Good night and good riddance.
-
You know, sometimes I miss the old studio system. It had its faults and they made some stinkers, but I can't remember a film where they set out to insult the paying customers.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 12:25 last edited by Doctor Phibes@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
You know, sometimes I miss the old studio system. It had its faults and they made some stinkers, but I can't remember a film where they set out to insult the paying customers.
You might not feel that way if you were Asian, for example. I just listened to a podcast about portrayals over the years, and he wasn't particularly complimentary about this little gem....
Link to videoYeah, yeah, all in good fun, where's their sense of humour? etc. etc. But this is pretty horrible.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 12:43 last edited by
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
-
What I don't get is why they perform unholy surgeries on classics to make them what they want. Why don't they just develop their own new story?
I guess destroying the heritage is part of the goal.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 12:48 last edited by@jon-nyc said in Good night and good riddance.:
What I don't get is why they perform unholy surgeries on classics to make them what they want. Why don't they just develop their own new story?
I guess destroying the heritage is part of the goal.
Yet it still has dwarfs.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 12:50 last edited by
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
-
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
You know, sometimes I miss the old studio system. It had its faults and they made some stinkers, but I can't remember a film where they set out to insult the paying customers.
You might not feel that way if you were Asian, for example. I just listened to a podcast about portrayals over the years, and he wasn't particularly complimentary about this little gem....
Link to videoYeah, yeah, all in good fun, where's their sense of humour? etc. etc. But this is pretty horrible.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 12:55 last edited by Jolly@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
You know, sometimes I miss the old studio system. It had its faults and they made some stinkers, but I can't remember a film where they set out to insult the paying customers.
You might not feel that way if you were Asian, for example. I just listened to a podcast about portrayals over the years, and he wasn't particularly complimentary about this little gem....
Link to videoYeah, yeah, all in good fun, where's their sense of humour? etc. etc. But this is pretty horrible.
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
-
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
You know, sometimes I miss the old studio system. It had its faults and they made some stinkers, but I can't remember a film where they set out to insult the paying customers.
You might not feel that way if you were Asian, for example. I just listened to a podcast about portrayals over the years, and he wasn't particularly complimentary about this little gem....
Link to videoYeah, yeah, all in good fun, where's their sense of humour? etc. etc. But this is pretty horrible.
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:05 last edited by Doctor Phibes@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
It is a great movie, with the exception of Mickey Rooney's character. However, this kind of thing does somewhat undermine the idea of a golden age of movies.
No, they weren't trying to antagonize their target audience. They didn't even consider the fact that just maybe non-white folk might be going to watch this, and would have ample reason to be offended by it.
Some people might try and dismiss what I'm saying as 'woke nonsense', however I don't see how this was acceptable, even back then.
If you look at TV and cinema in that era, how many genuinely positive non-white role models were there? What does that tell us about the so-called golden age of America/movies etc.?
-
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
It is a great movie, with the exception of Mickey Rooney's character. However, this kind of thing does somewhat undermine the idea of a golden age of movies.
No, they weren't trying to antagonize their target audience. They didn't even consider the fact that just maybe non-white folk might be going to watch this, and would have ample reason to be offended by it.
Some people might try and dismiss what I'm saying as 'woke nonsense', however I don't see how this was acceptable, even back then.
If you look at TV and cinema in that era, how many genuinely positive non-white role models were there? What does that tell us about the so-called golden age of America/movies etc.?
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:13 last edited by@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
It is a great movie, with the exception of Mickey Rooney's character. However, this kind of thing does somewhat undermine the idea of a golden age of movies.
No, they weren't trying to antagonize their target audience. They didn't even consider the fact that just maybe non-white folk might be going to watch this, and would have ample reason to be offended by it.
Some people might try and dismiss what I'm saying as 'woke nonsense', however I don't see how this was acceptable, even back then.
If you look at TV and cinema in that era, how many genuinely positive non-white role models were there? What does that tell us about the so-called golden age of America/movies etc.?
You know, we'd just spent a recent (at that time) amount of blood and treasure to kill about three million Japs. Rooney playing a comedic role as a Japanese man probably didn't put people protesting in the streets at that time.
