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Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

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Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#131

Post by technothrasher »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #113
foobarqux wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s amazing the checkboxes that stick out: having a dog for no reason for dog lovers; the relationship slop that appeals to women; the violence and sex slop to appeal to men.

I'm curious if heavy pornography consumption has become so prevalent that men care less about getting that thrill from feature films.

I wouldn't describe myself as a "heavy pornography consumer", but I certainly get bored by the gratuitous sex scenes in many shows and movies these days, thinking, "I can get this and much more any time I want, so can we stop with it and move the plot and/or character development along please?"

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#132

Post by ndsipa_pomu »

isleyaardvark wrote: post #123
ndsipa_pomu wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the best modern productions are now the series rather than the films as there's so much more time to tell the story and have room for characters to breathe etc. Just look at the artistry and story-telling skill displayed in both seasons of Arcane - there's so many brilliant examples of "showing, not telling" on display there. As a counter-example, I enjoyed watching the "Flow" film the other day - an animated…

I don't doubt that, but from what I've been reading Arcane is notorious for having songs in the background exactly describing the action onscreen.

I haven't heard that at all. As I understand it, the music is written to go with certain scenes, but it complements the action and adds a lot of emotional beats. I can't think of an example where it's simply describing what's going on on-screen.

The music is a huge part of Arcane though, and complements the emotional content.

e.g. The Line (Twenty-One Pilots) was written after Tyler Joseph witnessed the passing of his grandmother and is written from her viewpoint - incredibly powerful and poignant, but also fits in wonderfully with what is happening with Victor (Arcane character).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Rj2gQAyPA

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#133

Post by AndrewOMartin »

> Oh help me! Oh, help me! My life is in danger!

> Oh help me! Oh, help me! My life is in danger!

> The venomous monster is drawing upon me

> And I can’t escape him.

> How near is his bite,

> With teeth sharp and white!

> Oh gods above!

> Why can’t you hear my mortal cry?

> Destroy the beast or I will die!

> Or surely, I will die!

The opening lines to The Magic Flute (which continues in a similarly expository tone for the duration). Seems like there have always been scripts which were easy to understand while also staring at your phone, though that doesn't stop the ushers at English National Opera getting narky at you if you try!

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#134

Post by 134245CET »

I believe this, feels like streaming platforms shows are made to be watched while you browse your phone. Even if I like a show I often feel like it could've been a 2h movie instead of 8h show and nothing would be lost.

There is still so much good stuff (especially films) being created still, but nowdays if it is Produced-by-streaming-corp, I'll just assume its going to have a inflated length to keep people from unsubscribing.

The main feeling you'll get out of a Streaming show is being sedated

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#135

Post by ndsipa_pomu »

zemvpferreira wrote: post #126
ndsipa_pomu wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the best modern productions are now the series rather than the films as there's so much more time to tell the story and have room for characters to breathe etc. Just look at the artistry and story-telling skill displayed in both seasons of Arcane - there's so many brilliant examples of "showing, not telling" on display there. As a counter-example, I enjoyed watching the "Flow" film the other day - an animated…

Maybe 5 years ago but can't say I agree any more. Netflix in particular stretches 2-hour scripts into 10-hour limited series. I'm trying to watch Black Doves right now and continually get bored at how much exposition and background there is. There was clearly a tight, fun script in there somewhere before the committee performed surgery on it. I don't need everything explored and explained to death, give me something…

Maybe it's a problem with Netflix series.

Some of my favourite recent series haven't been from Netflix - Slow Horses, Day of the Jackal etc.

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#136

Post by nprateem »

SunlitCat wrote: post #2

Oof. What's next? Announcing what they see? What items are around them and how they could interact with them (or not)? Like "Protagonist: I walked north and I entered a mysterious room, full of different bottles. They don't look like I could use them, but maybe I should take one with me?"

"I see you have the words 'Kaiser' and 'Soasay' on the wall... what a coincidence, that was the name of the boss!"

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#137

Post by stavros »

magicalhippo wrote: post #93
Argonaut998 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife chooses the Netflix ones unfortunately. What ones are good?

Some that I've enjoyed recently (or rewatched): Good One (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30319516/ Strange Darling (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22375054/ The Creator (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11858890/ The Night House (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731534/ The Empty Man (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5867314/ Possessor (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5918982/ Booksmart (2019) https…

My god I did not get the double life of Veronique at all. She was sleeping for 50% of the film, and random other stuff happened for the rest. However, it's worth it just for Preisner's score, SBI 152 is a masterpiece.

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#138

Post by keiferski »

austin-cheney wrote: post #129
keiferski wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well then the comment chain was clearer to you than me, because I read the last two comments as 1) a defense of watching shows while doing chores and 2) a criticism of doing that, implying that it’s a lack of focus on doing the chore

I suspect the confusion is the concept of white noise. Some people can focus on some form media and a work/chore equally at the same such that neither is background noise. I enjoy playing music while I drive or doing dishes only because I enjoy the music. The work effort is accomplished in the same time with the same quality either way, but some people need the background noise to help focus on what would otherwise b…

I don’t think white noise has anything to do with the topic. Some people get bored doing chores and therefore watch a movie or listen to a podcast in the background.

It has nothing to do with optimizing performance of a task. Doing the laundry for your family for the 10,000th time is a chore, not a task that is optimized.

This is a pretty common thing to do, so I’m not sure why this is so confusing.

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#139

Post by whycome »

foobarqux wrote: post #61
Argonaut998 wrote: post #43

It’s just slop par excellence. I’ve been watching a number of movies with my wife over Christmas. Everything is so bland, repetitive and ‘design by committee’. It goes further than merely announcing what the characters are doing (in that new wannabe Die Hard movie we hear that they are expecting a baby three times in 5 minutes), you just know there are certain metrics used for every genre of movie accounting for ever…

It’s amazing the checkboxes that stick out: having a dog for no reason for dog lovers; the relationship slop that appeals to women; the violence and sex slop to appeal to men.

The new Superman movie seems to be built on such checkboxes.

Re: Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

#140

Post by technothrasher »

manarth wrote: post #65
SunlitCat wrote: post #2

Oof. What's next? Announcing what they see? What items are around them and how they could interact with them (or not)? Like "Protagonist: I walked north and I entered a mysterious room, full of different bottles. They don't look like I could use them, but maybe I should take one with me?"

"I see you have Chekhov's gun hanging on your wall"

Or The Young Ones equivalent, "I'd best conceal this sticky bun by placing it precariously on the edge of this box. [Dun dun duuun]"
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