do you watch hollywood movies?

lufties

I know they are entertaining, but recently I've gone quite cynical about them. It seems there are packed with advertising and propeganda. I'm going to start getting into French, Italian or Scandinavian cinema. I feel hollywood movies for the most part are just mind numbingly boring.

kneemos

Obligatory happy ending does my head in.

RonanP77

I do indeed, it's just escapism and entertainment, not to be taken too seriously in most cases. I speak English, a small amount of Irish and a few words of French so I'm limited in what I can watch based on that.

lufties

RonanP77 wrote: »

I do indeed, it's just escapism and entertainment, not to be taken too seriously in most cases. I speak English, a small amount of Irish and a few words of French so I'm limited in what I can watch based on that.

Most french movies are subtitled I would think.

jester77

RonanP77 wrote: »

I do indeed, it's just escapism and entertainment, not to be taken too seriously in most cases. I speak English, a small amount of Irish and a few words of French so I'm limited in what I can watch based on that.

They have this modern invention called subtitles where they translate what is being said on the screen and display it in English words on the screen. You should really check it out.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

lufties wrote: »

Most french movies are subtitled I would think.

I can't abide a film I have to read. If I want to read, I get a book.

lufties

Celine Icy Karate wrote: »

I can't abide a film I have to read. If I want to read, I get a book.

fair enough

RonanP77

If I want to read I pick up a book, I can't stand subtitles.

conorhal

Doesn't everybody?

I may be a cineaste but that doesn't mean I have to be a snob, I like a burger just as much as fillet steak.
After watching Gaspar Noe's 'Enter The Void' at the weekend, I really... I mean REALLY, needed to watch Guardians of the Galaxy afterwards.

The Peanut

Celine Icy Karate wrote: »

I can't abide a film I have to read. If I want to read, I get a book.

You really are missing out on a lot of high quality entertainment.

Irrespective of the huge range of quality movies produced in non-English languages over the years, the recent upsurge of quality thrillers/mystery/political series from the Scandanavian countries has produced some really excellent series. A very diffferent tone to many English speaking series amd highly recommeded.

eviltwin

Depends on the movie. I'm over Hollywood blockbusters, sequel after sequel, book adaptations and remakes. No imagination anymore in Hollywood. I prefer tv as its far superior but will watch mostly independent and documentary films and a lot of French and Scandinavian cinema.

lufties

The Peanut wrote: »

You really are missing out on a lot of high quality entertainment.

Irrespective of the huge range of quality movies produced in non-English languages over the years, the recent upsurge of quality thrillers/mystery/political series from the Scandanavian countries has produced some really excellent series. A very diffferent tone to many English speaking series amd highly recommeded.

Can you name a few?

Aglomerado

The Peanut wrote: »

You really are missing out on a lot of high quality entertainment.

Irrespective of the huge range of quality movies produced in non-English languages over the years, the recent upsurge of quality thrillers/mystery/political series from the Scandanavian countries has produced some really excellent series. A very diffferent tone to many English speaking series amd highly recommeded.

I'll take subtitles any day over dubbing. It does my head in when the actors' lips aren't in sync with the dialogue.

Links234

Yes, the odd time, but like yourself I'd generally watch more foreign language movies. A lot of Japanese or sometimes Korean movies especially.

The Raid is a better action movie than anything Hollywood's put out in ages.

eviltwin

lufties wrote: »

Can you name a few?

TV: Borgen, The Killing, Those Who Kill

Film: The Hunt, Headhunters, Let The Right One In. All on Netflixs afaik.

Links234

The original Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is one of my favourites ever

I'm happy to watch anything that looks good hollywood or otherwise

lufties

eviltwin wrote: »

TV: Borgen, The Killing, Those Who Kill

Film: The Hunt, Headhunters, Let The Right One In. All on Netflixs afaik.

Thanks, i don't have Netflix but there's a great DVD store close to me.

eviltwin

lufties wrote: »

Thanks, i don't have Netflix but there's a great DVD store close to me.

You can find a lot of foreign language film on You Tube as well.

bluestrattos

lufties wrote: »

I know they are entertaining [...]

Speaking for myself, that's the number one reason why I watch a movie.

