What do you think Movies are lacking today?

I'm not sure anythings missing from "movies today", in the sense that I think movies might be better now than they ever were. The thing that's always been most missing from movies is original ideas. And that probably has alot to do with the fact that movies are (a)expensive, and thus people are less inclined to take a risk on their investment, and (b) collaborative, thus even the most fiercely independent filmmakers end up doing things by comittee. Pretty rare that we get a Being John Malkovich or something where you just go "wow, what an insane idea!"

That's why I think now is a great time to be making movies. There is unprecedented access to the process, especially in the age of digital cameras and editing equipment. Now we just need a place to show these films. Enter the internet.

Also, there should be more titties.

I feel that a lot of movies today are lacking story and vision. I mean, not all movies are missing these things, but predominantly a lot of ones are. How many times this year, or the years before have you walked out of a theater and said to yourself: "wow, that was a great story told really well". For me, not nearly enough.

We just need some more really great stories and more really great people to tell them. Perhaps the baby boomers children?

I am excited for the coming years and decades in cinema, we're in for some exciting times, or at least I hope.

I agree with u on the lack of a good story but im not sure what u mean about 'vision'.
I mean Die hard was an excellant film IMO but i wouldnt say it had a 'vision' it was just good popcorn fodder.
I do think that there is an awful lot of crap out there and one of the main reasons i feel is the actors themselves.
As an example 'Bad Company',the premise was groanworthy for the start,
Agent gets killed who just so happens to have an identical twin brother and only he can save the world,
but even so it couldve been fun, but unfortunately Hopkins just looked like he turned up because he had a couple of weeks spare and as for Rock, well, im sorry but he really should stick to stand up.
My point is that even if u have a really good script if u have bad actors or actors that seem like they dont really want to be there then u will get a bad film.

Unfortunately today we seem to have the same age old problems that we have always had: The old school Industry who have their own favourite writers/directors/actors who get all the money, this leads to complacency.
It starts at the roots (the writer) then works its way up.
If u have a (known)writer who gives his script to his friend the (known)director who asks his mate the (known)actor to be in it, then for a good part u will get a mediocre film at best. Because no one has to really work to get it made the complacency seeps into the whole process.

I feel that we only really get the best movies when the people involved are passionate about the project.
I understand that everyone has to eat but if the A-list of Hollywood had half as much enthusiasm as the members of CHUD have we wouldnt have to sit through the regurgitated shite that the big studios seem intent on giving us.

~wipes brow~
Phew im glad i got that off my chest.

Movies these days are missing good long sex scenes.,

The thing that movies lack today is subtlety. I am more frightened by an unseen monster than I am by a CGI piece of shit.

Absolutely, that was my problem with Jeepers Creepers, it was into the first half because we just had long shots of him and when they entered his lair, that creeped me out but as soon as u saw the 'guy in a rubber mask' it took away any scares and just left me watching a cheap action movie.
I understand that u may have to show the monster at some point but to me it was way too early.

Movies these days are fundamentally lacking a sense of style. No, not style as in Moulin Rouge-esque sensationalism, all choreographed poses and spastically edited torrents of imagery contrived to distract the audience from the hollowness and superficial emotions at the core of the story.

Rather, style that enhances or emphasizes the complexities of the story and makes the audience take an active role in viewing the film, rather than allowing them to sit back passively as the whole thing is spoon-fed to them. In too many movies these days the cameras are used primarily to draw the audience's attention towards the stars of the film, instead of serving their primary purpose as windows into the reality the filmmakers are supposed to be presenting us with.

Wonder. The sheer joy of showing the audience something they've never seen before. Now, you can blame that on the audience being jaded and thinking they've seen everything, but I think too many of today's movies are content to throw things at the audience without taking the time to show any kind of joy in the process. Take a look at the Argonath scene in LOTR -- not really essential to the story, but you can tell it's the work of filmmakers who are so immersed in what they're doing that they allow you this moment of awe and wonder, allow you to soak it in without feeling the need for a Michael Bay hyper-edit. There's not nearly enough of this kind of granduer anymore, since in the back of every producer's mind is the idea that this sucker is going to be on video and cable, so better not stretch the frame too much. Well, the screen is that big for a reason, and it sure isn't to act as a dry run for the video release.