I don’t mean this in a “movies suck now” kind of way, I actually think 2022 was a pretty good year for movies and 2024 will probably be better

but yeesh, 2023 seemed like a particularly bleak year for film. of those I’ve seen on this list, the only ones I’d heartily recommend are Bottoms and Nimona. maybe Beau is Afraid and Infinity Pool, but those are definitely not for everyone. oh and the TMNT movie was a lot of fun

(I haven’t seen Flower Moon yet so don’t get mad at me, Scorsesebros)

but please feel free to CMV and recommend any good movies from this year, whether they’re in this image or not!

  • the_post_of_tom_joad [any, any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    “Saw” movies are simply a celebration of the summer slashers which have always celebrated the art of gore and the unsympathetic cast. I hated them at one point in fact, never understood why people liked em. but I’ve learned through my wife’s love of the genre to enjoy them.

    I’ve come to see they’re not enjoyed the way i connected with movies in other genres. Unlike most (?) movies, you aren’t supposed to form a bond with or see yourself in these characters, they are there to die horrificly for your enjoyment.

    You know it’s not real, and the buzz you get from watching an imaginative kill well executed graphically is great fun, and everything and everyone is fine! It’s harmless! So chop em up baby, show me a spectacle!

      • robinn_IV [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Damn I’ll listen to their episode on it later. Just from watching the movie I have no idea what this is referring to.

        Edit: Just listened and agreed on most stuff. I did notice the yellow filter use but I didn’t notice they took it off with the white lady.

        Side tangent, they say it’s clear the films take the side of Jigsaw being a hero, but i disagree with that. I mean you’re clearly meant to sympathize with the first two people in Saw X, as well as root for Amanda while she tries to get Garbriela out (although the film is also sadistic). The only person who’s portrayed as pure evil and worthy of “punishment” is the blonde millionaire lady, and she survives, which is in line with Jigsaw’s philosophy, while Mateo is killed on a technicality.

        But there are clearly characters who are portrayed as doing bad things with the aim of making the viewer root for their death, Saw 3D having tons of examples. At the same time, while in some cases Jigsaw’s methods are seen as rehabilitative, there are also cases where it’s criticized. For example there’s the lady who chopped off her arm (from I don’t remember which movie, but it’s after 3) who scoffs at Jigsaw (Hoffman’s version, which is also seen as a corrupted version of Kramer, but what he did in this case is no different from something Kramer would do) when asked if she learned to appreciate her life, talking abt how the only benefit she received was handicap parking. It’s very clearly meant to show that Jigsaw’s philosophy does not necessarily rehabilitate people.

        There’s even a deleted scene in 3 where Kramer’s Jigsaw says he was wrong before he dies according to the DVD commentary.

    • clayh@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Yeah but Saw (and similar tortureporn movies) focus on the realistic, gruesome violence (often in closeup). That was never a selling point of the “summer slashers” you are trying to wax poetic about.