11-07-2008, 10:29 PM
My usual recommendation is any of the works of Stanley Kubrick. However, since you specifically asked for not-depressing (all his are, every last one), let's try something more whimsical.
Anything by Hayao Miazaki. Spirited Away, for a start.
Having heard the name of Steven Chow earlier in the thread, I'll second that endorsement: Shaolin Soccer and Kung-fu Hustle are some of the best times I've had watching movies, in a non-intellectual sense. Shockingly strong character development, given that the characters are almost all hilarious parodies rather than tragic heroes.
Old Sergio Leone westerns are usually good. Once Upon a Time in the West is probably the strongest, but the Dollars trilogy is also classic.
In the same vein yet not, Kurosawa is a must-see. Rashomon for the classic, but Ikiru for a modern tale of human empathy and heartless bureaucracy that will bore you to tears, but move you at the same time.
-Jester
Anything by Hayao Miazaki. Spirited Away, for a start.
Having heard the name of Steven Chow earlier in the thread, I'll second that endorsement: Shaolin Soccer and Kung-fu Hustle are some of the best times I've had watching movies, in a non-intellectual sense. Shockingly strong character development, given that the characters are almost all hilarious parodies rather than tragic heroes.
Old Sergio Leone westerns are usually good. Once Upon a Time in the West is probably the strongest, but the Dollars trilogy is also classic.
In the same vein yet not, Kurosawa is a must-see. Rashomon for the classic, but Ikiru for a modern tale of human empathy and heartless bureaucracy that will bore you to tears, but move you at the same time.
-Jester