The Wild Ride of Cinema: From Silent Flicks to Streaming Hits

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In the Beginning: Lights, Camera, Action!

The Birth Pangs of Moving Pictures

You know how sometimes the most amazing things occur and they were not planned? Well you know that was kinda the beginning of movies. Once upon a time, in the late 1800’s, some very smart people were toying with the concept of recording motion on film. It was like they were attempting to put the lightening into a bottle, or something like that. However, the pioneers of film making were the Lumière brothers of France who were actually involved in the making of movies. These guys were probably the rock stars of their time, though they did not invent iPhones, they gave the first public film screening in 1895. What must it be like being in that audience? First time when you watch a train approaching you directly on screen? I dare say that there must have been quite a few knocked back glasses and perhaps even some ladies passing out!)

Now, if the Lumière brothers were the tech heads, then Georges Méliès was the magician of the lot. This dude was shooting something and his camera got stuck in some peculiar position and that how he discovered special effects. All of a sudden people were vanishing and then reappearing on screen like in magic show. What a blessing it was that this mistake occurred! Méliès went for it, and he produced more than 500 films, among them being “A Trip to the Moon,” 1902. I mean a rocket ship going in the eye of the moon? That is the kind of creativity that is so unique that is characteristic of early cinema which is freakin’ awesome.

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The Silent Era: When Actions Spoke Louder Than Words

Hollywood Rises: The Birth of a Movie Mecca

Moving into the 1910s and 20s Hollywood began to take its place as the big cheese of the movie world. The weather was ideal for shooting (yes, it is sunny all year long) and the price for land was comparatively low. It seemed as if studios were springing up overnight, and Hollywood was the spot for stars if one were to make it in films.

Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton: Kings of Silent Comedy

Now, let's talk about the real stars of the silent era: Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton are some of the most well-known comedian actors of the silent films. Such guys were like the pioneers of memes, making people laugh without using any words. Even now, you can easily identify Chaplin’s Little Tramp character. I am not joking, ask a kid to identify the figure in the picture of the Little Tramp and chances are the kid will tell you that it is Chaplin, even if he has never watched a Chaplin movie. And Keaton? This dude was doing his own stunts way before Tom Cruise came along and made it fashionable. His serious face when he is actually doing crazy stuff you can only imagine is hilarious to me.

German Expressionism: Getting Moody with Movies

Whereas Hollywood was focusing on comedy, the Germans were getting serious and painting it black with German Expressionism. Movies for example the “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” were employing geometrically twisted stage designs and obscure lighting to elicit the feeling of discomfort. It is as if all the gloominess and despair of the post World War I Germany has been dumped onto the screen. Deep, huh, but man, it looked great. It is still evident even in the film noir and even in some of the Tim Burton films.

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The Golden Age: Hollywood's Glitzy Heyday

The Studio System: A Well-Oiled Machine

The next era was the glamorous Hollywood age and let me assure you that it was even more glamorous than the disco balls of Studio 54. It was the golden age of the studio system; such giants as MGM, Warner Bros. , and Paramount were producing films as if there was no tomorrow. They had their stars under contract, their theatres and they dictated everything that went into the making of a movie. That was just as slick, but with more sparkle and a few more fag-hags.

Directors Who Defined an Era

It is in this period that some of the most celebrated directors in the motion picture industry were produced. Alfred Hitchcock was making people afraid to take showers (thanks to “Psycho”), John Ford was painting the cowboy image with the vastness of the land and Orson Welles was just being Orson Welles. While some might not like ‘Citizen Kane’ it cannot be argued that it has not left any influence. I mean, the guy was only 25 when he made it. What are you doing now at that age? I was still struggling on how to wash my own clothes!

Classic Films That Stand the Test of Time

As for the movies, I haven’t even started with the black and white movies of this period. "Casablanca"? I still get choked up every time I hear “Here is looking at you kid”. “Gone with the Wind”? Of course there are elements which are questionable at best, but you have to admit that, in terms of scope, it is grand. These were not only movies, but spectacles. One could remember the days when people used to dress up in order to go to the cinema. Now we are thankful if we can even take off our pajamas and sit to watch Netflix.

New Hollywood: Rebels with a Camera

The Fall of the Studio System

However, as is often the case with good things, their existence cannot last indefinitely, and by the end of 1960s the studio system was gradually declining like a crumbling cookie. Television was taking viewers, the previous generation was irrelevant and a new generation of directors was emerging. These young guns were not following the standard ‘rules of the game’ and boy, did they upset the applecart.

The Rise of the Auteurs

Directors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg were making movies that were rawer, more idiosyncratic, and, let’s be honest, much more violent than their predecessors. “The Godfather” altered the way that gangster films were made (and for a brief period, made us all sound like Marlon Brando) and “Taxi Driver” gave us an unglamorous look at New York. These directors were not doing just films, they were creating art, dude.

