What makes a movie "good"?

[GhostPoet]

So, we always see comments tossed around like this or that movie sucked...
but what makes a movie GOOD?

What makes the movie Aliens better than Alien Vs Predator? Surely it's not the story...both were nothing incredible, but served their purposes, same with the acting. So what makes many people say that Aliens was better?

On a more general side of things...what makes some movies better than other movies...Is it story? Because there are many great films that don't have great stories...is it character dynamics? Action? Camera angles? what specific attributes make a film "better" than the others in it's genre?

 

[Warhammer]

Hard question, but the only right answer is personal preference.

 

[Figs]

Hard question, but the only right answer is personal preference.

Yeah, personal preference is the one and only factor involved.

 

[DorkyFresh]

On a more general side of things...what makes some movies better than other movies...Is it story? Because there are many great films that don't have great stories...is it character dynamics? Action? Camera angles? what specific attributes make a film "better" than the others in it's genre?

the obvious answer is personal preference, but to go deeper than that...i say the quality and effort that's put into making the movie determines how good a movie is. AvP shows lack of quality. the script was poorly written, the Predators were badly handled, and the human characters weren't developed. Aliens, on the other hand, had top notch EVERYTHING. great script, VERY well developed characters, etc.

of course personal preference comes into play, but i think the biggest thing that separates the mediocre movies from the truly great movies is how much quality and effort is put into the movie. that's why Cameron and Spielberg are the kings right now....because they put everything they've got into making sur their films are QUALITY films. there's no half-assing anything when it comes to those 2.

 

[Prognosticator]

Steven Spielberg

 

[L0ngsh0t]

i say the quality and effort that's put into making the movie determines how good a movie is. AvP shows lack of quality. the script was poorly written, the Predators were badly handled, and the human characters weren't developed. Aliens, on the other hand, had top notch EVERYTHING. great script, VERY well developed characters, etc.

of course personal preference comes into play, but i think the biggest thing that separates the mediocre movies from the truly great movies is how much quality and effort is put into the movie. that's why Cameron and Spielberg are the kings right now....because they put everything they've got into making sur their films are QUALITY films. there's no half-assing anything when it comes to those 2.

I would say you are wrong

and the first two posters are right

what makes a movie good is A. Personal Preference, and then B. Who gets paid to be a critic to voice his personal preference

I normally don't take to much stock into what critics say cause it is all their opinion, but many people do, and that is why certain unwatchably boring movies like Citizen Kane are considered the best movie ever, where as movies I could watch over and over again but certainly are not on the same critical level as that are not.

 

[Prognosticator]

James Cameron

 

[DorkyFresh]

I would say you are wrong

well then i would have to say you're wrong for saying i'm wrong...


...since there is no "wrong" or "right" answer.

 

[Figs]

I would say you are wrong

and the first two posters are right

what makes a movie good is A. Personal Preference, and then B. Who gets paid to be a critic to voice his personal preference

I normally don't take to much stock into what critics say cause it is all their opinion, but many people do, and that is why certain unwatchably boring movies like Citizen Kane are considered the best movie ever, where as movies I could watch over and over again but certainly are not on the same critical level as that are not.

Damn right. I thought I was the only one that felt Citizen Kane is one of the most overrated boring films of all times. I like slow movies too now and again but I don't see many reasons why that should be called the greatest movie of all time.

 

[Two-Face]

The story and cast.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Its not all personal preference. Sure there is some truth to that old notion that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I'm sure all of us would agree that Batman and Robin is a poor movie for example.

There are elements that you can point to and recognize as markers of what make a good movie.

 

[Victarion]

Relatable/likeable characters and a decent storyline.

-Morzan

 

[Cmill216]

Characters we care about, a strong conflict, solid pacing, and competent directing.

....Or boobies and explosions. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[turtlefocker]

3 great scenes no bad scenes

 

[Soapy]

Marketing and/or nostalgia.

