What Do You Look For In Movies?
Perhaps why we sometimes obsess over movie tastes is because we think that our tastes can tell what kind of person we are. And in some ways, that's true. We watch movies for different reasons and that affects the types of movies we like. This explains why sometimes movies that I like are disliked by many and movies that are universally loved are just “meh” to me. According to this quiz, this is apparently the type of movie watcher I am:
According to this, I watch movies mostly for “pleasure-seeking” and “escapism” and not at all for “catharsis” and very little for “aggression.” This explains why I like fun movies, usually fantasy, that are not overly sentimental. Sometimes I like action movies but not all the time. Here is what I look for in movies:
Note that all this is ONLY my opinion.
1. Subtlety
I love subtlety in everything, especially subtle plots. I don't like movies that are too plot-driven. Divergent makes the mistake of being too plot-driven. Although I never read the book, Divergent, from my knowledge, really had potential with its interesting world of five factions. I wish that the movie had expanded on that world that made the story unique. Otherwise, it's just another action movie. Instead, the movie focused too much on the plot and tried to include every event from the book. I felt like I was watching some reality TV game show.
Sometimes, certain parts of the book get left out in the movie, and that's okay because it's better to focus on the important parts, the essence of the story.
This is also why I enjoy Titanic because it doesn't focus too much on the plot, but rather the relationship between Jack and Rose, and life on the ship. I guess I prefer character-driven stories more?
I also dislike too much emotion. It takes true skill to convey emotion in a controlled, subtle way. Movies are entertainment, and I do not consider a movie where I suffer and feel sad to be entertainment. There's enough suffering in real life, I don't need extra suffering during my free time. Sometimes though, you need to know if a character is sad for the story to make sense. But it should be done subtly. This is why I don't like Schindler's List although I appreciate its message.
2. Vicarious Experience
When I watch a movie, I want to be transported to another world. I want to experience something different from my own life. That's the whole point of stories anyway.
In Les Mis, I was transported to the heart of the French revolution, albeit a bit romanticized. In Frozen, I was in a winter wonderland. Each movie has a theme, and by theme, I don't mean the meaning-of-the-story theme, I mean the setting. Like how a birthday party has a theme, like a Hawaiian theme, or space theme. Likewise, movies have themes too. For Frozen, that would be winter. For The Little Mermaid, that would be the sea. (No wonder both movies were such box office hits). I love slice-of-life movies that really get into the world-building.
3. Beautiful Visuals
When I watch a movie, I want to see something beautiful. If I'm going to be staring at a screen for 2 hours, it has to look pleasing. It's called motion PICTURE for a reason. Film is a visual medium. And the visual aspect is something a movie can really play on and take advantage of unlike in books. Books are great for getting to know the thoughts, emotions and the characters deeply but a movie should emphasize the setting and the visual experience. This is why I think Mean Girls is overrated. I do not find it visually stimulating while others call it a “classic” and the “best movie ever!”
4. Entertainment Value
The best entertainment is one that can be enjoyed without understanding its deeper meaning but is also intellectually compelling when you do analyze it. A prime example of this is How I Met Your Mother. It's hilarious for those watching it passively, but HIMYM also leaves a lot of cleverness and meaning behind small things, such as use of color as symbolic meaning (only one of the many reasons HIMYM is the funniest AND most brilliant show ever). It's low production value, but the wit and attention to detail cannot be beat and leaves the best for its most loyal fans.
Mary Poppins is a fun movie for kids but also has meaningful value for adults. Watching it as an adult, I notice different things that I didn't notice as a kid. “A Spoonful of Sugar” isn't just a song about some kids snapping and then magically having their rooms cleaned. It's about finding something positive in a negative task that would make that task more enjoyable and go by quicker. It sounds so obvious now that I'm typing this out.
5. Natural Cinematography
I don't like it when it's obvious that the cinematography looks artificial. I prefer natural-looking light. I'm also not a huge fan of shaky cam. In old classic movies, they always had wide shots and just let the actors do their thing. Maybe because it was harder to do close-ups and they didn't have the technology for it but it looked more natural and professional that way.
Naturally, there are other things that make a movie good and enjoyable, like a good soundtrack, acting, etc. But this list is just things that I care about more than most people.
Critics say Mamma Mia sucks because there's no plot and the characters have too much fun. But that's exactly why I love Mamma Mia. I like slice-of-life movies. Obviously, the plot in Mamma Mia is a girl finding her dad but it doesn't take over the whole movie. This way, the focus is on a girl's excitement on her wedding day on a scenic Greek island. I find that movies that are universally loved are ones that have a just a little bit of everything. That way, there is something for everyone but not too much of it in case if someone doesn't like it. Just like The Sound of Music. There is plot, but not too much plot. There is fun, but not too much fun. There is emotion, but just the right amount. Kind of like Goldilocks and the three bears.
What do look for in movies?
Have a legendary day,
The Blogger