FILM ENTERTAINMENT: A Reminder to the Film Bros to Have Fun
I recently saw Spider Man: No Way Home in theaters (yes finally, I know it came out last November), and man what a great movie! It really was up to parr with not only the story and entertainment value that the cult following of Marvel fans expected, but also within the standards of "good filmmaking" when looking at it through a creative lens. I think that kind of double dipping task of being entertaining but also creatively stimulating can be really tough to do all in one movie nowadays, especially since the audience line between what is "entertainment" and what is "filmmaking" is so divided. But why can't they both coexist together?
I go to a heavy liberal arts college where film majors and creative writers are within every corner of campus. Because of my heavy interest in the film industry, I constantly find myself in conversation with a film major talking about the newest movies or how to rank the "classics". And my opinions on certain movies and the current state of the industry are almost always never shared with the person I am conversing with. I'm often told my opinions of it all don't "value the art enough" or the movies I like aren't "deep and artistic enough to truly be considered film", etc.
Well why is that the case? Well, for starters, the [usually] men (i.e the "film bros") I have these conversations with who tell me it's "wrong" to enjoy rom coms or chick flicks like 10 Things I Hate About You and The Princess Diaries are the same ones that think movies like Heat and the Bourne Identity Series are the pinnacle of cinema and the only movies that truly "matter". (Not to mention, that's all a bit sexist, isn't it? We don't have time to deep dive into that whole concept, but I'm just going to throw that out there). Now, do I have some personal preference problems with these notoriously famous "man movies"? Yes. But I won't deny that the "man movies" listed (and a lot of movies made in that same vein) are well made, thoughtful movies... and some of them are just not. And that's okay. It's called having preference.
A thought: have "film bros" ever thought that what you consider peak cinema is not actually peak cinema but just a preference style or genre of movie that you really connect with? Because I promise y'all that your manly mob or war movies are not the only good movies out there. I will admit, I am guilty of this favoritism too (not every period drama is the next Titanic, Ellie). However, that's what it means to have taste, and being aware of it is the first step to becoming a more open minded viewer and conversationalist.
"So how do we know what movies are actually good or not if everything is subjective and just based on taste, Ellie?" Well, let's look at the movies that are considered the best of all time. You've got The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption, Titanic, Schindler's List, etc. to name a few. What do these movies all have in common? Well, they are movies that connect with a diverse demographic of viewers, have strong artistry and story, and have withstood a hearty amount of time, all while still being relevant and watched and beloved by viewers. If you can get a movie that moves different people from different backgrounds and tastes, that's when you know have a classic movie in the making.
Within this conversation of "perfect movies" we do however forget the one simple, never changing fact relevant in all of the arts industries: no piece of art is perfect. It may seem perfect to you, but I promise you that it is far from perfect for another. And that's okay! This ability for likes and dislikes to be all over a far ranging spectrum is what makes the movie industry interesting; it's what gives us the minds to create stories and films covering all human experiences. That means there is a "perfect movie" out there for everyone. And isn't that cool?
Lets switch gears back to the top of my post. I am going to give you a tough pill to swallow so bear with me: some movies are bad and that is totally 100% okay. And there's a few avenues this idea can go down towards explanations and theories. Firstly, if there are good movies, there have to be bad movies, There's just no way around it. Secondly, bad films were or are learning experiences. Even filmmakers make mistakes, and sometimes the luck just wasn't in the cards for some movies at certain times. Thirdly, what's bad to you may be a hidden treasure for someone else. I know plenty of men that think movie musicals are garbage. I personally love movie musicals and think they bring a whole new layer of challenge to the production of a movie. What may seem amazing for one person may just be intolerable for another. It all goes back to preferences.
I think, in the process of learning the craft and skills of filmmaking, we forget not every film has to have this big bold theme and message behind it in order to be considered "worthy" or "good". Remember, film and television and video games are all just forms of media entertainment. They are suppose to entertain people and provide escapism. We need something to balance the movies that are meant to be heavy and thought provoking. Can you imagine if we only had dramas on TV and no comedies? We would all be miserable and depressed all the time. And can you imagine if we only had comedies on TV and no dramas? We'd all be itching to ask questions and try and express ourselves deeply.
What I'm trying to say is: different media has different purposes and we may not need to embrace it all, but we need to accept it's worth and importance to our culture. I'm so sick of trying to explain to close minded film bros that not everyone thinks like them and how they need to stop punishing and discouraging people for liking different kinds of films than them. Let's not gatekeep the movies now y'all. Everyone deserves to experience art, no matter who they are or across what medium. If you gatekeep the movie industry like that, then you ruin the whole purpose of mass absorption and escapism and that's just not cool.
I used to be one of those people who couldn't stand people who liked Marvel movies. Do I get the hype now after seeing the latest Spider Man movie? Kind of. Will I become a die hard fan and go watch the 20+ movies before Spider Man: No Way Home? Probably not. But if that's the kind of movies y'all enjoy, go ahead. I've been learning my lesson now (especially since I've experienced a Marvel movie for myself now). And I will now happily go rewatch all the Spider Man movies... in full... chronologically (a task long overdue)... for no other reason other than they were fun. Bully Maguire forever!
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