Kevin's Watch

Churning out so much crap at the moment?

Seriously, of the last ten or so films I've seen - and not just Hollywood incidentally - there has been hardly a one that has even raised a flicker of interest in me. Dark Tower last night, Atomic Blonde, Valerian, POTA - the list goes on. Now Justice League has been panned, and I haven't enjoyed a superhero film for yonks (I didn't even stay for the end of the last Spiderman outing) ......?.?....... When is this dearth of quality films going to end? What the hells going wrong?

There are different dimensions of quality that may be applied to a movie. Financial success is one, and probably the most important one to influence the movies that are made. You have to ask yourself, why are movies which seem bad (to you) nevertheless a financial success? A: because other people (not you) like them.

Conclusion: the farther you are from the mainstream moviegoer, the less likely you are to find films you enjoy.

Corollary: expand your horizons - there's something that those mainstream moviegoers are enjoying, try to find it.

Ancillary: find the art-house movie circuit, or other non-mainstream theaters, and give them a try.

I'd say you're going to the wrong films.

In my case it seems as though I am finding films to be less flavorful than I used to. A bit like eating too much candy. The last morsel isn't as impactful as the first therefore I crave an experience to replace the missing enjoyment of that first burst of flavor. Hollywood is still trying to feed me what they thought I liked but I am growing weary of that old familiar taste.

Films kinda go through phases throughout the year. We are just getting through the summer months which typically are big and dumb. Fall movies tend to be Halloween horror, and stuff that they originally thought might be Oscar bait, but had second thoughts about. The month of December is when the "good" movies will be coming out and will continue for the next few months. Although it does seem like I am tiring of the Oscar bait movies in that "why show open your wrist movies at the time of the year known for depression?" way.
There is always counterprogramming, and that's usually what I look for at different times of the year. I did just see Coco, and really really liked it.

Blame China. The Chinese can't get enough of our films, and as such, the films are being developed for, and marketed towards them.

On top of that, if you're in your 40s or 50s, movies aren't marketed to you at all. Every once in a while, something decent squeaks through (though the films I'm thinking of are all over a decade old), but by and large, movies are geared towards the 18-24-year-old demo.

And even the "good" movies I've seen over the course of the last year or so (Baby Driver, Logan, and even Blade Runner 2049) are rather forgettable.

Absolutely! It's been so long since I've come out of an auditorium saucer-eyed with amazement.........

I went for about five years without seeing a movie in the theater. Only started going again this year. I know I probably missed some good stuff, but I know I missed a lot of bad stuff too. And I guess I am getting to the age where I watch the previews and wonder who the heck all these very young people are. I am looking forward to Guillermo del Toro's new movie, but that's probably the only thing I'll bother seeing in the theater this season.

Not interested in Star Wars, Sorus?

Not really. Actually only seen the first three. Have been told that the new ones are worth seeing, but haven't gotten around to them.

I think Star Wars was a thing of its day; none of the new films (for me) have had the magic of the originals, though they have made a good fist of trying.

I watched the prequels in the cinema, but didn't bother for the first of the new set. Haven't even watched Rogue One yet either.

I don't really do movies these days. Would rather play games.

--A

I found a list on YouTube the other day of 'the ten best films of the 2000's that you missed' and there was definitely some interesting stuff there I might follow up on. Two of note are The Fall and Valhalla Rising that have a good look to them.