Movies: A Quadruple-Bladed Sword

Ok, this is something that I've been wanting to write about for a while, but have never gotten around to it for being lazy. But today I finally will (mainly because I'm really bored). This is mostly a response to stupid people complaining about movies. Many people don't seem to understand movies; so I feel the need to give forth my opinion.

What people fail to realize, I think, is that there are different types of movies for different reasons. But, I'm going to classify movies into two groups, each with polarizing ends. These two groups are Business vs Art and Visual vs Dramatic. So, let us begin with Business vs Art.

Probably the number one complaint I hear about movies today is the lack of originality. People always complain about the increasing number of sequels and remakes. There are seven movies in the Saw franchise and Kung-Fu Panda, at one point, had four more sequels planned. And people complain about this a lot. But, the thing they don't understand is that Hollywood is a business. They need to make money. Have you ever stayed to watch the closing credits after a movie?

I think this is from a Star Trek movie.

Do you seen all of those names there?  They all need to get paid; they are not working for free.  And the reason that Hollywood keeps making sequels/remakes is because people keep seeing them.  And if people are seeing them, then they are making money and can afford to pay the grip to put up a light.  The top 9 movies of 2011 were sequels and only 2 of the top 10 movies of all time (not judging for inflation) were not sequels.  Hollywood keeps making sequels because people keep seeing them.  It is a business.

          Then again, movies are also an art.  Some people are interested in telling new stories and doing something different.  These movies aren't meant to make billions of dollars.  And because of that, they don't need to reach the widest audience possible; thus allowing the filmmakers to do what ever they want.  And sometimes these movies don't do well at the box office; but that is ok because they are art and having deeper motives.  But yes, original movies can make lots of movie.  However, when they are dealing with billions of dollars and hundreds of workers, it can be better to stay on the safe side.

          The other forces at work on movies are the visual and the dramatic.  Literature is a dramatic form.  Paintings are a visual form.  Movies are both.  And the complaint here commonly is how such-in-such action movie had a stupid story.  And yes, I agree that all movies should at least have a decent plot; but with many of them, the story is not the most important thing.  Some movies exist mostly for their visual aspects and aren't trying to tell a story.  Movies like the Transformers franchise just want to show giant robots destroying each other; the plot is just an excuse to have them do so.  While other movies, such as 12 Angry Men, focus solely on story and less on visuals (the entire movie essentially takes place in one room).  There is a spectrum and movies can fall on either end or somewhere in the middle.  And some do find a good balance between the visual and dramatic.  But yes, all movies should have a a decent plot, but sometimes that it not the important part.  Nobody complains about the Mona Lisa not having a story.

          Like I said, not all movies are created with the same purpose in mind.  Some are created to make money, some to tell a great story and others to show us something never before seen.  So, basically, what I'm trying to say is enjoy the movie for what it is; no creation is perfect; and if you still need to complain, I would like for you to do better, make you're own damn movie and I'll tell you everything that's wrong with it.

I found this short article on movie theaters while looking for pics

     But that's just my opinion...

Sequels and Remakes

          Sequels and remakes are a hot topic among movie goers.  Everywhere I go, people are complaining that there's no originality in Hollywood or how Hollywood is ruining classic movies.  However, I disagree with that and embrace sequels and remakes.

          Let's start off with sequels.  The biggest complaint about these is that the story is tightly tied off in the first that there's no story to continue.  When I think of sequels, I always think of Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day.  If I had been alive and old enough to watch Terminator when it came out, I would not have been able to conceive what a sequel would even be about.  The story ties everything together fairly well at the end.  What would happen in a sequel?  (Ok, maybe I wouldn't think that.  And it's been a long time since I've seen it, so I'm not sure exactly what happens in the end).

          But, the point I'm trying to make is that, while Terminator was a good movie, Terminator 2 was waay better!  T2 is a sweet movie.  It gives Sarah Connor some great character development and introduces us to the T-1000.  Now, if somebody would have stopped the production because it was a "sequel", then the world would be short one awesome movie.  But, yes, there are sequels that do suck and shouldn't have been made.  However, sometimes what looks good on paper doesn't look good on screen.  So, I generally don't judge sequels until I've seen them, cuz I don't know if it will be the next The Empire Strikes Back or if it will be another Batman and Robin.  If a sequel is good, great, we get more of characters we love.  If it's bad, then don't watch it.

          And now remakes.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with remaking a movie (in my opinion) as long as they follow some guidelines.  Well, just one guideline actually:  wait enough time in between the original and the remake so that it introduces  a new audience to the story.  And that's my only criteria.  Here are some good examples of remakes (I'm not talking about the movies themselves, but the fact that they were remade):  War of the Worlds and The Day the Earth Stood Still.  Now the originals were made in the 50s, which was was 50 years before the remakes came out.  That is a good amount of time to wait.  If I had walked down the street when they came out and asked how many people had seen the originals, I would imagine that not a lot had.  I personally hadn't seen them.  I've always wanted to, but never made the effort until the remakes came out.  And that is what a good remakes does:  it uncovers a forgotten film and brings it to new light.  Also, these were SFX heavy movies.  With the advancement of technology, these stories were really brought to life.

