It seems like the 266-minutes version of The Idiot faced the same destiny as the original Greed, being cut down for theatrical releases without securing the original negatives. In the 1990s shortly before his death Kurosawa made the attempt to restore the original negatives but never suceeded in doing so, and without the Kurosawa family´s invervention will it be rather unlikely that we will see any of the missing scenes in the future.
According to Alex Cox, Kurosawa searched the Shochiku archives for the original cut of Hakuchi but found nothing.
There is always the possibility of the missing footage being found in some Tokyo archive…..missing footage to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis was found in 2008 in Buenos Aires, so there is always hope.
The Thin Red Line
Seven Samurai
Braveheart
Satantango, The Human Condition, and Andrei Rublev all take the time to explore the depths of misery and depravity humanity can fall. Call them what you will.
The Human condition, Satantango, Inland Empire
and Werkmeister Harmonies
Two Words: Berlin Alexanderplatz
It was the most mind-bending, life-altering film experience I’m ever likely to have.
I thought I had it all with my favorite epics, ones like Fanny and Alexander (TV Version of course), Lawrence of Arabia, Scenes from a Marriage, and Apocalypse Now Redux. Then I saw Berlin Alexanderplatz. I’ll never be the same. And I’m glad of that.
Two Words: Berlin Alexanderplatz
It was the most mind-bending, life-altering film experience I’m ever likely to have.
I thought I had it all with my favorite epics, ones like Fanny and Alexander (TV Version of course), Lawrence of Arabia, Scenes from a Marriage, and Apocalypse Now Redux. Then I saw Berlin Alexanderplatz. I’ll never be the same. And I’m glad of that.
1900
The Last Emperor
Underground
Once Upon A Time in America
Cinema Paradiso
Am I the only one thinking Barry Lyndon?
im sorry to the trier-haters, “Breaking the Waves” is my choice.
Polanski’s Tess. I didn’t want it to end.
Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Barry Lyndon, La Dolce Vita, Patton, Seven Samurai. I don’t know if it’s one of my favorites, but I found it very entertaining and that is Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
Ben Hur and The Last Emperor fit the historical epic mold perfectly
Ah! Casino is one that has never come to mind as epic until just now. It is pretty damn epic now isn’t it?
Wow great choice with Heaven’s Gate…that definitely deserves another look if you haven’t been able to get past the reputation yet.
David Lean is the king of epics, I think it’s pretty obvious that his films are one of the rare occasions where they simply could not be made today (financial reasons, for one) the way they were made. Lawrence of Arabia tops the list, Doctor Zhivago is wonderfully done, and I’ll throw in some Bridge on the River Kwai action.
Otherwise, Once Upon a Time in America, Barry Lyndon, Fanny and Alexander, Gone with the Wind, Lord of the Rings, etc.
I’m probably the only person who enjoyed Four Feathers with Heath Ledger. I think that place and time in history is not really explored, and I basically liked the film. The supporting black man is top notch also.
I have yet to see: Leopard and 1900
Wow great choice with Heaven’s Gate…that definitely deserves another look if you haven’t been able to get past the reputation yet.
David Lean is the king of epics, I think it’s pretty obvious that his films are one of the rare occasions where they simply could not be made today (financial reasons, for one) the way they were made. Lawrence of Arabia tops the list, Doctor Zhivago is wonderfully done, and I’ll throw in some Bridge on the River Kwai action.
Otherwise, Once Upon a Time in America, Barry Lyndon, Fanny and Alexander, Gone with the Wind, Lord of the Rings, etc.
I’m probably the only person who enjoyed Four Feathers with Heath Ledger. I think that place and time in history is not really explored, and I basically liked the film. The supporting black man is top notch also.
I have yet to see: Leopard and 1900
Wow great choice with Heaven’s Gate…that definitely deserves another look if you haven’t been able to get past the reputation yet.
David Lean is the king of epics, I think it’s pretty obvious that his films are one of the rare occasions where they simply could not be made today (financial reasons, for one) the way they were made. Lawrence of Arabia tops the list, Doctor Zhivago is wonderfully done, and I’ll throw in some Bridge on the River Kwai action.
Otherwise, Once Upon a Time in America, Barry Lyndon, Fanny and Alexander, Gone with the Wind, Lord of the Rings, etc.
I’m probably the only person who enjoyed Four Feathers with Heath Ledger. I think that place and time in history is not really explored, and I basically liked the film. The supporting black man is top notch also.
I have yet to see: Leopard and 1900
It’s not really my favorite, but since no one else has mentioned The Right Stuff, then I will. It’s damn good – especially on a big screen.
Braveheart?Patton?Right Stuff?
hasn’t anyone here heard of Marketa Lazarova or Casanova?
glad to see Leopard getting a nod and i’ll say…why not Little Dorrit? (speaking of the 6 hour mini-series film style..)
Intolerance (1916)
Greed (1924)
Les enfants du paradis (1945)
Spartacus (1960)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Il Gattopardo (1963)
Red Beard (1965)
The Godfather Part I & II (1972/1974)
Reds (1981)
The Right Stuff (1983)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
Hamlet (1996)
‘Gone with the Wind’
‘The Pianist’
‘8 1/2’
‘Amores Peros’
‘Apocalypto’
‘Fitzcarraldo’
Here I posted about Tess 20 hours ago and now Polanski’s been arrested. Lame!!!!
Interesting, it was the first film he made “in exile”.
Man, I can’t believe I forgot
L’albero degli zoccoli / The Tree of Wooden Clogs (186 min.) d. Ermanno Olmi 1978
Ben Fellini: Thanks for reminding me of Amores Perros. Definitely one of the best long-ish movies I’ve seen.
Short Cuts was epic in my opinion
If we ’re talking especially about epic films,then “Lawrence of Arabia” is the absolute in my opinion.Also,I saw “Marketa Lazarova” 2 days ago.A real masterpiece.
I’d have to agree with Woodstock, Tree of Wooden Clogs, and Andrei Rublev, but I also dig Dogville
Dimitris Psachos
will they ever release the original length of Kurosawa’s Idiot?or is this one of the lost reels?