What do you think of black and white movies? do you think that they are better than the movies today?

Answer 1

wow... guess people prefer color.

I LIKE b&w movies. Some would be better in color, but a lot would lose something.

or as Roger Ebert said (someone who spent more time in the dark than Xaviera Hollander)

"Many moviegoers and video viewers say they do not "like" black and white films. In my opinion, they are cutting themselves off from much of the mystery and beauty of the movies.
Black and white is an artistic choice, a medium that has strengths and traditions, especially in its use of light and shadow. Moviegoers of course have the right to dislike b&w, but it is not something they should be proud of. It reveals them, frankly, as cinematically illiterate.

I have been described as a snob on this issue. But snobs exclude; they do not include. To exclude b&w from your choices is an admission that you have a closed mind, a limited imagination, or are lacking in taste."

Answer 2

There are some excellent black and white movies, but some of the new ones are good too. Bear in mind that the black and white movies we watch today have survived for the very reason of their quality. Back in those days they made a lot more movies, and they made them much more quickly and for a lot less money, so there were many that have been forgotten because they just weren't good enough for people to keep watching.

Answer 3

Your question begs a question back. What do you watch movies for? If you are looking to kill time, they make what seems like an endless supply of movies these days that are perfect for that, and so rarely can one find something of substance. I'm sorry if that sounds old fashioned, but perhaps you were looking for a mature answer? The old black and whites were made in a time when the dialog of the film was what was important. That, more so even than special effects or cussin'. The folks making movies back then were also true pioneers in a way. Those people were dashing headlong into technology that was all brand new. Their skillful use of lighting, camera angles, production methods and acting in front of a camera were the necessary predecessors of our multi-billion dollar industry of today, but I digress. At any rate, I do believe that if you are able to view a film with an open mind and sharp eye you will be doing much more than killing time. You will most likely learn more of people, yourself included, than by watching most of what is purported to be entertainment today.

Answer 4

I have found that older movies tend to be more classy, better put together and have more focus on the characters and plot development. With that said though, I think newer movies tend to be more exciting and can entertain a wider audience.

I also think there were a lot of bad movies back in the day just like there are now. Only difference is that bad movies back in the day were considered B-movies and didn't have all star casts and big studios behind it. So not everyone really saw them at release. But nowadays bad movies get a lot of attention, will have famous people and many will see them.

One thing I will say is that far less "classics" have been made lately. But there is always a surprise every couple of years, sometimes even in the same year.

But - movies change with the times. I don't think we can expect movies to be made like they were back in B/W days. But they CAN make good movies using today's style.

Answer 5

The black and white movies we still see today are some of the best movies ever made. That's because back then, just like today, there were good movies made and bad movies made. They never show the bad black and white movies because, well... who would want to watch a bad movie (in color or b&w)? So, the black and white movies we see these days are generally excellent movies. Anyone who says they are boring just because they are black and white needs to open their mind a little bit. You like drama? Watch Casablanca or The Caine Mutiny. You like action? Watch any Errol Flynn movie. You like science fiction/fantasy/horror? Watch the original 1933 King Kong or Nosferatu or the original Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. You like comedy? Check out Abbott and Costello movies or Marx Brothers movies (anyone who doesn't laugh through an Abbott and Costello movie is legally brain dead).

Sure there are great movies made in color, too; but those old black and whites that we still watch today have withstood the test of time and are truly great movies.

Answer 6

What makes older films more appealing to some is the fact that the technology that we have today was not available. In black and white films, shadows or lack there of was very important. Think of the scene in Pyscho. If it would have been in color, you would not have seen the shadow through the curtain. Another one that gives a good example of the use of shadows and shades is "The Hustler" with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. The smoke in the room wafting over the table through the light above is intense when the game is being played.

Directors had to be more creative and use their imagination more than they do today. Now, they create crowded roman stadiums (Gladiator) with computer generated buildings and people. Very little of what we see is actually real in about half the movies today.

Answer 7

I think it depends on what the movie is telling. Have you seen the movie shiendlers list? its black and white, its a true story of one man who helped thousands of jews escape execution during world war 2. The reason why it was black and white was because it showed the sadness of the movie. The directors wanted the viewers to feel the dark days of the holocaust.

It is not that they are better, its just sometimes they are use to convey emotions. Plus, originally shows and movies were once all black and white.

Answer 8

I do not think they are necessarily better, but there were some great ones made in that era, great scripts, great actors. The style of acting is more mannered than today's and the scripts are more literate--some great stories were made into films in the classic era. The pacing is slower, and more time is taken to develop characters. When movies were new, they were more like filmed plays. But that was because of the technology. It took a while for movie makers to develop a cinematic style that was more fluid and relied less on dialogue. Also there were fewer special effects possible.

Answer 9

Black and white movies have there own artistic value. I'm 20 years old and can appreciate b&w's... How about Young Frankenstein? Thats a newer movie done in b&w and I'm sure there are others. Why would a directer chose to do b&w when color is available? I don't know, I think that black and white films have their own charm.

Answer 10

omg I love the old B&W. I watch it whenever an interesting one is one.. not Western or Army stuff. Yes I do think they are better. Simple beautiful elegance, great acting, and some very interesting and surprising plot/themes that I never would have expected! It also is a great window into the past though glorified. They are much more realistic than the made up crap that the movie industry churns up these days. The lack of swear words and well less violence is also appreciated.