Future of good movies is grim due to kids and teens

[nrp44]

I am in my last year of High School. For volunteer work hours I teach high school and middle school classes (yes it is possible.) Being obsessed with pop culture (yeah... I am geek) I like to talk to middle school students about it like equals and find myself amazed at the grasp that some middle school kids have on pop culture. However, notice I said some, because most don't have the idea who Quentin Tarantino or hell, Bowser is.

A week ago I find myself with no work to give to the class so I decide to start a discussion about the best movie they have seen in a while. Much to my dismay most votes went toward shit movies like Transformers 2 and New Moon. 3 or 4 votes went toward Inglorious Basterds or District 9, two of the recent movies that have good.

I find myself puzzled and when I am about to begin criticizing their picks the bell rings. So, I decide to go to the cafeteria and sit down with them for a discussion since they sit in a big group. During this conversation I found out that most of the kids don't give a crap about plot or character development picking Transformers 2 over Citizen Kane calling it boring, Godfather calling it stupid and boring and Pulp Fiction calling it a good movie but a bit boring. The comment I made about not caring about Plot or character development is not my guess. It is what they said and I quote "Who gives a crap about those things" and then they proceeded to nod among themselves.

For the girls I noticed as long as it becomes popular and has hot guys they like it, not very puzzling. It is not because they are kids and don't have enough knowledge since I have met some that have the knowledge of a 12th grader. Their choice of music is horrible too but that would take another thread to talk about. So I have to ask you, have you had similar experiences, what do you think about the future of pop culture and how do you feel about the culture of teens today?

P.S first attempt to try to start a discussion, won't be surprised if it fails.

 

[Godavari]

I don't like all of these "the next generation sucks so life will suck when they get old" arguments. You were like that, too. It's a phase of either ogling and "drama" (as with the girls), or ogling and explosions (as with the guys). They'll grow out of it, just like you did.

 

[SharPhoe]

There are two simple words that I feel sums things up rather nicely and succinctly:

Times change, dude. (Crap, three words.)

What was hailed as masterpieces by us "old timers" isn't going to be the same for newer generations, simple as that.

And for the record, I actually liked Revenge Of The Fallen. Yes, plot and character development are important to a serious story or film, but sometimes you just have to take your brain out and see some stuff get blowed up and some faces get taken.

 

[nrp44]

The thing is I was never into that.

 

[Malodrik]

Well, I can't really say much as to "thread starting" but...lurk more before starting a topic?

Movies I can't see going too far down in terms of quality. Sure, there's the requisite "Twilight" and "Transformers", but we've also had movies like "A Scanner Darkly", so there's still hope for todays kids. You know, something for them to grasp onto storywise instead of just "OH WOW THAT EXPLOSION JUST EXPLODED. NEAT!"

Games is a whole different story. There's a small, independent video game store near my place. They have some classic arcade machines (the multiplayer X-Men machine),a SNES hooked up to an old tube TV, the works. One day, me and a friend were taking turns playing Super Mario World, when a group of Grade 10's walks in behind us (probably on their lunch period). As we're playing, I can hear them making snide comments about how 2D sucks, and that we should hook up the 360 so they can play "Gears of War".

Normally I'm not a violent person, but I was tempted to pick them up by the back of their hoodies, and huck 'em out the front door.

But like others have said, every generation goes through this. It's an endless cycle

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Well, I'm 16 years old and just watched "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" on youtube. And I loved it! So their is still hope!

 

[nrp44]

Well, I can't really say much as to "thread starting" but...lurk more before starting a topic?

Movies I can't see going too far down in terms of quality. Sure, there's the requisite "Twilight" and "Transformers", but we've also had movies like "A Scanner Darkly", so there's still hope for todays kids. You know, something for them to grasp onto storywise instead of just "OH WOW THAT EXPLOSION JUST EXPLODED. NEAT!"

Games is a whole different story. There's a small, independent video game store near my place. They have some classic arcade machines (the multiplayer X-Men machine),a SNES hooked up to an old tube TV, the works. One day, me and a friend were taking turns playing Super Mario World, when a group of Grade 10's walks in behind us (probably on their lunch period). As we're playing, I can hear them making snide comments about how 2D sucks, and that we should hook up the 360 so they can play "Gears of War".

Normally I'm not a violent person, but I was tempted to pick them up by the back of their hoodies, and huck 'em out the front door.

I have heard a few of them saying "Mario sucks because it is unrealistic". I wanted to do the same thing that you wanted to do.

 

[Sassafrass]

And for the record, I actually liked Revenge Of The Fallen. Yes, plot and character development are important to a serious story or film, but sometimes you just have to take your brain out and see some stuff get blowed up and some faces get taken.

I'll join you on that, man.
And I also liked New Moon too.
That was a bad thing to say...

OT: Times a-change.
I'm 18 and I like big ass explosions but also like movies like Pulp Fiction where you can get pulled in and lost in the story.
I credit my parents for putting me on to some good stuff, movie wise and TV wise. Monty Python, Faulty Towers, 'Allo 'Allo etc.
And pop culture was killed when X-Factor came to life, IMO.

 

[Omikron009]

I'm truly ashamed to say that most of my age peers are like this. That's why I don't have many friends.

 

[nrp44]

Well, I'm 16 years old and just watched "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" on youtube. And I loved it! So their is still hope!

Well, you guys are the only thing keeping plot alive since it is mostly gone in video games and slowly disappearing in movies.

 

[nrp44]

I don't like all of these "the next generation sucks so life will suck when they get old" arguments. You were like that, too. It's a phase of either ogling and "drama" (as with the girls), or ogling and explosions (as with the guys). They'll grow out of it, just like you did.

Dear god I hope they do. I think Michael Bay is an example of what happens if they don't. He actually seems to legitimately believe that his movies are good.

Holy crap its tellmeimaninja. I have seen you post countless times. I have spent about 1 year on this site not making an account because I am too lazy. Finally made one to play the Stonking Great Games.

 

[SharPhoe]

-snip-

Also, there's another question I feel a pressing need to ask.
Why are you getting so upset about people having a different opinion than you? This happens everywhere, all the time, and will continue to do so for the rest of eternity. If these people don't like the same things you do, just accept that and move on. Grudging and griping will do you no good.

 

[Mcupobob]

My little brother still thinks movie games like "Bolt" or "madagascar" are really good games. And he is 11, 11!! no tast I's tell you's.

 

[crudus]

Ok, I am now investing in Hollywood. They have the easiest job now. At this point they can probably release the same movie but change the names and colors and never work a day again.

 

[nrp44]

Then again you are bashing on my opinion that says it is okay to bash on other people's opinions. Then again, opinions can be wrong.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Well, I'm 16 years old and just watched "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" on youtube. And I loved it! So their is still hope!

Well, you guys are the only thing keeping plot alive since it is mostly gone in video games and slowly disappearing in movies.

Hmm, well. I'm a huge fan of old school games. Marty-o, Castlevania, and the such. Now while I see your point, and I must agree. Movies are slowly dying, hell, to the point were they have to steal plots from videogames.

I really want to see some original stuff. I really do. I don't know if anyone else has noticed but there seems to be this huge "REDO" in hollywood. Startrek, Indy, Transformers, GI Joe and so on. What I really want is The return to a action packed adventure. Something new, and fresh. Not rehashed stuff that they know people will want to see. They need to stop making redos, and make originals. and then people will go to movies.