5 Annoying Trends That Make Every Movie Look the Same

[Hedjii72]

Great article about how modern cinematography is in the toilet.

5 Annoying Trends That Make Every Movie Look the Same | Cracked.com

I especially like the points about color correction.

 

[CTF]

Looks like they read Wikipedia as research.

 

[themanwoaname]

if 3d movies faded away within the next 3 months i would be very happy.

 

[mike5150]

if 3d movies faded away within the next 3 months i would be very happy.

:thumbsup

 

[CTF]

Within 18 months.

Mark my words.

 

[Jeyl]

Well, I saw Coraline in 3D and I still think that's one of the best visual experiences I've ever experienced in a theater. The 3D in that film was spectacular.

One point in this article I agree with 110% is the camera shaking. In FireFly, Joss Whedon talked about not having the show look like Star Trek by making things shaky (which still managed to keep things focused and not jarring). So what did JJ Abrams and his crew do on the Star Trek? Film it documentary style with shaky cameras in scenes that don't even involve any action!

 

[Wes R]

Modern film makers really need to start watching old movies back from the 70s and earlier and even some in the 80s and 90s to see what was done right and how its gone wrong since.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I'll say it again about 3D: The movie has to be made with 3D in mind. Avatar and Up are two of the better examples I have seen of really good 3D. I did not even bother with Avatar: The Last Airbendzzzzzzzzzz and Clash of the Remakes. They looked like they hastily slapped the 3D in place to cash in. Hell, Beowulf was better than either of those two in terms of 3D.

 

[Jeyl]

Modern film makers really need to start watching old movies back from the 70s and earlier and even some in the 80s and 90s to see what was done right and how its gone wrong since.

As much as I'd like to slap Christopher Nolan for making female characters emotionally unstable manipulative characters who are prone to suicide, at least he keeps his action scenes focused and not shaky.

 

[Minder Thr33]

I'll say it again about 3D: The movie has to be made with 3D in mind. Avatar and Up are two of the better examples I have seen of really good 3D. I did not even bother with Avatar: The Last Airbendzzzzzzzzzz and Clash of the Remakes. They looked like they hastily slapped the 3D in place to cash in. Hell, Beowulf was better than either of those two in terms of 3D.

When they slap on the 3D afterward, I get a headache watching it (I always feel like I'm watching the movie crosseyed as well). I felt that way about Clash and Pirahna. But I was fine during Avatar adn Toy Story 3, and Alice (yes, I know only half was done in dedicated 3D).

 

[jcoffman99]

Well, I saw Coraline in 3D and I still think that's one of the best visual experiences I've ever experienced in a theater. The 3D in that film was spectacular.

One point in this article I agree with 110% is the camera shaking. In FireFly, Joss Whedon talked about not having the show look like Star Trek by making things shaky (which still managed to keep things focused and not jarring). So what did JJ Abrams and his crew do on the Star Trek? Film it documentary style with shaky cameras in scenes that don't even involve any action!

I'm with you on the shaky cam. I loved the first Bourne movie but couldn't stand the next two as the camera never stops moving. Even when two people are just sitting at a table talking..shake shake shake. I didn't even finish the 3rd movie.

 

[Treadwell]

The color correction thing is a non-problem, brought up by an article writer with spotty knowledge of artistic intent and even less about the history of post-production.

Doing this sort of thing isn't a product of the digital age. Movies have always been "color timed", as they used to call it, by controlling how each reel was photochemically duplicated when creating release prints.

There are cultural and psychological reasons why certain colors work to help create certain moods. It's done because it works. The article writer might as well bemoan the use of fast-paced music in action scenes.

 

[Treadwell]

(but I agree shaky cam sucks)

 

[Alan Cross]

Everything in balance. Shaky cam is great for certain moments. After you've seen Avatar or UP in 3D I don't know why anyone thinks 3D sucks and wants it to go away. It won't.

 

[motman241]

Modern film makers really need to start watching old movies back from the 70s and earlier and even some in the 80s and 90s to see what was done right and how its gone wrong since.

Nope. THIS is why we have a ton of remakes. People can't simply study, and see why, and how...

One other annpying trend that makes movies look like other movies - remakes.

 

[HAL9000]

Your words are wrong.

I was in a meeting yesterday concerning a production that might shoot
two 3D movies back-to-back .
The second of these films won't hit screens until mid 2012.
(they might not shoot back to back because they have a newer rig
in development)

Also, I know of at least 2 exhibition technology companies that are
pumping literally millions into developing an Autostereo system for
the big screen.

Within 18 months.

Mark my words.

 

[Nwerke]

The color correction thing is a non-problem, brought up by an article writer with spotty knowledge of artistic intent and even less about the history of post-production.

Say that after watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I want to like the film, hell, I probably WOULD like it if only the entire thing hadn't been coloured to match a wino's ****. Honestly, what were they thinking there? Yates didn't do anything similar with the one before that and it was all the better for it.

Shakycam is a PITA.

I'm among those expecting this incarnation of 3D to be around a while. Maybe not permanent and they CAN screw it up if they keep foisting postconversions on us, but a while. Hope so because Avatar and How to Train Your Dragon looked terrific in 3D. Yet to see UP.

If they do work out an autostereo system for the big screen...wow!...saying THAT won't stick around might be like saying 'these talkies are just a fad, I tell you!'.

 

[Treadwell]

^ Haven't seen it, but yeah, there's always going to be good applications of a technique and bad. The article was pretty much slamming the technique itself.

 

[CTF]

The color correction thing is a non-problem, brought up by an article writer with spotty knowledge of artistic intent and even less about the history of post-production.

Doing this sort of thing isn't a product of the digital age. Movies have always been "color timed", as they used to call it, by controlling how each reel was photochemically duplicated when creating release prints.

There are cultural and psychological reasons why certain colors work to help create certain moods. It's done because it works. The article writer might as well bemoan the use of fast-paced music in action scenes.

Exactly.

This is a ****** article; just poorly written.

 

[JMChladek]

The one thing I hate which has graced not so much films these days but rather TV shows is the classic Ridley/Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer "let's light everything like it was filmed at sunset and wash out the colors, yet focus bright light on the actors faces" movement. CSI is a BIG offender of it. One film that showcased it was Star Trek Generations when they pulled that crap with the lighting of the sets on the Enterprise D. So the vibrant colors of the TV sets all looked pale and sickly with the exception of some sets that got a full revamp, such as the bridge. CSI gets really stupid with it when they light a crime lab like a CIC room on a ship. How the heck is any evidence gathering supposed to take place when you don't have a lot of light and a bright light showing in the lab tech's face (which would kill their night vision)? At least when Ridley Scott did Alien, he lit the medical lab nice and bright. I also like that NCIS hasn't fallen into that trap.

Another thing that has been overused lately is the Rob Cohen "lets follow the path of fuel down the engine so we can see the inner workings when it revs up, even though it is totally impossible to see that" bit. Although I have been seeing that trend going away at least. Still, it sometimes crops up. Sometimes it can be educational, but like anything else it should be "only in moderation".