What makes a movie?

[The Bone Collector]

The reason I ask, is because I'm always trying to improve my movie making skills, with techniques used by some of the better known film makers, and with suggestions by the people who watch my movies. Some of these techniques I used in the Ultimate Soldat Movie (as yet unreleased...I know), and others didn't fit the genre of it, so I left them out. But, this isn't just about me and my movie making. I want your opinions on what you think. Don't limit your judgements to Hollywood movies though...Mention any net-based webisode/movie, and tell us what you thought made it interesting. Generally speaking though, what do you think makes a movie interesting, or makes it a movie?

My Opinion:
I myself think Storyline, fitting soundtrack, and effects only used when needed (not overdone) are what make a movie.

Examples of well propertioned movies: (SE = Special Effects)
Desperado: Rodriguez used the right ammount of SE in this movie, and the soundtrack was fitting.
Hearts In Atlantis: While there wasn't much in SE, the soundtack was great.
We Were Soldiers: Soundtrack, realism effects, historic accuracy... what made this movie BAD?
Black Hawk Down: Soundtrack was great, and the realism was spectactular.
I Am Legend: Suspense, decent editing, great effects, good storyline. This movie wasn't all about grabbing the nearest gun and blowing heads of physco zombie like creatures... but a story of one man trying to survive and saving mankind.

Examples of badly proportioned movies:
Sin City: The black, White, and Red colour limitations were gross, the soundtrack was crap, and Special effects were like those of a 30's era movie.
Any Steven King book-based movie from the 80's: Bad directing, bad acting, no soundtrack....enough said.
Hitman: Ugh. For a game-based movie, this is total bollocks. Soundtrack was bollocks, acting wasn't much better, and to top it off... it was more based on Political bullbollocks than Agent 47 actually doing his job (killing people for money)...

[BondJamesBond]

Lotta people think tripods make the difference in movies. Eh. Not really, using tripods gives the viewer a pretty boring, kind of 'dead' view. Get a steadycam and give it some feeling.

Lighting pwns everything. Great guide

And sound/audio comes very close. Get a microphone, no matter what.

[jrgp]

The kinds of movies I generally dislike are the kinds that are constantly reminding you that you are watching a movie. (my only exception to this would be American Beauty) I think you should make your movies as if they are in real life where no one ever makes any kind of reference to the audience.

[karmazon]

Plot that stimulates the mind like a book.

[Liber Lupus]

Something I like to add is that I hate shaky cameras. For example, The Bourne Ultimatum and Cloverfield had that effect. It's like they didn't have a large budget for effects and they try to hide it by shaking the camera so much that you can't see crap.

[bja888]

What makes a movie?
People! People make movies....


Duh!

[tehsnipah]

every movie needs a fire and *boom* sound. if it doesn't, i call it soap-operas

[a-4-year-old]

Plot that stimulates the mind like a book.

is this why you liked 300 so much?

Action and Funny are the only two reasons I go to the movies.

[El_Spec]

Not using music at certain moments.  For example like in Saving Private Ryan, for every sequence that involved fire-fights, music was never used.  All you can hear was gun-shots and the screams of wounded men, it really makes you feel like you're in the film itself.  Its an old technique of Spielberg and its effective.

[Mangled*]

For me it's any combination of the following:

An enthralling or appealing atmosphere.
Interesting or innovative shooting style.
An excellently fitting soundtrack.
Characters that actually make you give a shit.
A brilliant and well thought out plot.
Excellent humour.
Seriously unexpected and appealing plot twists.
Non-linear storylines.
Anything that's genuinely disturbing.

[Smegma]

You're so smart.

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

As jrgp said, I have to forget that I'm watching a movie.  Some examples:
The Fellowship of the Ring: I was getting VERY stressed when the black riders were chasing Frodo and company to Rivendell.  Naturally I could have said, "Hey Gamer, you're watching a movie and you know that there are going to be two sequels.  I think they'll make it."  But I didn't, and that's what made that part good.
Live Free or Die Hard: When they launched a car into a helicopter, I thought "THAT WAS AWESOME!" instead of "Wow, that's really good special effects."  The thing with the fighter jet near the end was just the opposite.

Also, if it's a long movie, a good movie won't let me think, "How much longer until this is done?" 

[Cookie.]

For me its acting and cinematography.

-=Edit
Also I suppose a good screenplay is crucial.

[Graham]

Why do you even focus on soundtrack? Good writing and good acting are what make a movie.

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

Why do you even focus on soundtrack? Good writing and good acting are what make a movie.

But a good soundtrack gives atmosphere to a movie.  Half the time you don't even notice the music, sure, but it definitely adds to the feel of a scene, even subconsciously.

[Graham]

Why do you even focus on soundtrack? Good writing and good acting are what make a movie.

But a good soundtrack gives atmosphere to a movie.  Half the time you don't even notice the music, sure, but it definitely adds to the feel of a scene, even subconsciously.

You can block out a bad soundtrack though.

[Horve]

Why do you even focus on soundtrack? Good writing and good acting are what make a movie.

But a good soundtrack gives atmosphere to a movie.  Half the time you don't even notice the music, sure, but it definitely adds to the feel of a scene, even subconsciously.

e.g "Shoot Em Up" which was a bastard of a 2007 film. I hated the choice of villain actors there, but the main character Mr. Smith played the guy very nicely, even though the battle scenes were clearly extremely unrealistic and humorous. The soundtracks added atmosphere to those intense battle scenes- where a person died every minute if you stretch the death toll throughout the whole film length.

[a-4-year-old]

what makes a movie is the action, and beating the guy in the theater to death with is own ringing cell phone.

[Carlitos]

The way that the main character uses his missiles to blow everything except him

Plot that stimulates the mind like a book.

Ehh you have returned

[SDFilm]

The plot and how it's presented.

The way that the main character uses his missiles to blow everything except him

Plot that stimulates the mind like a book.

Ehh you have returned

It's true! The end days are upon us! Bolt the hatches, lock the doors, horde your supply of children!

Oh wait, I was looking at the 'in the event of The Milkman Dan returning please..' manual. Ah here's the karmazon one... it says....'bolt the hatches and wait for Chakra to administer harsh words and comical picture to the karmazon in question.' That's all sorted.. *waits for Chakra*

Welcome back karmazon! We missed you!