What is Movie: Definition and 283 Discussions

A film, also called a movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a work of visual art used to simulate experiences that communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use of moving images. These images are generally accompanied by sound, and more rarely, other sensory stimulations. The word "cinema", short for cinematography, is often used to refer to filmmaking and the film industry, and to the art form that is the result of it.
The moving images of a film are created by photographing actual scenes with a motion-picture camera, by photographing drawings or miniature models using traditional animation techniques, by means of CGI and computer animation, or by a combination of some or all of these techniques, and other visual effects.
Traditionally, films were recorded onto celluloid film stock through a photochemical process and then shown through a movie projector onto a large screen. Contemporary films are often fully digital through the entire process of production, distribution, and exhibition, while films recorded in a photochemical form traditionally included an analogous optical soundtrack (a graphic recording of the spoken words, music and other sounds that accompany the images which runs along a portion of the film exclusively reserved for it, and is not projected).
Films are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures. They reflect those cultures, and, in turn, affect them. Film is considered to be an important art form, a source of popular entertainment, and a powerful medium for educating—or indoctrinating—citizens. The visual basis of film gives it a universal power of communication. Some films have become popular worldwide attractions through the use of dubbing or subtitles to translate the dialog into other languages.
The individual images that make up a film are called frames. In the projection of traditional celluloid films, a rotating shutter causes intervals of darkness as each frame, in turn, is moved into position to be projected, but the viewer does not notice the interruptions because of an effect known as persistence of vision, whereby the eye retains a visual image for a fraction of a second after its source disappears. The perception of motion is partly due to a psychological effect called the phi phenomenon.
The name "film" originates from the fact that photographic film (also called film stock) has historically been the medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist for an individual motion-picture, including picture, picture show, moving picture, photoplay, and flick. The most common term in the United States is movie, while in Europe film is preferred. Common terms for the field in general include the big screen, the silver screen, the movies, and cinema; the last of these is commonly used, as an overarching term, in scholarly texts and critical essays. In early years, the word sheet was sometimes used instead of screen. 'Film' in general is not a good term to refer to a long standard commercial video production since it’s ambiguous in general and therefore requires context for correct interpretation.

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  1. jim mcnamara

    Is 2012 Movie Just Another Epic Destruction Flick?

    2012 movie - :( In order to buy into literature, stage plays, and movies, you have to suspend disbelief to get the most out of it. If you have a science background you, like me, may find it hard to do that - suspend disbelief during this flick. The cgi stuff is absolutely cataclysmic, the...
  2. maverick_starstrider

    Iconic three word movie quotes?

    Iconic "three" word movie quotes? I just came across this poll on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/poll/ and EVERY SINGLE ONE of the "three word" quotes is actually a four word quote contracted. That's pretty crazy that accidently every single one would actually NOT be a three word.
  3. R

    Movie theaters that have a couple of seats where you can't see the movie.

    Have you ever been to a movie theater where there are seats that are out of view to the movie? A Regal Cinema near me has a couple of seats that are like that. If you sit in one of them you totally can't see the movie. What were they thinking when they put those seats in?
  4. P

    News IOUSA Movie: Has Anyone Seen How Our Budget Got Out of Hand?

    http://vimeo.com/2119049" Has anyone seen this movie? How did our budget get so out of hand? What can we do to balance it and get out of debt? The film doesn't really give any options to fix the problem.
  5. maverick_starstrider

    What is the Name of the Movie About Parents' Obsession with AIDs Research?

    Hey, can anyone remember a movie I vaguely remember from memory as a child. I think it was a TV movie but I'm not positive. It was about the parents of a child or some such who had an immunodeficiency disease like AIDs (I can't actually remember if it was AIDs). Basically the parents became...
  6. Y

    What Is the Probability a Moviegoer Waits Less Than 20 Minutes?

