StabnShoot t1_iuh63ek wrote
Kinda depends on what you mean by "arthouse cinema" in this case.
lonzosch OP t1_iuh66vb wrote
Anything. Character studies, art films with abstract imagery, those that more focus on expressing themes and ideas
StabnShoot t1_iuh73xd wrote
I see films as an experience first and foremost. A film succeeds when it makes you feel the intended emotions.
When it comes to action movies or horrors it's easy enough to tell if they were good for you, but when it comes to more experimental films it gets trickier.
Funny Games isn't exactly what I would call a "fun" film, but it succeeds in making me feel like shit so for me it's a success.
Then again, it's not as easy as making an intentionally shocking film with the intention of shocking the audience.
Themes and craft are very important. The theme of a film is the statement it's trying to make, it's the voice behind the people who made it.
Conversely, some films don't really have a strong theme or any theme at all, but they still stand out due to how they're made, in terms of visual style, entertainment value, technical aspects etc. (a good example of this is 2018's Mandy)
But in the end, films are a subjective matter. The most important thing when you watch them is how much you enjoy them and what they tell you.
No-Tune-868 t1_iuh80iv wrote
Not sure how important theme is. Every movie has one more and cant think of a movie ive liked cos of its theme.
StabnShoot t1_iuh84h9 wrote
I don't want to sound mean but if you think a movie's theme isn't important then maybe you don't really like movies.
To_The_Past t1_iuhneac wrote
That's tangible vs less tangible details. I never though about the editing in Bloody Sunday or Being There but those films wouldn't work without masterful editing.
The filmmakers commitment to themes determines so much of the mise en scene, editing, plot focus and motion, characterisation, acting choices, and more. You take the theme out of your favourite movies and you simply won't have the same movie at all.
What a film makes you feel and the parts that jump out to you as what you liked, and what made it work that way, are two very different angles.
No-Tune-868 t1_iuhnuw6 wrote
Not sure ur addressing my point at all. Every movie has a theme. And lots of shit movies have the same themes as great movies. Fact.
To_The_Past t1_iuhob85 wrote
Same only applies here in the absolute broadest strokes (like plot, lots of good and bad films with the same basic plots). How they develop and explore that theme is tremendously important to the film you get, in virtually every aspect of the film, and there are also other variables as well as theme.
Replace the basic themes in Blade Runner and you simply don't get Blade Runner. You get something completely different.
A lot of shit films have the same type of editing as good movies too, that's just a fact too. Doesn't mean editing isn't critically important to the movies you like working as they do.
No-Tune-868 t1_iuhonay wrote
Then ur proving my point. I didnt disagree with how themes are explored affects quality. I disagreed that themes affect quality.
And of course if u replace themes ud get a different movie.
To_The_Past t1_iuhp7gl wrote
>I didnt disagree with how themes are explored affect quality. I disagreed that themes affect quality.
I disagree that this is a meaningful distinction, let alone one that I proved. You said you're not sure themes are important - bad movies have the same basic themes as good movies, after all! My contention is that they are, and that bad movies have them too is a bad argument.
Bad movies often have the same basic editing or plotting as good movies too, but this doesn't mean editing or plotting are unimportant, that's a bad argument. Editing, plotting - and themes - and getting them right in the execution of a movie - are crucially important. Even if they're not the tangible things that jump out to you as why you liked the movie, they are crucially important factors that resulted in that end.
No-Tune-868 t1_iuhq2vu wrote
Yeah i read what u said last time. No need to repeat urself.
Im still right and ur still moving away from the point onto editing and blah blah blah.
Sophistry at best.
To_The_Past t1_iuixe0z wrote
I don't think you understand what either me or yourself are saying. Editing is used as an analogy that illustrates why your argument doesn't make sense. You're not right, you have decided that you have to be right but are unable to articulate your position coherently and have it withstand any scrutiny, and this is frustrating you. Have a nice day.
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