60s film noir movies on YouTube since cancelling my streaming services at the start of FIRE and I highly recommend it! Some are great, some are crappy, but usually the music, scenery or beauty and elegance of the actors make up for it.
Totally agreed on movie length. 80% of movies I have seen recently have about 20-40 minutes that could be cut with absolutely no loss (and quite a bit of gain in clarity). That is my main gripe with Everything Everywhere All at Once, which had its very good ideas far too diluted by running length. Looking at some of my all-time favorite movies, they tend to be short:
1) Rosetta (93 minutes)
2) Hedwig and the Angry Inch (93 minutes)
3) Upstream Color (96 minutes)
4) Koyaanisqatsi (86 minutes)

Average of top 4 = 92 minutes!

Up for best picture this year, the shortest movie (Women Talking) is 104 minutes and the longest is Avatar at 192 minutes (omfg!).
Average of the 10 nominees: 144 minutes (almost 60% longer than some of my favorites)
« Last Edit: March 12, 2023, 05:26:13 PM by lost_in_the_endless_aisle »

Log

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #32 on: March 12, 2023, 06:46:52 PM »
Some great short movies of the last few years:

Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) - 108 minutes
Nomadland (2020) - 108 minutes
Booksmart (2019) - 102 minutes
The Vast of Night (2019) - 91 minutes
Pig (2021) - 91 minutes
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022) - 90 minutes
Together Together (2021) - 90 minutes
Palm Springs (2020) - 90 minutes
Shiva Baby (2020) - only 78 minutes!

See also: anything Pixar. Lightyear and Turning Red in 2022 was probably their worst year in recent memory, but I think they've mostly been churning out pretty excellent stuff for a while. They had a real slump from 2011 to 2013, and I think their recovery since then has been pretty under-rated. If you haven't seen Inside Out, Coco, Luca, Soul, Toy Story 4... go watch them!

Posthumane

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #33 on: March 12, 2023, 08:34:02 PM »
I watched a youtube video a few months back (sorry, don't remember the tuber) which had an interesting take on the subject. I don't know how true it is as I don't have my finger on the pulse of the industry, but I'll attempt to paraphrase it:
The big Hollywood studios have found that big budget blockbusters tend to gross much higher figures compared to mid and low budget movies. They are in the money making business, so they tend to fund big budget films with proven formulas, directors, stories, and actors. Small budget indie films are still around and probably will be for a long time because they are usually made by people trying to break into the industry, and are relatively low risk financially. Quality wise they are hit or miss.
Mid budget hollywood movies have basically gone the way of the dodobird. The big studios don't want to risk multiple mid budget films, some of which will pay off a smaller percentage than the blockbusters and some of which will flop.

So what do you get for big budgets? You get big special effects, you get franchised characters and stories that are loved by the younger crowds, etc. What you don't necessarily get is great writing, because you don't need it.

Instead of mid budget movies, what we have now are mini-series. Netflix, Amazon, and others have picked up production companies that would be making mid-budget films with good writing, somewhat expensive sets, and mid-tier actors and turned them into 6-10 episode seasons rather than 2-3 hour productions. Many people who are not willing to sit through a 3 hour film will happily watch a 10 hour mini series over the course of a week or two.

Ron Scott

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #34 on: March 13, 2023, 09:48:27 AM »
Watched All Quiet on The Western Front.

If you need a lesson on the banality of war this is for you. If not, while the acting was excellent, I’d pass. If would be hard to top the gore in this one.

Cranky

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #35 on: March 13, 2023, 10:22:50 AM »
Watched All Quiet on The Western Front.

If you need a lesson on the banality of war this is for you. If not, while the acting was excellent, I’d pass. If would be hard to top the gore in this one.

I read the book, so I wouldn’t be surprised at that. I will probably watch it online.

I have The Fabelmans on reserve at the library, and I see that The Banshees is on HBO so I’ll get to all the main nominees in a slightly delayed fashion.

Psychstache

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #36 on: March 13, 2023, 11:48:51 AM »
Perhaps it's just me getting older, but it does seem like movies and shows are getting darker and harder to hear. It's almost like it was decided that it was "artistic" to have the actors mumble, loud background/ambient sounds, and sets illuminated so poorly that the actors are mostly shadows.

