Do you say 'movie' for film? Am I being unreasonable if I kill someone for doing it?

[stillenduringsurrey]

It's all there really - movie or film? If you are American or Australian or a New Zealander or something, that's ok btw.

Film.

And at the pictures. Not cinema.

I'd rather hear "movie" over "fil-um"

Its FILM!

DH is an Afrikaaner, drives me nuts.

Lets take the kids to the movies, min. Get some ice-cream, lekker.

GRRRRRRRRR

It's pictures, you were born in Edinburgh, speak proper FGS.

YANBU, and it's not ok if you live in the UK and have ever been to the pictures.

Pea Mclean wow you are a hardliner.

Movie is perfectly fine! In fact, you could argue that it's better than film, which has myriad meanings. Movie means only one thing. Movie is a beautiful word that captures whole layers of cultural resonance. Not for nothing is one of Pauline Kael's volumes of criticism called I Lost It At the Movies.

Sorry it's not whether it's fine or not, it's whether it's like chalk down a board! And a murdering offence! Unless you are American etc.

Movie may be all very well, fine and descriptive but in the UK film is the word that describes... a film (yes sure it has myriad meanings but if you put it in context eg 'Let's go and see a film' it's clear what you mean - unless you are very wierd and like watching, say, dust settle on water which could be described as a film) The Kael thing sounds as though it refers to the entire experience of being at the cinema with all of the possible US cultural influences that would entail, given cinematic history and so on. I would like to write one called 'I lost it at the word 'movies''

Film but at the cinema. My dh used to call it the "picture house" as if he'd been beamed up from the 1950s!

stillenduringsurrey, you are too funny! Moviemoviemoviemovie

Oh I like picture house. I may start asking dh if he'd like to see a moving picture just to get back at him when he insists on saying 'movie'

I feel the same about 'post' and 'mail'. The mail NEVER arrives at our house.

Argh!

i had been noticing this creeping into our language too. i hate it too. i have a horrible feeling our dcs will grow up only knowing these awful terms as their own. it will be pointless to correct them. i am dreading it!!! but hey in the grand scheme oflife i guess i just have to put up and shut up!

We go to the flicks.

God - yes - I am with you OP on this!!!

But is movie not short for moving picture?

Film or even flicks (courtesy of my mum).

My kids always use the word film.

no strong views on movies vs films - tend to say film but don't think movies is really that bad. More importantly, stillenduringsurrey are you who I think you -a very long long member who has name changed? If so, it is really weird because I was thinking of you and wondering how you are getting on and yes, whether you are still in Surrey.

Flicks is a good one. But it still induces a bit of a cringe compared to film.

Another one I hate is '24/7' - creeping in and pretty ubiquituous now. I mourn 'round the clock'. But it's all dynamic language change etc

We are biligual UK/USA in our household, and we say movie.

We are biligual UK/USA in our household, and we say movie.

Oh dear I posted in haste in Pendant's corner and type 'a very long member' instead of 'a member of MN for a many years' I'm really sorry.

Sis - yes, 'tis me! A long long member (bit like Raiph Fiennes, or so they say) how are you? How is your ds? We met at Coram's fields I think, (just before we caught a movie)

it's ok sis I have already noted that in my little black book and, as you will see, made light and gentile fun of it whilst managing to slip in a rather rude reference

Hah - if movie's good enough for Radio 4's Front Row, it's good enough for me.

Movie movie movie.

So there.

How about motion picture.... eg did you see that marvellous motion picture called Casino Royale the other day? Didn't Daniel Craig look just spiffing in those tight shorts?