Why are many new films so long? I ask this question as someone who remembers when going to the Cinema involved watching TWO films: The Main Feature and the ‘B’ film. The ‘B’ film was shown first as a ‘warm up’ to the main act.

This was followed by an intermission where ice creams and chocolates were sold. The cinema may also show some short cartoons and ‘Pathe News’ to keep the audience up to date with world events.

It was an entertaining evening which lasted around 3 hours, which meant each of the films was about 90 minutes long. Many, many films these days are 3 hours or even longer! Why is this?

I think It’s just lazyness on the part of the Director. It’s much harder to edit a film to 90 minutes and still capture the mood and essence of a novel.  It was Oscar Wilde who apologised to a friend for sending him a 30 page letter “because I don’t have time to make it shorter”.

Two prime examples of overblown films are “Kingdom of Heaven” and “The Thin Red Line“. I have tried on a number of occasions to watch Kingdom of Heaven but always fall asleep before it finishes.  That’s a pity, because there’s a fantastic medieval battle scene at the end. (I recorded the film, and watched the finale the following day).

The Thin Red Line is a war film that thinks it has a deep meaningful message. The problem is the message has no effect with half the audience asleep, or completely bored.

Come on film Directors, get disciplined and give us some great SHORT films!

John McNally