The following video explains why it's harder understand dialogue in modern tv/movies:     https://youtu.be/VYJtb2YXae8

I agree that it's much harder to find good movies these days.  We have no shortage of quantity, but the quality has went down.    Special effects seem to be emphasized over storyline or story development.  Remakes and regurgitated stories are relentless.  If it's an action flick, they don't appear to even want to make them believable.  Maverick was better than I expected it to be, but they still felt the need to insert an unbelievably cheesy ending.  Am I only one who things Maverick dying in the end to save his dead friend's son would have been a better ending? 

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever see another movie the quality of Shawshank Redemption.

Everyone that prioritizes storytelling would agree. But the shotcallers are always going to want to keep him alive since if they decide to greenlight Top Gun 3, having Maverick return in some capacity will help with ticket sales.

driftwood

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #37 on: March 13, 2023, 12:29:26 PM »
I feel like they do.

I still love going to movie theaters but barely do. When I have free time, I look to see what's out, and have trouble finding something I want to see. It seems like some movie theaters think that louder = better, which I find to be a real pain in the eardrums.

Marvel Universe - the scope has gotten too big for me to feel invested in any of the universes/characters/timelines. I can root for 1-5 heroes going up against an incredible evil, but I'm totally disconnected from the latest part where there are 1 Billion Kang's and Ant-Man defeated the one Kang that supposedly could stop them. It's too much. Still can be fun to see superheroes fight.

Anti-superhero genre - I do enjoy the Boys, and Invincible. If these run into too many seasons I'll get tired and lose interest. They are a good take on wondering what would "really happen" if people had superpowers.

Disney live action remakes, and pretty much all remakes - the original were magical because of my age at the time. I have no interest in revisiting or revising my past feelings about those movies. I'm OK if my kids want to see the new versions, but I don't really enjoy them. They feel like an alternate reality for me... same story, some of the same songs, different actors/looks/scripts.

Streaming Services - It can be really, really hard to find something (that's not extra to rent), that is good. I admit that I often shift to scrolling reddit if a movie isn't good enough to keep my attention, but isn't bad enough to turn off. Gotta sort through so many recycled storylines - assassin has a change of heart and then must kill every other assassin in the biz; person is hurt, training montage, and comes back for revenge; ex special ops guy gets pulled into some sort of violent retribution... same old same old. Fine for when I'm in the mood for that specific type of storyline.

Recent movies I saw that I thought were good:
Bullet Train
Pig
Power of the Dog
Everything Everywhere All at Once

OurTown

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #38 on: March 13, 2023, 12:32:14 PM »
I have liked very few "new" movies.  The first-half Dune reboot was quite good and I am looking forward to the continuation.  I am a fan of the books, the David Lynch movie, and the TV series from 20 years ago.

"The Menu" was an interesting idea, and I paid attention all the way to the end, so that's good. 

"Don't Worry Darling" could have been good except the writers didn't really think through the concept. The finished product was just "men are bad."  If you want to write a screenplay with male characters who are morally bad, do that.  If your point is that all men are evil bros who secretly want to put their wives into a coma so that they can hold them prisoner in a 1950s retro paradise and essentially rape them in VR, well you do you.  OOPS that was a spoiler.  Query:  why didn't the guys just create virtual wives in the VR, why did they need to put their real wives in a coma?  Because the writers sucked, that's why.

"Bullet Train" was just action, no plot, no character development, therefore a snooze fest.

patchyfacialhair

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #39 on: March 13, 2023, 02:33:09 PM »
Maybe it's because I'm old at heart (read: a loser) but yeah most new movies stink. I'm rarely surprised by a plot twist, and many of them have a mission to lecture rather than story tell. At best, I'm saying "not bad at all." I rarely make it through an entire movie these days. A few that I watched recently: Pearl, X, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Menu, Black Phone.

And here's a single data point, so take it for what it is...my little girls will sit through an entire classic Disney movie, or a classic like Land Before Time (the original), long before they sit through something modern. I'd say Frozen is the latest they'll go, but even they prefer Frozen 1 to Frozen 2. They love Princess and the Frog, and classic Pooh movies. These movies all have awesome stories, varied diverse characters and experiences, and (to a child) storylines that tie to the real world in a meaningful way.