    Homework Statement The manager of a movie theater determines that the average time movie-goers wait in line to buy a ticker for this week's film is 10 minutes, and avg time to wait to buy popcorn is 5 minutes. Assuming waiting times are independent, find probability that moviegoer waits less...
  7. D

    Guess the Movie: Can You Name This Scene?

    From which movie is this picture? http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7217/32zjakm.png
  8. G

    New GI Joe movie is supposed to be a massive stinker

    Sources close to Hollywood are saying this movie has gotten the lowest test screening results EVER for a film by Paramount. It was directed by the same guy who filmed movies like The Scorpion King 2, The Mummy, and Van Helsing. He has been fired from the movie after it has been shot...
  9. N

    [Matlab] Making a movie from plots

    Hi, This isn't really technically a homework question but I thought I'd still ask here... I am solving a spring pendulum model (set of differential equations) using Matlab, and the homework assignment tells me to plot the trajectory of the bob in the x-y plane. Well, I did that, but I...
  10. G

    Wave of phase change (MOVIE: Hot ice how-to)

    Hot ice solidifies instantaneously when its cold... http://www.youtube.com/v/aC-KOYQsIvU Are there really any oscillations or waves of different states (alternating states) in materials? Perhaps gradient of heat or a bump of pressure spreading? Sound? Electricity?
  11. V

    Star Trek - A Great Movie Experience with Friends

    Just saw Star Trek like an hour ago with my friend and it was great! :biggrin: I've never actually seen the show but I think I can make time. How did you guys like it?
  12. Math Is Hard

    Anvil: The Movie - Guaranteed to be Hilarious!

    I really, REALLY want to see this movie. http://anvilmovie.com/ It looks like a real-life spinal tap, and I bet it is going to be hilarious.
  13. M

    Putting a movie file onto a DVD.

    Hey everyone :) I have a movie file on my computer that is 120 minutes and 800MB. I want to transfer that onto a DVD CD so that I can play it on a DVD player at my friends house. The movie file is in AVI format. How do I put that file onto the DVD CD? Do I need a special programme or...
  14. J

    Dune Movie Spoiler: Uncovering the Mystery of Spice

    This post is totally spoiler. Don't read it unless you have already seen it or read it or don't intend to do either, or don't care if I spoil it. I watched the movie (the one with Sting as Feyd) and read the book (the one with Feyd as Feyd). The idea is that there is this planet, covered with...
  15. A

    Science Fiction Movie and sound waves

    Homework Statement In a science fiction movie, when a spaceship explodes, the vibrations from the sound nearly destroy a nearby spaceship. If you were the science consultant for the movie, what would your advice be for the producer? Homework Equations I don't think there are any...
  16. C

    Is American Carol a Hilarious Must-Watch Movie?

    American Carol DVD is 2 thumbs up.. I think it was funny and would watch it again and again….
  17. J

    Australia Movie: A Story of Dreams & Never-Never Land

    Warning: If you haven't seen the film, but intend to, then you probably should see it before reading this. For scenery, this movie is the most beautiful movie I have seen since Dr. Zhivago. As with that movie, there are several stories to be told so it lasts a while. The stories are tied...
  18. J

    Don't Miss "Spirit": A Movie Review Warning

    Is there a forum for movie reviews? If so, this could be moved there. However, this isn't really a review, its a warning. If you're only going to miss one film this year, make it Spirit. Yesterday, my wife and I decided to pump up the economy and take in a flick. She said Australia was the...
  19. L

    MP3 Video Files Freeze Up In Windows Movie Maker

    Is there any way to fix this? I tried converting the mp3 files to wmv files last night, but it reduces the picture quality by a lot so the picture quality looks all fuzzy. Is there any other free video editing software out there that supports mp3 video files?
  20. Cyrus

    Avoid This Movie: A Review of "Water Bandit"

