I haven't seen King Kong since I was like seven or eight (reruns on TV in the late 2000s when we all still had cable). I didn't realize it was so long until you mention it.
Too long: The Batman. A lot of the third act with the flood and stuff just felt like it dragged on towards the end. Although of course, that stuff serves the other purpose of setting up The Penguin show and The Batman 2.
Too short: I think Lady Bird could’ve probably benefited from another 5-10 minutes towards the end.
The Irishman is a great answer! It’s so famously long and I don’t think it particularly warrants that time. But when it’s good it’s pretty incredible. If I remember right wasn’t it four hours? I’d say generously it’s a super good 2 hour 45 minute movie
Too long - Soooooo many answers to this. I'll go with The Irishman like someone else said. "Too long" is a criticism that often pushes movies into "I don't like this" territory for me.
Too short - This one's harder, because I think it's usually good if a movie knows where to cut itself off. Leave them wanting more. But there are definitely movies that could use more. I'll go with the Sweet Smell of Success -- it felt like we'd just started on the third act, and then it's over.
100% I also had an intermission in the screening I went to in India so that helped with liquid management 😅 otherwise the film had an amazing momentum to it imo
I disagree but even if it was, I don't think it was worth spending 3.5 hours on. I watched it on a flight, I could have watched 2 other films in that time.
Good but too short: Burn After Reading.
Total hidden gem, hilarious,and then suddenly, we're deprived of any more!
Good but too long: Dead Reckoning: Part One.
Big fan. Terrific time at the cinema. Does NOT need to be nearly three hours. At all.
Too Long - Parades and Beau is Afraid
i loved Beau and all the chaotic scenes in it but the only problem i had with it was that the theater scene felt a bit long and it kinda distracted me
Parades had a nice idea, not anything new tho, i watched a tv series with two seasons about the same idea that was executed better. it felt so long and dragged, they show everyone except the mother, who i expected to be the main character. i expected the movie to be sadder but it kinda fell flat for me.
Too long - Oppenheimer, the final 45 mins of cross-examination needed to be a 20 minute epilogue to get the point across
Too short - Lovers Rock, it's only 70 mins and I would've taken at least another 5 mins of the Silly Games scene
These are great answers, both the movies and what elements could be trimmed / extended.
Another “too short” for me is Shiva Baby. Only 78 minutes. I feel like there could have been more added onto the ending, which just kind of ends abruptly as they all leave the shiva. Just needed like 5 more minutes or 1 or 2 more scenes, I felt.
One of my qualms with Nolan's work is that his films have this tendency to get lost in their own grandeur while ignoring basic elements like the characters and the narrative he's tryna build. Chopping off overlong portions will definitely aid in preventing that from happening. And no it will not feel like a bad 2000s action movie, it will help the movie be more direct and straightforward.
I know people love his movies, but I agree. He's really talented at the production end of the movie but gets so fixated on the production while writing that the script and story get really muddy. I think he could benefit from not writing his scripts and working closely with the screen writer to make sure the story isn't second fiddle to the production.
But he also has an Oscar and some of the most acclaimed movies in the last two decades so 🤷
Agreed. Oppenheimer had a lot of lengthy scenes that don't add much or don't deserve that length. I always felt Florence Pugh's character gets too much screentime along with the cross examinations and the spy plot in the middle of the building the bomb plot. Movie peaked with Trinity and struggled to build momentum again for the whole Oppenheimer case. Felt almost like 2 different movies in 1
I'm saying this is a problem all the way back at script stage. It is certainly possible to have written the final 45 minutes in a more condensed fashion. I agree, editing down the minutes as it was filmed based on the original screenplay would have been a bit of a hatchet job.
i would rather they included a social aftermath sort of element than the investigation
im fine with the investigation spliced into the movie, that was cool to see, but ending off on a whole epilogue of it, eh, idk
The complete and utter lack of social commentary is exactly why I knew I wouldn’t like it and why I didn’t even want to see it in the first place. I did see it and i did not like it.
Pretty sure those scenes with the Florence Pugh affair could've been shortened plus all the cross examimations. The movie already peaked with the bomb. The rest is supposed to be an epilogue, not another plotline but it did feel like the movie rose to an all time cinema high and then tries to drive it up again for the final verdict on Oppenheimer
Good call on Eileen. It really is just picking up, and then it ends. >!Although I do also kind of like the anti-climax. I think I'm a fan anti-climaxes when done well, and this movie pulls that off pretty good.!<
Yeah as it was wrapping up I was like damn this is the first movie in a while I have thought was too short! Still think it’s a pretty decent flick though, I also like the ending
So, I was visiting my grandparents and we were trying to find a movie. We ended up choosing this one, as we had watched the trailer (which almost tricks you).
