From the silents of the movie to their contemporary indies and blockbusters, the movie has had some kind of magic to entertain, to move, to inspire. Not merely stories on screen, they are mirrors to our culture, emotional roller coasters, and sometimes, such powerful instruments of change.
A Mirror to Society
Films are able to capture the values, the struggle, and the hope of the day. Schindler’s List or 12 Years a Slave tell us facts of history, and The Social Network or Her chase after the ambiguity of today’s life. Films are one of the media through which society is permitted to gaze in upon itself — sometimes in horror, sometimes in pride.
Escapism and emotion
Mostly, films give escapism. Middle-earth fiction of The Lord of the Rings, distant galaxy of Star Wars, or love of Pride and Prejudice — whatever the subject is, films take us to another man’s world and allow us to live his life for an hour or two or at most three. They make us feel good, they make us feel bad, they even fill our late-night fantasies — and that roller coaster of feeling is in their long-term grip. The Power of Storytelling
Good writers can create good movies. Good plotting, satisfactory characters, and subtle dialogue can turn a satisfactory idea into global phenomenon. Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, and Bong Joon-ho are just a few of the few who have taught us that such sense and amount of narrative craft can ensure that movie experiences get lodged in our heads.
Changing with the Times
The movie business is an evolving industry. We’re watching movies differently now because of streaming, and anything from CGI to virtual production is transforming how they’re made. When and where we’re watching them, whether on the screen of a theater or the screen of a phone, all matters less than the magic that takes us inside a movie so completely: a solid story.
