I watch an unhealthy amount of films, so much so that I've started to explore unfamiliar genres and ultimately the plethora of foreign films out there in the world.
Still, the only area that I struggle to enjoy are the old films(i.e. Hitchcock, Polanski). Granted, I appreciate how these films have pioneered the cinematic languages and developed storytelling for the current filmmakers-- but still, the dialogue seems fluffed, pace is REALLY dragged, and I just can't stay interested in characters and the plot.
Maybe it's because I've been exposed to the high-octane precision of stortelling by filmmakers nowadays, but I see so many older films on "greatest films" list, and I want to know why people enjoy them and if I could ever start enjoying my viewing experience.
Anyone have this issue too?
EDIT: by "old", I'm talking ~1960's and before (I consider The Godfather contemporary). Also, I hardly wath any of the shit Hollywood spews out nowadays (only willingly watch movies at theatres when it's promising which is a few times a year). I don't think you can argue that older films had better actors. If I recall, method acting and other techniques to create more powerful performances developed later.
I have opposite.I cant stand new movies.I feel like they are made for dumb people who dont have attention span of more than 3 seconds. Old movies generally have very good acting and very good stories.Some of them you need to watch them many times.For example Everytime you watch lynch- tarantino movies you see something new in them.
ZaplinG United States. July 07 2012 11:59. Posts 3804
I used to be the same way, until I started watching movies with Bogart in them. Now I prefer the era of the 40s-60s far more to our present trash. What have you tried so far?
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a lot of them are overrated, but in general the reason i like them are:
the dialogue is snappier, more poetic, and just more intelligent than 99% of modern films.
they relied on special effects and "high-octane" action a lot less, made them really have to tell a story.
a lot of times they had to tell a story without just telling you everything or showing you everything. you had to use your imagination and intellect a lot more.
the acting is often times just better.
the pacing was less "omg stuff is happening! oh shit now look over there!!!" and more of letting the story and dialogue drive the movie. too many modern directors and writers get all fancy-shmancy with their shit and it ends up being a big pile of poop.
the comedies are wittier and funnier, with a lot more subtlety. actually, the vast majority of the stories were subtler.
there is no objective reason to enjoy them, and in the end it all comes down to taste. most of my favorite films are more modern, but i love a lot of the classics. if you can't stay interested it could be a whole bunch of things, some of which could be stocked up to the inability to relate to the stories and characters. if the pacing seems slow, maybe it's because you have a shorter attention span, or maybe it's just cause you're used to more fast-paced filming. idk, but i guess the only way to start enjoying them is to look at them for what they are? but i don't want to assume that you aren't "getting" the movies because i hate it when people assume stuff like that, so it's probably just a case of personal preference.
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The actual Stalker movie by Tarkovsky completely got me. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079944/)
I feel that those movies are easier to watch when you try to enjoy them like a walk in the park, without waiting for something to happen. Enjoy the journey, not the goal.
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On July 07 2012 11:58 Silentenigma wrote: I have opposite.I cant stand new movies.I feel like they are made for dumb people who dont have attention span of more than 3 seconds. Old movies generally have very good acting and very good stories.Some of them you need to watch them many times.For example Everytime you watch lynch- tarantino movies you see something new in them.
Good acting? Actors in older movies always seemed like they were in a race to see who could finish their lines first.
J_Slim United States. July 07 2012 12:15. Posts 198
A lot of it is just stylistic. There are some directors that do very similar things in all of their movies, or they have a certain "feel." The style of storytelling was completely different, so it can definitely feel weird if you've only been exposed to the post-MTV era where there's an edit every 2.5 seconds or less.
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barbsq United States. July 07 2012 12:25. Posts 3039
I feel like modern films tend to focus more on spectacle rather than character.
admittedly it's pretty difficult to just generalize old movies vs new and say one is 'better', or even necessarily different to the other (there were still a lot of superficial, crap films back then too). For example, I find doctor zhivago and gone with the wind to be quite boring, despite knowing intellectually that they are masterpieces; meanwhile i find roman holiday, butch cassidy and the sundance kid, and 12 angry men to be absolutely phenomenal movies. Just watch a bunch, and you will either enjoy them or you wont.
