The movies after millenia: the increasing lack of charm
I've been a film buff since my early childhood. Watching a movie is an integral part of my daily routine. I’m one of those who can watch a favorite film - a couple hundred of them, in fact - over and over, without being fed up. This is a lucky coincidence in my case, as there are fewer and fewer “must watch” films on my watchlist with each new year.
For me, watching a film is an ultimate form of escapism - a universal cure for everyday problems and a coat of new paint over the drab that often surrounds us. In a way, it’s a form of “travel” for those who cannot afford to do this very often or simply don’t like to be a typical tourist, particularly nowadays.
I often quarrel on the subject of movies with other people. From my personal experience, most of them are always looking for a sense of “reality” in films - something they can personally relate to. That is why the favorite movie subject for many seems to be human relationships, in one form or another. How boring... There are also ones who prefer to watch about pain and misery because this is “realistic”. No, thanks. There is way too much of those in our lives already. Then, there are plenty of those who enjoy fantasy and fairytales - this is a bit too much, even for me. I’m quite easy, actually. Give me nice scenery, a few exotic locales here and there, an intriguing and engaging story, decent acting, pretty women and I’m happy. :)
Joke aside, the film is also an ultimate multidisciplinary art. I always pay special attention to the aspects that a typical viewer often overlooks or doesn’t really think about. Things like photography, camera work, design, special effects, sound, and of course, the music. These are equally important elements as the theme, story, and acting, often even more so.
The film industry is more profitable today than ever before. The new technologies that are constantly improving, literally made the impossible possible. The budget of a typical modern movie can often put to shame even some of the most ambitious titles from the past. But at the same time, the magic seems to be missing more and more. The old notion - “they don’t make them like that anymore” - comes to mind first.
I particularly like to observe this through popular long-term franchise movies that span through the decades. James Bond is an obvious example. The line from the most recent Bond about “not being into explosive pencils anymore” is actually a funny illustration of how much things have changed, but not necessarily for the better. Yes, early Bonds might seem “cheesy” from today’s standpoint, but this is what the 007 world is really all about. Give me “Dr. No” or “Thunderball” over any modern sequel anytime. Those may have their merits, even some of the magic ingredients, but this is still nothing against the classic films.
SF genre is also an interesting phenomenon. You expect that this would profit the most from modern technology but think again… Think about the classics like “2001” and “Alien” and their scenery in comparison to the typical CGI s***t. Or try comparing the original “Blade Runner” with the modern sequel. The perfect marriage between Scott’s visuals and the music by Vangelis is simply an inimitable one. A similar thing can also be said about the “Batman” movie from 1989. and the delicate symbiosis between Burton’s eclectic talent and Danny Elfman’s music. Compared to that, the modern “Batman” films are way too perfect, realistic but also sterile.
Possibly the most entertaining picture of what the future could potentially bring is shown in the second part of Zemeckis's masterpiece “Back to the Future”. This vision is certainly more optimistic, whimsical, and charming than things had finally turned out to be, both in films and in reality. Well, perhaps not that detail about the future legal system.... :))