down with shaky cameras!

the other day i went to see the bourne supremacy. overall i thought the movie was excellent- with its locations all over the world and chases it was a throwback to cold war james bond movies. one thing that really bothered me, however, was the 'shaky camera' film technique that was used throughout the whole movie.

whereas home video cameras are sold with constantly improved video stabilization technology, for the past few years (ever since nypd blue) tv and movie directors have decided that a shaky camera is the way to get one's audience feeling like they're part of the action. actually the audience feels like they're about to puke.

in the beginning of the movie matt damon's character is in goya with his girlfriend. we see him talking with his girlfriend in a hut at night, a peaceful moment that's only disturbed by the screen weaving about like the cameraman has parkinson's syndrome. drunk with parkinson's syndrome. drunk with parkinson's syndrome riding a unicycle... during an earthquake. i was sitting fairly close to the screen and at that point i wondered if i was going to make it through the whole movie.

seems that i'm not alone as message boards are buzzing with threads on the shaky camerawork:
- shaky camera @ rottentomatoes.com
- if it is noticable...it isn't movie making @ imdb.com
- fuc the shaky camera bullshtt @ sohh.com

hopefully there will be a level of backlash against the shaky camera work found in so many programs these days. at the very least there should be a warning or disclaimer- had i watched the movie during a hangover it wouldn't have been a pretty sight.