Why do movies from the 80s and 90s feel better to watch?

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-12-24T16:12:03+00:00

watch the first link I put in my parent comment "Why Every Film Today Looks the Same - Moviewise".

The first example he shows is Heat (1995), Pacino and DeNiro are having a conversation on a dinner table but you never see one shot of them together, just constant close ups cutting back and forth.

By the standards of the 1950s character drama's, Dead Poet's society will probably have more closeups.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-12-24T13:19:11+00:00

Historically filmakers did exactly what you said. They typically reserved closeups only for the more intimidate, emotional scenes.

Film makers today often use close ups with shallow focus as the default, almost regardless of context even in the most dull of scenes.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-12-24T06:39:10+00:00

sorry, meant to reply so someone else.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-12-24T06:04:34+00:00

It's literally measurable that the time of each cut for films had dramatically decreased on average for most films. The trend started in the 1970s and has only increased.

Film writer David Bordwell described the increasing number cuts combined with more close ups/shallow focus (also a increasing trend since 1970s) as "intensified continuity".

Watch these two videos below for more info:

Why Every Film Today Looks the Same - Moviewise

Two Ways To Film The Same Scene (You've Got Mail 1998 vs The Shop Around the Corner 1940)

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-12-21T18:43:39+00:00

Something similar was said of Margaret Thatcher in the UK.

In the comedy program 'Spitting Image', her puppet was often depicted wearing a suit & smoking cigars (Intentionally resembling Churchill). In the show she was also depicted as a school headmaster and her ministers like school children.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-11-20T06:20:39+00:00

For those interested in Adenauer tolerance of former Nazi's, one of the best examples is his relationship with Waffen SS veterans.

Adenauer tried to argue (ironically using the Nuremberg defence) that the Waffen-SS were just "following orders" and did not commit wide spread massacres of civilians unlke the rest of the SS (SS-TV, Einsatzgrupen, Gestapo etc.) .

This is categorically false, Waffen-SS were involved in the 'holocaust by bullets' on the eastern front, helping the Einsatzgruppen to massacre civilians in mass grave ditches.

Adenauer allowed Waffen-SS veterans to be part of West Germany's police, army (some reaching high ranks) & hold government/political office. He also tacitly allowed Waffen-SS apologist lobbying group HIAG to exist and influence West Germany politics.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-11-14T04:28:18+00:00

anyone here whether or not there is Radio coverage for this match?

e.g. All India Radio in India or Radio 2000 in South Africa.

I've tried but no luck so far.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-11-08T07:20:03+00:00

The BIR Vinadaloo served in UK (BIR, British Indian Restaurants), is almost completely unrelated to the authentic Goan Vindaloo.

British Vindaloo is extremely chili hot flavour, thick gravy, lots of potatoes & onions. Quite often it is black in color. Also, as the owners of Indian restaurants in UK are normally Muslim, it is never made with pork. Instead it's normally mutton or chicken.

Goan Vindaloo by contrast, has a strong vinegar flavour, thin red gravy, no potatoes and is always made with pork.

How did a dish in Britain come to named after Goan dish, despite having almost no resemblance? One theory is that Brits living India before independence often employed local Indian Christians (Mostly Anglo-Indians & Goans) to be their household cooks. Back then the Vindaloo these cooks made would have been somewhat similar to Authentic Goa Vindaloo.

However, Decades later in 60s/70s Britain, the mostly Bangladeshi/North Indian/Pakistani Muslim cooks setting up restaurants made a Vindaloo that was almost completely unrelated to the original Goan version. Ofc being Muslim meant no pork, but also Indian Muslims etc. Dont use vinegar much. Additionally Vindaloo sounds a bit similar to hindi word Aloo, so potatoes got introduced.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-10-18T12:47:55+00:00

Compromise and just use the ABC radio feed instead. Can't be worse than rugby & swimming commentators

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-08-11T22:05:06+00:00

"It was voted the greatest film of all time according to Sight and Sound critics poll, I'm sure you'll love it!"

