View Poll Results: Does a film's runtime affect your perception of its quality?
Usually, I consider films around 3 hours long to be of high quality.
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2
2.06%
Usually, I consider most 90 min fillms to be stinkers or are for kids.
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3
3.09%
Films duration only SLIGHTLY affects my judgement of a film's quality.
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31
31.96%
Film duration in no way affects my judgement of a film's quality, not even slightly.
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53
54.64%
Option 1 + 2
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5
5.15%
Other reason (please specify)
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3
3.09%
Voters: 97. You may not vote on this poll
Weekly Poll 2/29/04: Does film runtime affect your judgement toward a film's quality?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Weekly Poll 2/29/04: Does film runtime affect your judgement toward a film's quality?
For films you have not seen, does the duration of the film affect your perception about its overall quality?
Discuss.
Weekly Poll (2/22/04): BEST film directed by David Lean?
Weekly Poll (2/15/04): BEST Western film?
Discuss.
Weekly Poll (2/22/04): BEST film directed by David Lean?
Weekly Poll (2/15/04): BEST Western film?
Last edited by smirnoffski; 03-02-04 at 01:24 AM.
#2
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Being honest with myself I went with options 1+2, even though they are worded a bit too strong to really represent my opinion. Of course, all films are individual and these preconceptions are thrown out once I actually see it.
I generally give longer films more weight, but there are several reasons for this. One is that telling a good story takes time. It takes time to flesh out characters and not rely on clichés. Also, it is well known that studios, distributors and theaters all want shorter films. So if the director is able to keep a film very long then I expect he had to fight for it, which means it was important to him (or her).
Short films I judge more harshly than I give credit to long films. There aren't any real reasons for this other than the fact that most short films (90 minutes or less) are bad. Of course there are exceptions to this, but they are rare. The only one I can think of, just of the top of my head, is Lola Rennt, which is around 80 minutes I think. It only comes to mind because I was surprised how short it was after viewing it.
I'm sure others can list many excellent short movies, but the vast amount of garbage that clocks in at 90 minutes or less is overwhelming.
I generally give longer films more weight, but there are several reasons for this. One is that telling a good story takes time. It takes time to flesh out characters and not rely on clichés. Also, it is well known that studios, distributors and theaters all want shorter films. So if the director is able to keep a film very long then I expect he had to fight for it, which means it was important to him (or her).
Short films I judge more harshly than I give credit to long films. There aren't any real reasons for this other than the fact that most short films (90 minutes or less) are bad. Of course there are exceptions to this, but they are rare. The only one I can think of, just of the top of my head, is Lola Rennt, which is around 80 minutes I think. It only comes to mind because I was surprised how short it was after viewing it.
I'm sure others can list many excellent short movies, but the vast amount of garbage that clocks in at 90 minutes or less is overwhelming.
#3
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I would consider most films under the 90 mark as good popcorn fun. I wont say they are all stinkers. It all depends on the story telling.
#4
DVD Talk Godfather
Not at all. Most animated movies are 90 minutes, give or take, and they do a great job of telling a story in that time. On the other hand, all three LOTR movies were too long, and i at the theater for each movie i saw myself looking at my watch.
I have no reason to consider the length of a movie to determine it's quality... the only reason i look at running time is to make other plans before or after a movie. A short movie can drag as much as a long one, and a long movie can seem to end quickly.
I have no reason to consider the length of a movie to determine it's quality... the only reason i look at running time is to make other plans before or after a movie. A short movie can drag as much as a long one, and a long movie can seem to end quickly.
#5
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Run time really has no bearing on quality. There are some great stories that take 90 minutes to tell, some that take 3 hours to tell. It's all in the telling, and it can go anyway. I've seen some 90 minute movies that felt like 10 hours, and some 3 hour movies that just flew by.
#6
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Film length does not influence quality at all in my opinion. I've seen some fantastic short films and some great long ones... but then I've seen some films that were 2 hours and pretty good, but easily could have been 90 minutes and would have been masterpieces.
I think it's just a case by case thing... I'm never 'afraid' of a shorter film...
MATT
I think it's just a case by case thing... I'm never 'afraid' of a shorter film...
