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How do you feel about genres?
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorDJ Doena
Registered: May 1, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Although there is currently a contribution up that I voted negatively upon, I don't want it to make about that. I'm just interested in how you treat genres.

Let's for example take Saving Private Ryan, Platoon and M*A*S*H. All deserving of the War genre, yes?

What about Drama? Surely, they all contain the dramatic element. But here's the question: Which war movie doesn't? So isn't it kinda redundant to add the Drama genre as well?`

I could see the argument if someone says "I want to filter from Drama to find a movie I'm in the mood for" but for me there'd be a hug difference for being in the mood for drama like Kramer vs. Kramer and a war drama.

So, I'm just asking, do you fill up the drama slots (independent of contribution) with everything that fits or you select the most poignant genres that fit a particular movie?

PS: Adding the Comedy genre to M*A*S*H, now that is useful because the War / Comedy combo does come unexpected.
Karsten
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 Last edited: by DJ Doena
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSpikyCactus
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Registered: July 16, 2010
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I agree.  I would never add Drama as a genera to a War movie.  In fact there're no genres I would add Drama to 'lower down the list'; (except Television or Animation, which aren't really genres anyway).  I treat Drama as the default one to use if nothing else especially fits, although I will add other genres 'lower down the list' if a Drama contains smaller elements of others.

I try not to have more than two (or occasionally three) genres per movie or TV series.  I have a sort of primary list I try and pick from for the first one in the list and then add one or two others if needed; (plus the 'non-genre' genres if I want, although only Television or Animation get to go at the top.)

For M*A*S*H I'd put Comedy first, then War.  This is because it's really a comedy set in a war setting, rather than a programme about war that's funny. (I realise that makes no real sense, but hay, I'm left-handed, so that's how my brain works.)

Kramer vs. Kramer is a straight Drama, nothing else.

Saving Private Ryan and Platoon are both War, but also Action too.  But I'd put War first, as Action always feels more of a 'mood' or film design, than a 'type' of film.  In fact I think I'd rarely, if ever, put Action as the first genera in the list. 

When I watch a film I actually quite enjoy the process of trying to pigeon-hole it into a genre.  I think I fall into the 'lumper' rather than the 'splitter' group.
Do you ever find yourself striving for perfection with an almost worthless attempt at it?  Guttermouth "Lemon Water".  Also, I include in my Profiler database VHS tapes, audio DVDs, audio books (digital, cassette and CD), video games (digital, DVD and CD) and 'enhanced' CDs with video tracks on them, as well as films and TV I've bought digitally.  So I'm an anarchist, deal with it.  Just be thankful I don't include most of my records and CDs etc in it too; don't think I haven't been tempted...
 Last edited: by SpikyCactus
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSpikyCactus
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.
Do you ever find yourself striving for perfection with an almost worthless attempt at it?  Guttermouth "Lemon Water".  Also, I include in my Profiler database VHS tapes, audio DVDs, audio books (digital, cassette and CD), video games (digital, DVD and CD) and 'enhanced' CDs with video tracks on them, as well as films and TV I've bought digitally.  So I'm an anarchist, deal with it.  Just be thankful I don't include most of my records and CDs etc in it too; don't think I haven't been tempted...
 Last edited: by SpikyCactus
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorRander
I hate mondays...
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Agree with both of you! Drama is more of a "catch-all" when nothing else fits...
The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet. (William Gibson)
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorscotthm
Registered: March 20, 2007
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Quoting DJ Doena:
Quote:
What about Drama? Surely, they all contain the dramatic element. But here's the question: Which war movie doesn't? So isn't it kinda redundant to add the Drama genre as well?

I don't think I would ascribe the Drama genre to "war" films like Buck Privates or Operation Pacific.

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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorNexus the Sixth
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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I would use drama for films where the war is just the backdrop and not the main focus of the story.

For example I recently watched Tolkien. It features scenes from the first world war, but at least three genres would come before War in my genre listing: Biography (one of my custom genres), Drama and Romance.
First registered: February 15, 2002
 Last edited: by Nexus the Sixth
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDanae Cassandra
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Registered: May 26, 2007
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Locally, the way I handle genres is to assign a "primary" genre to the film first, then any secondary genres or other primary genres, and finally any non-genres at the end.  Looking at my local, I have both Platoon and Saving Private Ryan listed as War, Action, Drama, whereas I have Sink the Bismarck as just War, Action and Downfall as just Drama, War.

I basically consider anything a "secondary" genre if a film can be placed in a "primary" genre as well.  Like, almost all Film Noir is also Suspense/Thriller.  Giallo is Horror and/or Suspense/Thriller.  Disaster is usually either Action or Drama.  A Kaiju film is almost always going to be Science-Fiction.  A Martial Arts film is almost always going to be Action.

I consider the non-genres to be mediums, and as such I list them last.

PRIMARY GENRES:
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Documentary
Drama
Exercise (custom)
Experimental (custom genre, primarily for short films from Kenneth Anger & Stan Brakhage)
Fantasy
Horror
Music (concert DVDs, or music videos)
Romance
Science-Fiction
Suspense/Thriller
War
Western

SECONDARY GENRES:
Biography (custom)
Crime
Disaster
Film Noir
German Expressionism (custom)
Giallo (custom)
Kaiju (custom)
Martial Arts
Sports

NON-GENRES
Animation
Anime
Motion Comic
Musical
Performing Arts (custom, for live performances recorded on stage)
Television
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
-- Thorin Oakenshield
 Last edited: by Danae Cassandra
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorwhispering
On ne passe pas!
Registered: March 13, 2007
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The way i use it is first comes the medium (Television, Documentary etc), then the theme (Science Fiction, War, Fantasy etc), then the genre (Action, comedy etc).

Only custom genres i use, are post-apocalyptic, space scifi and asian.
 Last edited: by whispering
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorVoltaire53
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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> The way i use it is first comes the medium (Television, Documentary etc), then the theme (Science Fiction, War, Fantasy etc), then the genre (Action, comedy etc).

Personally I always put TV last but then tend to lock and not submit as most seem to do what you prefer, start with theme and unless there is a main *strong* theme, do them alphabetically... but each to their own of course - that's what locks are for
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong
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