Visualization: Movies Are Getting Worse

Post by Travis » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 12:47 AM UTC

pclark wrote: post #40

weego wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you feel this might be kind of a cognitive bias? Like when people poll for the best album of all time and it's always something that was released within the last 3 years of whenever the poll was. The social network is of it's time and will date really badly, to the point where no one will watch or mention it ever again. True Grit is a remake so specifically cannot be included as it had to be good enough to have…

I chose these movies not necessarily because I felt they were superb (although I loved them all) but because they were critically acclaimed and all received lots of oscar nominations. Almost by definition, they are the best films of the year. If you compare it to nominated movies ten years ago, Braveheart, Apollo 13, I think they are comparably great. Additionally, box office returns seem to be at all time highs. Bla…

Post by light3 » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:13 AM UTC

gnaritas wrote: post #65

keeptrying wrote: post #24

I think its more that no one is taking the time to write great and compelling stories. It takes time and patience and a lot of effort to create a story like the The Lord of the Rings. And the movies that are really good are ones with a great story behind them. Hollywood seems to be just mining stories from the past. Its gonna run out at some point and all we'll get are sequels. There needs to be some infusion of crea…

> I think its more that no one is taking the time to write great and compelling stories. Seriously? Pick up a book, that's so far from true it isn't even funny. > It takes time and patience and a lot of effort to create a story like the The Lord of the Rings. Sure, and there's a ton of them already out there in the form of books. > Hollywood seems to be just mining stories from the past. Its gonna run out at some poi…

Post by jamesbkel » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:19 AM UTC

bingaman wrote: post #59

munificent wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more than just date movies. High school kids have lots of disposable income, few bills, plenty of time to kill, can't get into bars, and don't need get hire a babysitter. College kids have lots of other things to spend their money on, like booze and, uh, booze. Once you're past that age, the odds of having kids goes up and then going to a movie becomes a major outing. For my wife and I to see a movie in the thea…

You don't have to buy the $60 popcorn.

Post by mgkimsal » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:43 AM UTC

SandB0x wrote: post #21

barrkel wrote: post #8

Two things: * I don't think polarization is a good signal for poor quality; I would rather suggest it means a more niche product, more highly focused. That the niche being served is largely adolescents is unfortunate. * I think big-budget movies have been getting more conservative and predictable, but I would hazard a guess that it's due to financial industry turmoil and consequently less desire for risk taking.

"That the niche being served is largely adolescents is unfortunate" Ever seen the Poochie episode of The Simpsons? The producers try to boost the ratings of Itchy and Scratchy by adding a ridiculous character designed to appeal to everyone. Near the start of the episode they hold a focus group (text from snpp.com): Man : How many of you kids would like Itchy & Scratchy to deal with real-life problems, like the ones y…

Post by noibl » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 2:23 AM UTC

barrkel wrote: post #8

Two things: * I don't think polarization is a good signal for poor quality; I would rather suggest it means a more niche product, more highly focused. That the niche being served is largely adolescents is unfortunate. * I think big-budget movies have been getting more conservative and predictable, but I would hazard a guess that it's due to financial industry turmoil and consequently less desire for risk taking.