We try and watch newer movies, but the few we make it through are hollow or run against what most would consider universal archetypical storylines. There's just something about the newer movies that just doesn't hit.

GuitarStv

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #40 on: March 13, 2023, 02:39:40 PM »
"Don't Worry Darling" could have been good except the writers didn't really think through the concept. The finished product was just "men are bad."  If you want to write a screenplay with male characters who are morally bad, do that.  If your point is that all men are evil bros who secretly want to put their wives into a coma so that they can hold them prisoner in a 1950s retro paradise and essentially rape them in VR, well you do you.  OOPS that was a spoiler.  Query:  why didn't the guys just create virtual wives in the VR, why did they need to put their real wives in a coma?  Because the writers sucked, that's why.

Haven't watched the movie, but I think that there is a compelling argument that for many the knowledge that the person being raped is real and that real suffering is being caused would significantly enhance the experience.  If they're terrible enough to enjoy what you're describing, it wouldn't surprise me that they are in this group.

charis

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #41 on: March 13, 2023, 02:48:34 PM »
I have liked very few "new" movies.  The first-half Dune reboot was quite good and I am looking forward to the continuation.  I am a fan of the books, the David Lynch movie, and the TV series from 20 years ago.

"The Menu" was an interesting idea, and I paid attention all the way to the end, so that's good. 

"Don't Worry Darling" could have been good except the writers didn't really think through the concept. The finished product was just "men are bad."  If you want to write a screenplay with male characters who are morally bad, do that.  If your point is that all men are evil bros who secretly want to put their wives into a coma so that they can hold them prisoner in a 1950s retro paradise and essentially rape them in VR, well you do you.  OOPS that was a spoiler.  Query:  why didn't the guys just create virtual wives in the VR, why did they need to put their real wives in a coma?  Because the writers sucked, that's why.

"Bullet Train" was just action, no plot, no character development, therefore a snooze fest.

The Menu caught my eye since I just watched it - I enjoyed the satire but kept waiting for more depth that didn't materialize and it struck me as a darker companion to Ratatouille.

"Don't Worry Darling" could have been good except the writers didn't really think through the concept. The finished product was just "men are bad."  If you want to write a screenplay with male characters who are morally bad, do that.  If your point is that all men are evil bros who secretly want to put their wives into a coma so that they can hold them prisoner in a 1950s retro paradise and essentially rape them in VR, well you do you.  OOPS that was a spoiler.  Query:  why didn't the guys just create virtual wives in the VR, why did they need to put their real wives in a coma?  Because the writers sucked, that's why.

Haven't watched the movie, but I think that there is a compelling argument that for many the knowledge that the person being raped is real and that real suffering is being caused would significantly enhance the experience.  If they're terrible enough to enjoy what you're describing, it wouldn't surprise me that they are in this group.

I haven't seen and know nothing about DWD, but I thought the reference to "in VR" meant not in real life, as in they aren't physically doing that.

StarBright

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #42 on: March 13, 2023, 03:04:37 PM »

She's also a total icon from my childhood, she was for an entire cohort of little Canadian girls. I think half of my sister's identity is tied up in that character, lol.

So yeah, of course I'm going to watch it, I'm just hoping it's women actually talking and not women intensely staring silently at each other with moody score for most of the movie.

That is exactly what I said to my husband last night when he said Women Talking won best adapted screenplay. I was like "I'm so happy for Ramona/Sara Stanley!" and he had no idea what I was talking about. Not Canadian - but I'm pretty sure I saw both Ramona and Avonlea during free Disney Channel weekends growing up and we recorded them on our VCR so we could rewatch:)

In general I don't watch nearly as many movies as I used to - but I have enjoyed the last several movies I've seen in the theater (which are few and far between):

Spencer
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
EEAAO
Nope
The Northman (this was wack! but I leaned in and went with it - and then made my husband watch it, and he was also like "this is wack!")
The Green Knight (this was definitely slow - but so atmospheric and beautiful).

Took the kids to see Lightyear and Lego Movie 2 at the drive in and Lego Movie 2 is sort of the best movie I've ever seen about toxic masculinity.

