Hate Citizen Kane? Think The Godfather is overrated? It's okay, you're among friends

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

:-)))))
I just watched "Night Moves" where Hackman says "I saw a Rohmer film once. It was kinda like watching paint dry."
2001 is nowhere near that and one of my favourite movies which I saw when it came out. If you understand the idea of HAL, watch Alien and maybe find a parallel in the android....

Well, "Prometheus"(2012) had a clearer HAL mirror... in the android named David...

These days most people would go 'huh?', but the One Step to the Left shift of IBM, into HAL... well it was great in its day...

These days who cares about folding, spindling, or mutilating punch cards...

[gonzo_entertainment]

"just as "Touch of Evil"(1958) has many elements that are worthy of 'consideration' for modern film making,"

Should be required viewing if you ever intend to use the words "noir" to describe one of your films.

[brandonfoxy61]

Well for me, the first would have to be Citizen Kane. I mean, I just found it so boring that the only time I was excited was when it finally ended. Second, I recently just watched Casablanca and I really did not understand all the acclaim it received :/

[robmneilson]

I just don't understand how a filmmakers could not enjoy Citizen Kane or Touch of Evil. I could understand if my mother would be bored however.

[ilauzirika]

I just don't understand how a filmmakers could not enjoy Citizen Kane or Touch of Evil. I could understand if my mother would be bored however.

Because I like movies that move me, make me cry or laugh, or action films that entertain me. Citizen kane isn't one of those, I find it slow, obviously I can also think that an abstract painting costing upwards 1mil$ is boring and overrated. Can I learn something as a filmmaker from citizen kane? yes, do I like the movie? no. And It happens the same with apocalypse now, can you learn from it, sure you do! Do I like it, no! why, it is long and slow, something I hate from movies!

[Charli]

First, I want to say I've watched MANY of the classic films and ENJOYED them. I didn't see an Alfred Hitchcock film until I read a biography on him. Pretty much have seen all his work and now I am a fan.

I am not a fan of Kubrick.
Never saw the "Godfather" series (not sure why, just never got around to it).
Never saw "Gone With the Wind" (not sure why...).
Never saw "Taxi Driver" (not sure why...).

I tried to watch "Citizen Kane" because of its importance in American Film History. I turned that movie off after 10 minutes! Oh, good Lord I was bored to ever-loving tears. I totally DISLIKED that movie.

Too many movies I like but I'll name a few classics:

1. Stage Door
2. Thin Man (all of 'em)
3. Roman Holiday
4. Sisters (think that's what it was called)

@Postmaster - Have you seen these French films:

1. Entre Nous
2. My Mother's Castle
3. My Father's Glory
4. Au Revoir Les Enfants (freakin'g cried on this one)
5. My Other Husband (funny, love Miou-Miou)
6. East/West

I do like "Shamshawk Redemption" and "Die Hard" and "Terminator II" and so and so on.

We like what we like, we don't what we don't. No institution is going to TELL US that just because that movie is the BEST movie on their 100 list that we SHOULD like it too.

Did I mention I really, really didn't like "Citizen Kane?"

[Postmaster]

Just flicked through this French film: Le mépris [1963]
It is considered a "milestone" and Raoul Coutard - the DP - is considered a "legend".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBO6NVgQiOA

Well that milestone bored me to death - no story, just a bunch of people arguing the whole time.
The DP's work also failed to impress me - most TV series show more sophisticated camera work.

Nobody was ever able to tell me, why exactly that would be such a milestone and what
exactly Raoul Coutard did there to make him a "legend".

[robmneilson]

Just flicked through this French film: Le mépris [1963]
It is considered a "milestone" and Raoul Coutard - the DP - is considered a "legend".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBO6NVgQiOA

Well that milestone bored me to death - no story, just a bunch of people arguing the whole time.
The DP's work also failed to impress me - most TV series show more sophisticated camera work.

Nobody was ever able to tell me, why exactly that would be such a milestone and what
exactly Raoul Coutard did there to make him a "legend".

I contemplated suicide as I watched that movie in film school, in a hot auditorium with an extremely uncomfortable chair. I'm sure it will be playing in a loop in my version of hell.

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Just flicked through this French film: Le mépris [1963]
It is considered a "milestone" and Raoul Coutard - the DP - is considered a "legend".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBO6NVgQiOA

Well that milestone bored me to death - no story, just a bunch of people arguing the whole time.
The DP's work also failed to impress me - most TV series show more sophisticated camera work.

Nobody was ever able to tell me, why exactly that would be such a milestone and what
exactly Raoul Coutard did there to make him a "legend".

While I never attended a formal 'film analysis' class my self... I did take notes for the Wife when she attended... so, that means I vicariously got the lectures as well...

Fortunately, the 'french' prof, was very much taken with Scorsese ("Raging Bull"(1980) 'recent' at the time...), and apparently didn't have much of 'un certain regard' for his own countrymen's efforts, other than some pillars... which I had already seen in the local art house years before... "Alphaville"(1965) was one.

So seeing "Raging Bull" or the 'almost Scorsese' film, "Honeymoon Killers"... was not really a problem.

There was this french porn film that one scene included a strategically placed stick of dynamite... but I can't recall the name...