TV shows vs movies

[46379.1]

What do you prefer?

I will always choose a tv show. There's so much more to gain in television than a movie. So much more hours to develop the characters, 10, 20, 30 or 100 hours at best against 90/110 minutes in movies. In my book, there's no competition, to follow people over years vs a couple of hours.
There's no way a movie can accomplish what a good Tv show can do with a good story line.

 

[OsmiumJohnnycake]

I don't prefer one or the other. You're right that tv has a longer time to tell a story that a movie never could. But tv also has a lot of other baggage like a tendency to stay on the air long past the time when the story has been told if the ratings are good. If you're only talking about the best tv versus the best movies, my answer is still the same. I don't prefer one or the other. Some stories can be told in 90 minutes and some need 90 hours.

 

[MacLeod]

Both have there advantages and disadvantages. One of the criteria has to does it tell a good story in whatever medium is used

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Apples and oranges-y, but...I vote TV.

Movies are good for action, visual spectacle, and immersion in the moment. TV series are good for complex character, plot and thematic development. If I had to choose only one type of story or the other, I'd choose the TV type, but I would miss movies.

 

[stj]

The most important aspect of television writing is putting in "natural" breaks for commercials, preferably with a suspenseful moment so the viewer doesn't change channels.
That really says everything you need to know about the relative artistic merits of screen and television.

As for the alleged potential of greater depth in television writing, open-ended serialization is an intrinsically limited form. Which is why the soap opera, open-ended serialiation at its purest, is synonymous with inferior writing. In any event, we have seen this summer an example of an extended theatrical work, Harry Potter. Even if you don't think the series successful, it proves that movies can do extended works as well as television.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Can't stand Harry Potter.

But if I could stand to watch it, somehow I doubt I'd find it equals the storytelling depth of The Wire.

 

[Professor Zoom]

As for the alleged potential of greater depth in television writing, open-ended serialization is an intrinsically limited form. Which is why the soap opera, open-ended serialiation at its purest, is synonymous with inferior writing.

I don't think it's form equals it's inferior writing. I think because it's cheaply done and done everyday, that might have something to do with the quality of the writing. So, it's a bit of a strawman.

The Wire was a serialized show. And fantastic. But it also had the time and space to develop the scripts.

 

[scnj]

I find them difficult to compare. Typically, television shows tell better long form stories, but they also don't have the budget for massive action sequences. Watching a weekly program on the small screen is also a different experience from going to the cinema on opening day and being surrounded by film fanatics.

 

[zakkrusz]

Well, I have way more tv shows than I do movies on disc so I'd have to say TV just for sheer amout of hours invested.

 

[spooky spice]

a little from column a a little from column B...

 

[MacLeod]

The most important aspect of television writing is putting in "natural" breaks for commercials, preferably with a suspenseful moment so the viewer doesn't change channels.
That really says everything you need to know about the relative artistic merits of screen and television.

That's only partially true, some TV stations don't have ad breaks, so the goal is to keep moving the story forward.

 

[Idran]

I don't think you can even compare the two, really. It's like asking what color's better, red or blue? They're just two different forms of media, each with strong and weak points, but I don't automatically prefer either to the other.

 

[scnj]

Know what can have the long form story of a tv show and the massive action of a movie? Books.

 

[timothy]

I love both tv's and movies but if I had to chose television and DVR"S are one of the best inventions of all time. all so I am a bookaholic love to read.

 

[Mike Farley]

No love for live theatre?

 

[timothy]

no broadway boaring. I would love to see them make a movie out the W.K.R.P.