-
What I don't get is why they perform unholy surgeries on classics to make them what they want. Why don't they just develop their own new story?
I guess destroying the heritage is part of the goal.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:28 last edited by@jon-nyc said in Good night and good riddance.:
What I don't get is why they perform unholy surgeries on classics to make them what they want. Why don't they just develop their own new story?
Same reason artists play/sing covers rather than original works -- to leverage the results of previously sunk marketing and sales efforts, usually done/paid-for by others.
-
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
It is a great movie, with the exception of Mickey Rooney's character. However, this kind of thing does somewhat undermine the idea of a golden age of movies.
No, they weren't trying to antagonize their target audience. They didn't even consider the fact that just maybe non-white folk might be going to watch this, and would have ample reason to be offended by it.
Some people might try and dismiss what I'm saying as 'woke nonsense', however I don't see how this was acceptable, even back then.
If you look at TV and cinema in that era, how many genuinely positive non-white role models were there? What does that tell us about the so-called golden age of America/movies etc.?
You know, we'd just spent a recent (at that time) amount of blood and treasure to kill about three million Japs. Rooney playing a comedic role as a Japanese man probably didn't put people protesting in the streets at that time.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:32 last edited by Doctor Phibes@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Jolly said in Good night and good riddance.:
It might be a stinker (I actually think the movie is pretty good) but I don't think Hollywood set out to antagonize their core audience.
It is a great movie, with the exception of Mickey Rooney's character. However, this kind of thing does somewhat undermine the idea of a golden age of movies.
No, they weren't trying to antagonize their target audience. They didn't even consider the fact that just maybe non-white folk might be going to watch this, and would have ample reason to be offended by it.
Some people might try and dismiss what I'm saying as 'woke nonsense', however I don't see how this was acceptable, even back then.
If you look at TV and cinema in that era, how many genuinely positive non-white role models were there? What does that tell us about the so-called golden age of America/movies etc.?
You know, we'd just spent a recent (at that time) amount of blood and treasure to kill about three million Japs. Rooney playing a comedic role as a Japanese man probably didn't put people protesting in the streets at that time.
You're missing the point. And I doubt that Americans of Japanese origin would be out protesting, particularly if you consider how they were treated by their own government just 19 years earlier.
-
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:39 last edited by@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
I had that thought as I wrote this out. Yes, likely biased. I was working in the movies at the time, and was really getting into it. I think there is a bit of an argument for it though... or at least some points to consider, primarily that it was the quality of the stories, scores, and originality before we got into CGI reliance, reboots, comic book adaptations, and woke story arcs.
-
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
I had that thought as I wrote this out. Yes, likely biased. I was working in the movies at the time, and was really getting into it. I think there is a bit of an argument for it though... or at least some points to consider, primarily that it was the quality of the stories, scores, and originality before we got into CGI reliance, reboots, comic book adaptations, and woke story arcs.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 13:53 last edited by Doctor Phibes@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
I had that thought as I wrote this out. Yes, likely biased. I was working in the movies at the time, and was really getting into it. I think there is a bit of an argument for it though... or at least some points to consider, primarily that it was the quality of the stories, scores, and originality before we got into CGI reliance, reboots, comic book adaptations, and woke story arcs.
I think we all have that bias. I've watched a few movies from the 80's and thought how great they were, particularly the comedies. When I see movies from the so-called golden age, the acting frequently seems really wooden, and so many American characters have that weird pseudo-British way of speaking in many of them that seemed so popular, presumably because a lot of them came from more theatrical backgrounds.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:13 last edited by
70s movies were pretty good too. I'm biased by the Godfather, I suppose.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:31 last edited by Doctor Phibes
We tend to remember the great movies, but not all the shite.
I think it's the same with all of the entertainment media. Admittedly, you'd be hard-pushed to find an actual equivalent to Beethoven today.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:32 last edited by
True.
@Doctor-Phibes I'd have to say the comedies in the 80s were much better than anything since. Some classic movies, too of course.
