3 ms·

You're asking for proof that a subjective medium of expression has changed measurably in quality? I don't have proof, just an opinion. The storylines and plot

You're asking for proof that a subjective medium of expression has changed measurably in quality? I don't have proof, just an opinion. The storylines and plot lines are all formulaic and one dimensional, the characters have basically no depth to them, the name of the game is throw a budget at graphics and rake in the money, and finally, lots of expressive elements are off the table if they want the Chinese market, which they do. I don't know how many times people can watch the good guy fire laser beams at the bad guy and win and still enjoy it, maybe one day they'll have to mix it up and have the good guys lose until the sequel comes out in which they undo the loss and still win, predictably.

thom 5y ago
I feel the same way about endless prestige dramas involving guys doing crimes and then agonising about it. I don’t believe any of us is starved for content though.
- moomin 5y ago
  You're not wrong that much prestige drama has become just as tired and formulaic as the average procedural. The point was ably made in this profile of Jane the Virgin's showrunner: https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jane-the-virgin-jennie-snyder-urman-profile.html https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jane-the-virgin-jennie-snyde...
n8cpdx 5y ago
Maybe I'm too much of a nerd, but I think quality can, in general, be defined and measured. I get that you don't like the genera of action films, and that's fine. But there are moments of the film between the laser beams firing. Sometimes long moments. Sometimes the majority of the film. Are there any films that aren't formulaic? Or are original in some way? As far as I can tell, the trend is: human or human surrogate faces challenge or complication that is resolved. Often following a heroes journey pattern. Sometimes the enemy is nature. Sometimes man itself (I would interpret as another form of nature, but not so useful). Sometimes the challenge is loss. Sometimes the challenge is fear. Sometimes it's fear of loss. Sometimes it's a mating attempt. Sometimes it's an existential risk. Of course you can dress up the underlying formula a variety of ways. If your a french or whatever filmmaker and want to pander to artsy types you add lots of long slow scenes where nothing happens. Sometimes you spice it up with a gay kid or something. Maybe throw in a racial aspect to make a statement. I don't know how many times people can look at any human endeavor and not realize it is all bullshit. But if it is all meaningless bullshit (in a meaningless universe) then perhaps none of it is? Perhaps many MCU entries are technical achievements with interesting twists that are exemplary specimens of exactly the type of film they are meant to be. I'm not asking for proof, I'm asking for evidence of anything beyond a facile, intellectually lazy approach to media criticism. And believe me, there are a lot of flaws in modern Hollywood, but action movies being too well produced isn't really one of them.
moomin 5y ago
Avengers, Infinity War (2018)
- betwixthewires 5y ago
  You did catch the last part about making sure the Good Guys™ win in a sequel? That was a tongue in cheek jab at that movie and it's sequel.

thom 5y ago

I feel the same way about endless prestige dramas involving guys doing crimes and then agonising about it. I don’t believe any of us is starved for content though.

moomin 5y ago
You're not wrong that much prestige drama has become just as tired and formulaic as the average procedural. The point was ably made in this profile of Jane the Virgin's showrunner: https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jane-the-virgin-jennie-snyder-urman-profile.html https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jane-the-virgin-jennie-snyde...

n8cpdx 5y ago

Maybe I'm too much of a nerd, but I think quality can, in general, be defined and measured. I get that you don't like the genera of action films, and that's fine. But there are moments of the film between the laser beams firing. Sometimes long moments. Sometimes the majority of the film. Are there any films that aren't formulaic? Or are original in some way? As far as I can tell, the trend is: human or human surrogate faces challenge or complication that is resolved. Often following a heroes journey pattern. Sometimes the enemy is nature. Sometimes man itself (I would interpret as another form of nature, but not so useful). Sometimes the challenge is loss. Sometimes the challenge is fear. Sometimes it's fear of loss. Sometimes it's a mating attempt. Sometimes it's an existential risk. Of course you can dress up the underlying formula a variety of ways. If your a french or whatever filmmaker and want to pander to artsy types you add lots of long slow scenes where nothing happens. Sometimes you spice it up with a gay kid or something. Maybe throw in a racial aspect to make a statement. I don't know how many times people can look at any human endeavor and not realize it is all bullshit. But if it is all meaningless bullshit (in a meaningless universe) then perhaps none of it is? Perhaps many MCU entries are technical achievements with interesting twists that are exemplary specimens of exactly the type of film they are meant to be. I'm not asking for proof, I'm asking for evidence of anything beyond a facile, intellectually lazy approach to media criticism. And believe me, there are a lot of flaws in modern Hollywood, but action movies being too well produced isn't really one of them.

moomin 5y ago

Avengers, Infinity War (2018)

betwixthewires 5y ago
You did catch the last part about making sure the Good Guys™ win in a sequel? That was a tongue in cheek jab at that movie and it's sequel.