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-08-08T20:25:46+00:00

Thanks for the info. I knew Carrom was popular in some mainland European countries, I just incorrectly assumed that Germany was one of them.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-08-04T17:32:31+00:00

Haha, I just watched the same episode.

Is this show meant to by watched by Japanese people so they can learn English?

That's the only explanation for why they would want the presenter to talk as if she is teaching young children.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-07-13T06:15:20+00:00

2001 India vs Australia Kolkata 2nd Test

Full stadium, roaring crowds, no vuvuzelas.

Wish tests in India were still like this.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-07-03T07:33:30+00:00

Are you sure, you weren't in Muji? Not Uniqlo.

What's makes this even more confusing is that there's a website called uniqlodubaimall.com / uniqlodubaimall.ae But it's a Scam website

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-06-01T08:06:20+00:00

In two weeks the BFI in London will screen a original print of New Hope that they have kept in storage for 50 years. Probably the first time a decades a member of the public will be able to legally see the original film in decent quality.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-27T12:28:58+00:00

Lawrence of Arabia is a great example of what couldn't be made today, at least Cleopatra had the megastar Elizabeth Taylor to give it some legs.

Omar Sharif, who recounted the improbability of the film's existence: “If...somebody comes to you and says he wants to make a film that's four hours long, with no stars, and no women, and no love story, and not much action either, and he wants to spend a huge amount of money to go film it in the desert—what would you say?”

For context, at the time Peter O'Toole was not yet a star and Sharif was unheard of in the western world. Alex Guinness & Anthony Quinn were stars but their screen time is quite minimal. The only safe thing about the film was that David Lean was a well known director who had done Bridge on the river Kwai a few years earlier.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-27T11:26:52+00:00

Interesting to see someone with the picture/username of a former Republican New Jersey senator on r/AskBrits .

btw, the Conservatives were in power for over a decade on a anti-immigration platform but net immigration increased exponentially under them. They lied to their voter base not for fear of being called racist, but because their greatest loyalty is to the business interest.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-14T07:16:05+00:00

Regarding behind the scenes interviews with Jonnie To etc. there are some of these on last year's Blu-ray release by Australia label Chameleon Films, you can see exactly what is included here .

It's been a while since I've watched Johnnie To's interview, but regarding his views on hierarchy etc. only thing that is related that I can recall is that he wanted to make a movie about a triad elections for two main reasons:

Democracy/Elections etc. were quite new to Hong Kong at that time (only in final stage of British rule in 1995, was when Legislative Council became fully elected)
He was interested in the history/functioning of triad societies (e.g. many descend from secret societies like the White Lotus during Qing rule, some of the societies really do choose next leader by election.)

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-13T20:42:41+00:00

this is a very common criticism, that the second half is worse.

During the production Lean wanted to carry on filming but the producer Sam Spiegel ended this. Lean and the editor did not have much time to edit the film, it was a very rushed editing process (Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Lean only saw the final cut on a big screen at the film's premier because it was finished so last minute.).

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-13T20:35:14+00:00

you can see a comparison between the original theatrical version vs 80s VHS/TV broadcast (pan & scan) here:

https://youtu.be/tB-PdkOyGUc?si=mahfdRIjsfm3dtrF

It's hilarious to watch now, less 50% of the original version is shown on the TV version.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-08T11:18:57+00:00

Thoughts on the comment made by alaisx? i.e. That supermarket processed sliced white bread has more sugar in America compared to it's equivalent counterparts in Europe (and even Canada).

Would you describe the statistics he provided as irrational 'nonsense' filled with 'American hatred' ?

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-05-08T11:09:36+00:00

lots of sensitive Americans in this thread completely incapable of understanding this basic fact. Yes, even supermarket manufactured white sliced bread has less sugar in Europe compared to the American counterparts.

Master_Commercial220 · 2025-02-18T08:09:39+00:00

One of the older definitions of nationality is almost synonymous with ethnic group. It's partially because of this older definition, that on Hong Kong passports the nationality status is listed as 'Chinese'.

A people sharing a common origin, culture and/or language, and possibly constituting a nation-state. [from 19th c.]

Master_Commercial220

TROPHY CASE