My Journey Into Classical Films.

[Obscure Jack]

I think it would be very useful to also watch some foreign films, particularly from Europe.

Films by such masters as Truffaut (The 400 Blows, Soft Skin), Godard (Breathless and Masculin, feminin), Fellini (Nights of Cabiria, 8 1/2), Antonioni (Eclipse, Blowup), De Sica (The Bicycle Thieves, Shoeshine).

Some of their films may take you a few vieweing to get into the taste, but it is a worthy experience. Their films brought a great change in how I viewed and studied films previously.

P.S. Rashomon is another great film unfolding a story from different perspectives and questioning the authenticity of truth and fact. I was fascinated by Kurosawa's direction!

[SnoBorderZero]

All excellent suggestions there. I watched "Shoeshine" not long ago, definitely a great example of Italian neorealism by a master of the style.

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

Rashomon is fantastic, I was surprised in my film class at how many people had yet to see it. Kurosawa's first great film in my opinion.

Unfortunately it and Yojimbo are all I've seen. Needless to say I'm dying to see more.

[SnoBorderZero]

Those are certainly great starts, other obvious recommendations are "Ran", "Ikiru", "Seven Samurai", "Throne of Blood", and "Hidden Fortress" all of which are pretty badass and I really enjoyed.

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

Those are certainly great starts, other obvious recommendations are "Ran", "Ikiru", "Seven Samurai", "Throne of Blood", and "Hidden Fortress" all of which are pretty badass and I really enjoyed.

I've been waiting on Seven Samurai to come in from my library for about a year. I'm actually really close on the waiting list now.

[Frizzo the Clown]

Originally Posted by Obscure Jack

I think it would be very useful to also watch some foreign films, particularly from Europe.

Films by such masters as Truffaut (The 400 Blows, Soft Skin), Godard (Breathless and Masculin, feminin), Fellini (Nights of Cabiria, 8 1/2), Antonioni (Eclipse, Blowup), De Sica (The Bicycle Thieves, Shoeshine).

Some of their films may take you a few vieweing to get into the taste, but it is a worthy experience. Their films brought a great change in how I viewed and studied films previously.

P.S. Rashomon is another great film unfolding a story from different perspectives and questioning the authenticity of truth and fact. I was fascinated by Kurosawa's direction!

I agree 100%. Most of those films I was familiar with, but honestly had never really seen until one of my classes in college. Now, I count a majority of them among of my favorite films. I also now look at films very differently than I used to after viewing them.

[SnoBorderZero]

Originally Posted by PG Cooper

I've been waiting on Seven Samurai to come in from my library for about a year. I'm actually really close on the waiting list now.

It will be well worth the wait, the final battle is epicccc.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

I don't agree there, he's considered an auteur of cinema and his movies appear on numerous film lists. His films reflect the Depression's need for fun escapism movies to take people's minds off the country's hardships, elements of which don't always translate well today. So yeah, you're wrong.

The reason Capra appears in so many Best-Of lists is because older film critics have nostalgia for his work. But if you were to ask anyone between 20 and 40 to name their Top 100 films, I can guarantee that not one single Frank Capra film will be on the list except for It's a Wonderful Life. The appeal of Frank Capra isn't escapism. His films represented good old-fashioned American values. Something that's completely lost in our cynical world. If today, someone made a movie like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, people would laugh at it and mock it. Remember that Kevin Costner movie from a few years ago called Swing Vote? That was very much a modern-day Frank Capra film and no one gave a f--k. For people today to enjoy Capra's work, they have to accept it for what it is, and film snubs are not the type of people to do that.

[Obscure Jack]

Originally Posted by Frizzo the Clown

I agree 100%. Most of those films I was familiar with, but honestly had never really seen until one of my classes in college. Now, I count a majority of them among of my favorite films. I also now look at films very differently than I used to after viewing them.

It is really interesting how the New Wave commenced originally in the times of unfavorable economic conditions and social dismay. Post-WWII Italy was the Wave's first shore, when it all started with neorealism and maximized value of a film to reflect our real world.

This was followed by France in the late 1950s, when cinema industry was facing many obstacles, especially financial. At the same time, majority of released films even then seemed outdated by their tendency to repeat themselves, while general audience demographics were changing and new groups of young critics popped out hailing the idea of auter cinema.

