Quality of the movies (now and then)

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Hi!

Yes, I'm one of those people that permanently complain about the decreasing quality of the current movies. To quote myself: „action-sequences instead of storytelling“, „no more original stories, but only sequels, prequels, spin-offs, …“, „Oh no! Not another superhero flick!“

But when taking a look at some older movies, I don’t know if this true:

1. I really like those films with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, but to be honest: They’re all just „same plot in a different setting“.
2. There are so many great 120m-S8-digests (see below).
3. Even the 1980s/90s, I remember some articles about Roger-Moore-007-movies that emphasized topics like „three more spectacular stunts than the previous Bond movie“.
4. What about all those „antique series“ like Star Trek, Alien(s), 007, Police Academy, Helloween, … ?
5. …

So why do so many movies also work as a 120m-digest? Because they are made for 12year-old-boys as target audience and have a script that fits onto a beer coaster:

1. Boy meets girl: It’s sufficient to introduce them, then show some obstacles, boy kisses girl - done.
2. Crime doesn’t pay: You can show the crime, a fraction of the police‘s investigation and then the criminals getting arrested.
3. Boy saves the universe/world/USA: Boy, some problems getting solved, Happy End - that’s it
4. Disaster movies: You can remove the plot and the characters and simply show the disaster and you‘re done. (E.g. „Earthquake“ works fine in 120m despite Mr. Heston being shown for only about 30s as you have got the majority of special f/x.)
5. Good vs. Bad: The „good ones without reason“ get attacked (without any reason) by the „bad ones without reason“, then some fights and the good ones winning without a reason.

…and that’s basically it! The other two remaining genres are comedies and musicals that are very hard to be reduced to 120m as they normally contain too many jokes/songs.

So what do you think? Did Hollywood really reduce the quality? Or is it just me having seen too many movies and hence getting bored by the limited amount of stories (that didn’t change the last 100 years)? (Not to mention that I’m now older than 12. )

Jörg

[Osi Osgood]

I personally feel that the only improvement in films today, is in the special effects department. Though I love the stop motion animation classics of the past, the modern films truly outshines them. Cgi, when it is used appropriately, is magical.

[Brian Fretwell]

Comedies like the Carry On series and Kentucky Fried Movie were easy to cut to 400ft or 800ft (2 separate 400ft reels) as they were either sketches or had little plot and individual comic scenes.

[Mike Newell]

Brian I think the rot or everlasting rut set in around the early 2000s.

You already had sequel heaven for the studios were they churned out movies of successful franchises time and time again. Nothing new there.

You had the distribution change from wholly cinema box office to subscription, pay per view , dvd / Blu ray television rights plus merchandising etc etc. In other word you could produce a dud and unless you spent mega bucks could still turn a profit on it in the long run. In some cases the merchandising made bigger profits than the film.

The other big change was the obsession with cgi and big explosions 💥 special effects. Think Marvel Universe, Fast and Furious Mission Impossible Star Wars.

Watch all those movies and you are effectively watching visual silent movies with big noises. No brainpower or thinking required which suits the studios. The box office is much bigger outside the US. Think, Far East especially China , Africa or South America. Basically anywhere that doesn’t speak English as a second language.

Sure Bollywood have been churning out the same 6 storyline movies for decades it’s just Hollywood has caught onto the scheme.

Another point is effectively the big studios Disney, Fox, Universal and Warners now own all the other small production companies that used to finance and produce movies particularly Disney so there is no diversity in what is being produced.

Harvey Weinstein had his uses.

So there you go full circle silent movies like the old days. Forgot to mention you also have a new restrictive censorship code except instead of any naughtiness like the 1930s to 1950s it is called WOKE so I would say a lot of stories and movies will never see the light of day.

Im not saying the 1930s to 1990s were perfect there was a load of dross churned out but occasionally you would come across something great.

I personally think the money balloon will burst at some point like early 1980s but as long as the dollars roll in no one will make the effort to make decent movies apart from mavericks and small Indy cinema.

Mike

[Ed Gordon]

The number of movies being made (good or bad) has been declining since 2007 before dropping off the cliff when the pandemic hit. Nobody should be surprised that they have not seen many good movies lately.

Source: https://www.the-numbers.com/market/

[Joe Caruso]

As an actor, bit biased about it... debatable point...The last thirty-odd years have shown much exhibitionism...I'd have to discuss it all in person...Shorty

[Steve Klare]

I think it takes some career-courage to try something new in the major motion-picture industry: nobody wants a Box Office Bomb tied around their professional necks, so they go with the tried and true. They stick to either continuing an existing story or take a formula out of the file cabinet and give the (stock) characters new names and set it somewhere else. When they do this, it'll at least break even. They make some money, they add a line to the resume, they can still get in the Studio gate the next time some other Epic goes into production.

