I have never seen Citizen Kane or Momento.
It's on my "I'll get to it list"
Heck I haven't even seen 2001 - but I ended up seeing a youtube theory on the meaning of the Monolyth which even though I hadn't seen the movie blew my mind.
I have never seen Citizen Kane or Momento.
It's on my "I'll get to it list"
Heck I haven't even seen 2001 - but I ended up seeing a youtube theory on the meaning of the Monolyth which even though I hadn't seen the movie blew my mind.
@Holy:
Unless you're really boring. Like Dryish.
Eh, I have never gotten the chance to see any of Kurosawa's other movies, so it's not like I'm trying to say that it's more than it is. It's definitely got its flaws and flagrantly uninteresting bits that make it a lesser movie than something else would be, it's just probably the best film I've personally ever seen. Aside from the ending and all the gratuitous deaths, which were annoying and ridiculously pointless.
But I don't watch that many movies because I dislike the medium, so my word hardly counts.
This isn't the first time I've seen a discussion about Kurosawa movies being called "pretentious". I don't know why, because I thought it was fairly standard knowledge. Spellchecker even considers "Kurosawa" a valid word. Plus, I remember a few years ago that my super Hispanic therapist mentioned Toshiro Mifune when I got everyone to watch Thirteen Assassins (not the greatest idea in retrospect, admittedly).
This isn't the first time I've seen a discussion about Kurosawa movies being called "pretentious". I don't know why, because I thought it was fairly standard knowledge. Spellchecker even considers "Kurosawa" a valid word. Plus, I remember a few years ago that my super Hispanic therapist mentioned Toshiro Mifune when I got everyone to watch Thirteen Assassins (not the greatest idea in retrospect, admittedly).
Lol no I didn't mean that Kurosawa's movies are pretentious, I meant that the discussion was becoming pretentious.
@No:
I managed to somehow not hear anything about Matrix until I randomly saw it on TV. And it was amazing.
The first movie that is. The other ones…..eh.
I actually didn't like The Matrix, but so many people have told me that it's amazing, that I might give it another try.
@Thousand:
My favorite movie is Avengers. That's as unpretentious as you can get.
I don't really have a favorite movie. It used to be Blade Runner, but now I'm not certain.
The Matrix Animated is a really good collection of shorts. I really like them (well, not all of them). I try so say that every chance i have…and someone mentioned the Matrix. So, yeah.
Nevermind, I just remembered what my favorite movie is:
I don't watch alot of movies, so it's kinda unfair for me to say a favorite movie and rank it as "best movie ever".
Otherwise, I love the bits and pieces out of Pulp Fiction. Watched it randomly on Netflix. Never heard of it through it's popularity(since well… I don't care for film culture), and still don't care if it makes me look like a sheep for even liking it. It became my favorite movie. Guess I'm just a sucker for subtle dark comedies with criminal drama. Also marathoned a bunch of Tarantino films a few weeks ago too. It didn't have that unique sort of flavor Pulp Fiction had, but I liked Jackie Brown. Reservoir Dogs was interesting (because someone compared me to a character once before, and I didn't get the joke until then), but I thought it was a tad bit too bloody for me. If it wasn't for the torture scene, I'd put it below Pulp Fiction for the non-leniar story structure and the unintended minimalism behind not showing the actual heist plot on camera.
But yeah. I'm just a sucker for crime stuff involving unlikable characters (sometimes in suits) if it's well written.
If we are talking favorite animated movie… atleast in modern times that's not restricted to region. Wall-E and Paranorman. But we are talking about old stuff, ignore this.
because someone compared me to a character once before, and I didn't get the joke until then
You don't tip? .
You don't tip? .
I do, but that argument had a messy sort of thing behind it… so I won't go into detial.
But hey. As big as a cynical dick Mr.Pink is as a character, I was kinda happy he was the only one to survive(with all the money) at the end of the movie.
I do, but that argument had a messy sort of thing behind it… so I won't go into detial.
But hey. As big as a cynical dick Mr.Pink is as a character, I was kinda happy he was the only one to survive(with all the money) at the end of the movie.
The police caught Mr. Pink. He went to jail.
@Thousand:
The police caught Mr. Pink. He went to jail.
Aw. Well. He's alive.