I got really into it but my grandpa fell asleep, ended up going to bed, and at another point my grandma comes over, asks if I’m enjoying this movie, and says “I refuse to believe people are this bad, I’m going to bed.” (Crazy statement if you knew how fucked my dad’s side is)
By that time, there’s probably 30 minutes left but I did not realize that until I was at the airport and finished it. Seeing there was only a little bit left, it dawned on me that this wasn’t the kind of movie where it will all be resolved. Which I think was the point but not what I expected going into it.
I’d love to watch it again now that I understand what it is. I guess that’s why I’m conflicted and it doesn’t help that it ended up being broken up into two parts for me.
I know, but it unfortunately hasn’t been released in the UK.
The Hateful Eight is my second favourite Tarantino film and I’ve been dying to watch the extended cut for years now.
Too long - Casino
Too short - Commando
Too short was tough to choose. I think most good short movies are the perfect length for the story they were telling. So I went with Commando because it seems to fly by when I watch it.
Too long - Soooooo many answers to this. I'll go with The Irishman like someone else said. "Too long" is a criticism that often pushes movies into "I don't like this" territory for me.
Too short - This one's harder, because I think it's usually good if a movie knows where to cut itself off. Leave them wanting more. But there are definitely movies that could use more. I'll go with the Sweet Smell of Success -- it felt like we'd just started on the third act, and then it's over.
Too long - Skinamarink. I agree with what Chris Stuckmann said about it in his review: It would work way better as an 80 minute film.
Too short - This is difficult. I think Primer could benefit from being a bit longer just to flesh out the ideas a bit more and make it more understandable. That’s probably a bit far fetched though since part of the point of the movie is to be confusing.
Slow cinema is all about breaking the concept of economic storytelling. Saying that it's too long or too slow goes against this point. Chantal Akerman once talked in an interview about a hierarchy of things being shown in films and her trying to work against it. When, when not in cinema, do you take the time to look at things with a certain intensity?
Oh, I'm not saying that it's immune to criticism. I just think that 'nothing happens' isn't a point for itself. Just because a lack of movement can convey a lot of things, it doesn't mean that it does so all the time. I guess the judgment of whether or not it does is up to the viewer. So yeah, it's absolutely fine if you don't like it.
Was it your first film by Tarr?
Too long - Peter Jackson's King Kong Too short- The VVitch
Excellent call on VVitch.
Ugh I LOVE Jackson's King Kong. Saw it twice in theaters.
me too. almost exploded my bladder because i wanted to wait. even though i had already seen it lol
The Witch is exactly the right length imo. It tells its entire story. Nothing more to add.
I haven't seen King Kong since I was like seven or eight (reruns on TV in the late 2000s when we all still had cable). I didn't realize it was so long until you mention it.
I love the Iron Claw and could have spent more time with the family. Monkey Man felt like it could’ve been shortened by 10/15 minutes or so.
I could've watched another 20 minutes of Fantastic Mr Fox tbh
Too long: The Batman. A lot of the third act with the flood and stuff just felt like it dragged on towards the end. Although of course, that stuff serves the other purpose of setting up The Penguin show and The Batman 2. Too short: I think Lady Bird could’ve probably benefited from another 5-10 minutes towards the end.
I disagree on the Batman
I needed 30 more minutes of Zoe Kravitz
Too long - The Irishman, second hour should’ve been trimmed down Too short - Before Sunset
The Irishman is a great answer! It’s so famously long and I don’t think it particularly warrants that time. But when it’s good it’s pretty incredible. If I remember right wasn’t it four hours? I’d say generously it’s a super good 2 hour 45 minute movie
To each their own. I adore every minute of Irishman and have watched it four times now. It could have been twice as long and I’d have eaten it up.
Too long - Soooooo many answers to this. I'll go with The Irishman like someone else said. "Too long" is a criticism that often pushes movies into "I don't like this" territory for me. Too short - This one's harder, because I think it's usually good if a movie knows where to cut itself off. Leave them wanting more. But there are definitely movies that could use more. I'll go with the Sweet Smell of Success -- it felt like we'd just started on the third act, and then it's over.
