MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > I have ONE or rather SEVERAL confessions...

I have ONE or rather SEVERAL confessions to make about me watching FILMS these days, or years.

posted 3 years ago by TheMan18 (13016)
26 replies | jump to latest

It being - nowadays, when I watch movies, whether ones I've seen before or otherwise, I am often on my phone checking WhatsApp messages and sites so I often don't concentrate. Ooh, silly and naughty me here mates, aaaagggh.

ALSO - and I don't just mean bizarre and weird films like those directed by David Lynch, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Fernando Arrabal, Guy Maddin, Ken Russell, Abel Ferrara, Atom Egoyan and many others, but I at times, especially for foreign films including those subtitled in English or with dubbed voiceover, nowadays, tend to LOSE the track of events, including who or what certain characters are (I have at certain times confused one character for another), what they are doing, why they do what they do, what the main storyline overall is, in other words, I literally and figuratively lose the plot in the process. And I don't just mean film's plot.

Even in some easy to understand films I fail to see who at one point one character is to another, as in, how are they related, why some guy did this instead of that and why did that event happen etc.

And people may be surprised by how not very good for instance I am at spotting say "misogyny" in movies as in it being a feel, vibe, streak or a de-facto happening although here its all a matter of perception, perspective and personal opinion. Similar for stuff like racism and whatnot. Or even if the movie does or does not, inappropriately and at times offensively, make light or certain subjects. Albeit we rarely hear about if the "over the top vengeance" was REALLY worthy although we do at times too - although that matter often is counteracted but let's discuss THOSE bits later, shall we?

Anyways, do you often get confused when watching movies nowadays and not just confusing movies? And do you also tend not to concentrate when watching a film by being distracted by your tablet or smartphone? Thanks.

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

kinda explains me tryn to read your long ass posts

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Lol, hahaha, seriously, that made me laugh out loud.

And for those moments, I wasn't even talking about movies haha. Oh wait, you mean just ONE post, this one?

Still, lol indeed.

For instance, I confused at least one character for another in a great South Korean film "Peppermint Candy" (1999) and its not as if that movie was like David Lynch's "Lost Highway" (1997) or anything. It was reasonably straightforward albeit told in a non-linear timeline fashion. And once, I got confused about the movie "The Devils" (1971) and whether it was really Christopher Reeves at the end getting tortured. Oh well.

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

lost me again

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Really, at what?

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

The point I was making in a nutshell was - I occasionally find certain films hard to follow. :)

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

me too, its called add

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Except its ADD or A.D.D. - attention deficit disorder. If it was "add" it would have been a PLUS and I would actually be better at following films and their plot lines etc.

Also, I don't think I have too much of it either. And in some cases I follow even fairly complex movies reasonably well.

Also, no offense whatsoever to Asians but could it be possible that because say many South Korean men look alike, that they can be easy to confuse for other characters that look slightly similar? Hence my confusion in "Peppermint Candy" (1999) for instance.

And with English not being my first language and I watch nearly all films in it? I do understand English yes but not too 100% flawlessly so maybe perhaps...

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

do you conversate like this ? reminds me of my aunt who rambles on & on

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

You're not the first person to notice, here OR in life, haha, I do sometimes, yeah, sorry for inconvenience.

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

i like my aunt's chattyness, back to your point tho i tried watching dune yesterday and seeing how long the movie was & the pace it was goien i threw in the towel rather quickly. if i check out early like that its not happening, interest lost roll the credits.

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Cool.

What's your take on me potentially viewing most Asians including South Koreans as look alikes? (Hope its alright though, no offense of course. :) :) )

[–] rex (2828) 3 years ago

i think your overly concerned with offending someone, but do understand your confusion.

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Well, actually, not too much (concerned) and its also a phrase I have developed a lot over the years.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77425) 3 years ago

I don’t often get confused and I tend to pay attention but I do wish casting directors would not hire actors that look like they were separated at birth for different characters…Especially with foreign movies with subs where we’re very busy reading each line of dialogue…

That’s where I sometimes get confused as to who is who

[–] AndyKing1967 (38136) 3 years ago

Nope - phone off.

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

In a lot of cases mine is off too yes but sometimes I just can't help it, may be I have an addiction to gadgets here and there particularly smart phones.

[–] RoboReCop (3302) 3 years ago

One of my younger relatives has the same rule. It's ABSOLUTE.

However, he's the same person, when once decided he doesn't like a film, will either exit the room leaving me alone to watch it so he can go online with his laptop; or most times just gets on his computer -- in the same room -- stops paying attention to the film. And, I'm not talking about a child, though seemingly has a mind of a child most of the time, is in his early 30s.

But, he'll always make a HUGE fuse and lash out if someone has a phone in their hands. Doesn't matter about the situation.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21466) 3 years ago

I always try to go no phone, tablet or commercials.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

I was checking my phone while looking at your post so I didn't really get what you are saying.

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Not to worry haha, its not like I'm a film or anything even though I watch a lot of films. :) Lol.

[–] CocoMonkey (28) 3 years ago

I have 100% the same issue - can’t stop Fooking about with my phone when watching movies/tv - lose what’s going on.

BUT… when I TRY not to go on phone - I am just thinking about phone, or find myself wanting to google a characters actors name, or other things.

I think I am addicted to my phone.

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

I loved the film "Parasite" (2019), but did anyone else also got a little confused and wonder why those killings in the film started?

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 3 years ago

Even in that much talked about by me over here direct to video film Someone to Die For (1995) by Clay Borris and starring Corbin Bernsen, I at first got a little confused about if that female character for instance was ALSO in somehow involved in the police killings or if her attack on that main cop was a separate incident and also if she died or not when Ally Walker's character shot her, but subsequent viewings later it became clear to me that... OK I won't further spoil. (Any of yous had any luck with tracking down and seeing the movie? I watched it last night again and was still affected by "one scene" from it that made me cry.)