Orthogonal. Good word. :)

I agree, they aren't to be conflated. However, I simply make the point that modern films aren't necessarily faster paced. I'm not advocating snobbery and I enjoy The Fast and the Furious films too, most of the time (for what they are).

Conversely, I think a lot of modern Hollywood films are actually flabby and could do with a trim. Contrast that with, say, the breakneck pace and no-nonsense 90 minutes of His Girl Friday (1940), which rattles along at top speed without a line wasted to glorious effect.