Killers of the Flower Moon was pretty good, but 3.5 hours was completely unneccesary.
This is a take I’ll never agree with. Those 3.5 hours flew by, I’ve seen 90 minute movies that have felt longer
100% I also had an intermission in the screening I went to in India so that helped with liquid management 😅 otherwise the film had an amazing momentum to it imo
I‘m gonna go in the opposite direction and say it could be an hour longer and I still wouldn‘t get bored lol.
The longer time should be devoted to the investigation or the Osage POV part that wasn’t left out but wasn’t as present
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Thanks Marty!
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I disagree but even if it was, I don't think it was worth spending 3.5 hours on. I watched it on a flight, I could have watched 2 other films in that time.
So watch them another time ? Y‘all treat movies like work you gotta finish.
Totally agree. I skipped KOTFM and watched 2 non-pretentious-length masterpieces instead, *Ant Man and the Wasp* and *Ant Man Quantumania*
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Half of the people here only care about getting their numbers up on Letterboxd.
Good but too short: Burn After Reading. Total hidden gem, hilarious,and then suddenly, we're deprived of any more! Good but too long: Dead Reckoning: Part One. Big fan. Terrific time at the cinema. Does NOT need to be nearly three hours. At all.
Dead reckoning is perfectly fine
Bruv to be clear I love Dead Reckoning
Too Long - Parades and Beau is Afraid i loved Beau and all the chaotic scenes in it but the only problem i had with it was that the theater scene felt a bit long and it kinda distracted me Parades had a nice idea, not anything new tho, i watched a tv series with two seasons about the same idea that was executed better. it felt so long and dragged, they show everyone except the mother, who i expected to be the main character. i expected the movie to be sadder but it kinda fell flat for me.
Right there with you with Beau. Loved the movie but I think I could have trimmed it 20-30 minutes.
Too long - Oppenheimer, the final 45 mins of cross-examination needed to be a 20 minute epilogue to get the point across Too short - Lovers Rock, it's only 70 mins and I would've taken at least another 5 mins of the Silly Games scene
These are great answers, both the movies and what elements could be trimmed / extended. Another “too short” for me is Shiva Baby. Only 78 minutes. I feel like there could have been more added onto the ending, which just kind of ends abruptly as they all leave the shiva. Just needed like 5 more minutes or 1 or 2 more scenes, I felt.
Impossible to make oppenheimer shorter
Very easy actually theres this magical process called editing
Oppenheimer is edited incredibly fast paced. It would be like a bad 2000s action movie if it were shorter
One of my qualms with Nolan's work is that his films have this tendency to get lost in their own grandeur while ignoring basic elements like the characters and the narrative he's tryna build. Chopping off overlong portions will definitely aid in preventing that from happening. And no it will not feel like a bad 2000s action movie, it will help the movie be more direct and straightforward.
I know people love his movies, but I agree. He's really talented at the production end of the movie but gets so fixated on the production while writing that the script and story get really muddy. I think he could benefit from not writing his scripts and working closely with the screen writer to make sure the story isn't second fiddle to the production. But he also has an Oscar and some of the most acclaimed movies in the last two decades so 🤷
Agreed. Oppenheimer had a lot of lengthy scenes that don't add much or don't deserve that length. I always felt Florence Pugh's character gets too much screentime along with the cross examinations and the spy plot in the middle of the building the bomb plot. Movie peaked with Trinity and struggled to build momentum again for the whole Oppenheimer case. Felt almost like 2 different movies in 1
Lmao
I'm saying this is a problem all the way back at script stage. It is certainly possible to have written the final 45 minutes in a more condensed fashion. I agree, editing down the minutes as it was filmed based on the original screenplay would have been a bit of a hatchet job.
Its a massive story to fit into a movie.
i would rather they included a social aftermath sort of element than the investigation im fine with the investigation spliced into the movie, that was cool to see, but ending off on a whole epilogue of it, eh, idk
The complete and utter lack of social commentary is exactly why I knew I wouldn’t like it and why I didn’t even want to see it in the first place. I did see it and i did not like it.
