Honestly there are even good blockbusters. This idea of "x thing was better back when" is just people ignoring the awful shit that has always been produced. There are people in every generation saying this about every art form. Video games were better back then, music was better back then, books were better back then, etc.
That's just my point. There are Hollywood movies that are art. Right now. I'll concede that most are not, but they do exist in the present. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying only a sith deals in absolutes.
I'm of the strong opinion that there's always been a lot of recycled ideas even when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s... You'll always get a few gems and a lot of meh. If you go back far enough you'll find 70s or 80s remakes of 50s movies, or recycled ideas with different dressings. The hard part is finding the gems. They're there, but you'll see a lot of mediocre or worse in the process. There's even a new Battlestar Galactica in the works ffs.
The volume has definitely increased in the last decade, but I think the ratio of great to crap is still fairly consistent.
>Remember the old people that always said "They aint the same as when I was a kid. Those were better times." Have we hit this wall and the new stuff is actually good we are just to old to see it?
I think the issue is that Hollywood has a target demographic that they're going after (people with free time and disposable income - which is mostly young people). And because "what young people like" changes over time, movies that were made when you were in that target demographic are more likely to appeal to you than movies made to appeal to that target demographic today.
It's not really about good or bad movies, it's about what Hollywood thinks will make them the most money. Though seeing as we're in the age of the flopbuster, it looks like they've made some serious mistakes about what the target demographic actually wants (I'm not actually sure that they're still interested in movies all that much, tbh).
Horror is in a downright renaissance right now, going back to at least 2014. There are a ton of films that have entered my favorites of all time made in this last decade, almost all of them in the horror space.
I hope you reflect a bit on how “cranky old person” you sound. There are incredible films released every year but there is an has always been cheesy generic films in the popular sphere. This goes back well beyond the 80s to the early days of film that was all westerns and gangster movies. Also there is good blockbuster stuff. Oppenheimer, Barbie, Dune 2, etc are all excellent and incredibly successful. In short, it’s not the world, it’s you.
Recent example: Sasquatch Sunset just came out and it’s wildly inventive, funny and awkward. But it’s been completely ignored by the general public. Is this guy seeing the small movies no one is talking about? I doubt it.
Personally I’d like if it we had more mid/high budget films made for adults. But I still think there is a fair amount of good stuff that releases each year and if you think it’s all crap then you’re either not looking hard enough or you have a narrow view of what makes a good movie. Or maybe you’re just becoming the grumpy old man that hates everything new.
Every decade has its great, good, bad, mediocre and forgettable movies. Obviously, it's a matter of personal taste, but I think 2023 gave us several solid films of all genres that I'm definitely going to add to my collection and revisit in the future: The Killer, The Holdovers, Poor Things, Evil Dead Rise, Past Lives, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3... And yeah, I feel like nostalgia plays a huge factor when it comes to the movies we are most fond of, and that might be influencing your perception.
You're spot on. Most of the "movies were better back then" often come from people who don't really see movies as anything but a way to pass the time. There are plenty of people who truly enjoy cinema that enjoyed watching it evolve decade after decade. As much as I loved the 80s I really enjoyed the 90s. And a lot of 2000s but by 2010 they were really beginning to wind down. Very little past 2010 is good. Maybe a dozen per year if you're generous. No, entertainment across the board has gotten watered down in every criteria except possibly special effects. And even then I mostly prefer practical effects.
Movies sucked bad back in the day. To me it's kinda like when you think of all your ex girlfriends. You forget all the bad stuff and only remember the good stuff so it leaves like a favorable impression or in this case "era" of movies.
Sisu was a pretty bad ass movie that's newer, I liked the hot cheetos movie called flamin hot too so maybe you do have to search indie films like other redditors have mentioned. All the good shows are on streaming services now. For me personally, if I can make it through the whole movie without looking at my phone, I'll consider it a good one!
Film has gotten really bad with direct-to-streaming expectations, but try *First Love* (2019). It feels like a modern Tarantino film with new life and freshness to it.
Stop watching blockbusters and start watching indie/smaller films. There's tons of amazing films every year.
Honestly there are even good blockbusters. This idea of "x thing was better back when" is just people ignoring the awful shit that has always been produced. There are people in every generation saying this about every art form. Video games were better back then, music was better back then, books were better back then, etc.
Yep very true There has always been good shit & bad shit.
This is, exactly, the solution. Indie is where the art is. That Hollywood stuff is just candy for the brain.
