lune7000
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@lune7000
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 5, 2023 21:32:18 GMT
I get lots of old movies on DVD from my library and find others on the internet. Its a real blast and I am enjoying myself greatly. I don't really like the movies being made today for the most part- they seem lifeless, imitative, ideological, and depressing. Sometimes it seems like they're all made by the same person.
I have two big fears regarding past films:
1. Younger people won't be aware of how many great films were made and they will just watch the crap that's out there now and think that's all there is.
2. The sources to get to these old films, such as libraries and the internet, will stop carrying them and so- even if a person were curious about earlier films- they will not be able to find them easily (I wonder when my library will start discarding DVDs, maybe they feel that the technology is too old someday)
It's really sad to lose a heritage
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Post by Richard Kimble on Mar 5, 2023 23:44:01 GMT
Old films are more accessible than ever.
I'm old enough to remember reading The New Yorker film listings and being jealous of the films you could see in NYC, that I would never get to see living in BFE.
Now with streaming I've seen rarities like DeMille's This Day and Age, Henry Morgan's So This Is New York, and various bodacious Tatis, all without leaving BFE (where I now prefer to live -- irony alert)
It's just that younger people have no interest in old crap, especially if it's in B&W.
Mostly this is simply youth, but partly it's living in an age of information overload. I'm sure some young people would be interested but are a bit overwhelmed by it all.
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Post by marianne48 on Mar 6, 2023 0:35:50 GMT
Old films are more accessible than ever. I'm old enough to remember reading The New Yorker film listings and being jealous of the films you could see in NYC, that I would never get to see living in BFE. Now with streaming I've seen rarities like DeMille's This Day and Age, Henry Morgan's So This Is New York, and various bodacious Tatis, all without leaving BFE (where I now prefer to live -- irony alert) It's just that younger people have no interest in old crap, especially if it's in B&W. Mostly this is simply youth, but partly it's living in an age of information overload. I'm sure some young people would be interested but are a bit overwhelmed by it all. Okay, I'm a bit slow...what's BFE? Maybe movies are more accessible, but the interest in classic films and filmmaking seems to be waning. I think the early '70s era was a high point for interest in all kinds of films, especially as it coincided with the nostalgia craze of that era and the fact that many classic era filmmakers and stars were still around then. |
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Post by Penn Guinn on Mar 6, 2023 0:38:23 GMT
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Post by marianne48 on Mar 6, 2023 1:11:05 GMT
Oh, my...the English language is gloriously ever-changing. |
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Post by phantomparticle on Mar 6, 2023 2:13:14 GMT
History is cyclical.
As a kid growing up in the fifties, the only way to see films made prior to that decade was on television, either on Saturday afternoon or late night (11PM to 1AM when most stations actually shut down until the next morning). So, what you are fearful of almost happened over a half century ago. Television became a new market for the studios and briefly saved thousands of movies from extinction, especially the silents. As that began to wear out, the video era arrived, filling an even more lucrative treasure chest for Hollywood.
History is now repeating itself because the present generation is just as dismissive of movies made before they were born as was my generation.
What we have today, what has been saved, will be around for decades, but may be doomed eventually unless some new technology is found to continue its preservation.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2023 18:39:32 GMT
I think there are so many film fans who will actively preserve older movies. Cinemageddon etc.
The general public will forget about it though--that's the way it is.
One development that might give new life to older movies is hologram technology.
It could reach a point where movies can be turned into 3d dioramas by computer into a kind of stage show--for home or theater--and that might give new life to old movies. A novelty development.
Of course, that is if the political censors stay out of it and don't edit the content (as they are doing now with blu-ray and streaming).
I don't think older movies have as much to worry about as newer ones. Old movies with classic stars will probably endure-at least as a niche market--but the current ones are more likely to fade because they are so dependent on non-traditional artistic elements.
FX technology dates so movies that are mostly driven by FX will suffer more than films that rely on dialogue and performance.
The Oscars was a good sign of this---no one cared about any of the movies last year--only the slap and Gi Jane was talked about!
A complete failure of what was supposed to be an artistic cultural showcase.
I think nostalgia is a big thing partly because newer stuff is not satisfying people.
Because movies are definitely not as enthusiastically received as they were 3 decades ago--especially among younger people.
Nobody cares.
Yet older movies have their fans.
You can see it with all the blogs and podcasts and conventions devoted to cult movies.