 


Ron Scott

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #43 on: March 13, 2023, 03:20:57 PM »
Has anyone watched Babylon?

It’s not for everyone but as a Pitt fan I loved it. Decadent beyond description.

Log

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #44 on: March 13, 2023, 06:29:09 PM »
Has anyone watched Babylon?

It’s not for everyone but as a Pitt fan I loved it. Decadent beyond description.

Yes - totally loved it. Bummed to see it got such a lukewarm reception.

One of those very self-indulgent Hollywood movies about Hollywood, but I find I can generally love these as they always say something more universal about a life committed to a craft, and the significance of collaborating to achieve these grand, outlandish visions.

hounton

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #45 on: March 13, 2023, 08:22:49 PM »
I like to go to a local family run theater.  Before Covid, it was crazy cheap.  Now it's switched to first run movies but tickets are about 9 dollars and their treats are reasonably priced.  They have a nice selection of microbrews with little tables to set it on next to your seat.  The good value makes movies in the theater fun.  I particularly enjoyed Fire of Love. 

Ron Scott

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #46 on: March 14, 2023, 05:02:40 AM »
I think the pandemic speeded up the movie theater death spiral. They lost the movie buffs who went to a dozen movies or more a year, so they need to make more money from fewer customers. Higher prices for tix and snacks were followed by “innovations” like 40 minutes of commercials before a half hour of trailers before the show, recliners that would make Captain Kirk jealous, alcohol, waiter service, reserved seating, etc. What’s next—the movie massage parlor? Maybe they can detail my car while I’m watching Halloween 32. Meanwhile thousands of screens closed in the past year…

Then, streaming, with high-quality content. I can buy the family a month of HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Amazon, Apple, and Paramount—with all the sodas and popcorn they can handle—for the cost of one outing to a movie theater.

Finally, many content providers prefer the artistic freedom and economic options available with miniseries and multi-season programming. Impossible in theaters. So Hollywood—who always had a love-hate with the cinemas—doesn’t need them as much.

See where this is going?

curious_george

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #47 on: March 14, 2023, 05:35:46 AM »
I think the pandemic speeded up the movie theater death spiral. They lost the movie buffs who went to a dozen movies or more a year, so they need to make more money from fewer customers. Higher prices for tix and snacks were followed by “innovations” like 40 minutes of commercials before a half hour of trailers before the show, recliners that would make Captain Kirk jealous, alcohol, waiter service, reserved seating, etc. What’s next—the movie massage parlor? Maybe they can detail my car while I’m watching Halloween 32. Meanwhile thousands of screens closed in the past year…

Then, streaming, with high-quality content. I can buy the family a month of HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Amazon, Apple, and Paramount—with all the sodas and popcorn they can handle—for the cost of one outing to a movie theater.

Finally, many content providers prefer the artistic freedom and economic options available with miniseries and multi-season programming. Impossible in theaters. So Hollywood—who always had a love-hate with the cinemas—doesn’t need them as much.

See where this is going?

I will add another factor - home televisions keep getting larger, better, and cheaper. I can buy a tv that is far better in every way than my dad had when I was a child for $200 dollars. There used to be tv repairmen that would charge more to repair a tv than a modern tv costs brand new.

Where is this going?

Where did all the drive in movie theatres go?

StarBright

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #48 on: March 14, 2023, 05:43:54 AM »

Where did all the drive in movie theatres go?

During lockdown summer our remaining drive-in sold out all the time. It was wild!  We were thankful it was still there. We got to show our kids our favorite childhood movies on a big screen! Jurassic Park and Goonies at a drive in on a warm summer night were amazing.

We've gone a few times since summer of 2020 and there are usually 40-60 cars watching depending on the movie.

theninthwall

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Re: Do today’s movies suck?
« Reply #49 on: March 14, 2023, 05:46:20 AM »
Elvis, Top Gun, Glass Onion, The Menu...I would have enjoyed all of those in the cinema on a date night with my wife in the ‘before times.’
But now we have a great projector sourced for $80 from Facebook marketplace and a sound at and we can turn off the lights and feel like we are at the movies at home. As others have noted, the picture on even the cheapest TVs now is so good compared to days past. I think the downside of that is that we tend to remember films in a more romantic way if we saw them at the cinema.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!