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Alfred Hitchcock left behind a legacy that almost passed as a blueprint for future Hollywood successes – never show the monster too early ('Jaws') - make sure to cameo in your own films (enter stage left Quentin Tarantino). Hitchcock even coined the phrase 'The Maguffin' – a term used to describe a meaningless item that is there purely to drive the plot along ('Indiana Jones' would be lost without it).
However, it seems one piece of sage advice was overlooked. "The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder," he once said.
Films like 'Titanic', 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Australia' are conceived as epics. Yes, you could probably shave an hour off the running time of each if you cut out the sweeping camera shots, but then you deny cinemagoers the reason why they chose to see them. They are expected to endure a bum numbing running time because it’s an occasion, a spectacle, an experience.
Can you really say the same for films based on a comic book, theme park ride or 80s childhood toys?
'Spider-Man 3', 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy and most recently 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' are not the only guilty parties, but they are just an example of the new trend for Hollywood blockbusters – namely fun family films that are in fact bloated, self-indulgent and need as much of a trim as Russell Brand's hair-do.
These sorts of movies would have skirted close to the 90 minute mark a decade or so ago. Look at the first 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' movies – they are lean, fast paced and endlessly re-watchable. Now look at the new ones.
But it seems that we're entering an age where directors are kings again. The 80s and 90s was a time of studio power, so films were as close as possible to an hour and half to ensure that they make more profit. A 90 minute film costs the same as a 120 minute film but it gets shown fewer times in a day – meaning less money for everyone.
With the exception of Will Smith, not many of today's movie stars can 'open' a film like they used to. So, cinemagoers are latching onto a director's vision like an established brand. You know what you're getting with a Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg and Tarantino movie. But the more succesful they get, the more they believe they can put anything on the screen and audiences will buy into it.
The problem with directors getting to decide on the final cut of the movie is, who dares tell them they need to reign in their 'talents'? How did anyone attached to the new 'Transformers' film not genuinely ask 'Does this really need to be two and a half hours?' The supporting characters have their own supporting characters!
It’s not just summer action blockbusters, comedies are just as bad. Judd Apatow’s 'Knocked Up' and 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' ran close to two hours.
But with Transformers storming to the top of the box office it looks as if the bladder bursting blockbusters are here to stay. Best bring a cushion.
Are blockbusters too long, or do you think that movie prices are so expensive you want your money's worth?
-More on Y! Movies: Summer blockbusters in July | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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User comments
I agree - Transformers was way too long, and didn't have a decent enough plot to keep me interested for 2.5 hours - if I'd been near the exit I'd have left, it was so boring. Better when action films were 1.5 hours like they used to be.
Posted by: movie.mania99 on Thu Jul 02 11:05AM | Report abuseOf course transformers was too long too boring and too much overall - Michael Bay was the director , when he isn't ranting and raving at studios, actors, producers, the public or the media , he is directing self-indulgent @#$% movieslike transformer.
Posted by: michaelbmadrid on Thu Jul 02 11:17AM | Report abuseI've no idea where to start with this idiotic article. We'd be better to question what drivel we'll read on the internet than what drivel we'll watch at the cinema.
Posted by: mark_mitch on Thu Jul 02 11:26AM | Report abusethis is ridiculous if you think the film is too long leave you dont have to sit and watch it or it just says you are impatient. enjoy the films. they are that long so you get wrapped into the story you feel part of it thats the point
Posted by: xlawnmowerx on Thu Jul 02 12:25PM | Report abuseYes, Today the blockbusters are too long and the plot gets thiner and watered down to make it last they could cut out a lot of @#$% and make there films a lot better.
Posted by: royston1331 on Thu Jul 02 01:10PM | Report abuseno! longer films are better and allow more scope and intricacies into plot. shorters movies are for people with short attention spans....
Posted by: lefinlan on Thu Jul 02 01:16PM | Report abuseMovies today are too long are they concern themselves to making CGI and pyrnotechnics to important and neglect the real importance of 'simple' storytelling. Star Wars was and is an typical example, the original three had success written all over it with minimal special effects and the prequels had too much of everything and failed to deliver good story line to keep people re-watching the box sets. I have to agree with the cinema prices they are ridiculously expensive why are people surprised pirating is on the increase. We have a lot to learn from the old movies that imagination was used so effectively as they did not have the budget to spend on pointless gadgets and CGI. J: film buff
Posted by: jimmi129 on Thu Jul 02 01:35PM | Report abuseyes yes yes - too many films are far too long - the latest Batman was a prime example ..... all in an attempt to look more serious and praise worthy .."leave 'em wanting more" should be the motto
Posted by: janeradford2004 on Thu Jul 02 03:21PM | Report abuseAs long as it is a decent movie length really is no problem
Posted by: miminaughton on Thu Jul 02 05:46PM | Report abuseFilms are way too long and full of their own self importance. Two and a half hours for a film about a comic bok hero! Do me a favour! Trouble is, Director's are treated as God's these days and no one dare say "no". If you can't tell a story in an hour and half then it ain't worth telling.
Posted by: andrewgpollard on Thu Jul 02 05:49PM | Report abuse