Movies/TV Shows Look like Video

Jdub is right. That is most certainly an effect, and is definitely not how it is supposed to look. When you properly calibrate one of the newer TV's, you should turn off this feature. You can find a forum or article with the proper calibration methods for your specific TV, or you can just pay someone from your nearest home theater store (or even Best Buy) to come and calibrate it for you.

So, don't worry Nglazer. You're definitely right, and your friends are wrong.

I have noticed it too, and refrained from buying a newer monitor as a result. I have not seen any sets which have this so-called feature (e.g., Samsung 8000 series) where the feature is turned off. What is the name of this feature that makes everything look like video, which can be turned off?

Edge enhancement is what it usually is called
I am certain plenty of proprietary names are used with slight variations. But basically it creates a 'hard' edge between colors.
Makes the picture 'POP' out of the screen more, and fools some into thinking the picture has greater resolution.

We don't need tone controls on audio gear, so why should our TVs have picture quality controls? It mucks with the signal. I say do away with them and bask in all natural video. BEtter yet, do away with high res digital TVs and go back to nice creamy looking analog

I think they are making some look like video on purpose. Like Battle: Los Angeles, they want that reality TV looks that is all the rage. I myself never like liked it and do not watch reality TV, I get enough real life in real life. When the fad is over they will go back to good TV and Movies, hopefully.