Why is it so hard to make good movies?

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by JustinAiken

All of the Parker/Stone movies are hilarious

Cannibal the Musical
Team America
Orgasmo
South Park
Baseketball

Watch them all!

I didn't know they were responsible for Orgasmo... makes sense, though.

[voicegenius]

I just saw "UP" this past weekend....

[Animus]

Originally Posted by dft3670

Team America. I forgot about that one. The sex scene is worth the price of admission. I met a grip and an electrician that worked that movie. They said that every day on the shoot was a riot. If your wife or girlfriend wants you to sit through a chick flick, tell her ok, but make her watch this right afterward.

Team America is a modern classic. So many awesome scenes. "Suck my ****." "Arseholes, pussies and dicks". e

[londontown]

Team America was an awesome movie...fortunate enough to work on it a couple of weeks and I think the main thing was they were going so fast, they didn't have time to second guess themselves. They had multiple dub stages going at one point at the end. There was a vision at the top and everybody knew what had to be done.

Most of the studio moviemaking process is about planning miles in advance, focus groups, and amazing amounts of fingernail biting as to whether a project is right or whether it will be successful, and with the amount of money it does cost to put a film out into 3000 cinemas...it's kind of understandable. Then you have the test screening process (which can provide useful information, but frequently is arsed up by NRG who either get a group who just tell the filmmakers what they want to hear or target the wrong audience) and the many layers of executives who are salaried and feel they must justify that salary - and put their stamp on the film (the kind that can't sign off on anything first time as there's no way you could just get it right on instinct!).

If there is a figurehead at the top, then it trickles down and the vision can be fulfilled, if there are too many chiefs and not enough indians the second guessing starts and it spirals out and even with the most talented crew in the world and a half decent script, a bad movie can still be made. Particularly the worst kind of bad movie - the just mediocre, dull, inoffensively bad movie that just is...meh.

By and large the best films get made in a crunchy schedule where there's a shortage of time, money, and where everyone is invested in its success and has an interest in it doing well. The first two sometimes happen on studio pictures, the last one is pretty rare.

[Mantik]

90% of all hollywood movies use the same plot.
bad guy - good guy. good guy is weak, bad guy is strong.
but then bad guy gets powned by good guy. sometimes: good guy gets the girl. so in 90% of all cases we still watch western movies with cowboys even if its called star trek (it was horrible).

now to even get worse, visual effects have been involved over the years. So movies like transformers can exist still which totally lack of plot (just watched the first one) but this can be lipsticked with just making visuals everywhere.

I recently saw the old classic "rosemaries baby" from polanskie. Great movie, great plot. Not one visual effect, only some rooms filled with good actors.

Well anyway I think the reason for all this is that no one wants to make good movies. Make a movie, promote it and the first time cinema-runners seem to be realy enough - no matter how good the movie is.
anyway I also think the 3-oscar winner "the life of benjamin bla bla" realy sucks, especially because its a sneaky copy of "the english patient" (which was realy good).

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by voicegenius

I just saw "UP" this past weekend....

Which would've been great if not for the talking/plane flying dogs. (and im a sucker for anything with dogs). Worst Pixar flick since Toy Story 2 IMHO.

[B.Santillan]

burn after reading is another one everyone should watch.

[HookedOnHardware]

The worse movie I remember seeing this year has to be Bangkok Dangerous. Man that movie sucked! Mirrors was ok but I'm not into thrillers. The loud sounds annoy my ears (I was invited to tag along, I wouldn't have chosen it).

Oh hold on, the worse movie I saw this year was Dragenball! However, in this case I knew it was going to be terrible (another invite, this time by a DB fan... I feel so cheap).

I giggled when I saw Yes man (first date with my current gf).
Watchmen didn't do much to me. I went in there expecting 1.5 hours of explosions and cool fight scenes. It ended up being a 2.5 hour wait-fest. I'm sure it would have helped if I had read the comic (then again, I'm not into comics).