 

[venom62]

I say the mood the viewer is in at that time. You might be bored and want action. Lonely and want romance (or porn). Sad and want comedy.

It really depends on what you're feeling at that moment.

 

[Ender Durden]

a movie is good when it doesnt suck

 

[bullets]

a mix of suspense , drama , action , twists , the right score , cinematography , lighting, and humour with charasmatic actors

 

[bullets]

oh and boobies

 

[nocomics]

Agree with the first two replies: Personal Preference is they key. We all have different/similar taste and what we think makes a good movie.
For me it depends on what type of movie it is wheter its a comedy,drama,action,sci-fi etc......

Comedy: well it has to be funny,good jokes,one-liners that are appropiate for the situation. Not over done silly stuff. Does have to have a somewhat story to it,acting dont have to be great but decent..

Drama/suspence: has to have a good fluid story. Makes me wanna feel for the cast. Acting. It makes you want to find out who did what and what happened.

Action: Well action ofcourse. good fluid stunts that fit the theme of the movie. explosions,fights..the occasional cliche one-liners. If its a martial arts movie,gotta have alot of ass kicking fights...

Sci-fi: well this could be sci-fi action,thriller,horro etc. Kindof broad genere,but follows the rest. good cgi,fluid story helps,action. invovative techniques(fighting or sets etc...).

Just everyone has a guideline on what a 'good'movie is. The bottom line is if I walk out of the theatre and dont remember any of my personal issues then the movie did its job..I was entertained,and thats that..

*o,btw..I went to see War,and 3.75 for a freakin bottle water,good lord thought it was a typo,but nope..cost more than the soda's....

 

[Jimothy]

Damn right. I thought I was the only one that felt Citizen Kane is one of the most overrated boring films of all times. I like slow movies too now and again but I don't see many reasons why that should be called the greatest movie of all time.

Citizen Kane is boring when watched now, because Citizen Kane was fresh and exciting when it was released. So fresh and exciting, that every movie since then has copied it. Things that were done in that movie are now taken for granted. So there is nothing that stands out to you.

That's why it's called a good movie, not because it's entertaining now, but because it was so well-crafted that it has influenced modern cinema. Star Wars, for example, is terrible by todays standards, but because it was so revolutionary it is considered a classic.

 

[Secret_Riddle]

Well personal preference is the right answer, but from an objective stand point where all personal preference is removed, it can come down to the quality of the different portions of the movie.

 

[Figs]

Citizen Kane is boring when watched now, because Citizen Kane was fresh and exciting when it was released. So fresh and exciting, that every movie since then has copied it. Things that were done in that movie are now taken for granted. So there is nothing that stands out to you.

That's why it's called a good movie, not because it's entertaining now, but because it was so well-crafted that it has influenced modern cinema. Star Wars, for example, is terrible by todays standards, but because it was so revolutionary it is considered a classic.

I'm not arguing with you but can you when you have the time give me a good number of examples of the things other movies have copied from it? I guess I should watch it one more time and try to look for those. I'm being serious, not a smartass.

 

[livrule]

the obvious answer is personal preference, but to go deeper than that...i say the quality and effort that's put into making the movie determines how good a movie is. AvP shows lack of quality. the script was poorly written, the Predators were badly handled, and the human characters weren't developed. Aliens, on the other hand, had top notch EVERYTHING. great script, VERY well developed characters, etc.

of course personal preference comes into play, but i think the biggest thing that separates the mediocre movies from the truly great movies is how much quality and effort is put into the movie. that's why Cameron and Spielberg are the kings right now....because they put everything they've got into making sur their films are QUALITY films. there's no half-assing anything when it comes to those 2.

Agree 100%

Quality shines through ..... its effort, skill, patience, understanding and a dash of luck.

 

[Tempest19]

I would narrow it down into three main categories:

CHARACTER: Good acting, relatable characters who we care about.

STORY-TELLING: Story. Direction. Music. Good production value.

PERSONAL PREFERENCE: Preference of genre.