          When I think of sequels, I think T2, but when I think remakes, I always think of The Thing.  I have not seen all of The Thing From Another World, but I have seen enough clips to get a feel for it.  John Carpenter remade it about 30 years later.  And it is an awesome movie!  The acting, the atmosphere, everything is superb.  But the the most impressive part were the SFX.  The alien in this movie is incredible.  And everything was all done practical (sans CG).

          So, a remake can do a few things:  1) It can arouse interest in the original,  2) It can be really good.  3) Or it can suck.  However, there is one thing that a remake can't do:  And that is ruin the original.  I cannot comprehend how people think that a remake can tarnish the original.  If if sucks, does that make the first suck as well?  No, it doesn't.  The only way a remake affects the original is by raising awareness.  Because The Taking of Pelham 123 came out a few years ago, I now know that one from the 70s even exists.  (Though I have not seen either).  There are a lot of popular movies that are, themselves, remakes.  A few are The 10 Commandments, The Departed, and A Bug's Life.

     HERE is a list of more classic movies that were remakes.

The Ten Commandments (1923)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

     But that's just my opinion...

Movies: How I Watch Them*

          Ok, I love movies.  They are the greatest thing ever invented.  And as such, they should be treated with the respect they deserved when being viewed.  There are so many different ways to watch movies now a days.  You can watch them on screens as big as the IMAX or as small as an iPOD.  You can watch them in a movie theater or from the backseat of a minivan.  You can watch them in a box; you can watch them with a fox.  There are so many ways to enjoy movies.

          However, for me, there are a few ways that are inherently superior to others.  Obviously, the best place to watch a movie is in a movie theater.  Yes, ticket prices are going up; but there's nothing we can do about it.  I have a lot of friends who don't like to go to the theater because it's too expensive.  However, I feel that any movie worth watching is worth seeing on the silver screen.  And, subsequently, is worth whatever admission is for that theater.  Needless to say, I go to movies by myself a lot.  When Inception first came out, I thought the trailers looked awesome.  So I wanted to go see the midnight showing at the IMAX.  But, my friends didn't want to spend $15 dollars on a movie they weren't too familiar with.  They told me to go and report; if it's good, they will see it and I won't mind seeing it again.  They did have a point.  So I went by myself to the IMAX...and it was awesome!!  So, a few days later we all went to go see it.  So, what I'm trying to say is that the place to see a movie is in the theater, regardless of price.

          I personally like 'going to the movies' as much as 'watching the movie'.  I love waiting in line to get my ticket, the smell of popcorn as I walk through the doors, the giant cardboard cutouts in the halls.  What do they do with those?  Do they just throw them away?  If so, they should give them to me. Cuz that would be awesome.  I never buy popcorn because I'm cheap, even though I always think I should to support the theater (cuz we don't want them going out of business).  Once in the theater, I have to sit in the middle of the aisle.  I always count the seats as I walk past.  If I'm off to the side, it drives me crazy.  I always like to sit about 2/4 of the way back from the screen.

          Also, the movie starts with the previews.  If I miss any of the trailers, I am late for the movie.  (Hell, I even like the crap they show before the trailers.) Once the previews start, I always wish I had a pen to write down the ones that look good, because by the end of the movie I can't remember what other ones are coming out.  And if the movie starts with the previews, it ends after the credits.  I like to stay for the credits for 3 main reason.  Numero Uno: Sometimes there are extra scenes either during or after the credits.  Numero Dos: I like to reflect about the movie.  I just want to sit there and soak it all in.  It's like waking up from a nap: you just don't immediately get up and going; you lie there for a second until you are fully awake.  Similar thing.  And Numero Tres: I actually read the credits.  I like to see what kind of positions there are and imagine my name up there.  Plus, sometime there are funny names scrolling by.  It drives me crazy when people are all up'n'ready to leave as soon as the credits start rolling.  Relax.  Sit down.  You might as well wait for everyone else to leave instead of being pushed out by the herd.  The movie starts from the time the lights dim and ends when they come back on.

          One more thing.  Midnight showings are the way to go.  They are fun.  Just the fact that you watched it before anyone else is sweet.  I've only been to one where people dressed up.  That was Star Wars Episode 3:  Revenge of the Sith.  I dressed up as a jedi; my friend as Leia.  We all had lightsabers.  I like to go to midnight showings as often as I can.  (I also dressed up for Green Lantern, but it wasn't the midnight showing nor opening night; it was the next day).  If there is no midnight showing, then opening night is the next best thing.  I always watch the weekend box office and whenever they talk about a movie that just opened up that I saw, I always think Yes!  $8 of those $22 million came from my pocket.  I helped contribute to this movie's success.

          Movie theater:  number 1 place to watch a movie.  But, watching them at home is good too.  The one advantage of watching a movie in DVD is all the special features!  I use to watch these all the time back in high school; but now that I'm 'all grown up,' I don't have a lot of time for them.  It's sad, I know.

          Do people actually watch movies on their phones and iPODs?  I understand YouTube videos and what not.  But actual movies?  That seems like a waste of time to me; I'd rather read a book.

     But that's just my opinion...

*author's note:  I did not have a clear idea of what I wanted to say as I began writing this; I just started rambling.  So, let's hope it makes sense cuz I'm too lazy to change it.