OT: What is best place to get movies to analyze?

smhontz wrote on 5/4/2012, 10:08 AM
I've just purchased the "Master Shots" books by Christopher Kenworthy that show you how different shot techniques can be used. Each technique shows framegrabs from a movie to illustrate the technique.

Most of the movies are from the 80's, 90's, and '00s. Things like Fight Club, Patriot Games, Ocean's Eleven, etc.

What do you recommend as a place where I can view these movies? Something like Netflix? I would like to be able to pause and rewind them for the specific scenes mentioned. Can you do that with a streaming service, or would I have to get the DVDs?

Comments

paul_w wrote on 5/4/2012, 11:44 AM
I have that book too, along with some others.
Personally, i'd check out Amazon and look for a dvd copy there. Normally quite cheap because the films are no longer current. Sometimes used copies can be very cheap. And of course that means you get to pause and rewind easily. Plus, you have them for life.
Don't know about the streaming TV side, maybe someone else can answer that.

Paul.
DataMeister wrote on 5/5/2012, 12:34 AM
Net flix does allow you to pause and rewind. In fact on a regular PC you can drag the timeline/slider back and forth with thumbnails to see your location.

The question is whether they will have what you want. The three movies you listed as examples are only available on DVD/Blu-ray. That makes me wonder if the book only used examples from a single publisher because of some ulterior motive.
rmack350 wrote on 5/5/2012, 12:09 PM
Netflix has lots of streaming content but it's often not what you're looking for. They offer much more in their DVD service.

Amazon might have more available to stream for pay but getting the DVD or BluRay is probably best.

I think they both allow you to pause and rewind.

Maybe you'd want to grab screenshots and create a scrapbook for yourself. In that case BluRay might give you more to work with.

Rob
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/5/2012, 12:17 PM
That makes me wonder if the book only used examples from a single publisher because of some ulterior motive.

More likely the production/distributor said they could use those shots and they're shots the writer wanted. :) I don't even think you'd need permission to use them as an artistic explanation & how to. Web site don't, that's for sure.
richard-amirault wrote on 5/5/2012, 2:02 PM
RE: Netflix streaming

Yes you can rewind but ... unlike a DVD / BluRay or a DVR ... Netflix streaming rewind is not that exact. You jump back most likely further back than you would want. When you stop the rewind ... you'll have to wait for Netflix to re-stream to the selected spot (it is not "saved" as you play).

At least this is my experience with Netflix streaming on my 'net connected BluRay player.
DataMeister wrote on 5/5/2012, 3:13 PM
Yes. Streaming Netflix to a set top blu-ray player is not a smooth experience. Web browser based viewing is much better.

Although I have heard that the Netflix app on the Panasonic blu-ray players is better than anything else out there. I haven't tried it though.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/5/2012, 3:53 PM
Take a look on youtube and see if the clip you want is already on there.