Orson Welles was perpetually creative and innovative, and eventually got to the point of doing commercials for frozen peas trying to scare up money because his films often lost money and were no place for investment.

-basically The Industry is like a great many industries: they make a product for mass consumption, of consistent quality, produced cost-effectively. Of course there has to be room here for creativity, but it needs to stay within bounds.

[Mike Newell]

I think it takes some career-courage to try something new in the major motion-picture industry: nobody wants a Box Office Bomb tied around their professional necks, so they go with the tried and true. They stick to either continuing an existing story or take a formula out of the file cabinet and give the (stock) characters new names and set it somewhere else. When they do this, it'll at least break even. They make some money, they add a line to the resume, they can still get in the Studio gate the next time some other Epic goes into production.

Orson Welles was perpetually creative and innovative, and eventually got to the point of doing commercials for frozen peas trying to scare up money because his films often lost money and were no place for investment.

-basically The Industry is like a great many industries: they make a product for mass consumption, of consistent quality, produced cost-effectively. Of course there has to be room here for creativity, but it needs to stay within bounds.

So basically turn out crap because it makes money. It used to be a creative industry at actor director and executive level but now it is basically bean counters and accountants.

If you think of the biggest current actors you have geriatrics you can name them plus maybe half a dozen big names who are well over 50.

Anything under 40 fall into the “Todd Armstrong “ category. Reacting to blue screen basically pantomime. They will have a few good movies then disappear until they are about 60.

Most mumble as most of the dialogue is virtually unintelligible due to booming explosions and special effects.

Another big loss is film composers and soundtrack. All the Great ones are dead or on their last hurrahs. Name one decent soundtrack since Goldsmith, Barry and Bernstein departed.

Here’s the top 100 current actors for a laugh.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bi...client=gws-wiz

[Osi Osgood]

Well, consumers can have an impact, no consumption, no sales. Whether Hollywood likes it or not, consumers have the power to turn around the industry, if only the consumers will set they're standards higher.

[Ed Gordon]

So basically turn out crap because it makes money. It used to be a creative industry at actor director and executive level but now it is basically bean counters and accountants.

Don't forget the 10-15 minute credits at the end of the movie. Only a bean counter looking for investors would end a movie with a list caterers and carpenters.

[Graham Ritchie]

When Steve mentioned something new it reminded me about watching "Jo Jo Rabbit". New Zealand director, actor, writer managed to sell his script of a 10 year old boy who imaginary best friend is Hitler now that's something, he did say, that it was his script that sold the idea to the studio.

Fox financed the millions to make it, providing Taika Waitita played Hitler himself. His directing and casting/acting was perfect. One thing about it though, was is his ability to turn you upside down. One minute it might seem funny, draws his audience in, then "WHAM" very quickly the tone changes and gets serious.

If you want to watch something very different then "Jo Jo Rabbit" is it. Mel Brooks "the man himself" praised Taika film after watching it, and don't forget Mel played Hitler in the past as well.

Taika had nothing but praise for young Roman Davis saying the films success was down to him. The adult casting was perfect American actor Sam Rockwell was to mention later in an interview, that it was the best script he had ever read.

So there you have it there are some good movies out there

[Osi Osgood]

By the way, while I would agree that most films are tripe these days, there are diamonds in the rough, here and there. I don't agree that just because something is a special effects laden, cgi showcase, it doesn't mean that it's terrible or doesn't have a story. Look at the film "TeneT", in fact, Christopher Nolan's directoral output had been phenomenal. There are very good films in various genre. While most horror films are s tax write-off, "Crimson Peak" is a wonderful gothic horror story, directed by a very competent director.

[Steve Klare]

"Jo Jo Rabbit" was a pretty bold move: fortunately it DID make money
(Imagine having that egg on your face if it didn't?)

My son streamed it while we were stuck in the house from Covid. Once I saw it, thought it was a really good film, but I hadn't heard about it before, so the first couple of minutes were "What the hell??".

I'm just as guilty as anybody for supporting the Sequel Industrial Complex: I'll complain right and left that they are making a 4th Toy Story or a 29th Star Trek, but often I go see them anyway. I hear Toy Story 5 is on the Horizon...I must be strong! (-this time!)

[Rob Young]

In the UK many years back we used to have a weekly film review program with a very droll presenter called Barry Norman.

I used to watch it avidly every week as a teenager.

I always remember a comment from Mr. Norman when reviewing a re-release of The Wizard of Oz (this would be the late 1980's).

"Well, they don't make 'em like that anymore. Although, come to think of it, they didn't make many like that even then..."

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes, unfortunately the BBC have even cancelled the BBC News channel film revue with Mark Kermode now.