Television vs. Film

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-10-2012, 10:59 AM

I find that I can very rarely sit through a whole movie in one sitting unless it's REALLY good.

And on the other hand I find I can sit though several episodes of a TV show in one sitting.

I watched 4 episodes of Minder last night.

jackhammer · 02-11-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I find that I can very rarely sit through a whole movie in one sitting unless it's REALLY good.

And on the other hand I find I can sit though several episodes of a TV show in one sitting.

I watched 4 episodes of Minder last night.

Bloody love Minder. I usually watch the entire Auf Wiedersehen, Pet! series every few months in just a few nights.

duga · 02-11-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

People keep comparing film to long-running TV series as if that's the only thing on TV, but what about miniseries? At their best, those have all the strengths of a long-running series (more time for character development, more time for plot development, etc.) and none of the weaknesses (lack of direction, wearing out their welcome, etc.). I've really come to appreciate a good miniseries lately. I'm currently watching The Pacific, for example, and it's pretty great.

I know what you mean. Even though it had a few seasons, I consider Battlestar Galactica (the new one) to be a mini series and it was the ****. It had a clear ending so it didn't drag on and on like most sci fi shows. I couldn't stop watching it.

I'm kind of torn in the argument. Movies serve their purpose...and sometimes I do want something that will occupy me for a couple hours as opposed to a quick half hour to 45 minute show. Then again, I love the slower development of shows. I guess it depends on my mood.

ThePhanastasio · 02-11-2012, 09:53 PM

I rarely watch TV, unless it's on Netflix or is wrestling or college basketball.

I prefer film, but that's probably because I have lately preferred working in a film medium, although I feel that watching TV is conducive to a theatrical environment, more often than not.

midnight rain · 12-04-2012, 08:34 PM

Bumping this for some new crowd on MB.

Since I made this, I think I've only continued to appreciate film even more as an art medium, while I still view television as primarily entertainment (something films are just as accomplished in).

Only show that has come close for me is The Sopranos. Though I do have an affinity for Lost and Twin Peaks.

Sparky · 12-04-2012, 08:58 PM

Generation Kill is better than any war film dealing with Iraq I've seen.

Kelli · 12-04-2012, 11:30 PM

I rarely watch TV as most of the shows I like have either been cancelled or already ended within the past few years. My friends have tried getting me into various shows like the Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, and Breaking Bad, all of which are actually really good, but I'm the kind of person who will turn on the tv when I feel like it, and keeping up with tv series can get annoying if you miss an episode here and there. So yeah, I rarely watch tv. If I happen to be chilling by myself I'd be more entertained by blasting some good music or something.

On the other hand, I've worked at a movie theater for almost two years now and can get free passes for my friends and I to see every new movie that comes out for free (as long as it isn't sold out). That being said...I watch a heck of a lot of movies. Not just new ones though. I like old films, classic films, etc. And upcoming films can be exciting, especially the big releases with lots of hype. Having to work on those weekends is another thing entirely though, haha.

I guess overall I like movies more because I can see them as a solid work of something - like an album or piece of artwork rather than a TV series spanning a long length of time with various ups downs and inconsistencies. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of classic tv shows I love, but for me comparing these two mediums doesn't really seem logical because they are so unalike and meant to be experienced in different ways. That being said, I think it's just a personal preference.

But being able to capture and convey great meaning through the length of one film can be something brilliant in itself. I know tv series make great social commentaries and reflect the vibe of the time they were made in too, but for me, watching a great episode of something doesn't compare to the impact the ending of a truly great movie can have on you. I know lots of people really get into tv shows and characters and whatnot, but whenever I've done that, once the series ends it just kinda feels...over. Great movies - whether they're drama, action, comedy, whatever - always seem to stick around.

midnight rain · 12-04-2012, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelli

I rarely watch TV as most of the shows I like have either been cancelled or already ended within the past few years. My friends have tried getting me into various shows like the Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, and Breaking Bad, all of which are actually really good, but I'm the kind of person who will turn on the tv when I feel like it, and keeping up with tv series can get annoying if you miss an episode here and there. So yeah, I rarely watch tv. If I happen to be chilling by myself I'd be more entertained by blasting some good music or something.

On the other hand, I've worked at a movie theater for almost two years now and can get free passes for my friends and I to see every new movie that comes out for free (as long as it isn't sold out). That being said...I watch a heck of a lot of movies. Not just new ones though. I like old films, classic films, etc. And upcoming films can be exciting, especially the big releases with lots of hype. Having to work on those weekends is another thing entirely though, haha.

I guess overall I like movies more because I can see them as a solid work of something - like an album or piece of artwork rather than a TV series spanning a long length of time with various ups downs and inconsistencies. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of classic tv shows I love, but for me comparing these two mediums doesn't really seem logical because they are so unalike and meant to be experienced in different ways. That being said, I think it's just a personal preference.