Blockbusters: Go Big or Go Home

And then, boom! “Jaws” was released in the theaters in 1975 and it did not take long before people were discussing blockbusters. Spielberg followed it up with “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E. T. ,” and his buddy George Lucas was off in a galaxy far, far away with “Star Wars. ” These were not just blockbusters, they were events. I still recall waiting in queue around the block to watch the movie, Return of the Jedi when I was young. Happy days, buddy These films were not just for fun but the films which became a part of everyone’s reality.

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The Modern Era: Tech Takes Over

CGI: The Good, The Bad, and The Uncanny Valley

In the course of the twentieth century, technology assumed an increasingly significant part in the making of films. CGI was no longer a cool thing that was used in a few movies but rather a must-have in almost all the movies that were produced with a large budget. It is used superbly sometimes, as in “Jurassic Park” (the dinos are still great!) and sometimes. . . well, let’s just say not every creation of CGI is a winner. It goes without saying that we are to look at you, “Cats” movie. But hey, that is the price of progress isn’t it?

Indie Cinema: Small Budgets, Big Ideas

On the other hand, the independent cinema was burgeoning and this was a clear indication that one did not require large amounts of money to come up with good scripts. Quentin Tarantino made “Reservoir Dogs” and overnight this video store clerk turned director was the topic of conversation. And of course the Coen brothers are still around making their off beat quirky movies for the past few decades now. That is why the film “Fargo” remains one of my favorite movies to this day. You betcha!

Going Global: Cinema Without Borders

Today, the movie industry is more international than it has ever been. Hollywood is still the heavyweight champ, but wonderful movies are being made everywhere else. India’s Bollywood is churning out bright, song-and-dance spectacles that make “La La Land” seem like a low-budget affair. The South Korean cinema is delivering nerve-wracking suspense thrillers such as Parasite that is winning Oscars and making everyone look into their basements. And let’s not mention the great animated movies produced by the Japanese Studio Ghibli. ‘Spirited Away’ is enchanting on big screen – it is that kind of movie that brings out the child in you no matter how old you are.

The Dark Side of Tinseltown

#MeToo and Hollywood's Reckoning

Of course, it hasn’t all been fun and laughter in Hollywood. The ugly side of Hollywood has been in the news for the past few years and it should be. The #MeToo movement brought out the issues of abuse and harassment that have been going around in the industry for a long time, and it is bringing about some changes. It’s like Hollywood has woken up one day and said, ‘oh my god, we have to get our act together’.

Diversity and Representation: A Work in Progress

And let’s face it: Hollywood still has a lot of work to do regarding diversity and representation both in acting roles and in the production team. For far too long, the characters we got to see on screen were mostly white men doing typically ‘man’ things. But they are gradually evolving, though. That is why movies like “Black Panther” or “Crazy Rich Asians” are not only good films, but also demonstrate that films with diverse characters can be equally good and profitable. Who knew, right?

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The Future of Film: Streaming, VR, and Beyond

Streaming Wars: Netflix and Chill (and Amazon, and Disney+, and...)

This is true since technology does not stop to evolve and it has affected the way we watch movies. It is important to note that Netflix and Amazon Prime and other streaming services are now creating their own films and are a match for traditional studios. Who could have imagined 20 years ago that people will be watching Oscar nominated movies without ever leaving their homes? It's wild. The downside? Who among the 50 streaming services have the movie I want to watch? As if they are the first world problems, aren’t they?

Virtual Reality: Step Into the Movie

Now talking about tech, have you watched how they are going with virtual reality now? I mean it is like you are actually in the movie. Last year I went to a film festival and tried VR and I can tell you it’s quite surreal. It’s one thing to be sitting in a chair and the next thing you know you’re flying in space or being chased by dinosaurs. Whether or not it is the future of cinema I am not so sure, but I do know that it is certainly something worth paying attention to. But I would like to warn you not to attempt it after you’ve eaten a large meal, just do yourself a favor and don’t.

The More Things Change...

As one can look back and see, it is absolutely incredible how far we have advanced. From the first blurry pictures of a train arriving at a station to the fantastic special effects of today’s blockbusters, movies have been on one hell of a ride. But you know what? But in essence, it’s still about the story telling process. From a silent movie comedy, an epic, a drama, or an indie, a good movie can transform, provoke, and inspire, and unveil other worlds to us.

Therefore, next time you are preparing for a movie night, remember the great history behind the show you are about to watch. The people who discovered how to record movement on a film, the people who do it today, and everyone in between, it’s all a part of this fantastic, constantly developing thing we call motion pictures.

Now, if you’ll allow me, I think I have a dinner date with my couch and a bowl of popcorn. As they say, there’s always a better movie out there that one has not watched yet. And who knows? Perhaps the next revolution in this industry is still on its way. Until then, hand over the remote control and let’s move to another movie world. Lights, camera, action!

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