Sort of assumed that he wasn't going to get away anyway… since that money was too hot.
Wow, I feel kind of silly for having "Babe" as my favorite movie…
Funny thing about Pulp Fiction is that its kinda a sequel to Reservoir Dogs. Travolta is one of the charcters's brother, the first one to die I think. Maybe those Diamonds its what was in that suitcase.
I've watched a lot of movies, and as I've watched more and more my tastes have become a little more flexible and my opinions less hyperbolic and reactionary. I no longer go into anything trying to find the best or worst movie ever; hell, a ranking system doesn't even factor into my opinions anymore. So I don't have an absolute favorite.
Well, there's so much to comment. First, the idea of Space Jam 2 was very strange. Why a sequel after more than 15 years later? Space Jam was one of my childhood movies and I think it didn't need a sequel because it ended how it ended, and a film without Michael Jordan whose performance was quite acceptable for being a non-actor. Years later, I still enjoy the movie but I also think that it is a film glorifying a basketball star. At least it's better than that Bow Wow film with magic Michael Jordan trainers and it made me recognize Bill Murray as "that guy who was in Space Jam".
Second, Lola Bunny will always be that sexy anthropomorphic bunny. I quite miss sexy characters in cartoons, true sexy characters. The obsessive Lola from the new show is enjoyable but as I said I miss sexy characters. I haven't seen sexy characters since… mmm... Helga in 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'. The French vixen (literally) from 'Rango' is not valid.
Third, 'Avatar' is James Cameron's worst film in almost everything except for its great CGI and motion capture. It's just another pro-enviromentalist film, with dull characters (sorry, Sigourney), poor dialogue (the villain's supposed badass quotes in the final battle) where the army are all evil doers, and even has recycled sound edition (the Navi's horses have the same sounds as the Jurassic Park velociraptors, but instead of giving a small glimpse of the sound like the basilisk in Harry Potter when he/she dies, it is so explicit that I only could think how James Cameron's perfectionist way of filming let it happen). I saw 'Citizen Kane' some time ago but I have vague memories about it. I remember that I didn't found it terrible at all. I don't have anything against pro-enviromentalism and anti-militarism only when the ideas are so explicit and the politically correctness comes up and tell that this is evil and this is good.
That and " Larry Bird isn't white, Larry Bird is Clear." Compete for my favorite lines in the movie!
In the Spanish dub, the line is also extremely funny. But the "hey, I didn't know Dan Aykroyd was here" line was adapted into a more fitting quote because Dan Aykroyd's name in Spain doesn't mean anything unless you say it was the big belly guy from 'Ghostbusters', and the quote is just Swackhammer complaining about another live action person playing in the match. Still funny though.
Hiroy = Mr. Pink
Mr. Pink = Sanji
Hiroy = Sanji
@RobbyBevard:
Another one of those "taken for granted NOW" sorts of things fifteen years later… but the FIRST time you saw the movie, back in 1999, it was surrounded by commercials of "No one can be told what the Matrix is" a couple mysterious shot of bullet time, and anyone you talked to would have a hard time describing what it was and tell you to just go see it for yourself. And going into the movie, yes it was obvious Neo was the main character, and the fact that as the movie progressed it was clear he was the One....
Incidentally revealed in the form of a Deus Ex Machina.
Aw. Well. He's alive.
Sort of assumed that he wasn't going to get away anyway… since that money was too hot.
He is then arrested outside of the warehouse, when the camera is set on White and Orange, the police can be heard outside yelling "Drop the bag, get out of the car" and Pink yelling "Don't shoot, don't shoot!"
Funny thing about Pulp Fiction is that its kinda a sequel to Reservoir Dogs. Travolta is one of the charcters's brother, the first one to die I think. Maybe those Diamonds its what was in that suitcase.
Would be weird considering how Mr.Pink got arrested at the end of the movie with said diamonds.
With all the Kurosawa talk, thought I'd point out that the Criterion Collection is having a twenty-four hour half-off sale on its Blu-Rays with the code MADFOX. Best way to get immaculately rendered and pretentiously packaged versions of most of his great films.
With all the Kurosawa talk, thought I'd point out that the Criterion Collection is having a twenty-four hour half-off sale on its Blu-Rays with the code MADFOX. Best way to get immaculately rendered and pretentiously packaged versions of most of his great films.
