I recently was listening to the Operation Kino podcast as they were discussing the Sight & Sound’s Greatest 50 Films Ever Made. They very shortly touched upon greatest movies and favorite movies and that there is a difference between the two. It kind of came down to the fact that the greatest movies are usually considered art. It made me think about what movies mean to me and why I watch them. I can certainly enjoy something which is beautifully shot, but I wondered:
If you had to choose between labelling movies as art or entertainment, which one would you choose?
Of course movies can be both, but if I had to choose I would go for entertainment. There are often movies on those greatest lists which I really can’t enjoy at all. I can sometimes understand why they are loved, but I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have missed much if I hadn’t seen them. I watch movies to get away from everything and be entertained. It helps when something looks beautiful, but I would rather watch a low budget movie with a great story then a high budget art movie with hardly any story. So I would label movies as entertainment.
If you had to choose between labelling movies as art or entertainment, which one would you choose?
youjivinmeturkey says:
That’s Tough, But I’m Going Say “Entertainment” Is What They Mainly Are. “Art”, In My Mind, Is A Type Of “Entertainment”, To BOTH The Person Doing The Watching/Experiencing AND The Person Creating.
Nostra says:
That’s a very good way to put it and I guess I agree with that
Scott Lawlor (@FrontRoomCinema) says:
Good question Nostra.
It is a hard one to answer as I believe they can be both. And sometimes at the same time!
Nostra says:
Thanks Scott! Yeah, they can be both, but if you had to choose which one would you pick
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keith7198 says:
Intriguing question. For me they are entertainment. Of course they can be considered artistic but honestly I feel sometimes movies fall short because they are trying to be too artistic. I want to be entertained. Movies are a release – a place I go to be drawn in by being told a story. Can that be artistic? Sure it can. But I go to be entertained.
Nostra says:
Yeah, me too…it’s all about getting away from everything. I like it if it looks pretty, but sometimes big explosions can be pretty too and I don’t think anyone would call those art
fernandorafael says:
One of the tougher questions when it comes to film. I doubt we’ll ever reach a consensus but I think I’m gonna go with entertainment.
Nostra says:
I don’t think so either. But it’s like that with art as well…not all people consider the same things as art. Modern art is a good example of it.
ilovethatfilm says:
I don’t think we have to choose at all. Art can be entertaining and Entertainment can be art. However many, many movies clearly position themselves as one or the other. But hey even Transformers has teams of digital effects people creating artistic images if you ask me. And Terence Malick’s films can be beautiful creations but still more entertaining than Transformers.
Nostra says:
Of course we don’t have to choose, but it’s nice to force a choice and see in which way people lean
Tim The Film Guy says:
Entertainment, I am not an arty person but I love films
Nostra says:
Hear hear!
ruth says:
Interesting question, I never thought of labeling one vs the other. But I guess I’d go with entertainment as the real ‘artsy’ movies sometimes lost me. I guess I’m just not that sophisticated, ahah.
Nostra says:
I don’t think it has anything to do with being sophisticated, just about what you enjoy seeing.
AndyWatchesMovies says:
It depends on my mind…but all movies should be seen as entertainment first. Even art should be seen as entertaining, at least to me. Great question, though!
Nostra says:
Yes, they should be entertaining and capture your attention. Thanks!
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VictorsMovieReviews says:
Entertainment. Shakespeare’s play’s were made as entertainment; time turned them into art.
Nostra says:
Nicely put Victor!