Movie Classics that totally escape me

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the subjective nature of classic films, with participants sharing their opinions on critically acclaimed movies they found disappointing, such as "The Maltese Falcon" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Key contributors highlight the disconnect between critical acclaim and personal enjoyment, emphasizing that classics like "Blade Runner" and "Solaris" may not resonate with all viewers. The conversation also touches on the importance of context, maturity, and personal taste in film appreciation, suggesting that understanding may evolve over time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with classic films from various eras, particularly the 1940s to the 1980s.
  • Understanding of film genres, including noir and spaghetti westerns.
  • Knowledge of notable directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone.
  • Awareness of the cultural impact of films like "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca."
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the themes and motifs in noir films, particularly "The Maltese Falcon."
  • Analyze the narrative structure and cinematography of "Blade Runner" and its various cuts.
  • Study the evolution of film criticism and audience reception over the decades.
  • Investigate the cultural significance of foreign-language films and their adaptations.
USEFUL FOR

Film enthusiasts, critics, and students of cinema who wish to understand the complexities of film appreciation and the subjective nature of classic movies.

  • #181
pinball1970 said:
A film that everyone thought was great and told me to watch was 'Whiplash.'

don't recognise the name ... let me go look ...

it's description doesn't ring any bells
 
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  • #182
davenn said:
don't recognise the name ... let me go look ...

it's description doesn't ring any bells
My hero (one of them) from being about 13 was Buddy Rich, the greatest ever drummer. This film mentions him as it's about a dedicated young drummer. Here is the trailer.
 
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  • #183
Bystander said:
Sounds like a remake of "HDN." Artsies do artsies? "Look ma', no hands."
I could not tell you what the Beatles films were about, mad cap capers mainly. The best parts were where they would settle down and play a song which is what people wanted to see.
Elvis Presley did some good films in the 50s and a lot of formulaic stuff in the 60s. Fans were happy just to see Elvis doing stuff so they went to see them.
If you want a really bad film featuring a band watch 'Spice World.'
Everything else seems much better after that.
 
  • #184
DaveC426913 said:
Citizen Kane. Often required viewing in film classes - considered one of the critically-acclaimed movies of all time.

Oh my God. Kill me.Wings of Desire.

Oh my God. I will kill myself.

Maybe Rosebud or the Martians will get you first.
 
  • #185
My favorite classics include:

- Forbidden Planet (Robby was the real star)
- Day the Earth Stood Still with Michael Rennie (Gort was the real star but Michael was cool too)
- Gunga Din (rousing adventure movie but probably violated a lot of PC stuff today)
- Darby O'Gill and the Little People
- The 300 Spartans (Richard Egan 1963)
- The Time Machine (Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux)

- Man in the White Suit (Alec Guinness classic)
- Last Holiday (Alec Guinness again with a haunting violin piece)
- I Know Where I'm Going (Wendy Hiller with a haunting castle and family curse)

- Stars Wars IV (the first one)
- Battlestar Galactica (the first one with Loren Green)
- Back to the Future (the first one)
- John Carter

...
 
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  • #186
jedishrfu said:
Back to the Future (the first one)
Back to the Future... that is indeed a special movie in my opinion. When I think of it, it's a bit of a mystery why it does not appear on any of the classics list posted previously in this thread. Although, when I just read the wiki article on it, I noticed it is at number 10 on this AFI SF list.

I have personally never met or heard of anyone who does not like the movie. So, if there is anyone reading this thread who don't like it, it would be interesting to hear about it and why.

It's also an interesting and quite unusual mix of genres:

Wikipedia said:
Christopher Null, who first saw the film as a teenager, called it "a quintessential 1980s flick that combines science fiction, action, comedy, and romance all into a perfect little package that kids and adults will both devour."

And the soundtrack is quite good and memorable too.

And there's also a bit of music history in it, fictionalized but very funny:
 
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  • #187
jedishrfu said:
Gort was the real star. . .
If you are using Firefox, copy and paste this into a new tab in the address bar, press enter. . .

Code: 
about:robots
Read the box where the new tab is. . .

It should leave Gort a very important message. . . . 🤖


Lol. . .

.
 
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  • #188
OCR said:
It should leave Gort a very important message. . . . 🤖
⚠. . . Do NOT, under any circumstances, click. . .
1571797614735.png

:DD

.
 
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  • #190
jedishrfu said:
- Back to the Future (the first one)
DennisN said:
I have personally never met or heard of anyone who does not like the movie.
I remembered that I had seen an interview with the famous and very charismatic singer Chris Martin (Coldplay) where he said that his absolute favorite movie of all time was Back To The Future. Regretfully I can't find the interview, but I found another interview which was even more entertaining (a must see for Back To The Future fans, IMO!)

