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.
Not at first. They only tinted it green when they re-released the around the same time as the sequels.
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.
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.
Avengers was refreshingly colorful (not to mention un-shaky and with some nice long shots); of course, if your heroes look like this, thisor this, you’re going to let them stand out.
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.)
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?!”
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.
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.
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.
Naah! i think movies nowadays are really great and more exciting…
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.