Future of Movies? -- Judi's Romance in Vintage Film Forum

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Subject: Future of Movies?

Author:
Conrad
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Date Posted: 09:58:55 01/08/08 Tue

I don't know if anyone noticed it or not, but the biggest movie money makers so far this year are all special effects films. (I Am Legend, Alvin and the Chipmunks and National Treasure 2.) Now, no one is a bigger fan of special effects than yours truly, but I'm also a long time movie buff and I worry a little that we're losing the true art of film making these days.

Since the "Star Wars" revolution began in the 1970s, special effects have dominated the screen increasingly year after year. And with good reason; they're consistent money makers. (I include horror films in this category too, because they rely heavily on special effects.) Even some films that aren't fantasy, sci-fi or horror depend on elaborate special effects. ("300" for example, or comedies like the "Nutty Professor" films.)

It must be very difficult to get financing for movies done the old fashioned way, where you just hired some actors, made a few sets and photographed scenes "in camera." The closest we have to that now are romantic comedies, and they're a hit-and-miss business, some make money and others just disappear after a few weeks.

Under the current system, it would difficult if not impossible to make films like they did in the old days; say, like "The Miracle Worker," or the Spencer Tracy-Kathleen Hepburn comedies, or "I Remember Mama." Such films depended on superb acting to be successful, but today all you need are effects and the performers are increasingly less important.

Which brings another point: the special effects movies have not been kind to actors. They've produced only a handful of genuine "stars" in the traditional Hollywood sense, and all of them male: Harrison Ford, Orlando Bloom and currently Will Smith. But you'll notice that everyone else associated with special effects have dropped out of sight. All the other performers associated with "Star Wars" either went into obscurity or became typecast. And when have you ever heard of the "Jurassic Park" performers in a major film?

Will Smith himself has shrewdly managed to diversify his career beyond all the special effects movies he's normally associated with, including his Academy Award nominated performance in "Ali." But you'll notice that Ford and Bloom 's efforts to get out of the special effects rut have been hit-and-miss at best. I don't know what the future holds for the movie business, but there's another heavily-touted special effects movie coming up this month ("Cloverfield"). So we'll have to wait and see if the movie business will continue along these lines.

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[> Subject: You know what reallu cracks me up? Those flying ninjas or whatever they are..the martial arts guys, sort of sailing through the air...I just can't take that seriously, it looks humorous to me! You're right, I Remember Mama, or Shop Around the Corner, would be flops, these days. As you say, there are the romantic comedies, and I believe 'You've Got Mail' is a take-off on the Shop film...but they don't seem to have the depth that they used to. Every now and then, you see one that sticks with you...I tend to like the Masterpiece Theatre remakes, like jane Eyre. Movies like The Pianist, Shindler's List, what's that one Ang was talking about, The Incredible Lightness of Being? There aresome great ones, but I know what you mean...more times than not, I forget the newer films, a couple of hours after I've seen them!

Author:
Judith
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Date Posted: 10:38:12 01/15/08 Tue

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[> [> Subject: Sorry, that was 'really', not reallu!

Author:
J
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Date Posted: 10:53:14 01/15/08 Tue

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[> [> [> Subject: ...AND, I'm dating myself, for sure, but I still can't believe, when I hold a DVD between my fingers, that an entire movie is on that!!! I grew up with the guy in the projector room (THAT was a mysterious place that I'd just get a glimpse of...I felt the projectionist was a sort of Wizard of Oz, you know? All the reels of film...that made sense, haha!!

Author:
Judith...in the space age!
[Edit]
Date Posted: 10:59:02 01/15/08 Tue

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>I don't know if anyone noticed it or not, but the >biggest movie money makers so far this year are all >special effects films. (I Am Legend, Alvin and the >Chipmunks and National Treasure 2.) Now, no one is a >bigger fan of special effects than yours truly, but >I'm also a long time movie buff and I worry a little >that we're losing the true art of film making these >days. > >Since the "Star Wars" revolution began in the 1970s, >special effects have dominated the screen increasingly >year after year. And with good reason; they're >consistent money makers. (I include horror films in >this category too, because they rely heavily on >special effects.) Even some films that aren't >fantasy, sci-fi or horror depend on elaborate special >effects. ("300" for example, or comedies like the >"Nutty Professor" films.) > >It must be very difficult to get financing for movies >done the old fashioned way, where you just hired some >actors, made a few sets and photographed scenes "in >camera." The closest we have to that now are romantic >comedies, and they're a hit-and-miss business, some >make money and others just disappear after a few weeks. > >Under the current system, it would difficult if not >impossible to make films like they did in the old >days; say, like "The Miracle Worker," or the Spencer >Tracy-Kathleen Hepburn comedies, or "I Remember Mama." > Such films depended on superb acting to be >successful, but today all you need are effects and the >performers are increasingly less important. > >Which brings another point: the special effects >movies have not been kind to actors. They've >produced only a handful of genuine "stars" in the >traditional Hollywood sense, and all of them male: >Harrison Ford, Orlando Bloom and currently Will Smith. > But you'll notice that everyone else associated with >special effects have dropped out of sight. All the >other performers associated with "Star Wars" either >went into obscurity or became typecast. And when have >you ever heard of the "Jurassic Park" performers in a >major film? > >Will Smith himself has shrewdly managed to diversify >his career beyond all the special effects movies he's >normally associated with, including his Academy Award >nominated performance in "Ali." But you'll notice >that Ford and Bloom 's efforts to get out of the >special effects rut have been hit-and-miss at best. I >don't know what the future holds for the movie >business, but there's another heavily-touted special >effects movie coming up this month ("Cloverfield"). >So we'll have to wait and see if the movie business >will continue along these lines.
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[> [> Subject: Sorry, that was 'really', not reallu!
Author: J [Edit]	Date Posted: 10:53:14 01/15/08 Tue [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: ...AND, I'm dating myself, for sure, but I still can't believe, when I hold a DVD between my fingers, that an entire movie is on that!!! I grew up with the guy in the projector room (THAT was a mysterious place that I'd just get a glimpse of...I felt the projectionist was a sort of Wizard of Oz, you know? All the reels of film...that made sense, haha!!
Author: Judith...in the space age! [Edit]	Date Posted: 10:59:02 01/15/08 Tue [ Post a Reply to This Message ]