Question for people who watch old movies

Ennio Morricone is my third favorite composer.

To respond to PrimeGuffer’s question: it’s an entirely fair point, and one I’ve noted, but I also don’t think too much of it. Should the modern movie be wholly bereft of plot or style, for example, I’d probably see an even greater disparity, but I don’t really watch many Transformers-style “blow ‘em up!” extravaganzas in general. I do think there’s something jarring about abruptly switching from black and white to color or vice versa (a problem that Wizard of Oz managed nicely, though). I’ve noticed that especially when I’m watching, say, TV’s Svengoolie: the eye needs a moment to adjust from the film, which is usually in B&W, and the commercials in color. Somewhat off-track, but it did come to mind…

EDIT: The difference in acting, which you noted in your OP, Primemovermithrax Pejorative , is something I’ve noticed quite a bit. Usually, even when there’s a movie set in, say the ‘20s-‘50s, the acting just comes off as forced and fake—it doesn’t convince me that these people are in this time period. The acting-style, yes, but is that it? There seems such a gap between the two… 

I know. 

I can't say I have much interest in Jason and the Argonauts though. I am not a big fan of those types of films.

Sadly, moviemouth , that’s a task (skill? talent?) I’ve never been able to master…

It cuts both ways. Movies from decades ago had very static cameras, very formulaic shots and edits, very rigid acting styles, sanitized stories, lack of diversity.

@joetorrence



Good luck

I guess I sort of see movies as a whole about like this as a rough guideline...

-1960+ = Modern movies (although I might say it's more towards the 1970's/1980's before things are more towards today's)
-1930-1959 = Old movies (basically pre-1960 but after the silent era)
-pre-1930's = Ancient movies (basically the silent era is what I would call more of the ancient type)

Primemovermithrax Pejorative



While I agree music can have a solid impact on ones feelings/emotional response to movies there are just not that many scores etc for movies that stand out to any higher degree in general and I definitely disagree on the 'music scores have become weaker over time'. but who knows, maybe I partially think that way because of how the overall movies style etc is back in the day vs more recent-ish times.



One reason I might disagree here is it's a cartoon as those tend to not change as much as movies with actual people in them.

basically I separate cartoon's from actual movies. they are not the same to me as I see cartoons as something largely for kids. I don't know about everyone else but by the time I got into my teens a bit cartoons lost their appeal.

p.s. about the only animated thing I think is of any real worth now is... Death Note (2006-2007) ; but this is outside of the typical popular type like Toy Story etc. but who knows, Looney Toons might be decent for me to see a bit or piece again for nostalgia sake.


moviemouth



I would disagree with that as movies always come back to some sort of feeling/emotional response they give you as that's the core of a movies general interest/enjoyment of it. all that changes is the degree you experience those feelings and I adjust my ratings accordingly. I feel that's basically why people watch movies to provoke certain feelings/emotional responses that they like experiencing. without that at their core, movies are mostly pointless.

but with that said... movies can be equally great but in different ways etc. like can provoke certain feelings/emotional responses that are different from each other but equally great.



While it's true I have seen a very limited amount of movies pre-1960's I still think it's going to be difficult for pre-1960's to come even close overall to 1960+ movies. it's possible there could be a exception once in a while, like there is with me on The Song of Bernadette (1943), but I sort of consider that a exception to the general rule as it's the only pre-1960 movie I have seen of any real worth for me (I have seen it twice(both times in 2016)).

but with that said... I would have to assume there is at least some movies I would mildly like (i.e. 6/10 range) pre-1960 but I suspect it won't be easy to find them given their overall style is quite a bit different from modern movies. but if I could find any pre-1960 movies I score a 7/10 or higher outside of The Song of Bernadette (1943) (which is within my Top 186 movies) I would be a bit surprised and would be pretty much shocked if I could find one I give a 7.5-8/10 or higher(which would put it within my Top 106 movies if that happened).



Yeah and by far to.

Ill ask you this... in terms of the movies that stand out for your the most(basically your favorite movies) how many are pre-1960 vs post-1960?

for me nearly everything is post-1960. like 185 out of 186 of My Favorite Movies is post-1960. but with that said, I would not expect many around here to have THAT large of a difference between pre and post 1960 movies but I would still expect the vast majority of people around here to have most (if not at least 60-70%+(?)) of their favorite movies post-1960.



Exactly.

but with that said... there are not many movies that have scores that stand out from the pack in general.

p.s. but one example where I feel the score really ads to the movie is Road to Perditon (2002). that just blends everything really well with visuals/sound etc.

Nalkarj



I doubt I am the only person who feels older movies beyond a certain age lack general feeling/emotional punch etc vs more modern movies, especially in terms of volume of them which I would assume heavily favors more modern ones for most people.

and like I always say... when you get to a movies core, movies are all about provoking some sort of emotional response/feeling that makes them click or not and the ones that do that to a higher degree I score higher and the ones that do not score lower.


@nxnwrocks



I think you might have just partially put into words in why those pre-1960 movies tend to be just generally not good.

so while those lightning fast edit stuff in some modern movies can be a problem, maybe with those really old movies it takes things a bit too far the other way with things being too basic. plus, I can't really entirely write off acting from pre-1960's movies either because I think a while ago someone said in these forums and mentioned one actor that's been around a long time and they did not vary their acting style back in the day vs more modern times, which was a great point, so I can't automatically write things off to lack of screen presence/acting, at least not in every case, even though I do think that can have a negative effect in old movies at times with the way they come across on screen with their styles back in the old days.

but I think a decent amount of things probably has to do with camera work, at least partially, as that's one area things have definitely gotten all around better, at least on the better shot movies(with their overall visual style etc), than the old days even though those who disagree with me could easily fault some modern movies with the shaky cam/fast edit stuff.