Unpopular Movie Opinions: Part III

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

and why is that? do you think that something like King Kong brings attention to its editing or direction?

Cinema didn't start with King Kong. And Hollywood is not cinema either.

King Kong actually made it even more apparent to the world that there are things you can do in film that you cannot do otherwise BECAUSE of what you can do with a camera. Someone could easily argue that if you want to make a movie about fair treatment of other living creatures, you shouldn't have an impossibly giant, skyscraper scaling, stop motion gorilla in it to avoid drawing the audience's attention to the fact that they are watching a movie, where those things can only be done.

The supposed rule of "not drawing attention" is just another one of those rules that can be broken and often should.

[scifisuperfan]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

If I see someone say "PC" one more time I'm gonna lose it.

And how about agenda?

[Mistress9]

Originally Posted by Martoto

Cinema didn't start with King Kong. And Hollywood is not cinema either.

King Kong actually made it even more apparent to the world that there are things you can do in film that you cannot do otherwise BECAUSE of what you can do with a camera. Someone could easily argue that if you want to make a movie about fair treatment of other living creatures, you shouldn't have an impossibly giant, skyscraper scaling, stop motion gorilla in it to avoid drawing the audience's attention to the fact that they are watching a movie, where those things can only be done.

The supposed rule of "not drawing attention" is just another one of those rules that can be broken and often should.

Hollywood IS the epitome of filmmaking, sorry to disappoint you but it is a fact. The rest of your comment makes no sense whatsoever, so I can't reply.

[Rodney-2187]

This is my opinion on the breakdown of how many movies end up in each category. Yes, I think 85% of movies are pretty good and worth seeing. I love movies. While the polls on this forum are usually very positive, the conversations make it seem like every movie is one-star.


10%
These are great movies. They still have flaws, because no movies is perfect. I believe there are more movies at this level than most people think.


20%
Really good movies that fall just short of greatness.


55%
Most movies fall in this category. These are still good movies and definitely worth seeing.


10%
These movies are not that good. Definitely not something you would want to watch again.


5%
The truly awful movies you feel wasted your time.

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

Hollywood IS the epitome of filmmaking,....

Don't be sorry. You're just mistaken.

[Mistress9]

Originally Posted by Martoto

Don't be sorry. You're just mistaken.

No I am not. Art is both subjective, that's the thematic part, and it's also objective, that's the technical part of it. Objectively speaking, nothing has come close to the beauty, the technicality and the richness in the images created in the Golden Age of Hollywood, from the silent era to early 1960's. Those images are still influencing people today, even the most subversive artists, whose work is already being forgotten about, can't escape their influence. Sorry but there is really no discussion about it, Golden Age Hollywood was IT, and it's still unmatched.

[Rodney-2187]

I decided to look at my ratings for 2018 and see how they break down. Looks like it's been a good year in my opinion.

Percentages are skewed of course, because some movies look so bad, I haven't seen them.


25%


25%


32%


13%


5%

[Mistress9]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

I decided to look at my ratings for 2018 and see how they break down. Looks like it's been a good year in my opinion.

Percentages are skewed of course, because some movies look so bad, I haven't seen them.


25%


25%


32%


13%


5%

Reviews of films today tend to be excessively glowing, like A Star Is Born being called the greatest film ever made. I saw that headline. Parallel to that, the same films the press fawn over seem to be forgotten about two weeks after such fawning.

[Batman1980]

Rodneyfaile is easy to please

[Invid Ninja]

By a country mile I feel Hotel Artemis is the most sorely underrated film of this year.

[scifisuperfan]

Originally Posted by Invid Ninja

By a country mile I feel Hotel Artemis is the most sorely underrated film of this year.

It will be on my top 10 when the poll for best movie of 2018 starts.

But it can go down yet. Still too many movies to watch!!

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

Reviews of films today tend to be excessively glowing, like A Star Is Born being called the greatest film ever made. I saw that headline. Parallel to that, the same films the press fawn over seem to be forgotten about two weeks after such fawning.

Reviews have become advertisements. News has become propaganda.

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Rodneyfaile is easy to please

What can I say? Life is short. I plan on enjoying things.

[LegacyCosts]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

what's competent about Taxi Driver though? badly light with editing and cinematography that brings attention to itself. Just because it spawned modern cinema and everyone stayed there doesn't make it competently made.