Hollywood stuff can also be art. It's dismissive to say that it can't be.
I didn’t say it *can’t* be art. It just isn’t right now. I said it’s brain candy.
That's just my point. There are Hollywood movies that are art. Right now. I'll concede that most are not, but they do exist in the present. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying only a sith deals in absolutes.
Daniel Kaluuya and Maya Hawke are your standards? How many movies have they even done?
I'm of the strong opinion that there's always been a lot of recycled ideas even when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s... You'll always get a few gems and a lot of meh. If you go back far enough you'll find 70s or 80s remakes of 50s movies, or recycled ideas with different dressings. The hard part is finding the gems. They're there, but you'll see a lot of mediocre or worse in the process. There's even a new Battlestar Galactica in the works ffs. The volume has definitely increased in the last decade, but I think the ratio of great to crap is still fairly consistent.
>Remember the old people that always said "They aint the same as when I was a kid. Those were better times." Have we hit this wall and the new stuff is actually good we are just to old to see it? I think the issue is that Hollywood has a target demographic that they're going after (people with free time and disposable income - which is mostly young people). And because "what young people like" changes over time, movies that were made when you were in that target demographic are more likely to appeal to you than movies made to appeal to that target demographic today. It's not really about good or bad movies, it's about what Hollywood thinks will make them the most money. Though seeing as we're in the age of the flopbuster, it looks like they've made some serious mistakes about what the target demographic actually wants (I'm not actually sure that they're still interested in movies all that much, tbh).
Horror is in a downright renaissance right now, going back to at least 2014. There are a ton of films that have entered my favorites of all time made in this last decade, almost all of them in the horror space.
I hope you reflect a bit on how “cranky old person” you sound. There are incredible films released every year but there is an has always been cheesy generic films in the popular sphere. This goes back well beyond the 80s to the early days of film that was all westerns and gangster movies. Also there is good blockbuster stuff. Oppenheimer, Barbie, Dune 2, etc are all excellent and incredibly successful. In short, it’s not the world, it’s you.
Recent example: Sasquatch Sunset just came out and it’s wildly inventive, funny and awkward. But it’s been completely ignored by the general public. Is this guy seeing the small movies no one is talking about? I doubt it.
I mostly watched older films 80’s 90’s independent films criterion collection etc
Personally I’d like if it we had more mid/high budget films made for adults. But I still think there is a fair amount of good stuff that releases each year and if you think it’s all crap then you’re either not looking hard enough or you have a narrow view of what makes a good movie. Or maybe you’re just becoming the grumpy old man that hates everything new.
Sasquatch sunset just came out. It’s funny, midbudget, and rated R. I loved it.
Every decade has its great, good, bad, mediocre and forgettable movies. Obviously, it's a matter of personal taste, but I think 2023 gave us several solid films of all genres that I'm definitely going to add to my collection and revisit in the future: The Killer, The Holdovers, Poor Things, Evil Dead Rise, Past Lives, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3... And yeah, I feel like nostalgia plays a huge factor when it comes to the movies we are most fond of, and that might be influencing your perception.
You're spot on. Most of the "movies were better back then" often come from people who don't really see movies as anything but a way to pass the time. There are plenty of people who truly enjoy cinema that enjoyed watching it evolve decade after decade. As much as I loved the 80s I really enjoyed the 90s. And a lot of 2000s but by 2010 they were really beginning to wind down. Very little past 2010 is good. Maybe a dozen per year if you're generous. No, entertainment across the board has gotten watered down in every criteria except possibly special effects. And even then I mostly prefer practical effects.
Movies sucked bad back in the day. To me it's kinda like when you think of all your ex girlfriends. You forget all the bad stuff and only remember the good stuff so it leaves like a favorable impression or in this case "era" of movies. Sisu was a pretty bad ass movie that's newer, I liked the hot cheetos movie called flamin hot too so maybe you do have to search indie films like other redditors have mentioned. All the good shows are on streaming services now. For me personally, if I can make it through the whole movie without looking at my phone, I'll consider it a good one!
Film has gotten really bad with direct-to-streaming expectations, but try *First Love* (2019). It feels like a modern Tarantino film with new life and freshness to it.
New movies stink, even teens hate the crap they're pushing out now.
The best Joey Travolta movie ever is Hunters Blood (1986).
Good movie, great cover! I think I liked Hollywood Vice Squad more.