A movie, also known as a motion picture, video film, or digital movie, is an artistic work of multimedia visual art designed to simulate real events through the utilisation of moving pictures. In cinema, a movie is usually shown in a single frame for best effect; movies are usually shown with synchronized sound, which enables the audience to enjoy the movie along with the director’s vision. Movies, unlike other forms of art, have long been widely misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, a movie is not a “teensome” (a child-like amusement) but rather a mature and intelligent work of art meant for mature viewers. The term “mature” is applied to any movie that deals with mature subject matters, including issues like social themes, adult themes, or violence or other questionable material.
Movies can be grouped into several general categories based on the themes they contain or the type of subject they deal with. There are comedy, fantasy, science fiction, horror, war, and thriller genres. A theme in a movie can be defined by the genre or the time period it pertains to. For instance, the decades between the 1950s and the late 1990s are considered a science-fiction era, while the current decade is considered a comedy.
A plot is the central feature of a movie. Although there are complex plots in other forms of media such as theatre, motion pictures often utilize very simple plot structures, making them easy to adapt to different types of medium. Plotlines often center on two characters, a cause and an effect, and various combinations of those characters. A character’s name also serves to define the plot. Movie plots often incorporate some type of technology, such as cars, planes, machines, and other concepts.
A theme throughout history can be seen within a movie. A classic example is the old western or gangster movies of the early twenty-first century. These types of films dealt more with the lives of cowboys and men from the cow-boys’ point of view. Over the years, however, other genres began to provide people with similar types of images, such as the crime films of the era. As the culture changed, so did these themes, becoming more complex and realistic as time passed.
Themes are important because they help to define a movie. While there may not be a large plot involved, a single idea can help to define whether or not a film is funny, sad, thrilling, or even erotic. A theme can play over multiple films, allowing the viewer to transition between genres without the need to repeatedly watch the same content.
Since themes can change over time, another benefit is that a movie that originally showcased one theme over the course of a decade can easily adapt to new themes. For example, a theme from the 1930s can easily fit into a romantic comedy of the present day, while a completely different theme from the 2010s can become the central theme of a thriller. The key is choosing a theme that will remain consistent for the duration of the movie. Themes can also help to bring to life certain elements, such as a villain, which can otherwise be forgotten throughout the duration of the film. By carefully choosing which films should remain in their respective genres, a producer can ensure that a film stays relevant and current, regardless of what type of movie it is.