Movies - Old vs. New

[DoggyDaddy]

Lately, I've started streaming some movies (Paramount+, Tubi and Pluto) as an alternative to repeats of sitcoms in the evening. Up until a few days ago, it had mostly been newer/current movies. A few nights ago, I watched "Full Metal Jacket". Last night I watched "The African Queen". Tonight I watched "The Shootist".

Regardless of content, I just think the production was much better with the older movies. When we watch new movies, I'm constantly having to adjust the volume on my TV (and it has to be LOUD). And the lighting is horrible for indoor scenes. It appears that most people sit around in dark rooms and speak in whispers as a matter of course, even in the middle of the day and when there is no need for secrecy.

The 3 older movies that I watched had night scenes, and I could both see and hear the actors at a reasonable volume level, and never had to adjust it. Has anyone else noticed this? Why can't they do that today?

 

[dmarsh8]

Most newer movies suck overall. I lost track long ago of how many I've shut off within the first 5-10 minutes!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Most newer movies suck overall. I lost track long ago of how many I've shut off within the first 5-10 minutes!

Well, I've liked some of the newer movies, but they're just hard to watch on TV. I think they film them with the big screen in mind.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Most tv shows are the same way. Volume fluctuating from scene to scene, the the commercials are loud as hell

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Most tv shows are the same way. Volume fluctuating from scene to scene, the the commercials are loud as hell

I used to have a tv (Magnavox I think) that would actually modulate the volume between commercials and a show. I wonder if it would've worked with the new movies.

 

[MrSmitty]

I love the older/ish movies, Love the old war movies, and of course any John Wayne movies, And of course Bogey was great in anything. On the other hand, Shawshank Redemption is one I will always stop and watch (currently have it on DVR) I have noticed, that the old films always had "night" scenes shot with dark filters, so they looked darkish...DoggyDaddy have you ever watched the "Thin man" series? It's coming up soon on TCM, always a hoot to watch William Powell, and Myrna Loy interact.

 

[loudgroove]

That my friend is the different between analog verses digital recordings. I can't speak for the picture but with audio, back in the day there was tape compression. With today's 24 bit 96k 5.1 surround recordings there is a vast dynamic range with the audio. I can only imagine that Digital has something to do with the picture as it isn't film and never was.

 

[El Conquistador]

I can’t stand to watch any new TV show or movie that has a night scene it is almost impossible to see.
You are right DD the older movies are much better to watch with a better story line.

 

[WebSnyper]

What resolution is your TV? Also there could be settings related to movies vs standard TV show, and then there is the resolution at which the source material is being streamed, along with compression of the signal.

Basically, it could be your TV and it's settings as well as potentially the resolution at which the movie is being streamed, etc.

 

[Brandon]

Pineapple on pizza sure looks better on modern tv shows and movies

 

[littletommy]

Oh man! The last few seasons of the walking dead that I watched were horrible for the very reasons you pointed out. Our tv is no slouch, but that show just devolved into nothing but dark scenes that you could barely make out what was happening, and/or people standing around mumbling. Just couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

I mainly stream older movies, very rarely, like maybe once a year we will watch a newly released movie, and yeah, same problem.

 

[Minnesota Hoosier]

I thought that Bullet Train which came out in 2022 was a pretty good action movie but i dont really watch alot of new movies so I cant recommend much.

 

[littletommy]

Oh,
I recently streamed The rear window on Amazon. I have it on DVD, but hadn’t watched it in a while. That movie looks incredible streamed! And a lot of it was shot in low light. For a movie with not much in the way of scenery changes, there is nothing new that compares to it.

 

[ancjr]

 

[El Conquistador]

Oh man! The last few seasons of the walking dead that I watched were horrible for the very reasons you pointed out. Our tv is no slouch, but that show just devolved into nothing but dark scenes that you could barely make out what was happening, and/or people standing around mumbling. Just couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

I mainly stream older movies, very rarely, like maybe once a year we will watch a newly released movie, and yeah, same problem.

You are right about that. I quit watching TWD because it was so dark I couldn’t see anything

 

[loudgroove]

You are right about that. I quit watching TWD because it was so dark I couldn’t see anything

I thought the comic was much better myself. When it ended, I stopped reading comics. But anyway maybe there should be a "love/hate TWD" thread. lol

 

[littletommy]

I thought the comic was much better myself. When it ended, I stopped reading comics. But anyway maybe there should be a "love/hate TWD" thread. lol

There was a lengthy thread on it here. As the show faded into darkness, the thread died off.

 

[mmpsteve]

..... "Thin man" series? It's coming up soon on TCM, always a hoot to watch William Powell, and Myrna Loy interact.

What a classic. They don't write humor like that anymore.

.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Oh,
I recently streamed The rear window on Amazon. I have it on DVD, but hadn’t watched it in a while. That movie looks incredible streamed! And a lot of it was shot in low light. For a movie with not much in the way of scenery changes, there is nothing new that compares to it.

Probably because back then they used filters to simulate darkness. So you still had a lot of the details actual darkness would kill.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

DoggyDaddy have you ever watched the "Thin man" series?

I have not. I've heard of it but I'm not really familiar with it.