expressions and body language in movies

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Is it easier for you to discern body language and expressions in movies?

I have noticed that to me, certain facial expressions (usally grossly exagerated) are more understandable to me when I watch the movies. I mostly watch things like musicals, comedies and my gf is a horor-movie fan so I watch those, too. When someone's face is grossly exagerated (their mouths open impossibly wide or their hands moving a lot,) It is easier for me to get what the expression is supposed to convey, at least on an intellectual level. IE : if her mouth is open wide in a grin with teeth showing, must be a happy face! Like i said on another thread, though, I don't watch the actors as closely, since I tend to read the subtitles, and when I go to movie theathers, I watch the scenes and the dashing cars and the cg hair on the cartoon caracter, things like that.

I am also prone to hands. I will watch the hands more than anything when not reading the subtitles. Usually takes me quite a few vieweings of the movies to notice certain stuff, though I can memorize movie lines and songs rather quickly.

I am fond of silent films because the facial expressions are exaggerated as well. I also like Lon Chaney films, for the same reason. I tend to make exaggerated facial expressions as well, so i can communicate without saying a lot. Its a lot easier that way. I also tend to notice cgi as well and can usually see its 'dead' sheen. CGI hair is so unnatural that it is a little mesmerizing.

Comedias are much clearer in body language, I think.

I get lost in some realistic series where body language and social stuff is very subtle, like 24 and Grey's Anatomy. The characters look at each other, and suddenly one of them knows he has to leave the others alone, or comfort someone. It's like magic.

I usually don't try to decipher expressions when I know there's a lot of sarcasm and irony, like in House M.D.

So, can someone please explain the body language of Horatio Caine in CSI Miami?

Man, that guy is weird

Ed Almos

Don't watch tv so I can't help you with the csi guy.

Plays are easier to desipher too, I think. Some aren't when the expressions are very realistic. I have watched Madea Goes to jail . . . for almost 4 months off and on and I just got a joke that I didn't even know was there a few days ago hehe

I know the feeling. I often find myself unable to judge whether the actor even did a good job of performing their part because I won't necessarily notice various failings.

I agree with you that he's really weird. He makes watching CSI Miami unbearably intolerable.


As for facial expressions in movies, my eyes are usually glued to the subtitles rather than their faces. I sometimes get more from voice inflection.