8mm Forum: Seen any good movies?

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on September 09, 2008, 11:30 AM:

Is it me, or is Hollywood not making good films anymore? I can't count how many modern films that I have watched lately that have left me stone cold. You know, you get to the end and you say "what the hell was that all about?", and you feel like you have been robbed of 2 hours of your life. Film after film of poor or non-existant character development, convoluted and confusing plots, actors mumbling their lines, hand held camerwork, and lousy lighting and photography. And then after you have sat through all that crap, you go to the special DVD features where everyone is expounding on what a great movie this is, what an awesome director, or incredible actor he or she is, how difficult the film was to make etc, as if they had just made a masterpiece like Casablanca! Once in a while you get something mildly entertaining, but that's about it. Nothing that you have not totally forgotten by the next day.
Last night we watched a film noir picture "On Dangerous Ground' from the 1940's, starring Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino. Now that's what I call a movie! Riveting from the first frame, wonderful acting, stunning black and white photography, and an enthralling story. And this was a 'B' picture! But the film is so good you don't want it to end, and your still thinking about it days, even years, later. Makes the modern stuff look so third rate and insignificant. Like comparing steak to hamburger!

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 09, 2008, 12:54 PM:

What really gripes me is the trend towards recycled television shows as feature films. Let's face it: if these stories were up to being theatrical films they would have been in the first place. It's a little like showing up at a fancy restaurant and having them serve their version of McDonald's!

Sooner or later they'll do a movie based on a TV show that was adapted from a movie it the first place and the circle will be complete. (Of course based on the loss of quality along the way it will be more of a downward spiral!)

I think early on in the CGI era there was a surge of creativity within animated films based on the possibilities of the technology, but that seems to have found its rut now too.

Posted by Alex Fox (Member # 94) on September 09, 2008, 01:13 PM:

Hello Paul,I feel the same about the garbage that they put out now, and as far as the acting goes ? Alex

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on September 09, 2008, 02:08 PM:

I think that the big problem today is the actors are not really good enough for big movies as we remember them, and the studios cater more for the young market so we get silly scripts and films filled with bubblegum pop music, not dramatic classical tunes specially written for the movies. And another thing whats happened to famous quotes like "Frankly my dear I dont give a damm" or "Heres looking at you kid" you just dont get them today. Last sunday I watched Eddie Murphy in 'The Haunted Mansion' as it was on TV. What absoulate rubbish, ive seen better and scarier hammer movies. They really knew how to make haunted house movies. But its not all doom and gloom as we had LOTR and King Kong which were fantastic if not quite upto the 1933 version.

Graham S

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on September 09, 2008, 03:29 PM:

I think one has to be aware of the fact that the rubbish from 1942 ( the year of CASABLANCA ) is never, ever shown. Take a look at the production lists in good film reference books and the huge amount of films made at the time. We are aware of all the competing rubbish films of today simply because they are all being promoted right now. A few films from each year will be remembered as classics the same now as then. That's my two cents.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 09, 2008, 05:28 PM:

Steve you have a good point.

The rubbish is all about us now, but then, it's in our face constantly.

There were bad films back then as well, but not as many, as a general rule. Another good point, though is the overall quality.

As of the thirties and forties, the stories, as a general rule, were first time creations, (not remake after remake), and even pedestrian stories were new and given a certain amount of panache, and were new to the audiences. Remakes tend to not sell as well, because the original creation was created in a certain environment. Take for instance, "My Man Godfrey", a depression era film, which would have had much more relevance
to it's audience at the time. The remake in the 1950's couldn't hold a candle to it. It's relevance was diminished.

Even the "B" movies, (as mentioned) were above par. I believe that this is because the qualification "B" didn't refer to the content or quality, but the cost that went into them. Take for instance, "The Stranger" (Orson Welles, 1946). This was deemed a "B" movie, and yet, it was an incredible example of low budget film-making, (as well as Orson Welles "MacBeth" filmed in three weeks at 200,000 budget. Look at that film! Magnificent.

I would say that there are still magnificent films being cranked out, (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, recently, this year, the last Indiana Jones (in my opinion) and the latest Batman, "The Dark Knight), but I fear that the latest crop of film-makers are more enamored with the technical aspects of it instead of telling a good story.