    Dont watch it. It was horrible. I mean HOR-RI-BLE. This bad guy is trying to steal all the water in bolivia. Yep, that's the plot. It's that stupid. He just wants to steal some water and sell it back for profit. Plus there is random action (I mean random) and characters just come in leaving...
  21. C

    Realistic Bus Cornering Speed: Physics Analysis of "Speed" Movie | 1994 Film

    Movie Physics "speed" Homework Statement In the 1994 movie "speed" the bus takes a 90 degree corner at an estimated speed of 81kph. in reality would the bus turn the corner safely or roll due to torque? (disregard the movement of people to one side of the bus.) "m" of bus=6000kg...
  22. C

    Should I Switch My Choice in the Monty Hall Problem?

    in 21, when kevin spacey plays 'the 3 doors' with the lead character in a classroom, the guy says something like:"before you opened the door, the probability of each door having a car was 33.33% but now since door 3 has a goat and i have door1, the probability of door 2 adds up to 66.66% so i...
  23. V

    MATLAB Making a movie from the data files in matlab

    hi guys..i have a set of datafiles(more than 500)for each set i have to plot a graph and make a movie with them.. i want to knw how do i load all these files and plot them in a loop..the files are named as v1 v2 etc...and simeltaneously generate frames and make a movie.pls help ppl..
  24. J

    What is the Monty Hall Problem and how does it work?

    im just curious. it has been bugging me about the beginning of the movie where the professor asks Ben a question and he goes into analysis. it didnt make sense to me he said that if u had to pick from 3 choices u have a 1/3 chance. but then they take away 1 of the incorrect choices. so the...
  25. Evo

    X-Files Movie "I Want to Believe": Reviews & Showtimes

    "I want to believe". Is anyone planning to go see this? Anyone heard any reviews?
  26. G

    So basically you need to see the new Batman movie like RIGHT NOW

    Yes it lives up to the hype and more. Easily the best comic book movie ever made, easily the best Batman movie ever made, and easily the best movie I have probably seen in the past several years. It is so refreshing to have a GOOD action movie that utilizes as little amount of CGI as...
  27. T

    Zeitgeist the movie, Real? or just Real crap?

    Zeitgeist the movie, I watched a downloaded version of it. It can be seen online for those who haven't at this site, http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/ Its an awesome movie and if its true, its a real eye opener, if its not... Man, I sure got fooled... XD Now some people claim that its...
  28. C

    Thoughts on the movie Deja Vu

    Have any of you seen this movie? For those who have, is it actually possible to do what they've done in it (look back in time)? This isn't the first movie to deal with this phenomena, I believe that a move by Ben Affelick is also loosely based around the same principle. From what I...
  29. R

    News Jesus Camp: A Movie That Will Make You Cry

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3929535037535102662&q=Jesus+camp&ei=BKNISJTaL5yO4wLp4bigDA&hl=en" I know there has been a lot of buzz around this movie already, however I thought I would share with you here... Anything that can make a grown man cry is worth watching... :frown:
  30. G

    Spider Short Movie: Good Surprises Await - Watch Now

    Just saw this short movie. Some good surprises. Make sure you watch the WHOLE thing.
  31. G

    Word on the street about the new Indiana Jones movie is that it is

    utter garbage. People who have seen it are caling it a 'fan's worst nightmare' and 'dreadful'. What did you expect? George Lucas has a knack for absolutely killing old classics. Reviewers are saying it is as bad as the Phatom Menace was for Star Wars...
  32. W

    What Are Some Must-Watch Movies According to Scientists?