Meanwhile, even the US and the UK began to hire these highly acclaimed directors from Italy and France to produce films in their countries, thus giving a clear of their appreciation. Even in Asia they had their own kind of the New Wave epiphany coming from the Pacific Ocean, particularly Japan. That is when the generation of new and younger filmmakers started to receive recognition and even financing from major studios. And, all that started against the Post-War climate, as well. Japan was facing many economic obstacles on its way to recovery. It was very manufacture-based. At the same time, it encountered various social and cultural revisions and changes, one of the primary of which was urbanization and distance in maintaining close familial bonds. This is well-depicted in Ozu's Tokyo Story.

[SnoBorderZero]

Originally Posted by Neverending

The reason Capra appears in so many Best-Of lists is because older film critics have nostalgia for his work. But if you were to ask anyone between 20 and 40 to name their Top 100 films, I can guarantee that not one single Frank Capra film will be on the list except for It's a Wonderful Life. The appeal of Frank Capra isn't escapism. His films represented good old-fashioned American values. Something that's completely lost in our cynical world. If today, someone made a movie like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, people would laugh at it and mock it. Remember that Kevin Costner movie from a few years ago called Swing Vote? That was very much a modern-day Frank Capra film and no one gave a f--k. For people today to enjoy Capra's work, they have to accept it for what it is, and film snubs are not the type of people to do that.

Debatable, I wouldn't put any of his films in the top 100 because none of his films belong there. I have really enjoyed some of his films, "It Happened One Night" and "It's a Wonderful Life" the most, and I wouldn't put those in the top 100 because they aren't one of the top 100 films ever made. I know that his films represented American values and represented the time, you're honestly comparing a completely useless movie like "Swing Vote" to Frank Capra? How does that movie have anything to do with Capra's style, just because it's a comedy about politics doesn't mean it embodies a Capra film, you're reaching big time there. Some films don't age well, and Capra's films are often subject to harsher criticism than they deserve, I agree with you there, but no one is denying the charm and spirit of his films but rather that they're hokey and a little silly in the drama department at times. If anything, it's film "snubs" that can step back and appreciate Capra's work whereas normal moviegoers would dismiss it as aged and stupid. New audiences fall in love with Capra films all the time, especially "It's a Wonderful Life", and he's widely considered an auteur and deservedly so. Is he my favorite filmmaker? No, but I have seen almost all of his films and I enjoyed the majority of them and I don't see anyone but "snubs" renting movies from the 30s and 40s and even giving them a chance in the first place.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

you're honestly comparing a completely useless movie like "Swing Vote" to Frank Capra? How does that movie have anything to do with Capra's style, just because it's a comedy about politics doesn't mean it embodies a Capra film, you're reaching big time there.

It's not a comedy about politics. It's a morality tale. Just like the ones Capra made in the `30s and `40s.

normal moviegoers would dismiss it as aged and stupid.

The general public doesn't like most movies made before 1980. I never included them in the equation.

I don't see anyone but "snubs" renting movies from the 30s and 40s and even giving them a chance in the first place.

What about Film Fans who aren't snobs?

[SnoBorderZero]

Regardless, no one gives a **** about "Swing Vote" because it's a movie that did not look very good at all. I didn't see it so I can't really comment on it, but reviews were mediocre and once again I think you can find better examples than that and you're still really reaching.

And true, I thought you were speaking about the general public there. It's funny when friends will talk about "Oh man that movie is soooo old, it came out in like 2001 or something" and I can't help but laugh.

I'm not really sure how you're backing your claim in any way here. If by film fan you mean people that just love movies and overlook faults in them and snobs by people who can critique films, then I guess. But to be honest, would YOU put any Frank Capra film as one of the 100 best films of all time? Because there's a lot of movies and filmmakers I'm going to list first before I even start with his films.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

Regardless, no one gives a **** about "Swing Vote" because it's a movie that did not look very good at all. I didn't see it so I can't really comment on it, but reviews were mediocre and once again I think you can find better examples than that and you're still really reaching.

It's amusing how you always criticize movies you haven't seen.

would YOU put any Frank Capra film as one of the 100 best films of all time?