The desperation is shown in how far they have to "push the envelope" (comedy ect.) in order to exact the same kind of audience reaction.

Hollywood is on "autopilot".

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on September 09, 2008, 05:42 PM:

One thing I do not like about todays blockbuster films is the over use of CGI special effects. They lack a 'wow' factor because everybody knows its easily done on a computer.

Posted by Charles Bramlett (Member # 1246) on September 09, 2008, 11:07 PM:

Well, I think quality films are still being produced.

Just this year we've had WAll-E, The Dark Knight, and Tropic Thunder... all three of which where very well made, featured some fabulous performances, and were highly entertaining in completely different ways.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 10, 2008, 04:04 AM:

The Bucket List is one I enjoyed "makes you think" Wall-E I thought was very well done, others "Amazing Grace" and "Mamma Mia" another one I thought was very good, a feel good movie was a low budget New Zealand film called "Second Hand Wedding" very funny.

Graham.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on September 11, 2008, 06:22 AM:

I think 'Deja-Vu' is an example of a great modern Hollywood production... but they are few and far between nowadays. Pandering to morons a bit too much methinks.

'The World's Fastest Indian' is another recent film that I thought was excellent but I don't know if that was Hollywood.

Posted by Mal Brake (Member # 14) on September 11, 2008, 08:05 AM:

John, I'm sure you posted before about 'Deja-Vu' [Smile]

Mal

BTW I bought my train tickets last week in readiness for the BFCC

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on September 11, 2008, 05:26 PM:

Going a few years back, I thought "Man on Fire" was an incredibly made film. The mere style of the production was very intense.

So much creativity. Even the use of subtitles was made interesting. It looked like different types of film was used for certain scenes as well.

Plus great acting by all, and, Christopher Walken's unique brand of off-beat performance to top it off.

It is more violent than what I usually watch though, but I get pulled in everytime I start watching it.

James.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 11, 2008, 06:45 PM:

Very good choice James, I thought that this film was quite good as well.

So, in conclusion, there ARE good films, but in my personal opinion, few and far between.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 11, 2008, 08:33 PM:

I went to a screening of Ed Harris' new western "Appaloosa". I thoroughly enjoyed it and there are wonderful performances by Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons.

Doug

Posted by Michael Scalise (Member # 278) on September 11, 2008, 11:23 PM:

I saw one back in 1972! All the good movies have already been made.... [Eek!]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 17, 2008, 07:37 PM:

Interesting to think of "Hollywood" as the place where dreams were made off "or used to be", today how many films are actually filmed there? sure there are a few but I cant think of very many, movies like "Lord Of The Rings" and "King Kong" although have american backing are not filmed in Hollywood likewise with so many others. I think it would be fair to say that the UK and other countries seem to be taking the lead eg "La Vie En Rose" with Marion Cotillard amazing performance as Edith Piaf's is just one example another "Out Of The Blue" a NZ film based on the book Aramoana: 22 Hours of Terror the only film I have ever watched in a cinema that you could have heard a pin drop during the end credits as the names and age of all those who lost there lives came on the screen such was the effect this film had on the audience, so there you have it there is still some well made films worth going to the cinema to watch, one thing is that with the studios re-mastering both picture and sound of there old movies onto DVD does give you the chance to enjoy the old classic films at home like never before.

Graham.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 18, 2008, 09:59 AM:

I have heard a lot of good buzz about "The Appaloosa". Ed Harris is one of those actors that just gets better and better as he gets older. he has that "Clint Eastwood" factor, the more craggy, the more manly, (and hey, this comes from a man!).

While I think that quality has surely went downhill, I don't think things are as dire in america as stated. I don't think any country has the cornered market on best quality. Those good films from other countries, for in stance, may be the one or two films that were "good" from those countries, (signifying that all the others, as in america, stink?).

I have noticed that the good films of our day tend to be the ones that are labors of love by actors or directors, take Ed Harris's "Apaloosa" for instance. On the todays show, Ed Harris was interviewed a few days back, and he said that he purposely had long sections were it wasn't about action; instead, it was about letting these well drawn characters do thier thing.

