Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
Kind of smacks of the retired pro athletes bemoaning the state of the game, generation after generation, as ruined now and not like it was when they played. I agree the industry is sliding downhill fast, as is the whole country. So why wouldn't it? But he seems egorific in his delivery here. Unfortunately, occasionally I'm told I look like him.
Are things getting better... or are they getting worse
is newer better or is OLD best
There’s more choice and access than has ever been. Every form of media has felt this.
Good or bad? Who’s to say.
They went through this when the movies replaced the live theater. No longer the same but different.
People are nostalgic to a fault and all eventually succumb to muttering, “They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to!”
gee wiz... I am gonna have to contemplate that one
I think distilling the topic down to a overgeneralized label is an example of a cognitive disorder that seeks to limit the true nature and complexity of which we speak.
As 'Humans' do we seek comfort in the past... it is obviously so and goes without saying.
Do we as learned 'Humans' have the ability to discern the differences between the past and the future... experientially, yes... academically, perhaps.
As an experiential elder statesman, I welcome and am excited by Modernity... Fully knowing and realizing, it is NOT better.
People are nostalgic to a fault and all eventually succumb to muttering, “They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to!”
Sometimes it's true. There are plenty of valid criticisms. Take the music industry. Streaming has completely changed the listening experience (mostly for the worse imo), and I imagine it was better in the 70s than it was in the 90s when I was growing up. Convenience and having a ton of songs readily available isn't necessarily a good thing, and in some ways, it's quite limiting.
The concept of an album is withering away. Songs used to be carefully sequenced, and albums were meant to be listened to in their entirety. Even after moving from vinyl (the best sounding format) to CD, things changed when sides A and B no longer came into play. Now everything exists in this giant sea where algorithms recommend artists, songs are added to playlists, artists are put on shuffle and songs get interrupted by ads. You can't discern the meaning of Victoria by the Kinks unless you listen to it in context of the rest of the Arthur album. Somewhat ironically, the same goes for the title track of The Village Green Preservation Society. If someone just listens to one or two songs, the message is lost and never found.
Given the nature of streaming, most people don't listen to full albums. You can see that this is true given the amount of plays on services like Spotify. When someone bought a record, CD or tape, they might not care for certain songs at first, but since they bought it, they were going to give it a shot. Besides, when the album was playing, it would get to that track eventually. Songs grow on people. Nowadays, if a song is skipped or not added to a playlist, does the listener go back and try again?
There are a ton of examples where the cons outweigh the pros: other problems with streaming, no more record stores, effectively non-existent album artwork, inferior recording tools, dying independent labels, more difficult for bands to succeed, less shared experiences, etc. and everything that goes along with those.
Same goes for movies. Matt Damon talked about how important DVD (or VHS) sales were for the industry. If a movie lost money in theaters, studios knew they were still going to make a lot on sales and rentals. Since that revenue is gone, studios are less likely to take chances, and a lot of films that would have been made twenty years don't get made today but not because of the scripts.
Sounds like a lot of that can be attributed to capitalism, not necessarily technology.
I do hear you guys though, and I’m not discounting the legitimacy of nostalgia. I’m more often reaching toward my own past for enjoyment. There’s simply a good case to be made either way.
A huge pro of the modern era is that barrier of entry is much, much lower. There’s a plethora of incredible art that just couldn’t exist previously.
Sounds like a lot of that can be attributed to capitalism, not necessarily technology.
It's how they've come together. Capitalism has always been a part of music and film industries all the way down to independent artists. Before VHS and DVD, studios still needed to make money so the movies could get made in the first place. But back then there weren't streaming services, and people went to the movies, and studios could rely on that. Streaming services aren't paying them nearly as much as they'd have made from DVD sales, and in some cases are actively working against movie theaters. Independent bands and record labels were largely able to survive through record sales. They might make $500 for a million streams on Spotify. T-shirt sales or bust!
On the other hand songs/movies are readily available for anyone that has a device and wifi connection, which is most people, even in third world countries! Moreover, it is not just English songs/movies that are intruding market, but multiple languages 
My students loved City Lights, or at least most of them did. I have three or four students who stay after class to talk about the movie with me or just talk about anything.
One of the girls in the class is a figure skater. She lost a close friend in that crash in DC. I told the students that Trump will blame DEI on the crash. And of course he did.