Suspension of disbelief is also supposed to be essential for the enjoyment of many movies and TV shows involving complex stunts, special effects, and seemingly unrealistic plots, characterizations, etc. The theory professes to explain why a subset of action movie fans are willing to accept the idea that, for example: The good guy can get away with shooting guns in public places (without getting in trouble with the local law-enforcement himself), never running out of ammunition (Rambo movies), or that cars will explode with a well-placed shot to the gas tank (numerous action movies use this trope/plot element).

source

Going Strong

I rarely watch movies as I get bored after 15 minutes or so. I'm not much good at 'passive' entertainment as I rarely bother with TV shows either. The thought of having to watch ten series of something at 20 episodes per series turns me off straight away as being too much like hard work. I can spend hours and hours and days playing computer games though.

Decuc500

How can you compare Hollywood films to foreign language films?
Hollywood is dumbed down super hero movies and crowd pleasing chick flicks. Anything that will make money.

There isn’t another country with an industry like Hollywood that throws so much money at movies and stars.

Contemporary American cinema is another matter. I think it’s far superior to any other countries output.

lufties

Decuc500 wrote: »

How can you compare Hollywood films to foreign language films?
Hollywood is dumbed down super hero movies and crowd pleasing chick flicks. Anything that will make money.

There isn’t another country with an industry like Hollywood that throws so much money at movies and stars.

Contemporary American cinema is another matter. I think it’s far superior to any other countries output.

Where would you find contemporary cinema?

The Peanut

Aglomerado wrote: »

I'll take subtitles any day over dubbing. It does my head in when the actors' lips aren't in sync with the dialogue.

Agreed although the dubbing in some of the spaghetti westerns never bothered me. If I'm enjoying the movie enough, I can get past it; would obvioulsy prefer if wasn't there. I've seen The Good, the Bad and the Ugly so many times now, I don't notice the dubbing.

Would imagine for more challenging movies to watch, it would be very off-putting.

The Peanut

eviltwin wrote: »

TV: Borgen, The Killing, Those Who Kill

Film: The Hunt, Headhunters, Let The Right One In. All on Netflixs afaik.

Would also recommend The Bridge.

Decuc500

lufties wrote: »

Where would you find contemporary cinema?

Independent films, lower budget cinema.

Recent films like Blue Ruin, Joe, Cold In July, Cheap Thrills, Mud, Frances Ha.

Of course the greats of US cinema, the Coens, PT Anderson, Fincher, Darren Aronofsky, Terrence Malick, all the usual suspects.

It ain't Hollywood. People just seem to bracket all American cinema as 'Hollywood' which is wrong.

Stone Deaf 4evr

lufties wrote: »

Thanks, i don't have Netflix but there's a great DVD store close to me.

Start with Headhunters, its outstanding.

Hoop66

lufties wrote: »

Where would you find contemporary cinema?

A cinema in Contemporania?

Potatoeman

Im enjoying more TV shows now than movies. There seem to be far more decent TV shows out the last few years.

Dunny

Just watched that Frozen, don't get the hype

pragmatic1

Very few Hollywood films would appeal to me. Wolf of Wall Street was the last film that I watched in the cinema.

The vast majority of films are now targeted to a much younger demographic.

cletus van damme

watching a french series called braquo at the moment.
2 seasons in. It's the way i want cop shows to be made.

I'd recommend Gomorrah the series too - although it only 1 season so far.
I also like Romanzo criminale . both italian.

I've slowly being turned off hollywood films a slow death of about 15 years .
Occasionally a great film will be made but lately most are ****e.

Lenin Skynard

I stopped watching Hollywood movies years ago. I know that sounds snobbish or hipsterish but it's really just a matter of preference.

With big-budget box office movies, they have to follow several conventions to make it appeal to as wide an audience as possible to make as much money as possible. The result is usually extremely predictable, tacky and generic in my opinion. Also full of sneaky product placement. I've nothing against other people enjoying it but I can never bring myself to devoting 90 minutes to something like that.

If you do a bit of research first you can usually find a good indie film which will be original, unpredictable, stylish and completely unique.

DrumSteve

kneemos wrote: »

Obligatory happy ending does my head in.

Yeah, I hate when you have to pay extra for it aswell.

Mal-Adjusted

cletus van damme wrote: »

watching a french series called braquo at the moment.

That and "the Bridge" are two shows i'm mad to see. i see the DVD's in HMV and while they're a bit expensive, i would have gotten them but i'm afraid one of the family may have gotten one or the other for me for Christmas, so I just have to wait and see.

cletus van damme wrote: »

I'd recommend Gomorrah the series too - although it only 1 season so far.