This is what made the films of the past great, in my opinion.
I can quickly write off much of what was produced in the heyday of Hollywood, but those character driven pieces are what stick.
Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Orson Welles in Citizen Cane, Peter O toole in "Lawrence of Arabia" (Now there's a film that moves slowly.)

You can even see the chsnge from calm lovely storytelling to frantic pacing in todays animated films. Sit down and compare "bambi" with any of Disney's modern films, where it seems like something has to be happening every single second.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 18, 2008, 06:29 PM:

I think its a real shame that many of the films that come out from "Hollywood" these days are edited in such a way that everything is far to fast. I suppose its geared to a certain age group that have been brought up on "blow them up" playstation mentality where action and CGI is it. I dont think there can be many these days that would have the patience to sit down and watch a good well told story probably say its to boring or something like that.

It might be I am just old fashioned I remember long ago sitting through "Doctor Zhivago" when it came out in 1965 thought it was great and in later times the cinema re-release of "Lawrence of Arabia" back in the early 90s, however my biggest surpise then was my son who was about 7 yrs old actually sat right through it [Eek!]

and to this day has never forgot the Omar Sharif mirage sequence. It does say something about those old films like Lawrence that even after 46 years since its release that its still remembered, compare that with the present Hellboy 2, Tropic Thunder, Get Smart, Batman,, Spiderman, etc etc zzzzzzz which are soon forgotton after just a few weeks let alone 40 odd years, next week we have "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" and another "The Mummy" starting... more re-makes.. so will see [Roll Eyes]

how they go. [Wink]

Graham.

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on September 18, 2008, 09:00 PM:

I HAVE TO SAY SOME OF THE BEST MOVIES I HAVE SEEN TO DATE HAVE BEEN THOSE 2 PART EPIC MINISERIES THAT SHOW ON TV EVERY SO OFTEN, I HAVE BROUGHT MANY ON DVD SO I CAN ENJOY THEM AGAIN EG: DAY OF DESTRUCTION, ATOMIC TRAIN, THE TITANIC, BROKEN TRAIL ETC.
SOME GREAT ACTING AND SOME GREAT STARS APPEAR IN THESE.
BEST 35MM FILM I HAVE SEEN RECENTLY WAS THE BANK JOB.
PAT [Big Grin]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 19, 2008, 12:28 AM:

Well here is a good one from 1963.

You cant get much better than that and "what a cast" [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 19, 2008, 02:30 PM:

I agree Graham, what an excellent cast.

This film is an excellent example of just how much restoration has come, this being a poor example. I have the special edition of this on Laserdisc, and it has about thirty mintes (I believe) added to it, (as well as a cracking hour long documentary with a lot of the cast that was still around at the time. The part about Ethel Merman and her purse full o cosmetic jewerly is priceless...

She hits Milton berle on the head with it, giving him a tremendous lump on the head that wouldn't go away for quite awhile.

So when she would meet him for years, she would ask Milton,

"Hows the Bump?"

Milton would reply with a slight laugh and ...

"Go to Hell."

Another interesting statement was about how something has to be constantly exploding on screen to entertain the children

I've mentioned it before, but when I went to see "Revenge of the Sith", the only time these careenin brats ever stopped, was when something would explode onscreen. I swear, I was truly NEVER so close to really throttling some parents or screaming, "Control your damn kids!!" than that day. It should have dawned on me just to talk to the management and have them talk to the parents.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 19, 2008, 02:57 PM:

Mad Mad Mad World is one of the greats: it's been called the only epic comedy!

Such a huge film that it's more of a challenge to figure out contemporary famous comedians that weren't in it than ones that were!

I remember when I was in high school it was on TV one night. The next day my history teacher mentioned it and said it was funny, but it told truths about how people, especially groups of people act.

Somehow, once I became a Son in Law that very last scene where Ethel Merman comes storming in in full Shrew Mode, slips on a banana peal and falls flat on her butt has always made me smile when I think of it! (I'm not sure exactly why!)

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on September 21, 2008, 01:46 PM:

To quote Spike Lee in the current NEW YORKER:

"The reality is that unless you're doing a comic-book superhero or some fourth or fifth sequel, it's hard to get stuff made, especially stuff that's different"

-Mike

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