@Horace Godfather is my #1 movie, too. The late 70s and early 80s did see the start of some big blockbuster ideas that have been an emulation goal ever since.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:34 last edited by
Speaking of Blockbuster ideas, I remember standing in video rental stores for like an hour in the 90's, completely unable to find a movie I actually wanted to watch. So it can't have been that great.
-
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:40 last edited by
Funny. There's a trend of nostalgic "remember Friday nights at Blockbuster?" videos out there that at first make me... yes, nostalgic. Loved that in the 90s. Driving to the story, finding the right movie or two, getting some snacks, then popping in the VHS tape in the living room.
Then someone made a good comment about... yeah it wasn't exactly THAT great. Many times the movie you wanted to see were already rented and missing behind the cardboard placeholder of it on the shelf.
-
I think it would have died a quieter death without this hubbub. I'm sure the movie is garbage, after all. But there might be a backlash against the backlash, people buying tickets to support it. Pass the popcorn in any case, I've never been more curious about a movie's box office numbers.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:49 last edited by@Horace said in Good night and good riddance.:
I'm sure the movie is garbage, after all. But there might be a backlash against the backlash, people buying tickets to support it.
As the (minority person) explained, the movie was made in 1937 - when people liked love stories.
Now people want movies about women being powerful leaders and a prince who is a stalker, and a gang of perverts to replace the dwarves.I think some parents might not choose that for their children.
-
Funny. There's a trend of nostalgic "remember Friday nights at Blockbuster?" videos out there that at first make me... yes, nostalgic. Loved that in the 90s. Driving to the story, finding the right movie or two, getting some snacks, then popping in the VHS tape in the living room.
Then someone made a good comment about... yeah it wasn't exactly THAT great. Many times the movie you wanted to see were already rented and missing behind the cardboard placeholder of it on the shelf.
wrote on 20 Mar 2025, 14:49 last edited by@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Funny. There's a trend of nostalgic "remember Friday nights at Blockbuster?" videos out there that at first make me... yes, nostalgic. Loved that in the 90s. Driving to the story, finding the right movie or two, getting some snacks, then popping in the VHS tape in the living room.
Then someone made a good comment about... yeah it wasn't exactly THAT great. Many times the movie you wanted to see were already rented and missing behind the cardboard placeholder of it on the shelf.
It's so much better now. Being able to watch TV shows from the 80's and 90's, or Netflix/Amazon/HBO series, or whichever.
In some ways, this is the golden age.
-
wrote on 21 Mar 2025, 00:25 last edited by
Early reviews are not good. Less than 50% in the pro critic reviews on rotten tomatoes. And you know they wanted to like it. One of the snippets on the RT page is from a critic who just outright says that the movie isn’t very good but the anti fascist message is too important for our times, so she gave it a positive review. I guess the audience score will be much lower than the critic score. There is no way I’ll ever watch this, even for free.
-
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
@Doctor-Phibes said in Good night and good riddance.:
@89th said in Good night and good riddance.:
Movies peaked in the late 90s, IMO.
Coincidentally, just when you were young and getting into them?
I had that thought as I wrote this out. Yes, likely biased. I was working in the movies at the time, and was really getting into it. I think there is a bit of an argument for it though... or at least some points to consider, primarily that it was the quality of the stories, scores, and originality before we got into CGI reliance, reboots, comic book adaptations, and woke story arcs.
I think we all have that bias. I've watched a few movies from the 80's and thought how great they were, particularly the comedies. When I see movies from the so-called golden age, the acting frequently seems really wooden, and so many American characters have that weird pseudo-British way of speaking in many of them that seemed so popular, presumably because a lot of them came from more theatrical backgrounds.
wrote on 21 Mar 2025, 00:35 last edited by Renaudalarly the comedies. When I see movies from the so-called golden age, the acting frequently seems really wooden, and so many American characters have that weird pseudo-British way of speaking in many of them that seemed so popular….
I think was called a mid Atlantic accent. It was vogue and state of the art in theatre and cinema throughout the 30s and 40s. Katherine Hepburn built her career around it. Even born Englishmen like Carey Grant had to cultivate it.