Iv'e only seen the first two episodes of this one but it's definitely one i'll catch up on.

PopePalpatine

Aglomerado wrote: »

I'll take subtitles any day over dubbing. It does my head in when the actors' lips aren't in sync with the dialogue.

I prefer watching a foreign language with subtitles, usually the voice actors for a dub aren't of the same quality as the original cast. A dubbing cast usually has nowhere near the budget of the original. IIRC English-language dubbing actors for anime are usually combining that role with other jobs.

Mesrine65

Any of the Varg Veum series of movies from Norway are really good IMHO

Links234

PopePalpatine wrote: »

IIRC English-language dubbing actors for anime are usually combining that role with other jobs.

Yup, you'll find a lot of the same voice actors in games. Dubbing on anime can be pretty horrendous too, it usually adds a serious cheese factor.

AboutaWeekAgo

City Of God is a great foreign flick if anyone hasn't seen it. Wish I hadn't seen it myself just so I could watch it for the first time again!

Links234

Anyone like Korean movies? some of them can be seriously ****ed up :eek:

Galwayguy35

I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo last night, not the Hollywood version with Daniel Craig but the original one.

It was a much better film IMO, the rape scene was very uncomfortable to watch though.

Mesrine65

Links234 wrote: »

Anyone like Korean movies? some of them can be seriously ****ed up :eek:

I Saw The Devil was fookd up in a very good way.

JaseBelleVie

A good film is a good film, be it from Hollywood, Bollywood or Jupiter. That'd be my 2c.

Mesrine65

AboutaWeekAgo wrote: »

City Of God is a great foreign flick if anyone hasn't seen it. Wish I hadn't seen it myself just so I could watch it for the first time again!

If you liked City Of God, check out Brazilian Western

Mesrine65

JaseHeath wrote: »

A good film is a good film, be it from Hollywood, Bollywood or Jupiter. That'd be my 2c.

Agreed to a point, I just don't get Bollywood.

I was watching a hardcore Indian movie about blood vendettas & warring clans & the next minute everyone's singing & dancing :eek:

WTF is it with all the spontaneous musical break outs

JaseBelleVie

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Agreed to a point, I just don't get Bollywood.

I was watching a hardcore Indian movie about blood vendettas & warring clans & the next minute everyone's singing & dancing :eek:

WTF is it with all the spontaneous musical break outs

I must confess, I've never watched a Bollywood film. I just used it to illustrate that I don't care where a film is from. If it's a good film, it's a good film. No matter where it's from.

lufties

lufties wrote: »

I know they are entertaining, but recently I've gone quite cynical about them. It seems there are packed with advertising and propeganda. I'm going to start getting into French, Italian or Scandinavian cinema. I feel hollywood movies for the most part are just mind numbingly boring.

Which is it Lufties? Entertaining or mind numbingly boring?

The key is a little discernment. Hollywood has produced a lot of quality entertainment, don't discard the quality with the dross, just use better judgement.

Scandinavia is definitely having a TV and movie 'moment', and Netflix is definitely worth the $8 monthly investment for its library of contemporary and foreign movies and tv shows. It'll work out much more cost effective than buying or renting the DVDs.

One eyed Jack

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Agreed to a point, I just don't get Bollywood.

I was watching a hardcore Indian movie about blood vendettas & warring clans & the next minute everyone's singing & dancing :eek:

WTF is it with all the spontaneous musical break outs

I kinda like that about them, but it's nearly always the same theme, like West Side Story, with an Indian flavour

If you like your cinema particularly quirky, there's nobody does odd as fcuk like the Australians!

Recently watched "Predestination", and the written plot really doesn't do it justice, along with a cracking performance from Sarah Snook!

"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", "Strictly Ballroom", "Muriel's Wedding", I just think not every film has to tax your grey matter to be entertaining.

Links234

Mesrine65 wrote: »

I Saw The Devil was fookd up in a very good way.

really, really amazing movie, but practically had me cowering! :eek:

diograis

Links234 wrote: »

really, really amazing movie, but practically had me cowering! :eek:

what about I'm a cyborg but that's okay? Crazy koreans....

Links234

diograis wrote: »

what about I'm a cyborg but that's okay? Crazy koreans....

Great movie

Thirst, from the same guy who made it, is one of the best vampire tales out there!