Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

I really wish I could see the indie films that come out in theaters but I can only see mainstream garbage that makes me really angry all the time because I don't have a car and sometimes I wonder why I get so overly emotional about movies and shows. I suppose it's because I was raised by a television set but is that a good enough reason to scream and shout onto a microphone and post it on social media just to scream and shout about "no one" understanding what I'm saying? I don't know, but I'm not the only one who can take the medium very seriously. So what drives you to care about the film industry?

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Its my soul nutrition, and I think its an art-form that could influence the world for the better.. Great movies anyway, so its why I push movies from the 1930-70s.

Because reading sucks so that leaves me with movies.

Seriously, I don't like to read and I do love older movies. They are a window back into our past. Watching a film from 50 years ago is like having a time machine and to me that's priceless. I don't really care about new films today, rarely do I see one that moves me. But they do exist and I keep trying to find new movies that are worth the time.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Movies clear my head. Growing up with Labyrinth, Legend, Star Wars,The Never Ending Story, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, etc., those movies transported me somewhere else than where I was (usually home along while mom worked two jobs with no neighbors' kids around to play with to boot). So many movies inspired me growing up, and I find now stepping out of life for a few hours to the local theater always slows my pulse when anxiety gets the better of me.

I too find myself getting emotionally swept up in random bits and pieces and damn near balling at the delivery of a word. Movies, followed by music in a very close second, lift me up in inspiration or drop me to the lowest of depths in depression. Friends don't get that. I don't know anyone who does, really. But even the worst kick to the gut is usually more inspiring that most anything else in life. I'm not sure if that's a good thing on a few levels, but damn does it make me want to create something.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Is it only: Ami, Matt, ynwtf and me...that are passionate about movies? So the rest of you just don't care about movies, even though you're on a movie board?;)

I used to enjoy reading often, but once I got my first smartphone in 2010 I began reading books less and less, because now I spent all my "reading time" on articles online, forums, emails and text messages.

After using my suffering, deteriorating eyesight on all of that, it's too tiring for me to pick up a book. Additionally, I kind of just want to "see" a fictional world displayed on a film screen, instead of picturing it in my mind, because when you have to message your long-distance friends you've already used up a lot of your imagination on what they write, so at this point you want something not quite as imaginary for entertainment.

Of course, being a fan of beautiful imagery and cinematography, I very much appreciate when films have an artistic aesthetic. Combine that with a thought-provoking or strange story and that's why I love cinema.

I wouldn't say with me it's about film exclusively, but film and television. I think at the most basic level the two most important factors are escape and nostalgia.

me judging you: maybe because they have something you have not?
they are sexy like you think you aren't
they have a sexy girl/boyfriend like you don't think you have
and this goes on and on and on...
that's the point of movies in the states, the characters have something you don't and you want it
and when you can't put yourself in there shoes you hate them for it

reading is a marvelous thing, better than movies on a imaginative level, but i just fall asleep easy

i watch movies for the same reason people like art, is a different or better of a weird perspective
they see there desires, anguishes, urges in something made by another human being, they aren't alone
i like movies because i see things in the characters i see in myself and they make me fell i'm not isolated
that's what everybody wants, or most people want, to fell a sense of unity, belonging
those who don't want that in most cases have a sense of superiority by stating they like to be different
the reason you want to be something is the reason you aren't, every artistic form must start with honesty
be honest, not about who you are, because you don't know who the f- that is, but about your emotions

I like that – it's a good description. When you really feel you're being transported into another world. And that doesn't have to mean fantasy; one example in my case was watching Heat (1995).

I like what you said there Miji. Most of what you wrote applies to me too. I should've said reading sucks for me, (I think reading books is great for others) but I don't have the time to read a book anymore, seems I'm always working or busy. Plus my eyesight isn't the best and reading for long periods gives me a neckache and a headache. When I was a lot younger I read, and I'm glad I did as I read some great books. But now I levitate towards movies.

I remember from your past movie nominations in the Hall of Fames (HoF) that you choose films that were visually and cinematographyly engaging. BTW I'm hosting the upcoming 20th HoF and hope you'll join:)

Interesting thoughts....I often find that I can connect with a character in a film and see a bit of myself in that character's personality of actions. That doesn't happen always, maybe not even a lot, but when it does happen it makes the movie more of a personal experience for me. Though I've yet to find any movie character that seemed like my total double. That's because I'm so unique:p

Why can you only see 'mainstream garbage'? What's stopping you from seeing indie films?

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Well, she said she does not have a car so one could deduce that perhaps there are only franchise theaters in her area. If it's a relatively small area then that theater probably rarely, if ever, takes part in special screenings.

I can relate. It's a 3.5 hour drive to anywhere that could support an independent theater from here. Without a car, that's a hell of a long walk. The most unique shows we get in my area are Christian flicks or those pseudo conservative political propaganda films two or three times a year.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

That's true, I live in a smaller place myself and theaters only show the big Hollywood movies, so I see most indie movies from the library or streaming.

The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2019 (A Running List)

The 17 Best Indie Movies Of the Year (So Far)

The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2018

There's a bunch of great indies in those list! You can watch them legally online with streaming services for a fraction of what you'd pay to go to the movie theater. Or check our your local library.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Since I am into filmmaking, and want to do that as a career hopefully I also attend film festivals, and I find that a lot of indie movies are no better than Hollywood movies really. Most indie filmmakers still want to 'play it safe', if that's what the OP is wanting out of indie films. So are the chances of indie films not playing it safe, really much higher than Hollywood movies?

I'm a textbook INFP. I'm always searching for the meaning in everything and then I attempt to apply that to my own experience. Film is something that's entertainment, sure, but it's also an artistic lens with which to view the world. I've been toying with the idea that film lovers are more empathetic than average due to broader exposure to the human condition. I suppose book lovers might fit that description as well but people aren't as likely to genre swap with literature.