It's such a weird question to ask how to enjoy entertainment media at least you're interested tho, good luck
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WniO United States. July 07 2012 13:11. Posts 2704
Watch Harold and Maude. Given, it's not a super old movie, but it's pretty old. I'd start going farther and farther back as you get more and more comfortable with the older styles. It's a process. Something you have to get used to.
SigmaoctanusIV United States. July 07 2012 13:19. Posts 2431
On July 07 2012 11:58 Silentenigma wrote: I have opposite.I cant stand new movies.I feel like they are made for dumb people who dont have attention span of more than 3 seconds. Old movies generally have very good acting and very good stories.Some of them you need to watch them many times.For example Everytime you watch lynch- tarantino movies you see something new in them.
You talk about how much you love old movies than you proceed to list Lynch and Tarantino who made most of there movies in the 90s+ is that really considered old? T_T I hope not
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GolemMadness Canada. July 07 2012 13:25. Posts 4904
Try something like The Thin Man, Youth of the Beast, The Apartment, A Touch of Evil, etc. Obviously you're not going to like every old movie ever, but if you really enjoy movies that much, then I think it pretty unlikely that you can't find ANY old movies that you like.
anycolourfloyd Australia. July 07 2012 13:28. Posts 424
i'm not a big movie buff but most of the big movies that are released these days (out of hollywood) just seem to be fucking trash. just so predictable, with a focus on basically anything except a novel or at least interesting storyline.
if i was more into movies i'd probably seek out more films from outside hollywood, that feel like an amazing breath of fresh wind.. but that's the problem, you've gotta sift past the dumb hollywood stuff to find them. so i just stick to books for the most part.
On July 07 2012 13:15 Arabidopsis wrote: Watch Harold and Maude. Given, it's not a super old movie, but it's pretty old. I'd start going farther and farther back as you get more and more comfortable with the older styles. It's a process. Something you have to get used to.
this. Harold and Maude is my favourite movie, it's just superb. A fantastic film.
I generally agree with you, especially with classic hollywood movies (I really appreciate the sophisticated storytelling that mostly starts developing in the late 60's-70's), but I can try to give you some of the old movies that felt freshest to me:
going really old to start, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari The 1928 Fall of the House of Usher Double Indemnity (out of all the classic noir/crime genre, this one seemed by far the most involving and thrilling and lively) The Seventh Seal
Ones I haven't seen but plan on checking out optimistically: All About Eve Sunset Boulevard East of Eden
Some choice ones that start bridging the gap between modern and old: Breathless La Jetée (I'm putting a bunch of foreign ones, I know, but I feel like the older foreign movies were generally a lot more interesting than older hollywood) Bonnie and Clyde Night of the Living Dead
And there's a ton of stuff into the 70's I would recommend but I think they fall closer to modern movies than old ones so I'm not sure it's what you mean: The Godfather/Part II Taxi Driver Annie Hall etc.
Last edit: 2012-07-07 14:04:00
Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, your opinion man
On July 07 2012 11:53 kamicom wrote: I watch an unhealthy amount of films, so much so that I've started to explore unfamiliar genres and ultimately the plethora of foreign films out there in the world.
Still, the only area that I struggle to enjoy are the old films(i.e. Hitchcock, Polanski). Granted, I appreciate how these films have pioneered the cinematic languages and developed storytelling for the current filmmakers-- but still, the dialogue seems fluffed, pace is REALLY dragged, and I just can't stay interested in characters and the plot.
Maybe it's because I've been exposed to the high-octane precision of stortelling by filmmakers nowadays, but I see so many older films on "greatest films" list, and I want to know why people enjoy them and if I could ever start enjoying my viewing experience.
Anyone have this issue too?
You get more in a current film because you have lived here and now. Every old film has references to what was going on in that exact time period which means you could lose a big chunk of a movie if you're not actively thinking about what was going on during the supposed time period, and what was popular as well. When you try to understand everything you will enjoy the movies more.
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WniO United States. July 07 2012 13:11. Posts 2704
