Franchises like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter are always going to remain relevant as long as people are willing to spend their hard-earned money to go and see it in cinemas, but can those films truly be classified as “cinema”? Can some franchise films be classified as cinema? If so, what is the determining criteria for what is true cinema?
True cinema must be well-received by the general public
Something that would make the most sense when determining what cinema is would be if it has received positive reception from the public. Granted, some films may get a polarizing or mixed reaction during its initial release, but over time, it may change with a shift in public opinion to more positive and acclaimed.
For the most part, cinema celebrates beloved movies that have ushered a new era of film and tend to either forget or deride the less-than-stellar work that was released. The sad part is that not all great movies are remembered. Some are cast away, underrated, or forgotten by many filmgoers. Many great films slip away into the ether of celluloid and become ancient relics of cinema until an influencer decides to talk about them again because of how amazing the film truly is and how it was underappreciated by the audience at the time of its release.
The Godfather series (even the third film) is cinema because, for the most part, it was well-received and that isn’t the only reason something should be cinema, but the list will explain itself further. The Fast & Furious movies are more mixed and have a weaker critical reception which contributes to it not being cinema. It may not be the most noted reason but positive critical reception gives a film a nice boost in appeal for years down the line.
Sequels can’t take more than three years after the last film in true cinema
If a movie is great enough and an audience clamors enough for a sequel, chances are that it will get one, but making a long-awaited sequel that takes over three years to make has its disadvantages. The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies took only one or two years in between films that had a cohesive storyline. Many scholars may disagree, but these series could be considered cinema as they have been well-received and didn’t take too long to make, in this instance, and they have a starting and end goal, which makes for more simple viewing.
When it comes to taking too long to make a sequel to the superior original, things become murky. The Matrix from 1999 was a film that captured audiences everywhere and still remains relevant today and is a staple in visual and philosophical films of cinema. The sequel The Matrix: Resurrections, however, is not cinema. The original Matrix movie had a well-thought plot and theme that all of reality was phony and that most people were just cogs in a machine. The sequel took that same idea, dismantled it with confusing storytelling, added unnecessary exposition and strayed away from the premise of the original to the point that it did away with the original film, implying that the original Matrix was just a video game made by Neo (Keanu Reeves).
The movie took so long to make that these long-awaited sequels either stray away from the original to the point of insanity or, in the case of Disney’s Star Wars sequels, they’re so similar that it seems like a remake, which makes the film less relevant, rendering it “not cinema”.
True cinema must subvert the genre
Another thing that seems like a-must have for a film to stand out and be in the club that is cinema is the fact that it must subvert the genre that it is in. This might seem like a tall order to be considered cinema but in order to stand out from the crowd and stand the test of time, it would be required. The reason Gone With the Wind is still remembered, despite having a controversial history, is because it was an epic that stood out in the magical year of films in 1939. Citizen Kane is another film that subverted the genre of dramas with its marvelous storytelling and character development detailing the rise and fall of an icon.
If a film is a standard movie and does nothing to subvert its genre, it might be a good film but it will quickly be replaced by a better film that will subvert. The question of whether or not Marvel and superhero films are cinema becomes more valid because many times, superhero films fall into the exact same tropes that they were designed for. There’s a hero who learns how to be a hero and a villain with criminal intentions and said hero must do everything to stop said villain.
The plot really offers nothing too subversive and makes for generic storytelling that fails to offer twists and turns in the fabric of the film. The subversion of the plot, characters, and narrative are what make a film stand out and become something to elevate beyond its generalities.
True cinema can’t be niche
Something that separates the mainstream from the niche is appeal. Admittedly, the most popular films are movies that wouldn’t be considered cinema because of their appeal to a certain demographic. Films that are considered cinema do not care about appealing to a certain demographic and are made for the love of filmmaking and to experiment in the field. When making films for a certain demographic, filmmakers often use the same techniques that got audiences hooked the first time. Think of The Fast & Furious movies or the John Wick franchise. It incorporates lazy fight sequences and car chases that amuse people that are into that type of entertainment.
Cinema goes further than that and must become something beyond appealing to small children and people that want to come to the movies and turn off their brain for a few hours. Cinema, on the other hand, looks to engage the hearts and minds of the viewers and not look to appease a certain group of people. Cinema is a more broad category instead of the niche categories that dominate the box offices today. Cinema will often be remembered for the art, craft and respect that it has for filmmaking and not for the amount of explosions that it had.
It’s like comparing Tik-Tok stars with A-list celebrities. Both have millions of followers but the A-list celebrity is going to be more revered because of their talent and impact in art.
Before people run to see the next big franchise, it’s only fair to take a look at some of the smaller films that reflect reality and truly are in the realm of cinema.
What makes a movie true cinema and not a vessel for franchise doldrums?
Source: Pinoy White Knights
0 Comments