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lune7000
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@lune7000
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 6, 2023 21:21:26 GMT
I think there are so many film fans who will actively preserve older movies. Cinemageddon etc. The general public will forget about it though--that's the way it is. One development that might give new life to older movies is hologram technology. It could reach a point where movies can be turned into 3d dioramas by computer into a kind of stage show--for home or theater--and that might give new life to old movies. A novelty development. Of course, that is if the political censors stay out of it and don't edit the content (as they are doing now with blu-ray and streaming). I don't think older movies have as much to worry about as newer ones. Old movies with classic stars will probably endure-at least as a niche market--but the current ones are more likely to fade because they are so dependent on non-traditional artistic elements. FX technology dates so movies that are mostly driven by FX will suffer more than films that rely on dialogue and performance. The Oscars was a good sign of this---no one cared about any of the movies last year--only the slap and Gi Jane was talked about! A complete failure of what was supposed to be an artistic cultural showcase. I think nostalgia is a big thing partly because newer stuff is not satisfying people. Because movies are definitely not as enthusiastically received as they were 3 decades ago--especially among younger people. Nobody cares. Yet older movies have their fans. You can see it with all the blogs and podcasts and conventions devoted to cult movies. I hadn't considered this angle before but it makes sense that the more recent movies may be more disposable in the long run. can you expand on the "political censors" part of your post? I wasn't aware movies were being edited for this, what are some examples? (I only know of Trump being removed from Home Alone and didn't know this was more widespread) |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2023 22:13:35 GMT
I hadn't considered this angle before but it makes sense that the more recent movies may be more disposable in the long run. can you expand on the "political censors" part of your post? I wasn't aware movies were being edited for this, what are some examples? (I only know of Trump being removed from Home Alone and didn't know this was more widespread) I am hearing that certain movies on Blu-Ray have been censored to remove frames of nudity or verbal slurs that are unPC. Edited without announcing that they did it. If that is happening with cult movies, obscure ones in fact, then what might they do without announcing it for more popular releases? The editing is happening. Even skin tones are altered--making the skin tones orange or blue. That's not such a big deal as editing the dialogue.
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lune7000
Junior Member
@lune7000
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 678
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 6, 2023 22:23:25 GMT
I hadn't considered this angle before but it makes sense that the more recent movies may be more disposable in the long run. can you expand on the "political censors" part of your post? I wasn't aware movies were being edited for this, what are some examples? (I only know of Trump being removed from Home Alone and didn't know this was more widespread) I am hearing that certain movies on Blu-Ray have been censored to remove frames of nudity or verbal slurs that are unPC. Edited without announcing that they did it. If that is happening with cult movies, obscure ones in fact, then what might they do without announcing it for more popular releases? The editing is happening. Even skin tones are altered--making the skin tones orange or blue. That's not such a big deal as editing the dialogue.
Interesting if true. The further back in time one goes, the harder it will be to edit these films b/c the amount needed to be edited will be so large and intertwined with plot as to make the film incomprehensible. I have heard Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book is being edited by the woke to eliminate words like "fat" for Augustus Gloop- how do you get that out of a Willy Wonka film? www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/books/roald-dahl-books-changes.html |
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Post by Richard Kimble on Mar 6, 2023 22:27:03 GMT
History is cyclical. As a kid growing up in the fifties, the only way to see films made prior to that decade was on television, either on Saturday afternoon or late night (11PM to 1AM when most stations actually shut down until the next morning). So, what you are fearful of almost happened over a half century ago. Television became a new market for the studios and briefly saved thousands of movies from extinction, especially the silents. As that began to wear out, the video era arrived, filling an even more lucrative treasure chest for Hollywood. History is now repeating itself because the present generation is just as dismissive of movies made before they were born as was my generation.I can't speak for the '50s, but when I came in (mid '70s) I caught the very tail end of the huge nostalgia boom of the '60s; this created a major revival of interest in the Marx Bros, as well as Busby Berkeley and Buster Keaton, among others. By the mid '70s this had been replaced by nostalgia for '50s music. My point is, some of my generation were a least interested in some older stuff. Most of today's seem totally wrapped up in the moment. Again, I think information overload is partly responsible for this. When something is a click away it becomes less vital. |
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Post by Richard Kimble on Mar 6, 2023 22:29:28 GMT
Ian Fleming's novels are being 1984ed as well |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2023 22:34:28 GMT
Interesting if true. The further back in time one goes, the harder it will be to edit these films b/c the amount needed to be edited will be so large and intertwined with plot as to make the film incomprehensible. I have heard Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book is being edited by the woke to eliminate words like "fat" for Augustus Gloop- how do you get that out of a Willy Wonka film? www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/books/roald-dahl-books-changes.htmlBut the problem is-they may be editing things that are totally personal and just to be a vandal in the editing room. Who can catch them if it isn't an editorial policy?
Blu-Ray is supposed to preserve them and yet they edit out the use of "fag" or something just to make a political protest that the word appeared in an old movie? Or they cut out a few frames of nudity. Why? Unless they do it so they can later claim to have another more complete version. But they aren't telling you they edited it. That is what is really bad--it's like they are trying to rewrite history.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2023 22:44:31 GMT
Again, I think information overload is partly responsible for this. When something is a click away it becomes less vital. Yeah that is true isn't it. I have that problem with digital books.
I keep an image blocker on just so I am not bombarded with imagery and ads--it's not like reading a book or magazine where the ads don't keep changing. Information overload is right.
When I was a child in the 70s-80s, we had access to stuff from the 1930s onward. It never felt like old stuff was inferior--it was just older.
As kids we didn't avoid Leave it to Beaver or Our Gang because it was black and white. I don't remember anyone saying "I am not watching this because it isn't in color."
