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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
Robert Pattinson has become Britain's biggest star of late with 'Twilight' a huge hit, and 'New Moon' set to be even bigger.
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Posted by: clark.barry on Thu Jul 02 06:15PM | Report abuseAs an avid cinema goer my opinion is that if the movie is really good, and entertaining then the length matters not a jot. If as a viewer you feel the movie is poor, then leave, do something more interesting instead.
Posted by: barker12_uk on Thu Jul 02 06:15PM | Report abuseWELL WITH THE OVER PRICING AT MOST CINEMAS THEN YES WE WANT OUR MONEYS WORTH.AS FOR NEEDING A PEE/DRINK OR MORE SWEETS/POPCORN,WELL THEY CAN ALWAYS BRING BACK THE INTERMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE.ESPECIALY IF IT HAPPENS ON A CLIFF HANGING MOMENT
Posted by: grymeseq2 on Thu Jul 02 06:15PM | Report abuseI think its good to have a long movie now and again but things like Transformers, Spider man, even Night at the museum 2, are mainly aimed at children/teenagers. Have you ever tried to get an 8 year old to sit through a 2 hour movie??!! Not an easy task! These kind of things should be taken into consideration and the 2.5 hr time slots should be kept for the "Epics".
Posted by: angiehay84 on Thu Jul 02 06:16PM | Report abuseIf I wait until the film is on dvd I can watch it over a period of two nights ( or more ) and fast forward. Films can tend to be too drawn out at times and over sensationalised or sentimentalised.
Posted by: m.thompson201 on Thu Jul 02 06:16PM | Report abuseif you feel that the film is too long then it's quite obviously not able to keep your attention and therefore not a very good film by your standards. As for ticket pricing, i recently went to watch Terminator:Salvation with a friend one midweek evening and the pricing was £3.95 per person!!!! i couldn't believe it. it wasn't a one off, same prices for adults monday through thursday, any time. p.s. no i don't work for the (Slough) cinema, and it's unusual for me to praise a cinema for it's pricing (no you cannot take your own drinks in, you must buy ours at extortionate prices!)
Posted by: dodgyroge74 on Thu Jul 02 06:16PM | Report abusethere is an olde saying that longer is better and fans of the transformers 2 movie stated just that look a classics like gone with the wind and the ten commandments both nearly 3hrs long days of an 1hr 45 min movies are nearly the thing of the past moore of the success the movie is more longer it gets and it is just hollywood squeezing more money out of people so they can make tthe movie longer and yes doing every movie ovver 2-3hrs long is annoying and i agree whole heartedly. frankie smales (frankie smales movie and tv review uk)
Posted by: frankielogany2kvictory on Thu Jul 02 06:17PM | Report abuseThe average person needs to urinate every 6 hours or so.
Posted by: michaelwharris2000 on Thu Jul 02 06:18PM | Report abusei agree completely, what comes out of hollywood theese days is long boring stereotype. i stopped watching american blockbusters long ago...
Posted by: molsakovsky on Thu Jul 02 06:18PM | Report abusespiderman 3 was a classic example.. the film was over and then all of a sudden it was like..oh sod it.. lets throw venom in there too... venom deserves his own storyline.. he's such an important character.. it ruined the entire film... (or did emo-spiderman do that?) it's true though films are becoming a little too self indulgent.. even smaller budget films like juno (which is a brillinat film btw) runs way too long for what it is.. i preffered films when they were shorter and more enjoyable..
Posted by: bigjeffrules on Thu Jul 02 06:18PM | Report abuse