I liked The Dark Night and I would like to see Star Trek. I'll probably end up seeing Wolverine just because I saw X-Men 1, 2 and 3 not too long ago (they were featured on tv).

There were a couple other movies I saw that weren't really good but I can't remember the names right now. It's still quite early over here!

I'm not much of an indie person but do enjoy a nice documentary every now and again!

[JustinAiken]

Originally Posted by HookedOnHardware

Watchmen didn't do much to me. I went in there expecting 1.5 hours of explosions and cool fight scenes. It ended up being a 2.5 hour wait-fest. I'm sure it would have helped if I had read the comic (then again, I'm not into comics).

I'm not into comics either, but this one is more than a comic! Really worth reading... makes the movie a lot better.

I actually thought that the movie had too many explosions and cool fight scenes... except for Dr. Manhattan, none of them were superheros, so why did they fly around like they were fighting in the Matrix?

Still loved the movie though, especially the Bob Dylan intro.

[HookedOnHardware]

Originally Posted by JustinAiken

I'm not into comics either, but this one is more than a comic! Really worth reading... makes the movie a lot better.

I actually thought that the movie had too many explosions and cool fight scenes... except for Dr. Manhattan, none of them were superheros, so why did they fly around like they were fighting in the Matrix?

Still loved the movie though, especially the Bob Dylan intro.

I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more with a different mindset. It's like the time that I was having dinner with my gf and she gave me a piece of meat to try. I expected chicken but it turned out to be fish (I don't eat fish).. It threw me off for a bit . Horrible analogy as I don't eat fish and wouldn't have enjoyed it if I new it was fish beforehand. Anyway… My mindset was just off..

[Makinithappen]

Just saw "Drag Me To Hell" last night... anyone who likes those funny/scary Evil Dead style movies should check it out. Lots of fun!

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by B.Santillan

burn after reading is another one everyone should watch.

damn near all the Coen Bros flix, they really know how to immerse you in a story with film.

I try & keep track of the directors, they seem to be the among the last bastions of quality control in any form of media. once you've seen a few that they've done, you can get an idea of their production style & what to expect. much like name 'producers' in audio.
i really dig stylistic directors like Cronenberg, Gilliam, Coen Bros, Fincher, Nolan, Aronofsky, Tarantino, they all have a distinct style to their films & love em or hate em you know going into the theater where to set yer expectations.

[B.Santillan]

I'm glad you said damn near all........ I'm not a big fan of blood simple. I haven't seen all their movies though. I probably should have before I got rid of blockbuster online.

Originally Posted by Stevil

damn near all the Coen Bros flix, they really know how to immerse you in a story with film.

I try & keep track of the directors, they seem to be the among the last bastions of quality control in any form of media. once you've seen a few that they've done, you can get an idea of their production style & what to expect. much like name 'producers' in audio.
i really dig stylistic directors like Cronenberg, Gilliam, Coen Bros, Fincher, Nolan, Aronofsky, Tarantino, they all have a distinct style to their films & love em or hate em you know going into the theater where to set yer expectations.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by B.Santillan

I'm glad you said damn near all........ I'm not a big fan of blood simple. I haven't seen all their movies though. I probably should have before I got rid of blockbuster online.

I agree, Blood Simple is my least favorite from them. It was their first flick, so i attribute it to them getting their act together & learning the process. i wouldn't recommend it unless yer a die hard Coen Bros fan, have seen anything else & are genuinely curious about their first attempt.

on the other hand: Raising Arizona, Big Lebowski, No Country, O Brother, Fargo, Millers Crossing, & Burn After Reading, are all truly great films, imo. I think the rest of their catalog is good & above the quality of yer average flicks, but those are my favorites.

[viewingstuff]

What y'all know about Deadly Weapons!(thank/hate me later)

[JPeters86]

I think there are some good movies going on.

I recently laughed my ass of during The Hangover. Doesn't happen that often during a comedy. And all the Apatow stuff is just ****ing brilliant.