I don't know. YouTube's YMS always seems to find really good indie films or films that don't show in my theater and in the "New Trailers Are Here," I see trailers that look really interesting but again, my theater just shows the big mainstream stuff. But you have a point. While writing Posters which is now called Bad Acting, I did get nervous that my film wasn't "film" enough and started impulsive writing cliches into it. Luckily my husband is around to review and let me know that the big budget Hollywood film stuff isn't necessary but most filmmakers don't have that voice of reason, especially indie filmmakers. But I guess overall I'm just yearning for new material which I typically see in the trailer of an indie film.

Did you see Alita: Battle Angel?

Our DVD player doesn't work so I guess streaming it is. Thank you for your suggestion :)

DVD and Blu ray players cost like $45-$50 on Amazon. I think I paid $40 for the last blu-ray player I bought.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

If you buy a new Blu Ray player they can stream right to your TV which is nice.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

They are a mirror reflecting my soul 😯

Hush your mouth... You know how I feel about cinema

Cinema is a version of visual art. Its storytelling.. its make believe its something that can bring you sorrow, anger or joy.

Depending on the genre, you can have an adrenaline rush, you can laugh, you can cry, you can learn about a particular event of history. You can enjoy it with anyone or by yourself. I have even watched it with friends across the world.

Foreign cinema is no different. you can feel the same things.

Oh yes! My husband and I are always watching Korean films on Netfilx, we've been watching a show on there lately, it's really good

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

I am passionate about films largely because they can be an artistic expression that seeks to change things, present new ideas, tell an imaginative story with a message, etc. I can say the same things about both fiction and non-fiction books. What I get frustrated with is that potential is often wasted on films that will make the most money. It would be different if the film industry had no choice, however they are pitched dozens of movies for every movie they make. And many of those ideas are rejected so they can bring you some mediocre, or worse, film that costs tons of money so that they can squeeze as much profit as they can from it. Than those films seem to be nominated for, or receive all of the big awards. This is a somewhat pessimistic view I know but, when you think about what someone with talent could do with a third of the budget of Titanic, or any other big money film that is mediocre, it makes your skin crawl. As far as seeing non-commercial films the old "cinemas" are drying up.Watching at home with surround sound is nice, but I miss seeing a film in the theater.

The thing that is refreshing is that you are not limited to the movies in the theater, and there is access to some of the better peripheral stuff that is available. So with 100 years of cinema history and access to foreign films, I will never run out of things to watch, even if I have to wait for the cream of the crop of the current films to rise to the top. I do, on occasion like. check out a film for the purpose of checking out for a few hours, but there is always something good to watch if I dig for it. Another thing is I don't mind watching a good film several times. I'd rather do that than to watch something really bad just to have something to watch.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

The simplest and shortest version I can think of is...

An a adventure into the realm of imagination.

There's all kinds of Adventures you can go on in real life. Road trips, camping, experiencing new things in new places.

But with movies you can go places you cannot in real life. And quite a bit easier.

People have a natural hunger for adventure. And with movies you have a source of safe and instant adventure in a variety of flavors.

Books can do that but they cannot do it visually. Books let you fill in more with your imagination but you also have to work at it.

It is easier to relax and let some of the imagining to be done for you. With compelling visuals and the personalities that come out from acting.

And when you see a movie again that you loved from your past especially your childhood it's like being able to relive that adventure.

Going to the theater to watch a movie helps add to the illusion of Adventure since you have to go somewhere to see it and with a larger screen it's also engrossing.

But there's also something to be said about being able to have an adventure while remaining in the comfort of your own home.

Movies at there best are art. They have the capacity to capture, reflect on, or illuminate things that are true. They also have the capacity to provide a vision to change things that should not necessarily be true.

And they have all the different sorts of art --- music, writing, art, video. And it's very new, but it's been stale for about 40 years unfortunately.

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Love to be passionate about an art form that I think has been boring for at least as long as I've been alive.

While I'm with you on the idea that older movies are great, and that today there's a lot of mass-consumable movies being made, I can't agree that nothing fresh has been made in the last 40 years, or even in the last few years. Boyhood & Swiss Army Man are two movies that are so creative that they are beyond fresh, they're super fresh!

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

I think it's the living-through-it part that matters. Easier to have all the canonically great movies of decades past already sorted out for you than to have to wade through the thousands of movies that come out each year in the hopes that you will stumble upon the ones that will be looked upon as great.

It has been turned into big business. Perhaps that's been the case for decades now as you say. It may be that since I can choose what I watch, and most of what I choose to watch falls between 1930-1990 or so. I get to watch the gems from that period without seeing all the fluff that might have been produced during those years. What I fear is that the artistic element disappears all together. .

I think it's always been big business, it's just the right people got into the field and saw the shortcuts they could make to produce profitable films without risk several times a year, but there are still people out there making good material. Recently, my husband and I went out to see Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark and we had a great time, it was horrifying!

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

I love film as it is a form of escapism. I love to relax in a dark room and get lost in the visual story on the screen for a couple of hours.

Movies for me has always been about escapism, being transported to a world and just forgetting about realities for a couple of hours. That is what the cinema/movie experience is all about for me.
I fell in love with film after watching Jurassic Park in the cinema, which was also my first experience in a cinema. I must have been around the age of 4 or 5. Since then I've fallen deeply in love with film/TV and film making itself... an industry I would love to get into and maybe one day, still could... (One can dream)
Movies have taught me, inspired me, emotionally impacted me on many levels and like music (A very close seconded passion of mine), helped me discover myself...

Re: Why Are We So Passionate About Film?
 

Because there isn't much else to enjoy.