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While I’m away, this week’s question comes from Daniel Prinn of Daniel’s Film Reviews.
What do you prefer calling movies?
Most terminology for “movie” is a bit dated now; “Film”, “celluloid”, “flick”, “motion picture”, “silver screen”, and “talkie” all come to mind. Even “movie”, being shorthand for “moving picture” is dated terminology, but these terms have stuck.
Personally, and this should be fairly obvious, I prefer the term “movies” or “films” even though few movies are recorded on actual film, I don’t see the term “digitals” ever taking off. However, even with the dated terminology, I like having the options.
What about you?
Andy Watches Movies 
I English I use movie the most and in my native language (Dutch) they are called films, so I mix those two up nicely 🙂
Very cool – What is the actual Dutch word for it?
I flick between ‘movie’ and ‘film’. ‘Film’ is definitely the more popular term here in the UK I reckon.
Funny you mention that, I’ve noticed that as well. I feel like the term “cinema” is used more where “theater” would be used here in the States. When I hear “theater” I associate it to movies rather than the stage.
I use movie mostly. A few times a week, I like to use flick or film as well.
I like “flick”, I should use it more often
I use movie mostly in my reviews, or sometimes film or picture.
“Picture” seems underutilized outside of awards
I switch between film and movies, with the occasional popcorn flick.
Ah, interesting qualifier for “flick”, I like that
Generally I use ‘film’ but I guess sometimes I’ll use ‘movie’. Never really use any other term, and yeah like you I really can’t see ‘digitals’ becoming popular.
I flip between movie and film depending on what fits the sentence better. It doesn’t bother me much that “film” is technically outdated… after all, we still talk about dialing a telephone even though many of the people doing so have never seen an actual telephone dial…
I feel stupid for not even realizing that…Wow.
N
Does porn count? Joking, I usually say movie but if I’m critiquing movies of different genres or different media in the same post I say features more often lately.
Porn can count! haha
I like the term “features” since it seems to place some importance on the movie.
I use them all interchangeably : movie, film, flick, feature, piece, work, offering, effort. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few…but I’m happiest when I can work the term “picture,” in there somewhere, because it sounds graceful and old fashioned to my mind. If I write a review where the most-used word is movie movie movie movie I am not happy with the flow.
It does sound graceful, you’re absolutely right. I know what you mean about flow, I try to mix it up but my reviews tend to be short enough where it doesn’t cause me too much of a headache.
i guess literally it’s no longer “film” since it’s mostly digital. however, it depends who i’m speaking with. talking to kids or friend, probably “movie.” posting comments on roger ebert’s website, probably “film.” i think. crap. not sure.
So you think “movie” is more casual sounding than “film”?
I kind of do
zzzactly.
Usually “movie” but we also like to use “picture” a lot because Andy Sidaris used it a lot.
He does? I didn’t know that
Film for me obviously 😀
Hahaha it’s fun to see how people react to this with one of the terms in their site title. Obviously myself included.
I say both film and movie, only because a review saying just one gets boring to write. 😛
Ever since I watched Chaplin: The Movie, I have found myself saying talkies. It’s odd.
Just like the way “talkies” sounds or what?
Yeah, and I tend to copy anything Robert Downey Jr. says.
Haha I understand
I tend to alternate between movie and film. I use flick sometimes as well.
“I tend to alternate between movie and film.” ditto for me, usually
I try to use the word “film” to describe a movie. Sometimes I just refer to them simply as “movies,” either because that’s just how it comes out, or because I’ve put “film” to an overuse. Nice question!
I know what you mean, sometimes I feel like “movies” just flows easier in the way that I write, but maybe that’s because I tend to write fairly conversationally. Thanks!
As seems to be the normal answer I tend to switch between movies and films in my writing, mostly to avoid repetition.
Yeah, that does seem to be the general consensus here
Movie and film. Sometimes picture. Sometimes material (in reference to the screenplay). Depends on the ebb and flow of any given sentence or paragraph. 🙂
The sentence is definitely a key factor in the way I use the terms, even if I’m using the same term over and over. It just has to sound right.
I’ll use ‘movie’ for most general releases, I’ll use ‘film’ if the movie is an extrodinary work of art, and I’ll use ‘flick’ if its a cheesy, ‘B’ movie. 🙂
Haha I like that criteria
Yeah, that’s not set in stone but I just noticed that I usually do it that way – BTW, gave you a special thanks and link in my Anniversary post and added you to my blogroll, check it out.
Oh awesome, thanks!
When writing, I like using the work “flick” as much as possible, though when talking I usually either use the term “movie” or “DVD” since that’s how we watch most of our movies.
Why do you think you prefer using “flick”?
I think it’s because the superhero genre doesn’t take itself as seriously as many other genres, and it has a different connotation when you say “action flick” or “popcorn flick” rather than “action movie”. And I like how it sounds in my head, and I also think Kevin Smith uses it a lot when he talks about movies in his many podcasts that I listen to and it probably has rubbed off on me.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
I call them all types of things, but you will be able to notice that I do in fact, prefer, “film”
I agree with Wednesday’s Child’s comment. I love the term “picture” & am sad that it went out of style.
I agree as well
I still call them movies or films. sometimes i say flick, but that is few and far between. I don’t think the name is ever going to change unless popular culture declares it.
You’re probably right and I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
I use the term movie or flicks for blockbuster style movies.
I use the term film when it is more artistic in nature.
Ah, I like those qualifications!
It seems to fit – how was the trip or how is the trip?
It was awesome, kind of wish I wasn’t back to reality yet though…
Always ‘film’, that’s pretty much the norm in the UK.
I think “movies” would be the preferred US term most of the time
I used to always call them “flicks” on my old blog. Now it’s probably just movies.
I like the casual nature of “flick”
When I’m talking I call them movies, but on my blog I switch between movie and film 🙂
Yeah, I think I mostly call them movies in conversation too
Movies in conversation mostly – but I prefer film in my writing. I use both movie and film, though. I like ‘flick’, sometimes, too.
Fred.
lol