'Great Scott!' 'Back to the Future' Cast Reunites | TODAY
 
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  • #191
Bystander said:
e.g., at the moment I'm watching The Maltese Falcon, and finding it every bit as boring as 2001, A Space Oddysey. Any interest in a thread devoted to "critically acclaimed" movies that you want your money back when you see them for free in "The Nam," like Easy Rider? I did waste a perfectly good evening, "coulda" done KP, but no, I "hadda" go see Easy Rider.
Well, you're just too young to know what a "classic" is.
 
  • #192
ericlreite said:
Well, you're just too young to know what a "classic" is.
I don't think it's possible for you to ever go to a movie and Freak Out over the special effects or acting that I was able to experience...Alien, The Thing, The Godfather...etc.
 
  • #193
ericlreite said:
I don't think it's possible for you to ever go to a movie and Freak Out over the special effects or acting that I was able to experience...Alien, The Thing, The Godfather...etc.
In 1975 watching Jaws with your mum at he cinema you would have freaked out, trust me.
 
  • #194
I just watched "North By Northwest" by Hitchcock from 1959 and loved it. I did not remember the story at all.
Trailer:
 
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  • #195
I am reading "Super" a novel written by the late Jim Lehrer about movies, set on a luxury train carrying movie stars, producers, directors and a prior president from Chicago to Los Angeles. The plot makes sense to classical movie fans and downwinders, alike.

Trust no one. They are not what they say they are.
 
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  • #196
Having taken film classes, I would say a lot of "classic" films would be considered classic because they were a first or innovative in some way.
Once established, they have a cultural hold on opinions.
Once a kind of type of film is made, a frontier has been breached and followers, although possibly better are not going to have such a positive rep.

Other films (not classics) I like:
The People Under the Stairs
The Thing (Carpenter version)
 
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  • #197
I also like "The Thing" a lot. Nice, eerie atmosphere. I haven't seen the other movie you mentioned, but I have heard about it.
 
  • #198
DennisN said:
I also like "The Thing" a lot. Nice, eerie atmosphere. I haven't seen the other movie you mentioned, but I have heard about it.
It's great. John Carpenter to me was in the Spielberg mould. Just an eye for a shot, scene, line, perfect casting.
Humour too.
The Omen 1976 for me is one of the greatest films ever made. In terms of gradually unraveling the horrible reality of the situation they are in piece by piece. Just brilliant pacing.
However you get no respite, you crawl from one horror to the next.
Jaws and the Thing give you that little chance to breathe and laugh.
Was there a horror movie before Jaws that had the audience laughing like that?
Kids karate
The pot roast scene.
'Buster browns!'
What is they call that? 'Drowning'
That's some bad hat Harry
Plus the great interplay between Shaw and Dreyfus

Top 5?
 
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  • #199
pinball1970 said:
The Omen 1976 for me is one of the greatest films ever made.
I actually watched it again quite recently and liked it a lot, it's a very good movie.
 
  • #200
DennisN said:
I actually watched it again quite recently and liked it a lot, it's a very good movie.
The Omen 2 (when they did not do follow ups like they do now) is just as good.
Again perfect pacing and set pieces that makes you go 'arrrgh nooooooo!'
The plot is great. If you have recently done 1, time for 2.
Don't do 3. IMO it does not have that thriller factor.
 
  • #201
pinball1970 said:
If you have recently done 1, time for 2.
Thanks, will do! :smile:
 
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  • #202
I got hooked on really old movies after PBS had a series of Criterion movies from long ago

Stairway to Heaven with a young David Niven
I Know Where I’m Going with Wendy Hiller
Major Barbara with Rex Harrison and Wendy Hiller
Pygmalion with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller
The Razors Edge with Tyrone Power
The Quiet Man with Maureen OHara and John Wayne
The 39 Steps directed by Hitchcock with Ronald Colman
…
 
  • #203
jedishrfu said:
The 39 Steps directed by Hitchcock with Ronald Colman
That's with Robert Donat, surely?
 
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  • #204
jedishrfu said:
I Know Where I’m Going with Wendy Hiller
You should check out almost anything by Powell and Pressburger. In particular:

The Edge of the World
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Red Shoes
Black Narcissus
 
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  • #205
pinball1970 said:
Jaws and the Thing give you that little chance to breathe and laugh.
Was there a horror movie before Jaws that had the audience laughing like that?
Carpenter's The Thing and Jaws are in my top 5 of best horror, and top 20 Top of all time.
Alien is in there too.
 
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