And still off topic: we have four campuses at our community college. I've taught at all four. Last night's class is in Providence, any inner-city campus. We have students who are not coming to class because they fear being arrested.
I think Chaplin's The Tramp comforted a few of them as The Tramp did in 1931 when the film was released. The Tramp, though poor, insists upon his dignity. He spoke to an audience caught in the throes of The Depression. Laughter keeps us sane. Chaplin knew that.
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we're in a weird time, John. Thanks for sharing.
Last night's class is in Providence, any inner-city campus. We have students who are not coming to class because they fear being arrested.
I'm in the Twitch streaming community and am a part of a Native American stream team (I'm in Canada). A lot of members and family members are scared to go grocery shopping for fear of being raided, even though they're Native American. One girl talked about her mom texting her saying ICE is at the grocery store and she was going to skip shopping and head back home.
While it may get worse before it gets better, let's me say that I have complete confidence in the American people to finally recognize the mistake they have made. This administration will collapse under the weight of its own hubris and incompetence.
Keep fighting. Do not comply.
Face/Off (1997)
Six years later…
Now Nic’s a priest: Twerking! God of War and Chaos!
Fly Bitch!: I can eat a peach for an hour!
Two-Gun Nic Cage joins the Two-Gun John Woo Crew!
“Morphic genetic template”: This is a Black Bag Operation! (I thought it might be!)
Moving faces during an operation with engine hoists: Nice touch!
Plus a quick trim on the sides!
Frankenstein sits erect!: Gay Caballero!
Anybody got a light?: Riot in Cell Block Number Nine!
Drilling Platform!: It was either that or the Statue of Liberty!
No More Drugs for that Man!: I want you to meet your Father!
Another Musical interlude!: A shootout ballet from the Director of The Killer!
And now a Chapel shootout complete with Altar Boys, Latin and White Doves: It’s John Woo’s tribute to
Spoiler
John Woo!
No, it’s a John Woo Tribute to Sergio Leone with a multilayer Mexican standoff featuring!: Clint Eastwood, played by Nicolas Cage; Lee van Cleef, played by John Travolta; Eli Walach, played by Toughtalking Wisecracking Margaret Cho; Nicolas Cage, played by Judge Holden; and John Travolta, played by the spirit of Chow Yun Fat!
All is lost for our heroes! The movie must be over! Wait! Somebody has parked a couple of cigarette boats right here!
Spoiler
At first, I thought this might be a tribute to Violent Panic: The Big Crash! but this move must go back to the silents.
All female roles: Played by Christina Applegate except for Michelle Pfeiffer’s.
After toiling with the drudgery of wannabe villains, Nicola Cage finally gets a carpet he can sink his teeth into. This is really magnificent work!
I know I tend to gush about certain movies, but this may be one of the bizarrest flicks I’ve ever seen. It makes no sense at all -- yet it makes perfect sense.
Sulfuric Acid Skeet Range Fu! Butterfly knife Fu! Anchor Fu!
About as silly as a movie can be and still be the greatest movie of all time! Check it out!
haven't had a good phatmack movie review in a while
every time i read one i think someone should grab all the reviews over the years and put it into a coffee table book
Heretic was totally great, my favorite horror in a long time. Would have been cool to see Hugh Grant get a best supporting actor nod for this, I think he’s deserving of it.
One thing I've been doing lately is throw on a movie on my 2nd screen while I'm working and listen to the commentary track. I'm starting with Michael Bay because his commentary tracks are hilarious. For The Rock there's a scene where Michael Biehn delivers a pep talk to a group of real life Marines, Nic Cage and Sean Connery. He was rattled during his first few takes. Bay took him to his trailer, threw on the Crimson Tide music and was like what's up man? Why are you hesitating? Biehn said he felt out of place, real life Marines, Nic Cage AND Connery who he's looked up to his entire life. And he was the leader in that moment? After that timeout with Bay, bro locked in and delivered the speech. I freaking love The Rock and digging these commentary tracks. I listened to Bad Boys and that one is really great, too.
While it may get worse before it gets better, let's me say that I have complete confidence in the American people to finally recognize the mistake they have made. This administration will collapse under the weight of its own hubris and incompetence.
Keep fighting. Do not comply.
I agree with this!
