4 ms·

>They don't like being challenged by anything. "Challenging" is such a bullshit term. It implies there's something meaty for your brain to chew on, but 9/10 t

>They don't like being challenged by anything. "Challenging" is such a bullshit term. It implies there's something meaty for your brain to chew on, but 9/10 times it's a pretentious way to write off people who don't like hamfisted righteousness that fits squarely into run-of-the-mill positions and ideas that are Hollywood-safe. Those movies are pablum just as much as marvel franchises or 90 minutes of fart and dick jokes.

1123581321 5y ago
Look wider. I think you can find plenty that would be described as challenging, that is a legitimate artistic exploration or funny/dramatic/frightening in a new way. Foreign films are a relatively easy way to explore this now. If you are concerned about escaping a filter bubble of foreign directors palatable in your country, start with a country that interests you, then search for their top films by decade or their most admired directors' imdb or wiki pages.
- BizarroLand 5y ago
  Keep in mind that most of the foreign films that you can find with subtitles tend to be among the best films the country has ever produced, or the ones that fit their cultural climate the best. You're not getting the direct filmgoer experience of that culture, just the best fruits, and that's perfectly fine because if you like their best you may find more in their second-best that you will also absolutely enjoy, just like in Westernized media.
  - 1123581321 5y ago
    Excellent point. It can be rewarding to find someone and watch all of their films, for better or worse. And then branch off from an actor, writer or production role (editor, etc) to explore more you won’t necessarily find in a listicle. Just like books, I guess. :)
  - unfocussed_mike 5y ago
    > Keep in mind that most of the foreign films that you can find with subtitles tend to be among the best films the country has ever produced, or the ones that fit their cultural climate the best. This is really not true from what I can see. European films are routinely subtitled for other languages. (They used to be dubbed instead). And even cheap and cheerful Bollywood and Chinese movies find a distributor and a bad translation. Perhaps this is more of a problem on US streaming services. You do have to want to find these things, to some extent. But almost all cinema is produced with a global audience in mind.
unfocussed_mike 5y ago
I tend to mischievously misapply the word "Challenging" to movies I think shouldn't have been made because they expose the bigotry of their audience. Like all the Taken movies, or A Boy And His Dog, or anything Steven Seagal made after he discovered Russian money.
bumblebritches5 5y ago

1123581321 5y ago

Look wider. I think you can find plenty that would be described as challenging, that is a legitimate artistic exploration or funny/dramatic/frightening in a new way. Foreign films are a relatively easy way to explore this now. If you are concerned about escaping a filter bubble of foreign directors palatable in your country, start with a country that interests you, then search for their top films by decade or their most admired directors' imdb or wiki pages.

BizarroLand 5y ago
Keep in mind that most of the foreign films that you can find with subtitles tend to be among the best films the country has ever produced, or the ones that fit their cultural climate the best. You're not getting the direct filmgoer experience of that culture, just the best fruits, and that's perfectly fine because if you like their best you may find more in their second-best that you will also absolutely enjoy, just like in Westernized media.
- 1123581321 5y ago
  Excellent point. It can be rewarding to find someone and watch all of their films, for better or worse. And then branch off from an actor, writer or production role (editor, etc) to explore more you won’t necessarily find in a listicle. Just like books, I guess. :)
- unfocussed_mike 5y ago
  > Keep in mind that most of the foreign films that you can find with subtitles tend to be among the best films the country has ever produced, or the ones that fit their cultural climate the best. This is really not true from what I can see. European films are routinely subtitled for other languages. (They used to be dubbed instead). And even cheap and cheerful Bollywood and Chinese movies find a distributor and a bad translation. Perhaps this is more of a problem on US streaming services. You do have to want to find these things, to some extent. But almost all cinema is produced with a global audience in mind.

unfocussed_mike 5y ago

I tend to mischievously misapply the word "Challenging" to movies I think shouldn't have been made because they expose the bigotry of their audience. Like all the Taken movies, or A Boy And His Dog, or anything Steven Seagal made after he discovered Russian money.

bumblebritches5 5y ago