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The only way you can get kids to watch older films...

posted 3 years ago by AmeriGirl26 (15124)
30 replies | jump to latest

...is if you, the parents/guardians introduce such movies to them and show them how to appreciate the stories, even if they're dated.

I would have never known about all the sci-fi classics if it hadn't been for my dad introducing them to my brother and I when we were kids, for example. Or we would have never known about classic, live-action Disney films if it hadn't been for my mom and grandparents having us watch them as kids. Heck, I wouldn't have even known about Shirley Temple if my grandma hadn't been a fan.

I've stated before to the younger generations, that just because it's an older film, doesn't mean the story isn't good. Sometimes you can appreciate a good story, regardless of the age of the movie. Plus, it gives you some insight on the culture of the time period it was made.

[–] jonathan_k80 (6436) 3 years ago

"Plus, it gives you some insight on the culture of the time period it was made."

I really enjoy older movies that were filmed on location. You can see the old landmarks, classic cars and how people dressed in previous years.

There are some YouTube channels that feature early 20th Century film footage that has been colorized and ambient sound has been added. They have been upgraded to 60 frames per second to remove the jerky movements common in movies of that era. It's the closest thing to experiencing time travel. Here is one example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ1OgQL9_Cw

[–] Solastine (1104) 3 years ago

Yikes, watch them as they were filmed... don't destroy them with technology.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

What a weird effect. It seems to turn them into some sort of animation. I like it as style... would be interesting to redo Nosferatu like this.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

I'm okay with these. Yes, you can always still watch it the way it was filmed: with horrible shake jittery flashing contrast skips and bad focus. And now you may also watch it cleaned up to SEE what was filmed even better. Good stuff.

[–] Solastine (1104) 3 years ago

that's like saying the director wasn't good enough so some anonymous lab tech should "clean up" the mistakes of the director.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

Really? Have you watched these fixed films? There's no director. It's like home movies, filmed from a fixed car ride for ten minutes. Probably with the top tech available to them at the time. You are looking for cinematic depth in these?
If anything the fixed version is probably closer to what they wished they could show.
Either way the original still exists, not like it is going away, so nothing has been ruined

[–] Solastine (1104) 3 years ago

You don't understand, when the movies were filmed there was a director, you then let an AI program "improve" upon what the original director decided would best suit the film.

monocolor requires a different directorial touch to get done right, so colorizing it basically destroys that layer where the director is playing with light and shadow to get the scene to look like what he wants.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

you don't understand... the originals still exist. go watch them. nobody cares if you do. these fixed versions dont hurt anyone, or DELETE the originals. ZERO HARM IS BEING DONE. ignore it if you prefer

I imagine that with 12 frames per second being the only best availalbe technology at the time, the set directors, colorists, AD, DP, gaffer, best boy, all decided these "films" represent reality the best they could in 12 FPS and should never be any different than stuttery, jerky, sped up looking garbage.
really?
like there was even a "director" on these :D

these are home movies

[–] Solastine (1104) 3 years ago

You don't understand, you're insulting works of art and insisting they need to be improved upon to be remotely watchable.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

wow. shitty found home movies are now works of "art". heh whatever

[–] jonathan_k80 (6436) 3 years ago

The effects are done digitally so I'm sure the original source material was left intact. No footage would have been destroyed.

I meant no offense to the original creators of these films. I just find them fascinating because these are a window into history. They were filmed in actual public situations rather than being the work of actors on a set. The corrected speed and colorization allow for increased detail.

I've been a fan of time travel novels and films for a long time, and if such technology existed in real life I would love to experience it. Watching these videos is the closest thing to visiting the past.

[–] Keelai (36161) 3 years ago

"Plus, it gives you some insight on the culture of the time period it was made."

I don't understand why younger people wouldn't be curious about earlier time periods.

There are so many great old movies.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Some of them are curious. But different kids have different curiousities.