I know to not take anything you say seriously now

[Mistress9]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

I know to not take anything you say seriously now

what did I say wrong?

[LegacyCosts]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

what did I say wrong?

Good lighting and cinematography should draw attention to itself, kinda the whole point isn't it? Taxi Driver looks incredible. I'll take Scorsese at his best over anything else really. I honestly can't see eye to eye with someone who can't appreciate the technical merits of those found in td.

[Mistress9]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

Good lighting and cinematography should draw attention to itself, kinda the whole point isn't it? Taxi Driver looks incredible. I'll take Scorsese at his best over anything else really. I honestly can't see eye to eye with someone who can't appreciate the technical merits of those found in td.

I think you misunderstand my argument. When you do jump cuts, hand held camera, artsy fartsy closeups of glasses or door knobs or whatever, that is cinematography and editing that calls attention to itself, in other words, it reminds you that you are watching a movie. That was the whole point of French New Wave, to destroy the Hollywood style of seamless editing, lighting and shooting that makes you forget you are seeing a movie. Then people like Scorcese decided to make that THE cinematographic style, and it doesn't work. Unless you are being ironic or purposefully deconstructive, it doesn't make sense, because who is the camera? what is it looking at and from what perspective? When you use those techniques all you see is the director calling the shots, it calls attention to itself.

And that is the monumental failure of that style, Taxi Driver may be dark and informal all you want, every frame is a glaring reminder of Scorcese and his mustache calling the shots. It is amateurish as hell and can't stand next to something like King Kong, or The Grapes Of Wrath, or the original Scarface, etc. It just can't.

[scifisuperfan]

Taxi Driver is a masterpiece. Robert De Niro got lucky in landing that role. Could have been easily taken by any other actor but he nailed it like no other. People that doesnt put Taxi Driver in their top 20 dont really like cinema and should stop wasting time posting here.

The first King Kong looked awkward. The Grapes Of Wrath is an important movie like for example The Wages of Fear and thats it. Scarface is the holy grail of trash talking but its below Taxi Driver in everything. But they are amazing movies except King Kong. I cant accept King Kong next to Taxi Driver, The Grapes Of Wrath or Scarface. I simply cant. Please no more!!!

[Invid Ninja]

Frankly, not naming names (more than a few lurking on these forums) but I'm a little perturbed by how any 'unpopular opinions' thread can become such a ' Captain No Fun' thread with such a rapid pace. Certain people take their views on films so painfully seriously, I may have a film degree myself but I'm sick and tired of certain posters here whether being excessively earnest or otherwise speaking with this snarling, pompous tone about their views on film being the absolute.

Some of you, have a coke and a smile for once. Calm down. Any wonder I barely post here.

[scifisuperfan]

I was being sarcastic. People can say whatever they want here.

Except when they say Taxi Driver isnt a good movie. There are limits. Come on...

[LegacyCosts]

Originally Posted by Mistress9

I think you misunderstand my argument. When you do jump cuts, hand held camera, artsy fartsy closeups of glasses or door knobs or whatever, that is cinematography and editing that calls attention to itself, in other words, it reminds you that you are watching a movie. That was the whole point of French New Wave, to destroy the Hollywood style of seamless editing, lighting and shooting that makes you forget you are seeing a movie. Then people like Scorcese decided to make that THE cinematographic style, and it doesn't work. Unless you are being ironic or purposefully deconstructive, it doesn't make sense, because who is the camera? what is it looking at and from what perspective? When you use those techniques all you see is the director calling the shots, it calls attention to itself.

And that is the monumental failure of that style, Taxi Driver may be dark and informal all you want, every frame is a glaring reminder of Scorcese and his mustache calling the shots. It is amateurish as hell and can't stand next to something like King Kong, or The Grapes Of Wrath, or the original Scarface, etc. It just can't.

I can understand wanting a more natural feel like in pre 1970s films but no matter the style of shots/director I always feel as if I'm watching something so it may as well be beautiful. This could just be my own personal preference as I struggle with immersion with films especially lately. However I'm typically less aware I'm viewing something on a screen if I like what I'm seeing. Even if it's completely over the top in style, say something like Pulp Fiction which is pretty divisive around here.

Calling an auteur like Scrosese amateurish whether you like his style or not comes off as trolling. He clearly knows what he is doing and he did it, whether you hate it or not is all preference but amateurish?