Movies you absolutely MUST see.

[Blzer]

Re: Movies you absolutlely MUST see.

It just seems weird to me to draw that line and I don't mean to pinpoint you because I realize there are a lot of people that feel the same. People don't think twice about reading a book written 200 years ago or listening to music 50-60 years old, but for some reason movies are left out.

Well, not only do I not like reading, but writing, although having changed, is the only medium there which has changed. Music underwent changes in writing and sound, and film in writing, sound, and video. Some people just can't bear to see things which they never once identified with. I can't say I'm one of those people per se, but I might be slightly dismissive all the same.

I've watched films like Citizen Kane, The General, The Heiress, etc. and I enjoyed watching them, but they simply aren't my cup of tea. Everyone might be dismissive of films in some ways. Some people might not be able to watch black and white just like some other people might not be able to watch films with shaky cam. It's just a taste thing, and to hark on somebody for being dismissive and prejudgmental must apply to all categories, and not just one (in this case, an earlier era of movies).

I watched about 90 minutes of The Grapes of Wrath earlier today before I had to leave, and I wasn't that thrilled by it. No real urge to finish it. It's not the black and white that makes it unappealing... I just find older movies to not be as "good" to me when it comes to capturing what it is that I personally know and have grown up with when it comes to watching films.

[JohnDoe8865]

Re: Movies you absolutlely MUST see.

I would add the following movies that I haven't seen listed yet. I apologize if they have been mentioned:

For the movie's sense of scale and rich world.

Apocalypto (2006)
Cleopatra (1963)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Caligula (1979)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Julius Caesar (1953)
The Passion (2004)
Spartacus (1960)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
300 (2006)

Movies I think are unique, influential, or underrated.

Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Cast Away (2000)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Perfect Storm (2000)
Mystic River (2003)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Sin City (2005)
The Mist (2007)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
The Air I Breathe (2007)
One Hour Photo (2002)
Hard Candy (2005)
Appaloosa (2008)
The Proposition (2005)

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Movies you absolutely MUST see.

Most have already been mentioned, and just glanced through.

The Matrix (it was truly amazing at the time)
12 Angry Men (the black and white original)
Shawshank Redemption
The Godfather 1
Almost any Pixar Movie other than Cars/Cars 2

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Movies you absolutlely MUST see.

Well, not only do I not like reading, but writing, although having changed, is the only medium there which has changed. Music underwent changes in writing and sound, and film in writing, sound, and video. Some people just can't bear to see things which they never once identified with. I can't say I'm one of those people per se, but I might be slightly dismissive all the same.

I've watched films like Citizen Kane, The General, The Heiress, etc. and I enjoyed watching them, but they simply aren't my cup of tea. Everyone might be dismissive of films in some ways. Some people might not be able to watch black and white just like some other people might not be able to watch films with shaky cam. It's just a taste thing, and to hark on somebody for being dismissive and prejudgmental must apply to all categories, and not just one (in this case, an earlier era of movies).

I watched about 90 minutes of The Grapes of Wrath earlier today before I had to leave, and I wasn't that thrilled by it. No real urge to finish it. It's not the black and white that makes it unappealing... I just find older movies to not be as "good" to me when it comes to capturing what it is that I personally know and have grown up with when it comes to watching films.

At least you know what you don't like about them. I think more recent movies have been better at creating atmospheres and capturing moods, but there are some awesome "old" movies that were just as successful. The premise of dismissing something simply because its too old is just silly to me. It has nothing to do with how the medium has changed or is changing because it has even changed quite significantly since the 60s or even the 80s, but people don't draw the line there.

Just because its "old" doesn't mean its good or great and I think music is the biggest culprit of that assumption, though movies tend to do the same thing for the big tent pole classics. There is still a reason why some films remain relevant 60-70 years later.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Movies you absolutely MUST see.

12 Angry Men (the black and white original)

Great entry.

[SPTO]

Re: Movies you absolutlely MUST see.

Well, not only do I not like reading, but writing, although having changed, is the only medium there which has changed. Music underwent changes in writing and sound, and film in writing, sound, and video. Some people just can't bear to see things which they never once identified with. I can't say I'm one of those people per se, but I might be slightly dismissive all the same.

I've watched films like Citizen Kane, The General, The Heiress, etc. and I enjoyed watching them, but they simply aren't my cup of tea. Everyone might be dismissive of films in some ways. Some people might not be able to watch black and white just like some other people might not be able to watch films with shaky cam. It's just a taste thing, and to hark on somebody for being dismissive and prejudgmental must apply to all categories, and not just one (in this case, an earlier era of movies).

I watched about 90 minutes of The Grapes of Wrath earlier today before I had to leave, and I wasn't that thrilled by it. No real urge to finish it. It's not the black and white that makes it unappealing... I just find older movies to not be as "good" to me when it comes to capturing what it is that I personally know and have grown up with when it comes to watching films.

As Fresh Tendrils said at least you know what you don't like about it rather than giving a cop out answer. Tis a shame you didn't really like The Grapes of Wrath. That movie is one of my very favorite Henry Fonda films. The atmosphere and depth of the storytelling propels that story.

I will agree with Fresh Tendrils that not everything old is "great". I know some of the more romance slanted films from the Golden Age can get a bit grating. My one pet peeve about older movies especially when it's overdone is the fact that the musical score can sometimes overwhelm a film to the point that you just want the music to STOP! I watched a movie the other night called Desire Me now granted, at the time it was made it was considered the worst film in MGM's history (I would agree that it's not one of MGM's best moments on film but there's been stuff as bad or worse from the studio) and the musical score in that film just kills the atmosphere to the point that it feels like the score is a crutch for the plot and how the audience should feel about the movie.

Even though it was a flop and not one of MGM's best movies it had something that a lot of flops these days don't, and those are the moments where the actors in some scenes work above the material and makes it worth viewing. I thought Greer Garson did a marvelous job with what she was given and the movie was a bit of a tragedy for her as she suffered a back injury that would bother her for the rest of her life in the making of the film.

[AUChase]

Re: Movies you absolutely MUST see.

I assume you're referring to me ? I wouldn't call my response a 'cop out'.. I just haven't had the time or been back in this thread to reply.

It's not about my eyes hurting, I'm just not interested in many older movies. I've sat and watched movies with my dad before, from the 'black and white' days and the overly fake gun fights, hand to hand combat, etc. just rub me the wrong way.

It has nothing to do with a movie script..


Okay, so you guys are into older movies.. that's awesome. I just don't have much interest in them.

[SPTO]

Re: Movies you absolutely MUST see.

I assume you're referring to me ? I wouldn't call my response a 'cop out'.. I just haven't had the time or been back in this thread to reply.

It wasn't directed at you. That was a general statement.

[areobee401]

Re: Movies you absolutely MUST see.

Figured I'd add some that haven't been mentioned yet.

City Slickers
Fields Of Dreams
Kids
Lord Of War
City Of God
Big
The Sandlot
Fair and Loathing In Las Vegas
Edward Scissorhands
Fargo