# I don’t like watching new movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785 "2017-06-24T19:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/41 "2017-06-25T15:33:28Z")
Hoo boy, the old is strong in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/42 "2017-06-25T15:50:33Z")
I’m so emotionally dead that I require explosions, overwrought melodrama, and bone rattling orchestral scores to spark the barest glimmer of human feeling in my cold husk of a body. Audiences are wracked by alienation in a post-industrial society and gaze upon the screen like a cow waiting for the thud of the bolt gun. Ah, sweet relief. > [@MoonMoon](#): > > Hoo boy, the old is strong in this thread. The nice thing about old movies is you can take a nap and not miss anything. Oh, and the casual misogyny. Actually, whenever I watch old movies that are three or more hours long I dread the experience, but they’re usually well paced and skip right along. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > While we’re (sort of) on the subject, what is [this camera technique](https://youtu.be/rW23RsUTb2Y?t=121) called? [Dolly zoom.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/43 "2017-06-25T15:54:34Z")
Weird – I’m more used to hearing obtrusive, unnecessary music in older movies compared to recent movies. Especially in comedies or romances, say. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/44 "2017-06-25T15:55:01Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I guess I’m out of the movie demographic now. Everything is Spiderman, Batman, Superman, or some other comic book. Starring I-dunno-who-these-people-are. I have to comment here. No offense , Everything is **Not** Spider-man, Batman, Superman or some other comic book. Seriously, I can’t believe you actually believe that. According to Box Office Mojo Hollywood released **729** films in 2016. That’s 729. Of those how many were “comic book” films? Maybe 10? 12? I’m so tired of hearing people say that all the movies that are released are special effect comic book films. There are so many different types of films released every year. Something for everybody. I’m 56. I LOVE movies. Movies from all decades. I can sit and watch a movie from the 30’s and than watch one that came out last year and enjoy them both. It doesn’t matter to me. Strong script, strong acting, strong directing. It doesn’t matter when it was made, if it has all that then it’s worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/45 "2017-06-25T16:19:29Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I’m so tired of hearing people say that all the movies that are released are special effect comic book films. There are so many different types of films released every year. Something for everybody. True, but how culturally relevant are they? Take a gander at [2016’s top grossing movies.](http://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2016) That list made me realize there’s such a movie as Ice Age 5: Collision Course, which grossed $400 million with a 15% RT. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/46 "2017-06-25T16:22:53Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > Hoo boy, the old is strong in this thread. Newer isnt always better. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/47 "2017-06-25T16:35:53Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > The nice thing about old movies is you can take a nap and not miss anything. Oh, and the casual misogyny. Their misogyny was so lame. If only they had that Straight Outta Compton group to mentor them. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/48 "2017-06-25T16:37:10Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Newer isnt always better. Neither is older. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/49 "2017-06-25T17:35:57Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Newer isnt always better. And things weren’t always better in the old days. Most of the time, they were much worse. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/50 "2017-06-25T17:40:16Z")
Older movies are slower and have the disadvantage that they are the cliches that the newer movies (and esp the great newer tv shows) are riffing on. So watching old movies seems regressive sometimes. I was a film student and have seen boatloads of classic and art movies. These days they need to be in the top percentile classically or artistically for me to take the time. There’s not many left that I missed. And yes the movies are basically being made for kids these days. Anecdotally there are many kinds of flicks, but we can see how the culture is by looking out at it. The economic model for filmed dramas has shifted. I don’t think there’s any looking back. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/51 "2017-06-25T17:43:17Z")
There are still mainstream movies that rely on character, story and dialog. Here are some from just the past few years: Moonlight Manchester by the Sea Hell or High Water Fences Hunt for the Wilderpeople Sully Hidden Figures Spotlight Carol Room Steve Jobs Boyhood Gone Girl Whiplash Nightcrawler The Imitation Game American Sniper Foxcatcher The Theory of Everything Mr. Turner Selma I’ve deliberately omitted movies that rely on special effects or animation, or that have a more modern feeling (such as The Martian, Kubo and the Two Strings, Ex Machina and Birdman). My point is that movies are still being made that don’t have what the OP considers flaws. As I look at today’s movie listings I see Beatriz at Dinner, The Hero, My Cousin Rachel and Past Life. I haven’t seen these yet, but I doubt they have a lot of CGI, loud music, shaky cam, oversaturated colors and audio effects. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/52 "2017-06-25T17:44:40Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > Hoo boy, the old is strong in this thread. > [@marshmallow](#): > > The nice thing about old movies is you can take a nap and not miss anything. Oh, and the casual misogyny. I want you two to stand up in front of an audience at a TCM event and make these statements, if you have the guts. Be sure to wear rotten-tomato-proof clothing. Don’t be surprised by all the under-40s who still have good pitching arms. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/53 "2017-06-25T18:02:45Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > And things weren’t always better in the old days. Most of the time, they were much worse. Incorrect. Today’s movies are heavily influenced by the international market and are made as vanilla as possible. Regional and niche cinema is non existent to the big studios. These were also the minor leagues of filmmaking and allowed the behind the scenes talent to get experience, learn their jobs and develop new techniques. Today artistic diversity is all but extinct. I blame the Cineplex for some of this. They charge the same admission for all films. If they could charge less for smaller films it might revitalize the market. And with the death of the independent theater came the death of the foreign film in America. Instead of an international buffet of film flavor we are now a McDonalds of movies where the product is developed to appeal to the least common denominator. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/54 "2017-06-25T18:17:06Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > The nice thing about old movies is you can take a nap and not miss anything. Oh, and the casual misogyny. Hey, those were the days when men were men and sheep were nervous! People didn’t believe a lot of the crap they blindly accept today. Yeah, a lot of old movies suck because the studios simply **had to** crank out \*\*X \*\*number of films a year to meet the demands of cinemas and movie-goers. Of course most have faded into oblivion; for every _ **Casablanca** _ there were hundreds of “Gee, that’s swell!” and “Let’s put on a show!” features. Still, if you compare the production standards of those films to what’s around today, I think you’ll find they’re at least as good and often much better, simply because everyone at a studio knew what they were doing. They were producers in the true sense of the word, not investors who expected a quick return on their money. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/55 "2017-06-25T20:04:26Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > \[Dolly zoom.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom) Much obliged. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/56 "2017-06-25T21:00:35Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Incorrect. No, you’re incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/57 "2017-06-25T21:44:28Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > No, you’re incorrect. I know you are but what am I?!! ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/58 "2017-06-26T01:02:32Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I know you are but what am I?!! Old? ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/59 "2017-06-26T01:42:59Z")
Star Trek isn’t the new Plane 9; Birdemic is. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785/60 "2017-06-26T01:54:03Z")
It’s the sound! I’ve been saying this for a decade, so since my late 20s…so many theaters/films/whatever have the sfx blaring but I can’t parse the dialogue. It can’t totally be the theaters, either, because I’ve had a great time at home whenever I can watch anything with subtitles. And I’m talking, English subtitles with English films. I’m addicted to it now. And as far as I can tell, my sight is far worse than my hearing, so you tell me. The last film I recall understanding and enjoying in theater without aid was Sweeney Todd, which was…2006 or so? I usually do ok with drive-ins, too, for whatever that’s worth. I think the radio equalizes the sound a bit. (I’m in a rare area where we still have nearly as many drive-ins as indoor theater, so that’s fun for summer films) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-don-t-like-watching-new-movies/789785.md?page=4)