Movies and how they have shaped our culture, society and daily life.

I love watching movies! It is one of my favorite things to do and when I was growing up my dad and I would watch a movie whenever both of us had free time. We watched a variety of genres but my dad introduced me to classic movies which has become one of my favorite styles of cinema. I think of classic movies as mostly black and white but it really covers anything from the early 1900’s to the 1950’s or so. The first movie released was in 1878 but the ones we can actually find and watch are from the early 1900’s and on. I think that movies from 100 years ago are often better than some movies we see today. Now before you come at me, think about it realistically. Yes, there are some modern franchises that are iconic and will always be amazing: Harry Potter, James Bond, Mission Impossible, Marvel Cinematic Universe, etc. However when we look at standalone films I personally think that the themes, plots and even acting of classic movies are significantly better. In order to explain more I am going to use an example of a classic film and talk about the plots and themes that make it so unique compared to movies today. 

My favorite movie is It’s A Wonderful Life, released in 1946 and directed by Frank Capra. One of the reasons I love it so much is because many of the themes within the movie reflected people within society at the time. At one point in the movie the main character contemplates committing suicide. An angel from heaven is sent down to show him what other people’s lives would be without him in it. At the end he picks himself back up and runs back to his family remembering the things he is grateful for in his life, despite his current crisis. Surprisingly, this movie was not appreciated by the public at the time (just after the end of World War II), but it has since become one of the most famous films ever because of its heartwarming message that every life is important. It is so powerful because we all go through hard moments, and some people deal with so much that they contemplate the idea of suicide.  But this movie helps us realize that our life matters and we affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t know or appreciate fully. I believe that this movie and many others like it from this time period supported and reflected the ideals of people in society. I find that a lot of modern movies fit within a certain genre but aren’t as touching or don’t actually reflect society as a whole. If you haven’t seen this movie, you need to watch it, but beware: it might make you cry. 

Gone With the wind
Another iconic classic film

Classic movies are the foundation for the cinema we have today and it is important to recognize that filmmakers at that time were creating such amazing and moving pieces that still resonate today. Don’t get me wrong: I think that there are a lot of great iconic films from this time period, too. However, I also believe that filmmakers are running out of ideas and therefore often make renditions of the same theme or idea that has already been created. This is intended to bash contemporary directors, but I just think that the messages in many classic films were a lot more sophisticated and representative of society than most films currently. Even in franchises, movies have become so much more unrealistic, especially with the use (and sometimes overuse) of computer-generated imagery (“CGI”). Marvel movies are an example of this. While the Marvel characters are always fighting evil, the stunts that are portrayed could never be done by humans. It is certainly possible for us to sympathize and understand the emotions the characters go through in modern movies, but I think that the way we go about it nowadays is not representative of what we would actually do in real life. Sometimes, that’s good - after all, one reason we go to movies is to be entertained and escape our normal lives for a few hours - but classic movies often convey a moral message along with the entertainment that is more relatable to their everyday lives.

Overall, I love movies, and I often don’t analyze modern movies in terms of what makes them different from the classics - I simply enjoy them like everyone else. But I often find myself coming back to the notion that classic movies are and might always be my favorite. Their stories are compelling and the acting is fantastic. Whenever I see a clip of Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, or Bette Davis, I want to find out what movie it is from and if I’ve seen it before. Like I said, I am not trying to bash today’s directors, as I want to be one myself someday. I just think that classic movies are underappreciated by most people today.. I hope this made you think a little about classic movies and inspires you to watch a few to see if they move you like they’ve moved me.  You never know - they might end up being the movies you love the most.