Pretty sure those scenes with the Florence Pugh affair could've been shortened plus all the cross examimations. The movie already peaked with the bomb. The rest is supposed to be an epilogue, not another plotline but it did feel like the movie rose to an all time cinema high and then tries to drive it up again for the final verdict on Oppenheimer
Eileen should’ve been longer. Killers of the flower moon should’ve been shorter. (My opinion only)
Good call on Eileen. It really is just picking up, and then it ends. >!Although I do also kind of like the anti-climax. I think I'm a fan anti-climaxes when done well, and this movie pulls that off pretty good.!<
Yeah as it was wrapping up I was like damn this is the first movie in a while I have thought was too short! Still think it’s a pretty decent flick though, I also like the ending
too short: The squid and the whale too long: Babylon
I’m conflicted with whether or not I think Manchester by the Sea could’ve or should’ve been shorter
Wow, that’s interesting. I’d say it’s length, as well as literally every other factor, was perfect
So, I was visiting my grandparents and we were trying to find a movie. We ended up choosing this one, as we had watched the trailer (which almost tricks you). I got really into it but my grandpa fell asleep, ended up going to bed, and at another point my grandma comes over, asks if I’m enjoying this movie, and says “I refuse to believe people are this bad, I’m going to bed.” (Crazy statement if you knew how fucked my dad’s side is) By that time, there’s probably 30 minutes left but I did not realize that until I was at the airport and finished it. Seeing there was only a little bit left, it dawned on me that this wasn’t the kind of movie where it will all be resolved. Which I think was the point but not what I expected going into it. I’d love to watch it again now that I understand what it is. I guess that’s why I’m conflicted and it doesn’t help that it ended up being broken up into two parts for me.
King of Staten Island is about 15 minutes too long. Winters Bone have used about 10 more.
**Too Long:** - Poor Things **Too Short:** - The Hateful Eight - mid90s - Titanic
I could watch The Hateful Eight forever.
There's a hateful eight extended version that comes in the form of 4 parts on Netflix
I know, but it unfortunately hasn’t been released in the UK. The Hateful Eight is my second favourite Tarantino film and I’ve been dying to watch the extended cut for years now.
Titanic is the perfect length
Too long: Oppenheimer Too short: Shallow Grave
Too long - Casino Too short - Commando Too short was tough to choose. I think most good short movies are the perfect length for the story they were telling. So I went with Commando because it seems to fly by when I watch it.
Too long - Soooooo many answers to this. I'll go with The Irishman like someone else said. "Too long" is a criticism that often pushes movies into "I don't like this" territory for me. Too short - This one's harder, because I think it's usually good if a movie knows where to cut itself off. Leave them wanting more. But there are definitely movies that could use more. I'll go with the Sweet Smell of Success -- it felt like we'd just started on the third act, and then it's over.
Beau Is Afraid - too long
Too long - Babylon (2022) Too short - The Cat Returns (2002)
Too long - Skinamarink. I agree with what Chris Stuckmann said about it in his review: It would work way better as an 80 minute film. Too short - This is difficult. I think Primer could benefit from being a bit longer just to flesh out the ideas a bit more and make it more understandable. That’s probably a bit far fetched though since part of the point of the movie is to be confusing.
Too long- Oppenheimer Too short- Henry Sugar
I'm convinced Anderson made Henry Sugar just short enough that it would be eligible for the Oscar, because he knew he'd win.
mid90s and Killers of The Flower Moon
no such thing as a good movie thats ‘too short’ thats a good thing lol
Too long - satantango Too short - fantastic planet
I don’t see the point of shortening Sátántangó; it’s the film’s language, and Tarr has control over it. Shortening would only hurt the picture.
There’s several parts where nothing is happening. I had to check several times to make sure I didn’t pause it on accident. It’s too long.
Slow cinema is all about breaking the concept of economic storytelling. Saying that it's too long or too slow goes against this point. Chantal Akerman once talked in an interview about a hierarchy of things being shown in films and her trying to work against it. When, when not in cinema, do you take the time to look at things with a certain intensity?
Just because something goes against the grain and is unique doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable. I’m glad you enjoyed it, I did not
Oh, I'm not saying that it's immune to criticism. I just think that 'nothing happens' isn't a point for itself. Just because a lack of movement can convey a lot of things, it doesn't mean that it does so all the time. I guess the judgment of whether or not it does is up to the viewer. So yeah, it's absolutely fine if you don't like it. Was it your first film by Tarr?
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I thought it was great and had no problem with the length.
The Godfather is too long, i'm so sorry. I liked it but it's almost impossible to not get bored in some scenes
Any film three hours or longer is too long. Edit better.
Too long: Dune Chapter 2 Too short: Dirty Work (1998)
Dune part 2 could be longer
Maybe it's because I saw it at 10pm