[FredYeah]

There are a lot of great movies, but far more bad ones. I personally believe that about 90% of the population (doesn't matter which country or region) is somewhat "simple". And for these people a lot of crap is being made, like:

* The Movie Deja Vu
* The Movie SWAT
* Highschool Movies
* Roadtrip Movies
* Comicbook Movies

etc. I cannot watch this stuff unless im utterly blazed. Same goes with music: What about Britney Spears, Laday Gaga, etc. etc. Or TV Shows like CSI, House, Numbers, etc. Anyway yo ucatch my drift.

Some decent movies are still being made, but speaking for myself, i dont watch that many movies anymore. The new generation of actors isn't appealing to me. I think quality is degrading as much in music as it is in film.

Watch the movie "Idiocracy". You'll know what i'm talking about.

[FredYeah]

We're on a mission from god

[adpz]

You should all check out this Swedish "vampire" film that came out last year - "Let The Right One In". A-mazing. . .

[sinicalmicmusic]

Originally Posted by FredYeah

There are a lot of great movies, but far more bad ones. I personally believe that about 90% of the population (doesn't matter which country or region) is somewhat "simple". And for these people a lot of crap is being made, like:

* The Movie Deja Vu
* The Movie SWAT
* Highschool Movies
* Roadtrip Movies
* Comicbook Movies

etc. I cannot watch this stuff unless im utterly blazed. Same goes with music: What about Britney Spears, Laday Gaga, etc. etc. Or TV Shows like CSI, House, Numbers, etc. Anyway yo ucatch my drift.

Some decent movies are still being made, but speaking for myself, i dont watch that many movies anymore. The new generation of actors isn't appealing to me. I think quality is degrading as much in music as it is in film.

Watch the movie "Idiocracy". You'll know what i'm talking about.

idiocracy is one funny ass movie with allot of underlining truth. i was actually laughing at the show "ouch my balls" they sprinkled through out. lol.

anybody else notice how all horror movies are pg13? the scariest part of the movie is when someone opens a door and its their friend.

cmon terminator wasn't rated R? i damn near shyt myself when finding that out. fuuck

its time we punt the junk of these filmmakers.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by sinicalmicmusic

idiocracy is one funny ass movie with allot of underlining truth. i was actually laughing at the show "ouch my balls" they sprinkled through out. lol.

"great films, with plots! Where you cared about whose ass it was, and why it was farting!"

Originally Posted by sinicalmicmusic

anybody else notice how all horror movies are pg13? the scariest part of the movie is when someone opens a door and its their friend.

& that's just startling you with the "soft-mellow-calm-LOUD!!!" editing. not really terror or suspense.

Originally Posted by sinicalmicmusic

cmon terminator wasn't rated R? i damn near shyt myself when finding that out. fuuck

Alien vs Predator wasn't rated R. How do you take 2 rated R movies, put em together & get a PG13?

[HookedOnHardware]

Saw Terminator on Saturday.

I got bored.. My gf fell asleep.. (quite an achievement actually. Non stop loud noises throughout the movie!)

Nuff'' said..

[FredYeah]

I haven't seen one Terminator movie. I tried. Several times. But i just can't. They're just too bad. Can't watch it. There isn't one decent flick with Arnold in it. Pfff... From True Lies to Terminator to Kindergarden Cop. IT SUCKED!

Oh, i just remember. Lord of the Rings 3. Altough the first 2 movies were decent, the third one was terrible. Hours of a midget complaining about the 'burden'. Jezus. Stop bitchin and get your ass up that mountain! THREE, FOUR!

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by Greener

The movie AvP, bored the shit out of me. The landscape was fake.

totally, the environment was as much a character in those movies as Jessie Ventura with his MiniGun.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by FredYeah

There isn't one decent flick with Arnold in it. Pfff... From True Lies to Terminator to Kindergarden Cop. IT SUCKED!

you didn't like Twins, Total Recall, The Running Man or Conan?