Movie or Cinema...Is There a Difference?

[Spicoli]

As I get older and I am almost 50, I am beginning to see the difference.

Movies are that, moving pictures. While Cinema is an art form in my opinion.

I tend to like Cinema and movie are hit or miss.

I liked Cabin in the Woods (Movie) and most of my collection is movies. But Cinema has a different feel, almost based in humanity and our interactions.

LOA is Cinema IMO. Any flick that represents the reflection of the human existence to me is a cinematic event. All that popcorn stuff is just a movie.

Thoughts? or burry IDK

[Carlosg777]

It's a question of nomenclature, I believe. Whether one calls them flicks, films or motion pictures, there's no difference. As to the usage of "Cinema", I think it's more about the art form, movies as a whole. To use an analogy that's not very far from it, a movie/film/flick/(motion) picture is to a poem, what cinema is to poetry. Jack and Jill is a movie in the same way that 2001 is a movie, and both belong to the art form which we call cinema.

Though I find your proposition interesting, I think there shouldn't be a specific word to denote the qualities of a certain type of picture (other than the adjectives we place before them already, i.e. "French", "bad", "classic"). We agree that both Charles Dickens and Stephenie Meyers have written novels, though they're very different in style, form, content and quality. Then there's be the matter of concensus: what films should be considered "cinema"? Must we then recur to Sight & Sound to tell us, or should we only rely on our own, impartial, judgement?

[Al_The_Strange]

There's always been a difference between art and entertainment in films. I'd personally like to see an even blend of the two, and my favorite movies will reflect the entertainment with a bit of art in them.

It occurred to me earlier that watching movies is like listening to music. Sometimes, I like the classics, for their skillful compositions and invoking emotions. Other times, I just want to listen to brainless noise to rock out to. Same goes for movies; I'll watch some that'll invoke good thought and feeling, or artistic appreciation, but many will just be for the sheer fun of it.

Although, when it comes to movies, I tend to call the more artistic movies "films," rather than cinema. To me, cinema is the noun referring to the place where one watches films.

[frogmort]

There are a lot of movies on blu-ray that I really enjoy, but there are very few movies on blu-ray that give me that "cinema" feeling, that "I'm watching a reel of film from a real projector" kind of feeling.

A lot of Spielberg's films make me feel that way. Is that what you mean?

[DoubleDownAgain]

I see where you are coming from, but one man's 'movie' is another man's 'cinema/film' And I often find people wanting to separate the two are pompous dbags. (Not directed at the OP, as I do believe it was an honest question!)

I often have an aversion towards movies that try to be 'cinema', ie Malick. I can see why others may be drawn to it, but much of those time they just don't work for me.

Is John Carpenter's Halloween a 'movie' or 'cinema'? If a film is a genre movie, does that automatically make it a 'movie'? Is Night of the Living Dead just a movie?

[Dennis Nedry]

Nope.

[sukraj]

I prefer watching movies in the comfort of my own home.

[tigertron]

To me, "movie" is just the American term for "film".

I don't see any real differences.

[Kevin Holly]

I hate to go off topic, but I am the only one who thought Carlos was vader for a minute? That avatar really threw me off.

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by tigertron

To me, "movie" is just the American term for "film".

I don't see any real differences.

Film is the American term for film. "Movie" just refers to the motion of the photograph. Like "Talkies" after the era of Silent Film.

[Patient-X]

Movie or Cinema...is there a difference?....one word answer...no.

[Mahatma]

Is a quiet screening movies,and those were people act loud cinema,or is the epic movies are cinema due to their larger-than-life character?

Confused here....

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Is a quiet screening movies,and those were people act loud cinema,or is the epic movies are cinema due to their larger-than-life character?

Confused here....

You're not the only one confused after that post

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Patient-X

You're not the only one confused after that post

The OP?

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by Patient-X

You're not the only one confused after that post

Glad I'm not alone

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Patient-X

Glad I'm not alone

What the hell? Are you talking to yourself now?

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

What the hell? Are you talking to yourself now?

Oops

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Patient-X

Uh?

Uh, you quoted and responded to your own post.

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

Uh, you quoted and responded to your own post.

I know, I've had a long day, forgive me please for my madness

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Patient-X

I know, I've had a long day, forgive me please for my madness

Understood.