Hi,
Yep. But I like the one at IMBd (and the ratings at NetFlix) because it is based on the votes of us common folk. Too many 'great movies' are great in some technical sense but pretty much suck as entertainment. Perfect example being Citizen Kane.
One painter may admire another because of his brush technique, but to the ignorant of the art, like me, it's the impact of the work.
Funny how 'greatest' sometimes means less than 'great'. The 21st century hasn't been around long enough to have 100 great movies. But as soon as it had 100, it had 100 greatest (also, worst).
First, if you make up enough 100 lists, you'll eventually include any movie ever made.
Second, "film artists, critics and historians" are too involved in techniques, acting, music, effects, etc. They don't care as much about entertainment as they do about creativity. It brings up Twain's "Wagner's music is better than it sounds" quip. Like many of the films on that list, his music is technically interesting and, mostly, emotionally boring.
Third, any list that puts Citizen Kane at the top is clearly a list composed by people with a taste greatly different from mine. I have seen that film dissected in an educational channel documentary as part of the history of film. Intellectually, it is a great film. Emotionally, it is barren (to me). I do not care about the characters, their motives, their actions, or their lives. Sitting there and thinking "great angle on that shot", "fantastic cut", "perfect expression", etc. is not why I watch movies. If I want intellectual, I watch documentaries (or, better, I read). Movies are entertainment. Their one fatal crime is being boring.
Oh, and sub-titles are not so bad once you get used to them. You can usually read them at a glance, and often without taking your focus completely away from the main action. Kinda like reading messages in a game. And it opens the gate to many great films that don't follow the Hollywood rules.
--Pete
(06-07-2010, 06:17 AM)King Jim Wrote: Too many top movie lists.
Yep. But I like the one at IMBd (and the ratings at NetFlix) because it is based on the votes of us common folk. Too many 'great movies' are great in some technical sense but pretty much suck as entertainment. Perfect example being Citizen Kane.
One painter may admire another because of his brush technique, but to the ignorant of the art, like me, it's the impact of the work.
Quote:the-100-greatest-movies-of-the-21st-century/
Funny how 'greatest' sometimes means less than 'great'. The 21st century hasn't been around long enough to have 100 great movies. But as soon as it had 100, it had 100 greatest (also, worst).
Quote:My favorite movie list: AFI's.
First, if you make up enough 100 lists, you'll eventually include any movie ever made.
Second, "film artists, critics and historians" are too involved in techniques, acting, music, effects, etc. They don't care as much about entertainment as they do about creativity. It brings up Twain's "Wagner's music is better than it sounds" quip. Like many of the films on that list, his music is technically interesting and, mostly, emotionally boring.
Third, any list that puts Citizen Kane at the top is clearly a list composed by people with a taste greatly different from mine. I have seen that film dissected in an educational channel documentary as part of the history of film. Intellectually, it is a great film. Emotionally, it is barren (to me). I do not care about the characters, their motives, their actions, or their lives. Sitting there and thinking "great angle on that shot", "fantastic cut", "perfect expression", etc. is not why I watch movies. If I want intellectual, I watch documentaries (or, better, I read). Movies are entertainment. Their one fatal crime is being boring.
Oh, and sub-titles are not so bad once you get used to them. You can usually read them at a glance, and often without taking your focus completely away from the main action. Kinda like reading messages in a game. And it opens the gate to many great films that don't follow the Hollywood rules.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?