No Time to Watch - The Tiktokification of Cinema (C1)
Updated: Sep 2
Films have changed drastically in recent years.
I noticed this distinctly when, after a long period of not going to the cinema, I went to watch James Bond – No Time to Die in the summer of 2021.
One scene in particular stood out to me as remarkable. It was the one where Bond, as he’s about to kill some villain and avenge his CIA accomplice, Felix Leiter, says:
“I had a brother. His name was Felix Leiter!”
I was hit by cringeworthy images of “fans” gushing over this moment, quoting the line, and writing emojis to clips of it on the internet.
The scene, and the line, seemed conspicuously designed for veneration of exactly this kind. That is, to stand alone as an asset of the film irrespective of its significance in the film as a whole, or indeed the film’s overall merit.
I had this impression especially because, within the film, and the Daniel Craig boxset, the line was total nonsense; Bond and Leiter knew each other, worked together on occasion, and liked one another, but Leiter was never, as far as we saw, anything approximating a brother to Bond.
Another bewildering scene comes to mind – the one where an alluring Ana De Armas, who plays some rookie agent allied with bond, meets bond to help him with a mission. At several moments in the scene, we are made to think that they might get hot and steamy, but in the end they don’t. The tension and awkwardness between them has no significance whatsoever to the overall “narrative” of the film, and I don’t believe that the beauty queen even appears again in the film at all.
Here also, one is tormented by cringeworthy images of “movie fans” gushing over the scene, simply because: ‘OMG yay Ana De Armas :DD’.
It struck me eventually that the film is supposed to be enjoyed, not in the classic way, but rather as a long series of TikTok videos, all of them self-contained, and none of them very much connected.
The reason why films are like this now is obvious. Young people’s attention spans, and their general digestive systems with respect to media and narrative, have been wrecked by TikTok and Instagram to the point where this is the only way that they can enjoy films. Anything where you need to remember what happened before in order to understand the significance simply won’t do, and cannot be in the film.
What’s more, it also seems that you must be careful not to pay too much attention in order to enjoy the film. No Time to Die provides us with a good example of this:
When Bond first meets the baby daughter of a former lover, and it is seeded that the little one may be his, this scene unfolds comically, rather like with a playboy in a sitcom: ‘I sure hope not!’ is Bond’s demeanour, and the audience is invited to chuckle.
The (maybe) daughter is scarcely mentioned for most of the rest of the film until the final scene when bond is (maybe) dying, and says earnestly while full of emotion that he knows she is his and that she’s “the most beautiful thing he has ever seen”. We are supposed at that point to take this as profound and emotional, even though up until that moment the girl had been nothing more than a comedic device.
And so, they maximise the entertainment value of the collection of TikTok reels that constitute a film, and do so at the expense of anyone whose attention span is not cooked. This, it seems, is the state of mainstream cinema in today’s day and age.
Use of English Exercises (CAE style)
Open close - fill each gap with ONE word
Films _____(1) changed drastically in recent years.
I noticed this distinctly when, after a long period _______(2) not going to the cinema, I went to watch James Bond – No Time to Die in the summer ________(3) 2021.
One scene _______(4) particular stood out to me as remarkable. It was the one where Bond, as he’s _______(5) to kill some villain and avenge his CIA accomplice, Felix Leiter, says:
“I had a brother. His name was Felix Leiter!”
I was hit by cringeworthy images of “fans” gushing over this moment, quoting the line, and writing emojis to clips of it ________(6) the internet.
The scene, and the line, seemed conspicuously designed for veneration ________(7) exactly this kind. That is, to stand alone as an asset of the film irrespective ________(8) its significance in the film as a whole, or indeed the film’s overall merit.
Answers:
1-have | 2-of | 3-of | 4-in | 5-going/about | 6-on | 7-of | 8-of
Multiple Choice Cloze - For each gap, choose from options: a, b, c and d
I had this impression especially because, within the film, and the Daniel Craig boxset, the line was total nonsense; Bond and Leiter knew each other, worked together on (1)________, and liked one another, but Leiter was never, as far as we saw, anything (2)_________ a brother to Bond.
Another bewildering scene comes to mind – the one where an alluring Ana De Armas, who plays some rookie agent allied with Bond, meets Bond to help him with a mission. At several moments in the scene, we are made to think that they might get hot and steamy, but in the end they don’t. The 3. ________ and awkwardness between them has no 4._________ whatsoever to the overall “narrative” of the film, and I don’t believe that the beauty queen even appears again in the film at all.
Here also, one is tormented by cringeworthy images of “movie fans” gushing over the scene, simply because: ‘OMG yay Ana De Armas :DD’.
It struck me eventually that the film is supposed to be enjoyed, not in the classic way, but rather as a long 5.________ of TikTok videos, all of them self-contained, and none of them very much connected.
a) option b) occasion c) event d) chance
a) approximating b) interrogating c) becoming d) discerning
a) caution b) situation c) tension d) fury
a) significance b) parallel c) imagination d) duration
a) list b) timespan c) plethora d) series
Answers:
1-b 2-a 3-c 4-a 5-d
Open close - fill each gap with ONE word
The 1_______ why films are like this now is obvious. Young people’s 2______ spans, and their general digestive systems with respect to media and narrative, have been wrecked by TikTok and Instagram 3______ the point where this is the only 4_______ that they can enjoy films. Anything where you need to remember what happened before 5_______ order to understand the significance simply won’t do, and cannot be in the film.
