I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron if you haven’t seen ‘The Eight Mountains’ by Groeningen you should. Came out in 2022, and gave me a lot of hope about what films can create these days. Another standout is ‘Happy as Lazzaro’ by Rohrwacher in 2018, unusual in plot and beautiful cinematography.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron The obsession with HDR — super dark scenes to mimic realism in light levels is also annoying. It’s more difficult to enjoy what you’re watching if you’re struggling to see what’s even on the screen. I get that in real life, something might be happening in pitch black conditions but I think for cinema it’s still better to just give the suggestion of darkness rather than the complete actuality of it.
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@Gargron The obsession with HDR — super dark scenes to mimic realism in light levels is also annoying. It’s more difficult to enjoy what you’re watching if you’re struggling to see what’s even on the screen. I get that in real life, something might be happening in pitch black conditions but I think for cinema it’s still better to just give the suggestion of darkness rather than the complete actuality of it.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
I can’t argue with you about this because you’re 100% right.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron I don't know what you mean.
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@Gargron The obsession with HDR — super dark scenes to mimic realism in light levels is also annoying. It’s more difficult to enjoy what you’re watching if you’re struggling to see what’s even on the screen. I get that in real life, something might be happening in pitch black conditions but I think for cinema it’s still better to just give the suggestion of darkness rather than the complete actuality of it.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron everything getting soft lighting so they can make decisions in post rather than committing on set is a scourge on cinematography
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron the combo of filming/mastering/editing/projecting on digital, digital color grading, and home streaming has really tanked the color spectrum we see in most films.
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@Gargron the combo of filming/mastering/editing/projecting on digital, digital color grading, and home streaming has really tanked the color spectrum we see in most films.
@Gargron this video covers a lot of the issue https://youtu.be/yN0H_WfWOp4?si=GKnFGC77OxhGkRob
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@Gargron
No argument here !
@Gargron
Check out the GrandMaster! Scorsese had something to do with it and Samuel MF Jackson too ?
I saw the screening at the Blue Whale in LA. It’s amazing no special effects what so ever except for the “train” sequence.
The director came out afterwards and cinematographer and spoke of how they used the last of the the film stock Fuji had at that time and had to switch but some how made it work.
I was blown away. I also went to other screening that same season. Interstellar which it was and others.
But the vitally of the film in that movie stood out for me.
I just recently got it on Blue Ray. I still can’t believe they didn’t use special effect ( computer generated) for the most part.Your power of observation is golden

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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron I watched All About Eve (1950) yesterday and I would take that style of movie-making over whatever it is we have now any day.
There’s great contemporary stuff as well, though not in the mainstream.
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@Gargron this video covers a lot of the issue https://youtu.be/yN0H_WfWOp4?si=GKnFGC77OxhGkRob
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron i mean, ok, but my kingdom for proper sound mixing. im so tired of music/sfx being so loud and dialogue being so quiet. even w subtitles (enshittified by ai), it sucks.
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@Gargron I watched All About Eve (1950) yesterday and I would take that style of movie-making over whatever it is we have now any day.
There’s great contemporary stuff as well, though not in the mainstream.
@thomasfuchs @Gargron been on a major side-quest of 1930s movies for the fashion and that’s exactly what you notice, the lighting, the staging. the time of when the environment were the silent, yet most important character in the story.
watching the show Endeavour made me realize that’s why UK productions suck me in. theater isn't for the elites, it’s still very much part of the culture. you get The World As Theater in their tv, along with all the philosophical musings that come with it
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron La La Land was the last great movie. There, I said it.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron No, no, you’re right.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron saw a video on youtube that theorized with evidence that Netflix contributed to a lot of the shitty new filming formats. There was a great joy in theatrical style of filming. As in if it was a live theater performance. The original Star Trek series was a great example of this! Maybe not what u were going for but it reminded me of all this
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron It seems to me like there are about as many well-lit, well-graded movies as there have always been, but that there are more movies overall than there ever have been in the past. A lot of movies—even from big studios—are basically shovelware, yes. A lot of really good production and post techs have gone to prestige TV rather than movies, yes. Still, there have been tons of expertly-produced movies in the last decade.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron actually the change occurred after 2000 when Harvey Weinstein took over Hollywood. Movies were original, incredible, stimulating and then Harvey wanted to push out terrible remakes to increase sales and fill movie seats.
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I know 100% that people will argue with me over this, but I miss when movies were professionally lit, when actors were intentionally blocked, and when more than teal, orange and beige were allowed to be on the screen. The medium has something to do with it--film made a lot of these things fundamentally necessary--but I think it's more complex than just that. The last few years' movies are just not pleasant to look at, with very few exceptions, and the change occurred sometime around 2015.
@Gargron The thing that bothers me the most is the sound quality. Older things took pains to be audible. Modern stuff, half the time I can't understand what they're saying. But it's not my ears. I go back and listen to older stuff, and it's still clear.