Goddammit, i hate being poor.
I just realized I've never seen any of Kurosawa's films. Feel free to pelt me with gallstones or recommend a starting film.
@Mr.:
I just realized I've never seen any of Kurosawa's films. Feel free to pelt me with gallstones or recommend a starting film.
Rashamon is probably a good starter. Its full of the feudal japan element that Kurosawa is famous for, it's fairly short, its a collection of connected short stories (so you can tell in about 20 minutes if you like it or not) and the storytelling device is pretty neat and unusual.
His other films are good, but have a slower pre-mtv methodical pace to them, and may come off as boring if you're not ready or in the mood for them,
@RobbyBevard:
may come off as boring if you're not ready or in the mood for them,
I sat through 12 Angry Men and came out adoring it.
…but 12 Angry Men is tightly and tensely paced, full of great characterization, and is actually pretty short, and a really fantastic movie? It doesn't have the slow build or mood of a Kurosawa at all, I'm not sure why you're comparing the two.
@RobbyBevard:
…but 12 Angry Men is tightly and tensely paced, full of great characterization, and is actually pretty short, and a really fantastic movie? It doesn't have the slow build or mood of a Kurosawa at all, I'm not sure why you're comparing the two.
Hazy memory, it's been a couple of years. But my point is, 12 Angry Men certainly isn't a "MTV" style movie like you were talking about. I can handle the old style stuff.
Maybe Freaks would have been a better example?
MTV style is shorthand for anything made after Jaws.
Pacing in films and television (And books written by anyone born after that point) just flat out changed after that, and anyone born after Star Wars tends to have a harder time with the slower pace of a lot of older films and tv shows.
And even then, Kurosawa has a slower more deliberate pace than most films, on top of the old-school pacing difference.
@Mr.:
Hazy memory, it's been a couple of years. But my point is, 12 Angry Men certainly isn't a "MTV" style movie like you were talking about. I can handle the old style stuff.
Kurosawa's style is definitely not MTV style of course, but it definitely does not have the pacing and tension that "12 Angry Men" had. Very, very different and not very comparable simply because they're of an older style.
But hey just give it a shot and see how you like it.
@RobbyBevard:
MTV style is shorthand for anything made after Jaws.
Even though MTV came out six years after Jaws.
@RobbyBevard:
MTV style is shorthand for anything made after Jaws.
Pacing in films and television (And books written by anyone born after that point) just flat out changed after that, and anyone born after Star Wars tends to have a harder time with the slower pace of a lot of older films and tv shows.
And even then, Kurosawa has a slower more deliberate pace than most films, on top of the old-school pacing difference.
He,he,he. I think the problem is that your post could be read as "You damn youngster and your different rythms in movie". Not much really but it a was a ever so slighty hint b:
Even though MTV came out six years after Jaws.
Jaws is generally attributed as the film that changed movie editing and pacing. MTV is generally credited for the music videos leading to shorter attention spans and speedier editing on tv, to the point it was even called "the mtv generation" (I don't know if that term still holds anywhere though… it was in use in the 90's to described 80's kids)
Six years isn't much for a generational shift. It takes a few years for the effects of those sort of things to permeate through everything.
Cell phones and texting are speeding up the line again somewhat.
@RobbyBevard:
Jaws is generally attributed as the film that changed movie editing and pacing. MTV is generally credited for the music videos leading to shorter attention spans and speedier editing on tv, to the point it was even called "the mtv generation" (I don't know if that term still holds anywhere though… it was in use in the 90's to described 80's kids)
Six years isn't much for a generational shift. It takes a few years for the effects of those sort of things to permeate through everything.
Cell phones and texting are speeding up the line again somewhat.
Unless you are over 50, you should belong to the MTV generation as well, right? :ninja:
Read through the thread, can´t really agree with the evaluation of Seven Samurai. I would not go as far as to call it Kurosawa´s best but imo it certainly is up there.
What do you guys think regarding Bergman and his movies?
Unless you are over 50, you should belong to the MTV generation as well, right? :ninja:
I'm right in the middle. I grew up during it, but my folks kept me exposed to older stuff and I read a lot. I deal with slower older movies better than a lot of people even a little younger than me… but not as well as those a little older than me.
