After watching Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (1954 production) the other day (I know, still not the season…), I came to a conclusion: the movie industry has totally bottomed in the past 50 years.
Instead of talent, sex is what gets actors the job. It doesn’t matter anymore how talented someone is; it simply matters if they can be slutty and have sex (just think about all the major actors and actresses). Nowadays, movies are made full of sex scenes and other innuendos (can you think of any modern movies without them?). People find watching other people’s private moments exhilarating and it’s actually kinda perverted.
Also, movies are made quickly and with poor quality in comparison to 50 years ago. Sure, we have MUCH better graphics, but there is no art in acting anymore. Where are the Bing Crosbys, the Danny Kayes, the Rosemary Clooneys and the Vera-Ellens? Each scene of “White Christmas” obviously took a great deal of time and practice to narrow it down to perfection. Where is the pride in the actors? Vera-Ellen, for example, was a total perfectionist (she had various eating problems, but that’s not to be followed). Watching her dance scenes is almost magical. Bing Crosby’s voice is simply divine (not to mention his eyes are divine…). To watch them dance is simply breath taking.
Another great example is the popular Shirley Temple series. Watching little Shirley Temple with her incredible skills in dance and music brings joy to every heart. She tap dances with some of the greatest tap dancers of all time. Imagine the hours put into perfecting one dance scene!
Anyway…so this is what was going through my head the other day while watching “White Christmas.” I hope I’m not the only disgusted viewer out there!
(Disclaimer: That’s not to say necessarily that I don’t enjoy modern movies. I have quite a few I enjoy. ;) )
What's Happened to the Movies?
By respectlife - Posted on October 22nd, 2008
Tagged: Bing Crosby
• Danny Kaye
• Irving Berlin
• Movies
• Rosemary Clooney
• Shirley Temple
• Vera-Ellen
• White Christmas
• Better future
Many movies definitely emphasize sex and out of place innuendos. While I too enjoy modern movies (not many though), I really love watching Charlie Chaplin movies. My favorites are "City Lights" and "The Kid". Recently, my music teacher had the class watch "City Lights" to show us how music has an impact on cinema, and it was great to see everyone's reactions! I never thought I'd see so many people laughing, a true testament to its timelessness.
My Blog: http://progressiveu.org/blog/kkhanna
I don't think I've seen any Charlie Chaplin movies...I'll have to check those out. : ) That's awesome that people enjoyed it. : ) I think more people would enjoy old movies if they gave them a chance. One old movie that I love is Alfred Hitchcock's (sp) "I Confess." LOVE it! : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
It is annoying and I believe all the sex scenes really aren't needed to bring the point across. I have seen a few good movies like the Constant Garner.
I like alot of older movies though like " Th last man on earth" I believe it is called that. I am Legend was a remake of it and I was pleased that they actually followed the story line of the older movie pretty well.
" I know that human beings and fish can coexist peacefully"
-W
Yeah...what really bugs me (being the oldest of five) is when the movie is AWESOME, but there's that "one scene" that we have to fast forward through for the kids and something really important happens in it (for example, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a favorite in my family, but it has that "one scene" and he proposes...wicked annoying).
I Am Legend was interesting...I'm not much for sci-fi, so I was mostly creeped out. LOL
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I love black and white movies because it emphasizing raw emotion. It is something that we lost now in contemporary color films.
Honestly, i believe the new style of fliming is a product of old movies. In old movies the writers and the directors make love and affection awkward. Usually in a love scene the women turns away, the man grabs her shoulder and shoves his mouth on her mouth, the women pushes him away and turns her back on him. These scenes are entirely filled with awkward moments and sexually tension.. I believe the new films are a product of this awkward view of love and decided to make it more natural and free flowing.
But i don't like it .
Yeah, I agree...for me, the b&w are more realistic...if a guy ever tried something with me, I'd be tiiiiiiiiicked :P
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I am not a big fan of today's movies. I enjoy Shirley Temple classics and the old musicals. ~angi~
I think you're watching the wrong movies. Sure, mainstream Hollywood movies have figured out the formula - sex sells. sexy women and fast cars and big guns sell. Lots and lots of movie tickets.
Studio Execs: "no need to create a well-written or thought provoking script, that's not what people want. After all, if that's what they wanted, why are all these movies making millions?"
--
sigh...t's a circuitous problem. There are lots of GREAT movies that don't emphasize sex. Being John Malkovich is one example (just watched it last week...again). Sure, there are some sensual scenes, but they advance the plot (honestly, i swear). The film begins with John Cusack manipulating a Marionette in what he calls Craig's dance of despair and disillusionment. Later on in the film, when Craig discovers he can manipulate the body of John Malkovich as a REAL marionette, Malkovich (the actor) replicates he dance with breathtaking passion and accuracy.
It's a total mindf*ck of a movie. Foreign films are also fantastic (although German films will generally lean in the direction of having nudity in them - as the Germans are known for their celebration of nudity, although I will say, nudity in German films is generally not sexual or objectifying). I remember one film, a scene transpired between a married couple in the bathroom - the woman was speaking to the man, who was in the shower. When the man emerged from the shower, he proceeded to dry off, revealing his flaccid penis (for a few seconds). Then he dried off, disappeared ostensibly to put on pants, then joined his female partner for breakfast.
anyway, i had a point - and the point is to watch this youtube video featuring a marionette (he is nude, but he's like a ken doll down there).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bleGmiItLKs
Well, maybe I am...but it seems to me as if all of the major movies are full of sex.
Foreign films, I like...there's this Italian movie called Bella Vita (Beautiful Life) and it's INCREDIBLE!!! I totally recommend it. But you definitely need to get the Italian version with English subtitles...the English voice overs just sound weird.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa