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Are Todays Movies Too Long? (10 posts)

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Dennis said 5 months, 1 week ago:

Roger Ebert once said: “no good movie is too long and no bad movie is too short.” I can agree with that to a point, but sometimes good movies that may not reach the level of greatness can be too long.

I just watched Super 8, a good film, but about 15 minutes too long. And that’s not the only good film recently I’ve felt that way about.

I always thought for most films 90 minutes is a good running time.. If it was something special maybe 120 minutes, but now we are seeing 130 0r 140 minutes regularly.

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.” – Alfred Hitchcock

What do you think a good running time should be?.
Now With Half The Calories Of Regular Bullshit!

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Benjamin C. Dover said 5 months, 1 week ago:

As the proud owner of the super geek extended versions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I’m with Roger Ebert.

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Scott Jarvie said 5 months ago:

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.”

~Alfred Hitchcock
Dudley Do-Right says:
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!”
“Remember to always look before crossing the road.”

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Simon Hosick said 5 months ago:

I can’t remember the exact quote but I think Roger Corman said something like “Every movie would be better with 20 minutes cut out and a helicopter explosion”

I think a story should only be as long as it takes to be told.

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Scott Jarvie said 5 months ago:

@Dark_Water said:
I can’t remember the exact quote but I think Roger Corman said something like “Every movie would be better with 20 minutes cut out and a helicopter explosion”

I think a story should only be as long as it takes to be told.

So Cimino’s 325min Heaven’s Gate isn’t too long than? Canadian Labour laws dictate employees must take a break after 300min of consecutive work.

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John P. Hess said 5 months ago:

I work in smaller time scales professionally… :30 seconds, 2-5 minutes, 7-10 minutes.

The way I gauge how effective my work is on the small time scale is if a non-professional feels like the work is short or too long.

If I get a “That felt like 3 minutes” when watching a 7 min piece… then I feel like I’ve succeeded.

If I get a “That felt like 15 minutes” when watching a 7 min piece… then I need to go back and cut tighter.

Time is such a subjective experience… When I get a call saying “We want a 2 minute piece” – I generally tell them, “No, you want a 5-7 minute piece”

The same has to be with the feature lengths. If not done right an 88 minute movie could feel longer than a 110 minute movie.

I’ve watched movies that can’t keep my interest over the 90 some minutes they’re on, but I’ve sat through 2795 minutes of Battlestar Galatica (not in one sitting)

But on the general, I would say that movies have been getting longer and longer. Call it Directorial narcissism… The creators of the film have the most vested interest in the story and the characters so they want to see the longer cuts.
All my Best,
John Hess
Creative Industries Media Group | GospelJohn.net

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Simon Hosick said 5 months ago:

@Scott_Jarvie said:
So Cimino’s 325min Heaven’s Gate isn’t too long than? Canadian Labour laws dictate employees must take a break after 300min of consecutive work.

I wouldn’t wish Heaven’s Gate on anyone. Contrived, over indulgent claptrap.

Lawrence of Arabia (228 minute directors cut) on the other hand…

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Anthony Law Liddle said 5 months ago:

Time really is subjective as John says. I used to run a movie theatre, and we had to preview every movie that came in.

Worst movie I ever sat through was also the shortest. Coming in at 70 minutes: Piglet’s Big Movie. Felt like an eternity.
“The first thing a writer should be is – excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might as well be out picking peaches or digging ditches; God knows it’s better for his health.” -Ray Bradbury

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B P said 4 months, 4 weeks ago:

Clearly none of you guys have seen bollywood movies (indian).
One movie, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, is 211 minutes long, but is easily considered one of the most popular movies in the Bollywood industry. And Jodha Akbar is 213 minutes long. And Jodha Akbar is probably one of my favorite indian movies. And the thing with that movie was that it never felt that long. But then again, having grown up watching such films, I think I have gotten use to the lengths. Who knows.

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Benjamin C. Dover said 4 months, 4 weeks ago:

Gone With The Wind has an Intermission and still holds attention for 238 minutes. At least that solves the bladder issue.

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