Why Do We Love Films?

BFI stuff and things:

[TheLRobs]

Personally I like films because they allow you to feel so many different emotions without suffering any of the consequences etc. that the characters are. Is that a bit messed up? 

[BENAYEM]

I recently saw Gone girl, and it was incredible. First film in ages in which I felt truly immersed within the action and thrill of the plot. Top film.

[charlimarieTV]

I love going to see films in the cinema because it's the only way I can be completely immersed in them. When I watch films at home I can't help but check my phone every now and then and that's not good :( My top film of this year so far is Boyhood. I love movies that don't have a dramatic beginning or ending. I like films that are just 'middle' if that makes sense. Boyhood was definitely one of those.

[ArielBissett]

The reason that you love books is the reason that I love books: it's all in the deconstruction. It's all about seeing what the creator (whether it be author or filmmaker) was trying to make me think or feel.

[cordigonxx]

Easily becoming my favourite just had a marathon of watching your videos and your editing skills are too banana :)

[nikimuffin]

I love watching behind the scenes to see how it all came to life and how much time and effort was put into it. I also go for the acting and visuals, especially if I forget that I'm even watching the movie, but experiencing it instead. 

[Audrey]

As a film school kid, I think what draws people to watching films is the emotional experience they offer. It's like a way to experience a catalogue of emotions without your real life being affected.

[Solarstar]

Films are my biggest passion (I'm actually planning on studying film at college and then possibly move on to cinematography), and like you I can't turn off that part of my brain that makes me think about how the films were made. It really helps me appreciate films so much more, and it really enhances the film watching experience. I'd love to see more videos relating to film as this video was brilliant.

[mickeleh]

I'm definitely looking forward to film reviews from you. The two experiences of film that you describe—immersed in their world and then standing outside of their worlds to dissect how they are constructed—always alternate with me. I agree with you that the better the film, the harder it is to stay outside and be analytic. The great films always defeat my analytical brain unless I work very hard at anesthetizing my emotional brain. Or use the PAUSE button a lot.

[bySquidz]

Jack's face just makes me want to ink.... ;)

[ByJuliah]

Your face when you stood between the posters almost made me choke on my tea. Priceless. 

I think I love films for the same reason as you do, it's a escapism. You can get involved in someone else's story or adventure and for a time you don't need to think about what's going on in your own life. I also love how a film can change your mood in an instant and just make you feel so many different feelings at the same time. 

[bravelittleghost]

I love films because I love stories. I love watching something and knowing that it all started from an idea in somebody's head. And I love knowing what goes on behind the scenes. I love learning the technical side to the beautiful scenes we see on screen. To me, it doesn't take away the magic, it adds to it.

[spamsfilms]

Jack is dressed as his profile picture

[TheRyanLamont]

The Social Network is brilliant! Really loved the soundtrack personally, it really brought that intensity and emotion. 

[georgecooper]

I like films because there are so many different ways to approach to it (as a film maker). You could concentrate on outfits, setting, screenwriting, music, anything, and it makes every film unique.

[imakedoodleslol]

i am an animator and i really love animated films because although there are rules in animation, of course there are, i do feel as though theres no limit to what you can put in an animated film, there's nothing you can't express in it - emotions, ideas, characters, settings can be shown in a number of different ways and that is just so cool to me!!!
A lot of animated films are consider 'kid films' (i.e. disney, pixar, dreamworks etc) which i think doesn't make it any less impressive. Many children animated films express so much more emotion and motivation than any normal film you'd watch, imo. But yeah. Film is great. I do find it hard not to analyse a film now after doing Media Studies and learning about how important representation is and all that jazz but I do agree it is another way to express interest in film and how you can learn from it.

anyway, great video, Jack! Have fun at the BFI Film Festival! :D

[rtrosino]

I'm a camera angles and shot sequence person, thinking about how they arranged an image and chose the shots. Also, I love really well written dialogue that I can lose a well-known actor in - I think that requires great writing and great acting of course. But for me, that's it. It doesn't even necessarily have to be profound or about something heavy - great cinematography and great writing does it for me.

[ExcitablePanda]

Is it weird that I really enjoy watching other people watch films?

[niceonefransi]

I love films because through them I can experience things I won't see in real life (fantasy worlds, space, extreme situations with extreme emotions). I also love to analyze them because I love seeing how the filmmakers and actors manage to make me feel the way I do when I watch the movie. I love stories and the art of storytelling. And for the same reasons I love being part of creating films.

[thatmaia]

I tend to deconstruct the film as I'm watching it, trying to figure out how they filmed a particular shot or how they transitioned from one piece of music to the next. I'm very much like you in that I really like the films that can immerse me in the story and make me forget about analyzing the production of it. Probably the reason why I like films so much is that it is a visual storytelling medium, and you have so much flexibility in how you can tell that story, through subtleties in angles, lighting, color palette, sound, and music.