I didn't see Kendrah's take, but if it was about the most recent Downton Abbey, it was eh. Good character closure but certainly not compelling storytelling. It was better than the other two, though -- the plots in those were lame if you ask me.

Movies of the past were better perhaps in part because they couldn't rely on modern special effects with the computer wizardry doing all the work - it was about the plot and the actors needed to be able to act. Not just stand there and look good. Sure they employed old-school stagecraft, but as technology evolved more and more special effects crept in and now that's what audiences expect. You don't need to be a good actor to star in movie where the draw is the special effects or a high-action movie, nor does the plot have to be that good. It's also part of general dumbing-down of Americans; it's about the visual at the big box office.

I mean, even Marvel movies used to be pretty decent -- now they're just a re-hash of what's been done or with lame plots but all doctored up with CGI and such. It's the selling of the visual, not the story.

You want good stories with fine acting? You go to art house movies. Because those kinds of movies in general just aren't a draw to the typical American audience and don't get butts in seats at the big theatres.

There occasionally are exceptions, though; Oppenheimer comes to mind. That was a great movie -- the actors had the chops to carry it, it was extremely well done.

I've liked a LOT of old action movies....and I like a LOT of newer action movies. The special effects have improved tremendously over the years. No disappointment here.

I remember my teacher liked Jeremiah Johnson so much....we did a class field-trip to the movie theatre to watch it. (1972)

My ideal movies are 30's and 40's screwball comedies. Bonus points for Myrna Loy.

A neighbor is coming over this afternoon to watch "Bringing Up Baby".

I totally agree. I was always a movie buff and as a kid, I saw every movie coming to my theater a block from my house. Over the adult years, we went to every acclaimed movie and now I feel like there are really almost none out there. I think the movie industry is catering to a young demographic, and I have zero desire to see a Marvel movie.

On another subject, I feel the same way about today's TV shows. I remember quality stuff like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone ,Play house 90 and so many more with ONE commercial an hour. Today, all hour shows have 20 minutes of commercials and there isn't much to watch.,So I go to my crime shows...20/20 and Dateline.

New movies rarely appeal to me either. I've read/heard a number of analyses of trends in movies over the past decade or so. It seems the big studios have been chasing box office dollars with 'blockbuster' action/adventure and other spectacles, as opposed to smaller, more intimate dramas and comedies. As in so many spheres of our culture, profit evidently outweighs prestige, and conglomeration has narrowed the playing field.

The trend that I find disturbing is the proliferation of gruesome, gore-filled horror films.

There are still good indie films out there, but you have to actively search them out.

And I feel like Woody Allen is an unfortunate choice of auteurs nowadays. His halo is very tarnished now. The films, however are still available for anyone to watch.

DH and I just watched our first Christmas movie of the season, Fat Man, and it was beyond violent, with Santa using the f-word so much. It was graphically violent which totally shocked me. What is happening to movies these days?!?

There are plenty of good movies being made today, although many are smaller independent or foreign films. And back in the day there were plenty of lousy films - we just remember the good ones. Here are some movies I've enjoyed in recent years:

The Banshees of Inisherin

Oppenheimer

The Zone of Interest

Past Lives

Drive My Car

Petite Maman

Aftersun

Anatomy of a Fall

What is happening to movies these days?

Lots of 'more on' movies being made these days like this thread title implies. They aren't getting any of my money.

And many movies made today are in the theaters for a few weeks and then go straight to Netflix. The new Clare Danes movie is an example. I'll wait a few weeks and see it on Netflix instead of spending a ton of money and being in a germy crowd.

I think I read for the sort of all consuming immersion described by some. I remember going to the movies , Saturdays $.25 to get in. $.10 for a all day CHARMS sucker and watching the antics of Kurt Russel in his run of teen movies, animals who were lost traveling across the country, girls getting in trouble at all girls school etc., all good fun and safe way to while away an afternoon, but life changing or inspirational nah.

Oh I hate these kinds of topics as they make me sound like an old lady! Why back in my day, yadda yadda.

But I haven't been to the theater to see a movie in years and years. Part of it is, it's a pain in the butt to get out in who knows what weather at what times at what expense vs. the comfort of our couch. For DH it is a *true* pain as at his age, he always has to get up to pee in the middle of the movie which is much easier to accomplish with a pause button at home!

Then there was covid and the whole cleanliness issue. But then there's also the deterioration in the theaters themselves. I remember being in the middle of a tear-jerking scene while you're listening to the boom booms of the guns or who know what going off in the room next door. I remember seeing the fast action shots in the previews for other movies that were just blurry and gave me a headache. And then there's the whole volume issue where the music so loud it's deafening, while the dialog so soft you can't hear what they're saying. We're big into CC at home as well as judicious use of the volume control on the remote.