MATT
#7
Moderator
Runtime doesn't matter to me. My judgement towards a film is based entirely on it's rating. The more blood and tits, the better the film. And if somebody gets shot point blank in the head it's a masterpiece.
#8
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Originally posted by Groucho
Runtime doesn't matter to me. My judgement towards a film is based entirely on it's rating. The more blood and tits, the better the film. And if somebody gets shot point blank in the head it's a masterpiece.
Runtime doesn't matter to me. My judgement towards a film is based entirely on it's rating. The more blood and tits, the better the film. And if somebody gets shot point blank in the head it's a masterpiece.
![LOL](/images/smilies/lol.gif)
The runtime doesn't affect my opinion too much. But 3 hour movies tend to sway me from watching them, especially in the case of DVDs. If I want to watch something and I'm staring at my DVDs I'll think "Do I really want to spend 3 hours on one movie?" And I find myself reaching for something shorter and more easily digested. For this reason some of my favorite movies don't get rewatched very often, like Scarface. It's much easier to justify sitting on my butt for 2 hours than 3.
#10
Moderator
Originally posted by Jray
The runtime doesn't affect my opinion too much. But 3 hour movies tend to sway me from watching them, especially in the case of DVDs.
The runtime doesn't affect my opinion too much. But 3 hour movies tend to sway me from watching them, especially in the case of DVDs.
#12
Retired
Originally posted by Groucho
Interesting...I'm just the opposite. I tend to wait on seeing longer movies until they are on DVD. That way I can break it up across two evenings if I have to.
Interesting...I'm just the opposite. I tend to wait on seeing longer movies until they are on DVD. That way I can break it up across two evenings if I have to.
I agree with you on preferring to watch longer movies at home, as you can split it up, and/or take bathroom breaks without missing anything.
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
Absolutely not. Can you imagine if Phone Booth lasted more than 2 hours, it just would not work? The 81-minute runtime was perfect and managed to keep the suspense high.
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I can't imagine why anybody would say that runtime affects their perception of the "quality" of a film even slightly. Maybe I'm not understanding the question or something but it seems there is only one answer.
I would have thought Josh Hinkle's post would speak for just about everybody but then I look at the poll results and
.
Then I look at the question in the post itself that specifies "for a film you haven't seen" and am even more perplexed by the results and the poll itself. How can you tell anything about the quality of a film you haven't seen by looking at the runtime???
Am I missing something here??
I would have thought Josh Hinkle's post would speak for just about everybody but then I look at the poll results and
![Head Scratch](/images/smilies/headscratch.gif)
Then I look at the question in the post itself that specifies "for a film you haven't seen" and am even more perplexed by the results and the poll itself. How can you tell anything about the quality of a film you haven't seen by looking at the runtime???
Am I missing something here??
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Originally posted by Josh Hinkle
I think he meant more when he's just walking to his shelf to pick a movie, he's less likely to pick a 3+ hour one as it's hard to find the time. Rather than saying he prefers to watch longer ones at the theater.
I think he meant more when he's just walking to his shelf to pick a movie, he's less likely to pick a 3+ hour one as it's hard to find the time. Rather than saying he prefers to watch longer ones at the theater.
![Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
The idea of watching a movie over multiple nights seems appealing, but I have a hard time doing it. Sometimes I'm forced to, if I start dozing off.
#21
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I missed this poll when it comes out.
For me, I tend to prefer shorter films, but that's because of my time limitation. A short film can be either good or bad, and so does longer movies.
And oh, good idea, smirnoffski.
For me, I tend to prefer shorter films, but that's because of my time limitation. A short film can be either good or bad, and so does longer movies.
And oh, good idea, smirnoffski.
![Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
#22
DVD Talk Legend
It doesn't affect me. I will say that I used to think 3 hours meant the film had something of importance to say or they wouldn't have made it so long. A viewing of Pearl Harbor did more than prove me wrong.
#24
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No effect.
In fact, over the last few years we've been getting more 3 hour + movies.
For what we pay at the Theater and for DVDs I -PREFER- long movies.
In fact, over the last few years we've been getting more 3 hour + movies.
For what we pay at the Theater and for DVDs I -PREFER- long movies.
#25
I never take into account the runtime when watching a movie. However if the movie is more than 2 1/2 hours, it had better be damn good to keep me in the seat that long.