#1 – Torture Porn
This was a time when the genre was being pushed to its limits with new and innovative ways to shock and horrify viewers. But instead of exploring the dark side of human nature, horror filmmakers went for the easy way out by cramming in as much gratuitous violence and gore as possible. This made for some truly gory films, but it also created a genre that was often stale and unoriginal.
In recent years, the term “torture porn” has come to be used more generally to describe any type of violent or gory film that is not specifically about torture. This could include films like The Purge, which features a character being burned alive, or even films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which features a character being mutilated with a chainsaw.
Eventually, torture porn films’ efforts to one up each other with unashamedly gruesome gimmicks culminated in the bizarre The Human Centipede. For the uninitiated, a “human centipede” is a chain of misfortunate humans sewn rectum to mouth by a mad scientist (played by “actor” Dieter Laser). High concept indeed, the franchise made Saw’s bloody dismemberment seem positively quaint.
#2 – “Spoof” movies
In the early 1960s, three friends - Donny, Jerry and Marty - pooled their money and bought an airplane. They named it “Blazing Saddles” and started spoofing movie trailers and other popular entertainment content. The trio was soon known around the world as “The Three Amigos.” Their humor was so good that audiences loved to see them in new movies and TV shows.
In recent years, the “scary movie” genre has seen a decline in quality. Ten years ago, the Wayans Brothers released Scary Movie, which was followed by Vampires Suck! in 2010. Since then, there have been several poorly made films in this genre. ..
The Wayans thought a spoof meant randomly taking bits from other movies to serve as set pieces for their string of lame skits, gross-out gags, and instantly dated pop culture references. This movie is stupid and unfunny.
The series finale of “Date Movie” was a dud, but the series finale of “Epic Movie” was a disaster. The series finale of “Superhero Movie” was a mess, but the series finale of “Meet The Spartans” was an unmitigated disaster. And the series finale of “Dance Flick” was a complete flop.
The “Scary Franchise” is one that has grossed over six hundred million dollars worldwide. This is a scary statistic because it means that this franchise is very popular and successful. ..
#3 – Fat suits
Some actors use their physicality to great effect in films. For example, Christian Bale has taken great care in modifying his body for roles, such as in The Dark Knight and The Prestige. Other actors’ physiques actually add to their performance. For example, Danny DeVito is known for his large frame and powerful acting style.
The answer may have something to do with the recession. In the early 2000s, filmmakers were looking for ways to make their films more affordable and accessible, and they turned to rubber fat suits as a way to do that. But as the economy started to improve in the late 2000s, filmmakers began to realize that they could make more money by filming in more realistic and expensive ways. So they decided to bury their actors in insultingly unconvincing rubber fat suits.
The use of clothing for comedic effect has become increasingly popular in recent years, with films like Dodgeball and Date Movie using the suits to great effect. Because what could be funnier- or sadder- than seeing the conventionally attractive Ryan Reynolds or Gwyneth Paltrow struggle to emote through a sea of double chins?
We live in a world where people can be turned into monsters, zombies, human-animal-hybrids, goblins, dragons, centaurs, creatures that do not even exist and look more realistic and believable than an actor in a fat suit.
Clownish, ludicrous costumes worn by actors in fat suits are not meant to look realistic, but instead are meant to be comical. This is why they are often met with criticism - people find them offensive and disrespectful. ..
The idea that Jack Black falls in love with Paltrow’s plus-sized Shallow Hal character is absurd. ..
The use of fat suits in movies is often embarrassing and alienating for viewers who are larger than Hollywood’s typical sample size. This 2000s-style trend is not worth emulating. ..
#4 – Frat boy sex comedies
It was all worth it, though. The freedom to explore, the learning, the new friends. The cheating, the sex tape, the masturbation. It was all worth it.
In the early 2000s, college students were promised a more disgusting experience than what they found on their campuses today. But instead of enjoying their education, many millennials are struggling to find a way to make ends meet.
In 2000s cinema, high school and college sex comedies were the norm. They were often sexist, cheap and nasty, or just plain gross.
In the early 1990s, American Pie was a sleeper hit that made over $235,000 at the box office. However, the movie lacked the wit and sweetness of genre classics Animal House and Porky’s, which made it a critically panned release.
Eurotrip is a travelogue of Scotty and his friend’s drunken, careless pursuit of pleasure across the continent.
It’s not high art, but it’s a risqué, riotous, laugh out loud good time.
#5 – Unnecessarily interlocking plot lines
In 2003, a decade of film was never the same again after the release of Love Actually.
Richard Curtis’s ode to love, joy, and Christmas (not necessarily in that order), Love Actually shifted between individual storylines of ten tangentially connected characters in the month of December. The series of vignettes, varying in tone from sappily heartfelt, to cheekily risqué, to outright emotionally devastating, had little in common beyond their snowy London setting. That, and a vague conviction that “…love is all around.”
Gary Marshall’s next movie, Valentine’s Day, is a romantic comedy that takes place over Easter. By the release of sequels New Year’s Eve and Mother’s Day, other filmmakers had also embraced Love Actually’s narrative structure with Crazy Stupid Love, The Holiday, He’s Just Not That Into You, and What To Expect When You’re Expecting.
In an effort to hold audience’s ever-shrinking attention spans or the chance to have as many A-listers phone it in on the one project as possible, 2020 may not be so bad after all. We only know that Gary Marshall’s Martin Luther King Day, or The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck the movie will be missed.
Do you think these trends of 2000’s cinema are incredibly dated? Do let us know in the comments below!