I also missed out on Star Wars being a transformative life changing event. Those movies have just always existed and influenced the media world around me.
@RobbyBevard:
I'm right in the middle. I grew up during it, but my folks kept me exposed to older stuff and I read a lot. I deal with slower older movies better than a lot of people even a little younger than me… but not as well as those a little older than me.
You are probably thankful to your folks then, if i just think about the stuff my parents exposed me to when i was young…..
Oh. This did actually turn into classic movie discussion sort of? Weird.
12 Angry Men is awesome!
Yeah, I'm in the '12 Angry Men is awesome' boat. I hated the class I had to watch it for, and when I watched it, I was so prepared to hate the movie just because of the class. Nope. Really liked it.
Oh yeah. 12 Angry Men is awesome. I too watched it for the first time during a class.
Definitely one of the easier to watch "old" films.
They did a color remake a few years ago. Had Tony Danza and Edward James Olmos in it. Kind of weird.
12 Angry Men is definitely my favorite film, period. It definitely gave me a lot more appreciation for the law system, flawed as it may be, and conveniently a few years before I jumped onto mock trial teams haha
Twelve Angry Men is a really popular go-to film for schools, huh? I saw it a little less than 2 years ago in English class. I also really liked it. I've only seen it once, but many of the characters and pieces of dialogue are still in my mind, clear as day.
While on the topic of courtroom dramas from 1957 (how convenient), who here's seen Paths of Glory? I did a few years back, and came out adoring it. Even though I think A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick's best film, Paths of Glory creates the strongest sense of emotional investment of any Kubrick movies I've seen (which is most of them). Even more so after I discovered it's loosely based on a true story.
@RobbyBevard:
They did a color remake a few years ago. Had Tony Danza and Edward James Olmos in it. Kind of weird.
Oh yeah. The one with Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott. I saw that too.
Yeah….weird (making Juror 10 a Black Supremacist, what?)
Twelve Angry Men is a really popular go-to film for schools, huh? I saw it a little less than 2 years ago in English class. I also really liked it. I've only seen it once, but many of the characters and pieces of dialogue are still in my mind, clear as day.
While on the topic of courtroom dramas from 1957 (how convenient), who here's seen Paths of Glory? I did a few years back, and came out adoring it. Even though I think A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick's best film, Paths of Glory creates the strongest sense of emotional investment of any Kubrick movies I've seen (which is most of them). Even more so after I discovered it's loosely based on a true story.
Yep, even here in Germany, we watched and read 12 Angry Men (which was translated to "The 12 jurymen") when i was 14/15. Still thankful to my teacher showing us stuff like that.
Nobody saw any Bergman movies?
I've seen the obvious one– The Seventh Seal. I...honestly don't know what to say about it. Just that it was not what I was expecting at all. I probably need to see it again to form a proper opinion on it. I will say this, though. I find this line of dialogue from Antonius is absolutely brilliant: "I want knowledge! Not faith, not assumptions, but knowledge. I want God to stretch out His hand, uncover His face and speak to me. I call out to Him in the darkness. But it's as if no one was there."
Seen the Seventh Seal and Persona. They both are beautfil constructs of an idea and the rythm of Persona is strange, fulfilling but also leaves you in a state of astonishment that can't really compare to a lot of things. They are highly Stylistic achievements.
Also my friends and i still joke about dancing like a bear.
I'm always crazy about movies set in one location where the characters can't/don't leave for most of the movie. Another good one like that is Lifeboat, a Hitchcock one. What it is about should be obvious from the title.
I've never seen Paths of Glory but I've heard good things.
anyone else love Casablanca?
I'm shocked, shocked to find that people like Casablanca in here!
I saw a parody of Casablanca by the Looney Tunes in the past and I found it funny.
Never seen Casablance.
Blame the fact it was never on TV when I looked.
I saw a parody of Casablanca by the Looney Tunes in the past and I found it funny.
I loved how Cartoon Network once advertised that during June Bugs one year and never to my recollection showed it.
I loved how Cartoon Network once advertised that during June Bugs one year and never to my recollection showed it.
They showed it several times.
Were you glued to the tv for the entire 12 hours a day marathoning?
^ This was back when the network actually use to run the marathon for an entire weekend.