I enjoy his films with Jimmy Stewart, so I might include those.

[Ramplate]

Originally Posted by SnoBorderZero

But to be honest, would YOU put any Frank Capra film as one of the 100 best films of all time? Because there's a lot of movies and filmmakers I'm going to list first before I even start with his films.

It Happened One Night
and
It's a Wonderful Life

at least those two

[SnoBorderZero]

Originally Posted by Neverending

It's amusing how you always criticize movies you haven't seen.

I generally haven't seen these movies because frankly, they aren't worth my time. "Swing Vote"? I honestly have to see this movie to know it'll be lackluster? Judging from reviews and the fact I forgot that movie existed until you brought it up here, I'm not missing much.

And Top 100 movies ever? Come on, no way. I like those movies too, but we're talking top 100 here.

[PG Cooper]

All I've seen is It's A Wonderful Life, and as much as I loved it, it wouldn't make my top 100.

[MovieBuff801]

From the CS Film Club:

Lawrence of Arabia

David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" chronicles the experiences of British soldier T.E. Lawrence (Peter O' Toole) as he helps the Arabs in their revolt against the Turks in the Arab desert during World War I.

This film is an epic in every sense of the word. From the massive 3 hr. and 48 minute runtime to the expansive canvas the story takes place on, there's always a big feeling to it, and I quickly got wrapped up in that feeling.

I appreciated how even though this can be classified as a war film, it still takes the time to be more meditative, and it also really does a good job of delving into Lawrence as a character and his conflicting emotions about the situation he's in. As a result, O' Toole gives a fantastic performance. If the opening titles are to be believed, this was his first film role, which makes it even more impressive.

Yet I did find this movie to have its' dull/slow-moving moments, which is to be expected from a movie so long. Still, I was involved by enough of it and the acting was strong enough for me to say it was well worth the watch.

***1/2 /****

[Ramplate]

As much as I've wanted to, I have never been able to sit though the entire thing

[Doomsday]

David Lean has some great films. If you liked it you should go see Bridge on the River Kwai, you might like that one even better. He has a number of 'epic' type films, Doctor Zhivago and Passage to India being others, but another fantastic movie is a much smaller but equally engrossing romantic drama called 'Brief Encounter.' If you do a couple weeks going through David Lean movie's you'll have done yourself a really great service.

[MovieBuff801]

Originally Posted by Ramplate

As much as I've wanted to, I have never been able to sit though the entire thing

The day I watched it, I basically had to clear my entire afternoon, but I managed to get through it in one sitting.

[Deexan]

Originally Posted by her869mil

How nice!!!! I love classical movies from the bottom of my heart. specially I enjoy the romantic movies.

At first I thought this said "Holy nice!!!!"

I am now going to start saying "Holy nice!!!!" on a regular basis.

[Ramplate]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

David Lean has some great films. If you liked it you should go see Bridge on the River Kwai, you might like that one even better. He has a number of 'epic' type films, Doctor Zhivago and Passage to India being others, but another fantastic movie is a much smaller but equally engrossing romantic drama called 'Brief Encounter.' If you do a couple weeks going through David Lean movie's you'll have done yourself a really great service.

Bridge on the River Kwai - great film (although it has little to do with the actual event lol)

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

David Lean has some great films. If you liked it you should go see Bridge on the River Kwai, you might like that one even better. He has a number of 'epic' type films, Doctor Zhivago and Passage to India being others, but another fantastic movie is a much smaller but equally engrossing romantic drama called 'Brief Encounter.' If you do a couple weeks going through David Lean movie's you'll have done yourself a really great service.

Originally Posted by Ramplate

Bridge on the River Kwai - great film (although it has little to do with the actual event lol)

Bridge on the River Kwai is one of my absolute favourites. I love that movie.

[Doomsday]

Originally Posted by PG Cooper

I've been waiting on Seven Samurai to come in from my library for about a year. I'm actually really close on the waiting list now.

I own it, I can try to throw it up on youtube sometime if you don't mind watching it on that.

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

I own it, I can try to throw it up on youtube sometime if you don't mind watching it on that.

Thanks, but the library should have it in for more in the next few weeks, so I'm okay.