What is a good movie? Need you Help on this one.

ifownlee41nite@mac.com

ifownlee41nite@mac.com

Well-known member
Just curious. So many people have so many opinions about movies including myself. Just curious to know what some of you guys think.

I loved Ghost Rider but just because I loved it doesn't make it a great movie.

Need your help on this one.
 
to me a good movie is either

1) A Movie that entertains
2) A Movie that sticks with me

A movie that does both is a great movie for me, but any movie that falls into either one is in a completely different from the other.

For example, I enjoy a nice action movie, but it may just be a good movie. To call it great it would have to stick with me, make me question something, make me think about the issues and topics a week later. But on the other hang a movie like... requiem for a dream sticks with me, but I didn't enjoy very much in the end, thus it's a good movie, but not great in my books.
 
Is this a trick question?

What's a great food? Way too subjective to be comprehensive without writing a 3 page reply.
 
If you're looking for a definition of "good" which translates to "making it in Hollywood," there isn't one. Or at least not JUST one.
 
a movie set in miami in which scarlet johansson, jessica beil, and jessica simpson enter a 3 person beach volleyball contest. simpson's character is deaf and mute.
 
ugafan said:
a movie set in miami in which scarlet johansson, jessica beil, and jessica simpson enter a 3 person beach volleyball contest. simpson's character is deaf and mute.
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I'd watch that... probably in slow motion.
 
this is highly, highly subjective. as a filmmaker you'll do better to pursue what you like rather than trying to predict what your audience will. that being said...

my definition of "a good movie" is probably unlike most here. for me, a good film ultimately transcends the story, characters and mise en scene. it is more than the sum of its parts. it is truthful and compelling and resonates with you emotionally, or even spiritually. i'm not big on mindless, mainstream entertainment. i'm usually not into "checking my brain at the door". i'm not slamming your taste and haven't seen the movie, but when I look at a movie like Ghost Rider, i wonder: how different could that be from something like The Crow, or RoboCop, or the countless resurrection/revenge themed films that came before and set the standard? you know, The Crow was mentioned when this thing was pitched to an executive.

the sort of films that satisfy what i'm looking for usually fall into the category of "transcendental humanism". we're talking films like Breaking the Waves, The Double Life of Veronique, The Dreamlife of Angels, George Washington, Half Nelson, Lilja 4-ever, The Mirror, Morvern Callar, The New World, Raising Victor Vargas, Ratcatcher, Rosetta, The Sacrifice, Scenes from a Marriage, The Son, Stranger Than Paradise, K's Three Colors Trilogy, Uzak, Werckmeister Harmonies, Wings of Desire, etc...

keep in mind, I also tend to balance my penchant for intellectually and/or spiritually relevant cinema with the likes of early Sam Raimi, early John Carpenter, early Peter Jackson, and other filmmakers that were once willing to push the envelope of genre.

but moreorless, i'd much rather watch a film that aspires toward what i consider to be the ideal AND FAIL, than even the most compentently executed popcorn flick.
 
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ugafan said:
a movie set in miami in which scarlet johansson, jessica beil, and jessica simpson enter a 3 person beach volleyball contest. simpson's character is deaf and mute.
Click to expand...

I predict you'll be a billionaire by the time you're thirty :beer:
 
By Horse films: I'd say a good movie is anything that manages to entertain me for its duration.
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Great answer!!!!
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By Jon Star: to me a good movie is either

1) A Movie that entertains
2) A Movie that sticks with me

A movie that does both is a great movie for me, but any movie that falls into either one is in a completely different from the other.

For example, I enjoy a nice action movie, but it may just be a good movie. To call it great it would have to stick with me, make me question something, make me think about the issues and topics a week later. But on the other hang a movie like... requiem for a dream sticks with me, but I didn't enjoy very much in the end, thus it's a good movie, but not great in my books.
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I can see where your going with that. Sometimes a movie for me is just that. At times good movies let me down in one way or another, but still I walk away liking it.
Ghost Rider for me was one of those movies. I like'd the comicbook, but loved the movie. I am just being honest, I don't know why I loved it. There was nothin in the move that I hadn't seen before, read the comic so I knew what to exspect, so shoot me I liked it. I loved the xmen comicbook, but just liked the movie. Maybe I exspected too much because of the fact that xmen was one of my favorite comics growing up.
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By Ming: Is this a trick question?

What's a great food? Way too subjective to be comprehensive without writing a 3 page reply.
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What a cop out Ming.

What is a great food? A great food for me is one that taste great and is good for you.

Wow. I must be the smartest man on earth because I answer a question that is way too subjective to be comprehensive without writing a 3 page reply.

But I forgive you :)
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By Zack Forman: this is highly, highly subjective. as a filmmaker you'll do better to pursue what you like rather than trying to predict what your audience will. that being said...

my definition of "a good movie" is probably unlike most here. for me, a good film ultimately transcends the story, characters and mise en scene. it is more than the sum of its parts. it is truthful and compelling and resonates with you emotionally, or even spiritually. i'm not big on mindless, mainstream entertainment. i'm usually not into "checking my brain at the door". i'm not slamming your taste and haven't seen the movie, but when I look at a movie like Ghost Rider, i wonder: how different could that be from something like The Crow, or RoboCop, or the countless resurrection/revenge themed films that came before and set the standard? you know, The Crow was mentioned when this thing was pitched to an executive.