But being able to capture and convey great meaning through the length of one film can be something brilliant in itself. I know tv series make great social commentaries and reflect the vibe of the time they were made in too, but for me, watching a great episode of something doesn't compare to the impact the ending of a truly great movie can have on you. I know lots of people really get into tv shows and characters and whatnot, but whenever I've done that, once the series ends it just kinda feels...over. Great movies - whether they're drama, action, comedy, whatever - always seem to stick around.

Yeah the comparison is being made only on personal preference

Part of television's weakness is that it requires a certain number of viewers to stay on the air obviously, so writers basically throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks, and shift tv shows to appeal to popularity. In the end what you get is a less cohesive vision than film, but I guess that's the nature of a long drawn out form of media like tv shows.

Kelli · 12-05-2012, 12:08 AM

^ Okay, gotcha. The title and some of the posts made it seem like we were comparing them to see which one's better... And yeah I agree with you on tv shows. This is a random thought but if I could take part in either of them I'd rather write for a tv show than write a movie script. It seems like you'd have a lot more creative freedom to throw around ideas and let them develop into plots/characters that can change over time. I dunno. What you said made me think that, haha. xP

Trollheart · 12-05-2012, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger ?

I find that I can very rarely sit through a whole movie in one sitting unless it's REALLY good.

And on the other hand I find I can sit though several episodes of a TV show in one sitting.

I watched 4 episodes of Minder last night.

LOVE Minder! All the old cockney slang, the "inappropriate" racial jibes (no-one cared back then; try doing that today), the awful storylines and the old cars. And of course Arfur! Always, always cheers me up, does Minder!

02-10-2012, 10:59 AM	#31 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I find that I can very rarely sit through a whole movie in one sitting unless it's REALLY good. And on the other hand I find I can sit though several episodes of a TV show in one sitting. I watched 4 episodes of Minder last night. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

02-11-2012, 09:53 PM	#34 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I rarely watch TV, unless it's on Netflix or is wrestling or college basketball. I prefer film, but that's probably because I have lately preferred working in a film medium, although I feel that watching TV is conducive to a theatrical environment, more often than not. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

12-04-2012, 08:34 PM	#35 (permalink)
midnight rain Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,711	Bumping this for some new crowd on MB. Since I made this, I think I've only continued to appreciate film even more as an art medium, while I still view television as primarily entertainment (something films are just as accomplished in). Only show that has come close for me is The Sopranos. Though I do have an affinity for Lost and Twin Peaks.

12-04-2012, 08:58 PM	#36 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	Generation Kill is better than any war film dealing with Iraq I've seen.

12-04-2012, 11:30 PM	#37 (permalink)
Kelli custom user title Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 304	I rarely watch TV as most of the shows I like have either been cancelled or already ended within the past few years. My friends have tried getting me into various shows like the Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, and Breaking Bad, all of which are actually really good, but I'm the kind of person who will turn on the tv when I feel like it, and keeping up with tv series can get annoying if you miss an episode here and there. So yeah, I rarely watch tv. If I happen to be chilling by myself I'd be more entertained by blasting some good music or something. On the other hand, I've worked at a movie theater for almost two years now and can get free passes for my friends and I to see every new movie that comes out for free (as long as it isn't sold out). That being said...I watch a heck of a lot of movies. Not just new ones though. I like old films, classic films, etc. And upcoming films can be exciting, especially the big releases with lots of hype. Having to work on those weekends is another thing entirely though, haha. I guess overall I like movies more because I can see them as a solid work of something - like an album or piece of artwork rather than a TV series spanning a long length of time with various ups downs and inconsistencies. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of classic tv shows I love, but for me comparing these two mediums doesn't really seem logical because they are so unalike and meant to be experienced in different ways. That being said, I think it's just a personal preference. But being able to capture and convey great meaning through the length of one film can be something brilliant in itself. I know tv series make great social commentaries and reflect the vibe of the time they were made in too, but for me, watching a great episode of something doesn't compare to the impact the ending of a truly great movie can have on you. I know lots of people really get into tv shows and characters and whatnot, but whenever I've done that, once the series ends it just kinda feels...over. Great movies - whether they're drama, action, comedy, whatever - always seem to stick around.

12-05-2012, 12:08 AM	#39 (permalink)
Kelli custom user title Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 304	^ Okay, gotcha. The title and some of the posts made it seem like we were comparing them to see which one's better... And yeah I agree with you on tv shows. This is a random thought but if I could take part in either of them I'd rather write for a tv show than write a movie script. It seems like you'd have a lot more creative freedom to throw around ideas and let them develop into plots/characters that can change over time. I dunno. What you said made me think that, haha. xP