I know this started appearing over 10 years ago, but as of recently with film, anime, and especially some T.V, this type of hyper-fast editing paired with a camera that looks like it has been attached to a vibrator and held by a drunk is really getting annoying.

One of the worst recent abusers is the new Battlestar Galactica. I swear... every... single space shot the camera is shaking around and doing sloppy zooms in and out really fast. A little tremble is fine, but I feel like I'm constantly watching something from the Blair Witch.

As much as I liked it, I could not stand the action shots in Hot Fuzz. I swear it was like having a seizure with a million fast cuts a second and the camera flailing around like mad.
It's funny how new CGI effects cannot be seen in all their glory because everything is flipping out all the time (Matrix Revolutions anyone?). A lot of scenes in Lord Of The Rings got pretty bad aswell

This is why I am still a big fan of HK movies from the 80's/early 90s. They had fast action but did it through the actions itself and not the camera... the most the camera movement made was the occasional crash zoom, but at least it stayed put. Now it seems that the same people who do music video's for the ADD generation are shooting movies.

I want to see the action, not be given a headache. Thoughts?

too true, all fight scenes now are just quick shots and zooms to the nth degree... obviously showing (or not showing) a lack of good fight choreography...

I think it depends on the style of the film. If it's a gritty film, this type of editing and filming can be effective(as long as it's not done in excess and to the point that you can't see what's happening). A recent example of this is the Bourne Identity/Supremacy.

It really depends on the movie about what style is best.

__________________
"That raccoon took our marshmallows!

Get him!"

Hahah.. yeah.

"Okay, we spent all our production budget on blow, so we can't hire choreographers, and we have limited film stock...SO, flail the camera around lots! we can do this all in once shot, and just add in a bunch of quick cuts in post!"

Just go watch some street fight dvds if you want REALITY.

This style of camera work/editing worked EXTREMELY well in Children of Men. If you do it right, like in that movie and 24 it works.

where did i say i wanted reality? i want a scene that is done in a way in which someone might have a chance at discerning what is going on... they might as well point the fucking camera at the ground and spin it in circles for a minute and a half and then show the 'winner'...

I don't really have a problem with it and actually think it ads to movies sometimes.

Hahahaha... oh man thats good.

In small doses, or minor shaking I have no problem with, but as I said before it's getting so excessive, and I forgot about mentioning the Borne identity/Supremacy as an example (Thanks napoleon).

Saving Private Ryan?