[–] Keelai (36161) 3 years ago

That's true. I've noticed most people aren't curious.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

I'm only guessing one reason is there are now 50 billion new things to watch with endless variety. You will never get through all the great new stuff let alone bother watching some old thing that looks so bad compared to newer.

In the past, we actually saw all the movies we could and needed more so we looked to older films

[–] Keelai (36161) 3 years ago

Only old movies (1930-50s) were available on broadcast TV when I was a kid.

My only complaint about old films is they can be racist and sexist. Discrimination and stereotyping were the norm. That can be a major turnoff to younger people, also.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

shame younger people are too young to see around those things like people with functioning brains are, but it makes sense. their loss. they should probably ignore their evil parents too who are not perfect, and have less than perfect traits.
perfect world, here we come! YES!

[–] horrorfan000 (2362) 3 years ago

My appreciation of a lot of great oldies like Abbott and Costello, The honeymooners, Andy Griffith show and others come from my mother.I loved watching old movies as a kid.Especially horror films.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

When I was a teen, my mother couldn't find anyone who would go with her to see the movies at a classic film festival that was being held weekly in Toronto. These were the films that she grew up with.

Reluctantly, I agreed to go because... it's my mom right?

Saw Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D wearing those old-timey glasses with red and cyan lenses...

My mom has been gone for a decade now, but I still have good memories of those times we shared, and an appreciation for the 'classics' of my mom's era.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21722) 3 years ago

Those sound like great memories to have.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21722) 3 years ago

It all depends on the individual. I have two daughters and one loves older films and spends time researching and watching titles all the way back to the silent era. My oldest prefers to watch whatever is being offered on Netflix that day.

It’s funny, they were raised the same but in many ways couldn’t be more different.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (15124) 3 years ago

Everyone has their preferences.

Another cool thing you could teach them in the history of film-making, like how it all started with cameras in the late 1890s, how Hollywood started, and why the quality of films changed over time, due to technology. You could also tell them about the effect some specific movies had on both the industry and American culture in general. Thankfully, unlike my Film Studies class at school, you can pick and choose which classics you want to watch with your kids.

One thing I had soooo much fun with as a kid was watching how they did special-effects in movies. Some of the behind-the-scenes videos for certain movies were fascinating to me, and are still fascinating, even today. Such a thing is particularly useful in teaching kids not to be afraid of horror films if you let them watch the BTS stuff, so they can see just how fake some of the scenes truly are, though I'd still wait until they are a little older for that.

[–] ILJtheFirst (2139) 3 years ago

I grew up on Hellraiser and Event Horizon, nope, just kidding.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21722) 3 years ago

Oh yeah, my youngest who is really into film has met Tom Savini. 😀

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 3 years ago

The only way you can get kids to watch older films...

If these are female kids we're talking about, remind them that they have a choice: Watch "Citizen Kane" in the living room, or go up to the master bedroom where a randy and amped up on Viagra Stephen Collins awaits them. They have the option of either enjoying the brilliance of Orson Welles, or having Reverend Camden act out with them all the shit he yearned to do with Jessica Biel back in the day

[–] AmeriGirl26 (15124) 3 years ago

You don't need to force kids to watch older films. Give them a choice. And start when they're little, so they get used to seeing such things once in a while.

[–] overseas7 (5071) 3 years ago

You are right but at the end of the day they decide what it is interesting for them or not.
For example, they love Star Wars or Lord of the rings, on the other side they find ET, The neverending story or Alice in wonderland extremely boring.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (15124) 3 years ago

Yes, very true. But it is worth letting them see some of the films once, so they can make up their minds about it.

Oh my goodness, you just gave me an idea for a new thread! Thanks! :D

[–] overseas7 (5071) 3 years ago

You are welcome!!😅

[–] ILJtheFirst (2139) 3 years ago

I'm actually tapped out when it comes to movies. There's so many classics that make it difficult to find newer movies that are better. I mostly watch shows with interesting themes or concepts. All the Techni Color movies are epic and grandiose.