There are four different major segmentations to modern media (i.e., movies).

The first is categorically obvious: Sound. The style of acting, the modes of presentation, all the related aspects of modern film tie into that change — the addition of sound radically alters the mechanism by which media is carried and absorbed. Films before sound and after are radically different.

The second was “method acting”, usually associated with Marlon Brando and either A Streetcar Named Desire or On The Waterfront… Acting before this was usually “to type” — blondes were good girls, brunettes were bad girls. Certain guys were tough, rugged sort, others were prissy and not leading men (There was also “casting against type”, but that was a minority of film).
Again, with the changes in the manner in which acting was done, Method Acting, ca. 1951, was another transition point for film.

The third one is also pretty obvious, once suggested: The MPAA. The films made before the MPAA and movie ratings vs. the old “Hayes Code” films are generally very different, with much more range in both topics and in content, making 1967 or thereabouts a third major transition point.

The last one, so far, was, oddly enough, MTV. Yes, “Music Television”. MTV introduced a great deal of visual shorthand, a lot of “quick cut” styles, and a faster visual pacing to audiences. This took a lot longer to change things — MTV began in 1980, and film had not consistently changed until around 1990 — many films done during the 80s themselves can fall into either camp.

But this last one has also created a major “watchability gap” for people — older people have a harder time watching new films — too fast, too frenetic, too much “banging and booming”. Meanwhile, younger people have a hard time slowing themselves down to deal with the slower pacing and less visually intense style of older movies. Older people need to (if they wish to not get stuck in the past) cultivate a more flexible watching ability, while younger people need (if they wish to learn to appreciate “the classics”) to learn to practice more patience.

And to everyone else as well.

Thanks. Who would have thought a gun fight could be so relaxing? I’ll watch the whole movie.

Merry Christmas!

The rapid fire scene changes drive me crazy as there is no time to absorb the ram-rodded content. Give me the old shows shot with a single camera angle for minutes at a time.

Have I a movie for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwb3P0fuM1c

https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/34447.html

I never cared for Smurfs in Space myself.

Typically, television portrays excitement as the good emotion to feel. In many Chinese-American communities, the good thing to feel is often calmness and contentment. Feeling excited and feeling calm can both be happy feelings, but they differ in how aroused the body is.

I’m also rather tired of the “White male bad” theme that seems to permeate the whole of modern entertainment. Here’s what I’m thinking: You keep demonizing the “White Male” demographic, the majority of those guys making up that demographic are gonna wake up one day, and their thoughts are going to run like this: “Ya know… I’m gonna get blamed for rape, plunder, and oppression anyway… I do believe I’m gonna go get me some, if only so I know what I’m being crucified for…”.

Density. It’s what I want in my entertainment. Something like the Malazan Book of the Dead is about my speed for something that’s gonna hold my attention for more than a couple of hours. The average 300-page novel is only good for about two-three hours for me, so what I really want is a well-written doorstop of a book/series. The usual lightweight crap just doesn’t cut it.