# Are movies getting uglier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636 "2012-09-04T13:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/21 "2012-09-06T01:31:15Z")
It does seem to me that quite a few recent movies seem to be going for the visual signs of old paintings, lots of browns and greys in various shades, in order to seem important. Thing is, those paintings in the original would often as not have been brightly coloured, even though were Serious with a capital Serious. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/22 "2012-09-06T08:24:48Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The world inside the Matrix was extremely green as I recall; I wouldn’t exactly call it colorful. Not at first. They only tinted it green when they re-released the around the same time as the sequels. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/23 "2012-09-06T09:07:35Z")
> [@Tblue](#): > > Also. Shakey cam - DO HATE. > No, it does not make me feel part of the action, because you try shaking your head about without habitually trying to focus in at least one direction. It’s human nature. My problem with shakeycam is that if you move around a lot your brain compensates for the rapid motion by locking the horizon down as a point of reference. But film and television tells you the opposite, that despite your lack of motion the horizon is rapidly tilting and swinging around at all angles. This is not what your brain wants to experience, hence discomfort and possibly even nausea. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/24 "2012-09-06T14:28:43Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > My favorite recent movie for color is [Hero](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299977/) with Jet Li. It amazes me that it’s ten years old already. Bold colors are a theme in the whole film, but the whole thing is shot like a series of carefully composed paintings. _House of Flying Daggers_ and \*Curse of the Golden Flower \*as well. Actually, it’s a Zhang Yimou theme, I think, going back to _Red Sorghum_. Not a lot of Western films lately going for that sort of thing. _Girl with a Pearl Earring_, _Shakespeare in Love_ and _Elizabeth_, I guess. Maybe it is a period movie thing, then. I must admit, as critically-reviled as it seems to be, the _Aeon Flux_ movie won my heart because it rebelled against the “The Future is a Grey-Brown wasteland” aesthetic so common in modern SciFi. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/25 "2012-09-06T14:36:01Z")
_Avengers_ was refreshingly colorful (not to mention un-shaky and with some nice long shots); of course, if your heroes look like [this](http://cdn.mos.totalfilm.com/images/c/chris-evans-on-captain-americas-avengers-costume-change-67484-00-470-75.jpg), [this](http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/041312-marvel-sequels-captain-america-iron-man-thor.jpg)or [this](http://images.hitfix.com/photos/1079188/Iron-Man-launches-himself-at-Lokis-hovering-ship_gallery_primary.jpg), you’re going to let them stand out. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/26 "2012-09-06T17:20:57Z")
One thing you don’t see any more that was common in the Technicolor days is unusual colors in clothing. Look at any ‘costume’ drama, the ladies are wearing peach, teal, seafoam green,french blue, lilac, coral, rose…sort of dusty, or mixed hues. there isn’t so much black, white, or blatant primary colors. (one sees few costumes or ball gowns any more.) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/27 "2012-09-06T22:02:38Z")
I have a feeling all these tinted films are going to seem very dated someday. “See how green and drab that movie is, Timmy? That’s hallmark of the early 2000s! What were they _thinking?!_” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/28 "2012-09-06T23:25:20Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > _Avengers_ was refreshingly colorful (not to mention un-shaky and with some nice long shots); I noticed that. And it tells you something about the state of affairs that the lack of shakycam, juddery shutter-speed, and murky colour grading is instantly noticeable and worth remarking on. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/29 "2012-09-06T23:29:50Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I noticed that. And it tells you something about the state of affairs that the lack of shakycam, juddery shutter-speed, and murky colour grading is instantly noticeable and worth remarking on. One of the many reasons I like _Breaking Bad_ so much is its style. The southwest setting helps. It is shot in a very classic style, lots of long, fluid movements and plenty of wideshots that really take advantage of the scenery. And the color! It’s like a throwback to _Lawrence of Arabia_. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/30 "2012-09-07T01:44:49Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > One of the many reasons I like _Breaking Bad_ so much is its style. The southwest setting helps. It is shot in a very classic style, lots of long, fluid movements and plenty of wideshots that really take advantage of the scenery. And the color! It’s like a throwback to _Lawrence of Arabia_. I was going to comment that oddly enough TV is looking more beautiful lately while movies are looking worse. Even LOST which was very flawed had absolutely beautiful shots that took full advantage of them shooting in Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/31 "2012-09-07T02:21:02Z")
I know _Troy_ seemed to catch a lot of hate when it came out but the final Achillies/Hector fight is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. A good balance of long shots and closeups that actually tell the story of the fight - moving from spears, to swords, to almost hand-to-hand and no confusion about what was happening. ---
**Author:** ![rosaclinic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/51bf81/32.png) [@rosaclinic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rosaclinic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/32 "2012-09-07T15:40:00Z")
Naah! i think movies nowadays are really great and more exciting… ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636/33 "2012-09-09T09:49:56Z")
Shaky camera was excellent in Saving Private Ryan, but all too often its complete rubbish when attempted in other movies. Deadpan/subdued colours, and continuous low lighting are also a total turn off. Not to mention having got old very quickly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-movies-getting-uglier/633636.md?page=1)