I would say most people do realize that movies are fantasy, not documentaries. Just what part is fictional differs but complaining that movie set in the past in unrealistic is as silly complaining that movies set in modern times are. Do you think Lethal Weapon realistically depicts work of police officers? Does Scream realistically depict a serial killer? People realize it’s entertainment and don’t complain about it. I don’t know why once the movie is set in the past it requires announcements that it’s “fantasy”. Yes, it’s a movie, you should know it’s not real.
You say that, but plenty of movies and shows do specifically aim for realism when they’re going for historical periods. It’s not like they have to be accurate or entertaining. They can be both.
Heck look at how much retro gear they pulled out for Stranger Things. That isn’t even that far back and clearly sci-fi but tons of viewers appreciated them making the effort.
Personally, I love both styles and have no problem enjoying 300. It never pretends to be realistic though.
Realism is Stranger Things was to evoke nostalgia. They didn’t have to place this story in the 80s. They did it because they wanted nostalgia to be additional “selling point”. They did it well because they knew huge part of their audience remembers the 80s and will appreciate it.
Historical movies are the exact opposite. Very few people will appropriate historical accuracy, most will not even recognize it, or worse, be confused by it. Some things we done wrong so many times people are used to it. It’s also very difficult to do accurately and requires a lot of time and resources which a lot of productions don’t have.
I don’t even know what people are arguing here. That historical movies should all be huge, accurate productions? That inaccurate movies should come with some warning labels? Or include dragons so no one is confused by it?
Imagine I’m a beginner filmmaker and want to tell to story of Abbas ibn Firnas because I think it’s interesting. I have budget for enough CGI to make Cordoba look like it’s 9th century but not to dress dozens of extras in accurate clothes or film it in Arabic. What should I do? Give up because I can’t make it perfect? Or tell the story as well as I can? If in the end I make a good movie and people learn about Abbas ibn Firnas from it what’s the point of complaining about the costumes on youtube?
You know they don’t HAVE to say it’s realistic right? They can say it’s their interpretation, but if they’re going to market it as realistic and gritty then we can absolutely call them out on being off target.
If a company advertises a car as getting 50mpg and you actually get 30, are you not going to call that out?
Ok, so your beef is with marketing teams in movie studios, not with writers and directors. I think that’s something completely different than being angry at movies for being unrealistic. You would just like movie posters and trailers to include some info saying “this movie is not historically accurate” and then it would be fine for them do whatever they want?
What specific movies you have problem with? Which movies were marketed as realistic and weren’t? I know for example Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Rome or Deadwood are known for their realism but were they actually marketed as such? No idea. Are we talking about trailers claiming that “this movie is historically realistic”? Interviews with the crew? I honestly never saw any marketing claiming some medieval movie is realistic. If you can show me some examples of movies or shows claiming they are realistic in marketing materials but actually not even trying to be I will 100% agree with you it’s unfair and shitty behavior.
yes but the simple fact is that a movie will always be a simulacra. it’s not possible to do it any other way. those that strive for accuracy are just nerding out about a different touchpoint to the current era, in a world long gone.
Because if you don’t want to be at all accurate then don’t pretend it’s historic. Call it fantasy. Easy.
No one calls out game of thrones for being unrealistic - instead we call out dumb writing.
I would say most people do realize that movies are fantasy, not documentaries. Just what part is fictional differs but complaining that movie set in the past in unrealistic is as silly complaining that movies set in modern times are. Do you think Lethal Weapon realistically depicts work of police officers? Does Scream realistically depict a serial killer? People realize it’s entertainment and don’t complain about it. I don’t know why once the movie is set in the past it requires announcements that it’s “fantasy”. Yes, it’s a movie, you should know it’s not real.
You say that, but plenty of movies and shows do specifically aim for realism when they’re going for historical periods. It’s not like they have to be accurate or entertaining. They can be both.
Heck look at how much retro gear they pulled out for Stranger Things. That isn’t even that far back and clearly sci-fi but tons of viewers appreciated them making the effort.
Personally, I love both styles and have no problem enjoying 300. It never pretends to be realistic though.
Realism is Stranger Things was to evoke nostalgia. They didn’t have to place this story in the 80s. They did it because they wanted nostalgia to be additional “selling point”. They did it well because they knew huge part of their audience remembers the 80s and will appreciate it.
Historical movies are the exact opposite. Very few people will appropriate historical accuracy, most will not even recognize it, or worse, be confused by it. Some things we done wrong so many times people are used to it. It’s also very difficult to do accurately and requires a lot of time and resources which a lot of productions don’t have.
I don’t even know what people are arguing here. That historical movies should all be huge, accurate productions? That inaccurate movies should come with some warning labels? Or include dragons so no one is confused by it?
Imagine I’m a beginner filmmaker and want to tell to story of Abbas ibn Firnas because I think it’s interesting. I have budget for enough CGI to make Cordoba look like it’s 9th century but not to dress dozens of extras in accurate clothes or film it in Arabic. What should I do? Give up because I can’t make it perfect? Or tell the story as well as I can? If in the end I make a good movie and people learn about Abbas ibn Firnas from it what’s the point of complaining about the costumes on youtube?
You know they don’t HAVE to say it’s realistic right? They can say it’s their interpretation, but if they’re going to market it as realistic and gritty then we can absolutely call them out on being off target.
If a company advertises a car as getting 50mpg and you actually get 30, are you not going to call that out?
Ok, so your beef is with marketing teams in movie studios, not with writers and directors. I think that’s something completely different than being angry at movies for being unrealistic. You would just like movie posters and trailers to include some info saying “this movie is not historically accurate” and then it would be fine for them do whatever they want?
What specific movies you have problem with? Which movies were marketed as realistic and weren’t? I know for example Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Rome or Deadwood are known for their realism but were they actually marketed as such? No idea. Are we talking about trailers claiming that “this movie is historically realistic”? Interviews with the crew? I honestly never saw any marketing claiming some medieval movie is realistic. If you can show me some examples of movies or shows claiming they are realistic in marketing materials but actually not even trying to be I will 100% agree with you it’s unfair and shitty behavior.
yes but the simple fact is that a movie will always be a simulacra. it’s not possible to do it any other way. those that strive for accuracy are just nerding out about a different touchpoint to the current era, in a world long gone.
Edit meant to reply to other message