Need Movie Recommendations...

mjmcneese

mjmcneese

Veteran
...for a group of high school Video Production students.

Really should be rated PG-13 or 'softer.' Should promote a discussion about some technicals and techniques used in the film.

The more recent the better (I showed them North by Northwest and half fell asleep), and some entertainment factor would help.
 
No Country for Old Men should keep them awake! Dark knight could start a huge discussion on all manner of things. Casino Royale was very nicely shot.
 
Many will probably not agree but... I caught Far and Away on cable last week. I really like the way it is shot in terms of lighting and camera movement. It also shows how to visually make some very dramatic jumps, both in terms of geographical space and in time.

For example: after Tom Cruise takes Kidman to her parents after she is shot, he runs and the camera tracks with him, speeding up with him the faster he runs until the frame whites out and then it cuts to the next scene which is months later and hundreds of miles away.

For modern film language, anything by Spielberg would probably fit the bill. They've all probably seen some Spielberg films, which would be good because it is always enlightening to dissect a film you've seen but never really delved into in terms of technique.
 
I would LOVE to show No Country - but I probably couldn't get away with showing an R rated movie in a high school.

I do like the Spielberg idea. Minority Report has some good technicals in it, and it's mildly entertaining. And I'm betting a lot of high schoolers never got out to see that one.

Keep 'em coming!
 
There Will Be Blood
great cinematography, sick acting

Dog Day Afternoon
brilliant screenplay, more sick acting (pacino + cazale + serandon = win)

I think those are both rated R. For PG-13 how about...

Sunset Blvd
a classic film, I think it's PG13

Come to think of it, I don't really know any PG13 films off the top of my head that stuck with me. But there's one :thumbup:
 
Rick Meyer said:
What about The Matrix? Its not only a fantastic film but groundbreaking in its visual approach.
Click to expand...

This was news to me as well...apparently The Matrix is considered LAME by high school seniors.

Also, I learned that Metallica is classic rock.

We didn't end up screening a movie on Thursday (that was the plan). Instead, we made a newscast. I'll show ya'll later...

But, we WILL be screening a movie this coming week.
 
i say let them pick the movie. no matter what it is you'll be able to find some technical aspects to talk about. this will encourage them to watch movies from a different point of view. instead of showing them something they would never see on purpose, show them something they already love, but teach them to look at it in a different way.
 
Red Dawn is a great idea! I'm betting most haven't seen or heard of it!

FYI, I asked them for some recommendations on movies to watch in class. It was all kids asking to screen Talladega Nights, Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin, and anything with Set Rogan. I just don't have the constitution...
 
Heh, strange. You'd think if they were interested in video production/filmmaking etc. they'd want to watch something else in class. Those films they have probably all seen anyway! :S Hmm.
 
back to the future, indiana jones (raiders), memento (R-Rated) but only language and violence but sparingly, the dark knight, jaws, Wes Anderson films(any ?), Juno, Thank you for smoking, Spinal Tap, Zodiac.. ill try to think of more.
 
I thought I would fall asleep in seven samurai but it was one of the best movies I've ever seen, so much to talk about in that movie...

Lord of the Rings? Lots and lots of technical stuff in that movie trilogy.
 
Spideys suggestions were good, Hm, what about Almost famous? That's a pretty good film that they would like I'd say.
 
Dia de la bestia, El
Spanish movie about a priest who decides to become a sinner to stop the Antichrist. Interesting, not so-old, and the plot is pretty dynamic, unlike stereotypical ''European films''. I think high-school folks would love it.
It's quite different than most of Hollywood films, yet it stays entertaining and something to have disccusion about.

Pi
Editing, symbolism, and proof than low-budget films can turn out great.

Start with Juno, end with Lynch and Takashi Miike.:Drogar-Love(DBG):
 
Wow - fantastic suggestions. I'm finding that I can screen R-Rated if I get them all to have their parents sign something. Memento - man...that would blow some minds!
 
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