But for years and years I've complained about the quality of the movies. A lot of it is because they're geared toward their target audience which is, as best as I can figure, a 14 yr old boy.

Then again, when we watch the old movies (I'm always taken aback when I say to a young person about enjoying old movies and thinking the 30s and 40s and they respond, yeah they made some good stuff in the 90s!) we are watching a "curated" list. Only the best of the old movies have survived til today. All the zillion B movies have pretty much fallen by the wayside and we're left with only those considered worth preserving. We are fans of film noir which Eddie Mueller airs on TCM and enjoy his commentary. As a specific genre, he's shown many films of the era, and let me tell you, there were some boners back then too. But the cream has floated to the top so those are generally the ones we see or know about. I think that's a natural part of the aging process and is true of books and bands too.

Our 'movie' (or series) watching is Teatime Matinee at home. Currently we're streaming The Gold -- 4Stars. While we have that Masterpiece subscription on Prime, we'll pick up Maigret.

Looking at available oves and series reminds one that there is a fininte number of plots. The settings can change. The actors can change. Are theremore than four or five 'plots' available to be produced?

I used to like going to the movies when I was younger, but am not a movie fan now. Not sure what changed, the movies or me. Maybe both. I can count on one hand how many movies I've been to in the last 10 years and two of those were seeing A Complete Unknown twice, F1 because (Brad Pitt), plus my teen grandson invited me to go with him and his dad and Downton Abbey because I loved the series so much. It wasn't a total waste of time, as the costuming and sets were worth seeing, but without Maggie Smith, the story fell pretty flat.

Sometimes I think maybe I'd like to watch a movie at home, but I just never can find anything that I feel compelled to watch. Or the movie I'm searching for isn't available on my 2 dozen streaming services, lol. The movie industry isn't going to get rich off of me, for sure.

Completely agree with Oly. I find myself rewatching older ones on streaming. Cheaper, more comfortable at home, and not surrounded by people talking - in loud tones, OVER the movie! When did that become ok?! (Next I will complain about kids on my lawn....🤣)

Also completely agree with Carol. We are not the demographic being targeted for movies. If you want to feel marketing attention, watch network TV in the early evening. Most commercials are for prescription drugs, really bad life insurance, and whatnot. Almost entirely targeted to older adults. We matter there! 😄

I think there is more overall content being created and so not all is of excellent quality. Network tv not included because I rarely watch it, but there have been beautifully written and acted shows on various streaming services: The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Ted Lasso, Somebody Somewhere, Better Call Saul and so many more.

Staying home during the pandemic was made much better by having some great television available. one of our most memorable is the Korean series Crash Landing on You— fun, sweet, and held our attention.

We also watched some older television that we hadn’t seen the first time around: Friday Night Lights and the entire series of Cheers.

Many older movies have an emotional connection that folks relate to but lots also seem very simplistic and obvious.

There were a lot of really bad movies in the past too - we just don't remember them because they were so forgettable. When you said "the bar is so very low now", I immediately thought of the '80s, which I think was a decade of some pretty lousy films......A lot of bad sequels, from Police Academy to Jaws to Superman, and a lot of sophomoric 'comedies' like Revenge of the Nerds and Porky's. I think the 2020s will be like that too - some winners among a lot of bad ones.

I haven't gone to see a movie in person mostly because it's not really convenient for me any more, but I have seen some movies from the 2020s that I thought were really good: Sinners, Summer of Soul, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Anatomy of a Fall, Killers of the Flower Moon.

The selection of movies, old and new, available to stream today is simply overwhelming. I find myself enjoying contemporary movies months or years after release. I liked A Complete Unknown, and Barbie very much, and I finally got up the nerve to see Get Out awhile back.

My favorite thing is discovering a really good old movie I never saw - and there have been many.

I second Bookwoman’s list of films.

I’m fortunate to have two Laemmele (Not Afraid of Subtitles) theaters nearby as well as the Landmark NuArt. Independent, art house, and foreign films are staples, as well as documentaries. Some showings commemorate the X anniversary of a movie. Engagements are usually for a week, more if reviews are exceptionally positive. Others are special showings for a day or two.

I find that I enjoy late afternoon showings. Some theaters are standard size, others remodeled into smaller viewing rooms.

I don’t have a television, and really enjoy the large cinema screen to fully appreciate the cinematography.

"I’m fortunate to have two Laemmele (Not Afraid of Subtitles) theaters nearby as well as the Landmark NuArt."

They closed both of the independent arthouse theatres in my area.