What’s more, it also seems that you must be careful not to 6________ too much attention if you are to enjoy the film. No Time to Die provides us with a good example of this:
When Bond first meets the baby daughter of a former lover, and it is seeded that the little one may be his, this scene unfolds comically, rather 7________ with a playboy in a sitcom: ‘I sure hope not!’ is Bond’s demeanour, and 8_______ audience is invited to chuckle.
The (maybe) daughter is scarcely mentioned for most of the rest of the film until the final scene where Bond is (maybe) dying, and says earnestly and full of emotion that he knows she is his and that she’s “the most beautiful thing he 9________ ever seen”. We are supposed at that point to take this as profound and emotional, 10________ though up 11________ that moment the girl 12________ been nothing 13________ than a comedic device.
And so, they maximise the entertainment value of the collection of TikTok reels that constitute a film, and do so 14________ the expense of anyone whose attention span is not cooked. This, it seems, is the state of mainstream cinema in today’s 15_________ and age.
Answers:
1-reason 2-attention 3-to 4-way 5-in 6-pay 7-like 8-the 9-has 10-even 11 until/till/to 12-had 13-more 14-at 15-day
Meanings match
Match the words from the texts with synonyms or meanings. Use the text to help you.
(1)
| distinctly | drastically | accomplice | conspicuous | venerate | merit |
| celebrated and praised | comrade | value | a lot | clearly | not subtle |
Excerpt:
Films have changed drastically in recent years.
I noticed this distinctly when, after a long period of not going to the cinema, I went to watch James Bond – No Time to Die in the summer of 2021.
One scene in particular stood out to me as remarkable. It was the one where Bond, as he’s about to kill some villain and avenge his CIA accomplice, Felix Leiter, says:
“I had a brother. His name was Felix Leiter!”
I was hit by cringeworthy images of “fans” gushing over this moment, quoting the line, and writing emojis to clips of it on the internet.
The scene, and the line, seemed conspicuously designed for veneration of exactly this kind. That is, to stand alone as an asset of the film irrespective of its significance in the film as a whole, or indeed the film’s overall merit.
(2)
| approximating | bewilder | alluring | rookie | seed | demeanour |
| attractive | close to | amateur | expressions | confuse | tease an idea |
Excerpt:
I had this impression especially because, within the film, and the Daniel Craig boxset, the line was total nonsense; Bond and Leiter knew each other, worked together on occasion, and liked one another, but Leiter was never, as far as we saw, anything approximating a brother to Bond.
Another bewildering scene comes to mind – the one where an alluring Ana De Armas, who plays some rookie agent allied with bond, meets bond to help him with a mission. At several moments in the scene, we are made to think that they might get hot and steamy, but in the end they don’t. The tension and awkwardness between them has no significance whatsoever to the overall “narrative” of the film, and I don’t believe that the beauty queen even appears again in the film at all.
Here also, one is tormented by cringeworthy images of “movie fans” gushing over the scene, simply because: ‘OMG yay Ana De Armas :DD’.
It struck me eventually that the film is supposed to be enjoyed, not in the classic way, but rather as a long series of TikTok videos, all of them self-contained, and none of them very much connected.
The reason why films are like this now is obvious. Young people’s attention spans, and their general digestive systems with respect to media and narrative, have been wrecked by TikTok and Instagram to the point where this is the only way that they can enjoy films. Anything where you need to remember what happened before in order to understand the significance simply won’t do, and cannot be in the film.
What’s more, it also seems that you must be careful not to pay too much attention in order to enjoy the film. No Time to Die provides us with a good example of this:
When Bond first meets the baby daughter of a former lover, and it is seeded that the little one may be his, this scene unfolds comically, rather like with a playboy in a sitcom: ‘I sure hope not!’ is Bond’s demeanour, and the audience is invited to chuckle.
Sentence Transformation
Rewrite each sentence so that it has a similar meaning using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between three and six words.
(1)
One could see in his demeanour that he didn't want to be there.
IMPRESSION
He gave _______________________________ to be there.
(2)
She performed well despite being somewhat inexperienced.
BIT
She performed well ___________________________________ a rookie.
(3)
He walked over and hid the present in the cupboard rather conspicuously.
SUBTLE
He walked over and hid the present in the cupboard _______________________________ about it.
(4)
This technology could drastically alter our day to day lives.
TO
This technology has ____________________________________ life as we know it.
(5)
He knew he could count on his accomplice to fulfil his task.
EVERY
He had ____________________________ fulfilling his task.
Answers:
the impression of | not wanting to be there OR the impression that | he didn't want
despite being | a bit of a
but/and wasn't (very/especially) OR without being (very/especially) | subtle
the potential | to drastically alter
every faith | in his accomplice
Discussion
Do you agree that films these days are being 'tiktokified'?
What other differences have you noticed between newer and older films?
What separates a good film from a bad film?
Further Discussion
Are you worried that young people's ability to concentrate has been ruined by online content?
How has social media and modern technology changed your habits, skills, and interests?
Do you think that social media has or could have a positive side? How?
Can you think of some ways of improving concentration and lengthening attention spans?
Comments