the sort of films that satisfy what i'm looking for usually fall into the category of "transcendental humanism". we're talking films like Breaking the Waves, The Double Life of Veronique, The Dreamlife of Angels, George Washington, Half Nelson, Lilja 4-ever, The Mirror, Morvern Callar, The New World, Raising Victor Vargas, Ratcatcher, Rosetta, The Sacrifice, Scenes from a Marriage, The Son, Stranger Than Paradise, K's Three Colors Trilogy, Uzak, Werckmeister Harmonies, Wings of Desire, etc...

keep in mind, I also tend to balance my penchant for intellectually and/or spiritually relevant cinema with the likes of early Sam Raimi, early John Carpenter, early Peter Jackson, and other filmmakers that were once willing to push the envelope of genre.

but moreorless, i'd much rather watch a film that aspires toward what i consider to be the ideal AND FAIL, than even the most compentently executed popcorn flick.
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I hear you. I agree with some of what you have written, but for me my taste in movies change from time to time. Sometimes I am in the mood for a low budget laugh my *ss off comedy with no real underlying message, a movie that was made for me to exscape the reality of what ever is pissing me off at the time to laugh, laugh, and laugh. Then it changes when I least exspect it and I crave a well thought out witty romance, then again it changes and I'm in the mood for some next level special fx filled movie with a kick. But most of the time though I enjoy a clever, dialogue filled movie with relitively no special fx. One with a plot that keeps you guessing til the end. One that end with me still wanting more. One that I leave know the conclusion but still wondering what if. One that stays on my mind. It changes is my point and I am so glad that it does. Because life would be so boring if we all thought and want the same thing. It sucks to have to be an indivisual who understands that everyone has an opinion and no matter how much I want them to see the world as I do they have there own eyes, ears, mouths and opinion.

BTW, Slow Mo would be really great. Lets take it back to 3d glasses while we're at it.
 
Hmm, a good movie is a movie that haunts me.

Vanilla Sky
Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
Children of Paradise (1945)
Wizard of Oz (1939)
Touch of Evil
Los Olvidados (1950)
That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)
The Thing (1982)
Runaway Train (1985)
Stazione Termini
Stalker (1979)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Faces (1968/I)

And for fun:

Die Hard
The Matrix (1999)
Running Man (1987)
etc.

:beer:
 
Paul Coleman said:
Hmm, a good movie is a movie that haunts me.

Vanilla Sky
Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
Children of Paradise (1945)
Wizard of Oz (1939)
Touch of Evil
Los Olvidados (1950)
That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)
The Thing (1982)
Runaway Train (1985)
Stazione Termini
Stalker (1979)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Faces (1968/I)

And for fun:

Die Hard
The Matrix (1999)
Running Man (1987)
etc.

:beer:
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I like some of your pics. I liked vanilla sky, and The Thing. The Wizard of Oz is a great example of pushing the envolope for its time.

Thanks for response:)
 
Keep em comin!!! I know this is can be perceived as a broad question, but I am only looking the honest answer in all of us.

Would love to hear some more answers.
 
Here is a small sample from my lib in no particular order. They are not all 'great' movies. But they are keepers for me and they stand up to repeat viewing. Depends on the mood too. Nothing profound here. Just entertainment.

Unforgiven 1992
The Fly 1958
The Pit And The Pendulum 1961
Psycho 1960
The Birds 1963
The Ghost & Mr.Chicken 1966
The Polar Express 2004
Castaway 2000
Raising arizona 1987
Die hard with a vengence 1995
Terminator 1 1984
Alien 1979
Frankenstein 1931
It’s a wonderful life 1946
The Wizard of Oz 1939
Angles with Dirty Faces 1938 (The Dead End Kids)
Miracle on 34th street 1947
Lord of the Flies 1963
Billy Jack 1967
Young Frankenstein 1974
Scarface 1983
Spinal Tap 1984
The Hudsucker Proxy 1994
Matrix (1) 1999
Reign of Fire 2002
An Inconvenient Truth 2006
American Graffiti 1973
Papillon 1973
 
ugafan said:
a movie set in miami in which scarlet johansson, jessica beil, and jessica simpson enter a 3 person beach volleyball contest. simpson's character is deaf and mute.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd watch that in slow motion and with the repeat on... :Drogar-Evil(DBG):
 
Raptor365 said:
Here is a small sample from my lib in no particular order. They are not all 'great' movies. But they are keepers for me and they stand up to repeat viewing. Depends on the mood too. Nothing profound here. Just entertainment.

Unforgiven 1992
The Fly 1958
The Pit And The Pendulum 1961
Psycho 1960
The Birds 1963
The Ghost & Mr.Chicken 1966
The Polar Express 2004
Castaway 2000
Raising arizona 1987
Die hard with a vengence 1995
Terminator 1 1984
Alien 1979
Frankenstein 1931
It’s a wonderful life 1946
The Wizard of Oz 1939
Angles with Dirty Faces 1938 (The Dead End Kids)
Miracle on 34th street 1947
Lord of the Flies 1963
Billy Jack 1967
Young Frankenstein 1974
Scarface 1983
Spinal Tap 1984
The Hudsucker Proxy 1994
Matrix (1) 1999
Reign of Fire 2002
An Inconvenient Truth 2006
American Graffiti 1973
Papillon 1973
Click to expand...

Man I forgot all about Lord of the Flies. I dug that movie. Great List man. Just looking at it brings back memories. Thanks
 
tommyinla said:
Yeah, I'd watch that in slow motion and with the repeat on... :Drogar-Evil(DBG):
Click to expand...
Then Jessica Beil suddently get thirsty so she bends over the cooler to dig for an ICE COLD Deer Park. She talks three sip and then begans to shower herself with H2O.

OH YEAH, I forgot to mention that this was a WET T-SHIRT charity fund raiser volleyball game. :Drogar-Love(DBG):

The water was ICE COLD!
 
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