    Thought it would be cool to make a list of good movies to checkout. Any suggestions?
  33. rohanprabhu

    Bad Movie Physics: The Science Behind the Disasters

    http://io9.com/assets/resources/2008/03/badmovsci2.gif
  34. Danger

    Movie Bloopers: Lara Croft Tomb Raider Cradle of Life

    More movie ****-ups W gave me some DVD's last night, so I'm watching one of them right now at work. (She's gone for 2 weeks again.) It's Lara Croft Tomb Raider Cradle of Life. I've seen it before, but this slipped past me before. I'm only about 10 minutes into it, so I'm sure that a lot...
  35. Ivan Seeking

    The Man From Earth - movie question

    This caught my eye at the video store and I haven't been able to find it in stock for over two months. Has anyone watched this? Is it that good or is this some kind of cheesy cult movie? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683/ Some of the reviews suggest that this could be a relatively unfunded...
  36. sas3

    Ben Stein's New Movie "Expelled" | Intelligent Design Support

    What is going on with Ben Stein? He has a new movie coming out called "Expelled" supposedly in support of intelligent design? Here is the link to the movie’s page; http://expelledthemovie.com It has a few "open and anonymous" forums, so have fun.
  37. H

    Make a Movie in 15 Minutes: Ideas for a Competition

    Hiiii All :) i was wondering whether some of you will provide some idea about what best can be made in an around 15 minute movie clip..which is for a competition...since time is so short , i am not really able to think of something decisive..
  38. Greg Bernhardt

    The Hobbit movie is finally coming

    YAHOO! Maybe this is old news, but I just found out today http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1696080,00.html Only bad thing is P Jackson is set to only write, not direct.
  39. T

    Disney's movie Ice Princess mistake?

    Disney's movie "Ice Princess" mistake? so I watched the movie over the summer... here's word for word out of the script "Now, l'm going to increase the centripetal force by tucking in my arms. This will increase my moment of inertia, so l will spin...faster." so it's been bugging...
  40. Cyrus

    Best Movie Ever Best Movie Ever

    Best Movie Ever Best Movie Ever! I just saw the movie "The Kingdom" with Jamie Fox. This was by far one of the BEST movies I have seen in a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time. And I got to see it for free at the school movie theater in advance before its out. PAY to see this movie. Go BUY this...
  41. M

    Burn a slideshow that my friend made in Windows Movie Maker

    Hey guys, I'm not sure where else to post this so I'm thinking it'll fit the best here. I've been trying to burn a slideshow that my friend made in Windows Movie Maker to a DVD for her, and it's saved in .wmv format. I've converted it to a DVD format (.vob) and tried burning it, but my DVD...
  42. G

    Most amazing fight scene in a movie ever

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=K06wDn3XsZE&mode=related&search= Just remember that this scene uses absolutely 0 cut away shots and almost no CGI effects the entire time. I thought it was an awesome scene. here are some interesting comments from the director about this scene:
  43. moe darklight

    Is Beowulf the movie worth watching?

    http://www.beowulfmovie.com/ Cons: Beowulf? BEOWULF?? really? Pros: Angelina Joelie
  44. siddharth

    Ice Princess: Physics Blunders

    I was browsing through some movie channels on TV, and there was this movie called "Ice Princess" where Michelle Trachtenberg's character was talking about the physics of ice skating and said "tucking in your arms will increase your moment of inertia and make you spin faster" If they're going to...
  45. F

    Favourite movie taglines?

    here are some good ones: etc etc http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2007/07/05/4314556.html which are the best? did they miss any?
  46. G

    The Double Slit Experiment: A Fascinating Introduction to Quantum Physics

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4237751840526284618 Something interesting i found, pretty much introduces Quantum Physics.
  47. Andre

    The climated swindle movie here

    Highly recommended but take your time: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4499562022478442170
  48. D

    The most depressing movie ever

    Has got to be Requiem for a Dream. Every time I watch this movie it makes me want to die.
  49. T

    Have You Ever Considered How Many People There Are in the World?

    I really like the airport scene.
  50. L

    Looking for a relativity movie

    I have seem some months ago a nice moving on relativity. It was a cartoon featuring Einstein in a rocket with a special clock called "light clock". This "light clock" was simply made of two mirrors and a photon bouncing in between these mirrors. If you know where this can be found, please...
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