And people cared more about the story or characters--that was more important than the technology or format.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2023 22:49:15 GMT
I get lots of old movies on DVD from my library and find others on the internet. Its a real blast and I am enjoying myself greatly. I don't really like the movies being made today for the most part- they seem lifeless, imitative, ideological, and depressing. Sometimes it seems like they're all made by the same person. I missed this part in your post. What's really bad about the state of things is that artists seek encouragement from other artists--and if the cultural media is so stale--it does act as a joykill for artists in general. They aren't enthusiastic.
I was looking at this SNL skit on It's A Wonderful Life and it is impressive how good a job they do imitating the style of acting and voice performance from the 1940s. I saw one of the more recent SNL shows where they spoofed older movies and stars and they did a terrible job with voice imitation and script. This is brilliant as an ensemble effort:
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lune7000
Junior Member
@lune7000
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 7, 2023 0:19:16 GMT
History is cyclical. As a kid growing up in the fifties, the only way to see films made prior to that decade was on television, either on Saturday afternoon or late night (11PM to 1AM when most stations actually shut down until the next morning). So, what you are fearful of almost happened over a half century ago. Television became a new market for the studios and briefly saved thousands of movies from extinction, especially the silents. As that began to wear out, the video era arrived, filling an even more lucrative treasure chest for Hollywood. History is now repeating itself because the present generation is just as dismissive of movies made before they were born as was my generation.I can't speak for the '50s, but when I came in (mid '70s) I caught the very tail end of the huge nostalgia boom of the '60s; this created a major revival of interest in the Marx Bros, as well as Busby Berkeley and Buster Keaton, among others. By the mid '70s this had been replaced by nostalgia for '50s music. My point is, some of my generation were a least interested in some older stuff. Most of today's seem totally wrapped up in the moment. Again, I think information overload is partly responsible for this. When something is a click away it becomes less vital. I see this very much in my teen students- the phone/internet has almost wiped out the concept of there ever being a past, the "now" is all there is and history is continually erasing each second. Many have never seen the original Iron Man film let alone anything older. When people are in a constant state of distraction there seems to be no curiosity of history. The algorithms have perfected a complete hold on the mind. |
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lune7000
Junior Member
@lune7000
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 7, 2023 0:25:26 GMT
Interesting if true. The further back in time one goes, the harder it will be to edit these films b/c the amount needed to be edited will be so large and intertwined with plot as to make the film incomprehensible. I have heard Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book is being edited by the woke to eliminate words like "fat" for Augustus Gloop- how do you get that out of a Willy Wonka film? www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/books/roald-dahl-books-changes.htmlBut the problem is-they may be editing things that are totally personal and just to be a vandal in the editing room. Who can catch them if it isn't an editorial policy?
Blu-Ray is supposed to preserve them and yet they edit out the use of "fag" or something just to make a political protest that the word appeared in an old movie? Or they cut out a few frames of nudity. Why? Unless they do it so they can later claim to have another more complete version. But they aren't telling you they edited it. That is what is really bad--it's like they are trying to rewrite history.
Rewriting history is exactly what they are trying to do- just like history was rewritten in the Nazi and Soviet eras. We are entering the world we used to only read about in history books. The 'movement' never ends where people think it will end, extremism breeds more extremism to keep the true believers in a constant state of peak motivation. Many who support this now, or shrug it off, will truly regret where this goes in the future. |
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lune7000
Junior Member
@lune7000
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 678
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 7, 2023 0:29:16 GMT
I get lots of old movies on DVD from my library and find others on the internet. Its a real blast and I am enjoying myself greatly. I don't really like the movies being made today for the most part- they seem lifeless, imitative, ideological, and depressing. Sometimes it seems like they're all made by the same person. I missed this part in your post. What's really bad about the state of things is that artists seek encouragement from other artists--and if the cultural media is so stale--it does act as a joykill for artists in general. They aren't enthusiastic.
I was looking at this SNL skit on It's A Wonderful Life and it is impressive how good a job they do imitating the style of acting and voice performance from the 1940s. I saw one of the more recent SNL shows where they spoofed older movies and stars and they did a terrible job with voice imitation and script. This is brilliant as an ensemble effort:
Current media is stale now b/c the creators are being hired now based on their ideological purity rather than creativity. Films must run the gauntlet of dozens of woke requirements to have any chance of being made. The current environment is a hundred times more restrictive than the Hays Code era. |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 7, 2023 0:32:34 GMT
Many have never seen the original Iron Man film let alone anything older. Wow. Tell me more about your students.
Demographic breakdown.
This is intriguing--I wonder how much of it is due to the influence of iphones making media so portable, instantaneous, and disposable.
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lune7000
Junior Member
@lune7000
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 678
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Post by lune7000 on Mar 7, 2023 13:39:21 GMT
Many have never seen the original Iron Man film let alone anything older. Wow. Tell me more about your students.
Demographic breakdown.
This is intriguing--I wonder how much of it is due to the influence of iphones making media so portable, instantaneous, and disposable.
about 130 11th graders (@16 yrs old) half American black, 25% Latino, 25% other (Asian, African, or white)- they are mostly consumed with social media and watch streaming TV (lots of sports, TV shows) Some teachers here actually assigned them to watch Black Panther 2 |
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