I’ve only seen Solaris so far, and was absolutely blown away with it. The only comparison with 2001 I could possibly see would be the use of space as a metaphor for finding some ultimate truth, but Solaris is more about the characters rather than the allegory, and in my opinion works better as a film. The first few scenes, the plants in the water was just so well captured, and really transmitted something about the grace and perfection of nature. The whole idea of a planet as a realizor of our consciousness is mind blowing to say the least. I loved the part of Sos Sarkisyan, very eerie. And honestly, this movie’s portrayal of futuristic space ships (the interior at least) is superior to 2001 in every way. I was very impressed with what Tarkovsky was able to do in the Soviet Union.
After reading all these posts, I’m definitely finding the book Sculpting in Time, and watching Stalker as soon as I can. Btw, I’m new to these forums, and am absolutely blown away to find this many cinephiles in one place. Usually no one knows what I’m talking about.
This is a horrible topic. I hate the person who made it (just kidding buddy, but it is horrible). The only reason I want to respond is because I saw a lot of great posts. I was surprised at seeing Barry Lyndon here a couple of times, definitely one of my favorite Kubrick flicks, and definitely underrated. I remember being at awe at the end, and really overwhelming by the orgy of images my eyes had just witnessed. If only Tom Jones had been shot in the same way.
My all time favorite: fuckkkkkkk…Ikiru, The Silence (Bergman), Metropolis, Prairie Home Companion/Nashville (tie), Citizen Kane, 8.5, im gonna stop
Bergman is a wonder to watch every time, and you have to really be in tune with his themes to understand his movies. I think Hour of the Wolf is supremely misunderstood as a horror film, its a film about insanity, just because there are spirits it doesnt mean that Bergman intends for you to believe them or be scared by them.
Tarkovsky definitely.
Pickpocket wasn’t that challenging to watch though. Just a simple story with a lot of implications like Bicycle Thieves.
There’s nothing wrong with the auteur theory, it’s just that not everyone is an auteur. Kubrick, Bergman, Kurosawa – you know theyre the geniuses behind their movies.
Christopher Nolan (the two Batman movies have been great but dont judge him just on that. The fact is that Memento changed the course of movie history, and The Prestige only shows hints of what this man will be able to do).
The Silence definitely appealed to me, and seemed to make a lot of sense with what I was going through at the time. Great love scene in the theater, I mean a great director can direct anything, and Ingmar is the greatest (maybe tied with Tarkovsky, I dont know). Fanny and Alexander, and Persona are probably his other best.
But to get really personal here, and these are opinions that not many hold. I think his other two masterpieces are The Serpent’s Egg and The Hour of the Wolf. I have many reasons for these two picks, too many to go through. I dont think you should skip them while browsing his filmography.
Obviously, visually this film kicks ass. I don’t know how people expected the race scenes to be filmed in any other way but CG. Emile was caught complaining about how he never got to drive a car for the movie. Shut the hell up and follow directions. This movie is intended for kids, and I think they would have a lot of fun with it. I liked the monkey, I liked the little brother a lot (the kid has genius gestures). The last scene, if you make it to the end of the film, makes the whole ride worth it. The only problem with the movie is that it depends too much on the last climactic scene, but I guess it works in that its just like the last lap of a race, the most interesting and the most memorable.
There should be a liberal bias in everything, especially movies and art. It takes an open mind to reflect upon life, and reproduce it for communication of ideas. The fact is, only a minority of right wing folks would even attempt to make movies, for anything other than propaganda. If they do, and it’s good, I’ll watch it. But like I said, they’re the minority.
And there’s nothing wrong with communism. Democracy has killed just as many, and the killing continues.
Another vote for Barry Lyndon, you really have to watch this twice to appreciate it, and it stays with you…
Dr. Strangelove, The Killing, Lolita…all classics in their own right. If any director made even one of those, he’d be a proud man.
I saw Spartacus recently, and was impressed. It’s not a perfect film, but its as close to a Hollywood-Rome movie as Kubrick could get, while infusing it with grander themes.
2001 is a perfect movie. I saw it for the first time at home, and out of respect for cinema did not fast forward the beginning. Those “sounds” tripped me out, and set the tone for the whole movie. Great metaphorical beginning with an pre-human picking up a bone and using it as the first tool/weapon. That’s humanity rising above the rest of the living creatures on earth. The next “creature” who even comes close is artificial intelligence, which is when we become gods ourselves, creating life. I still haven’t figured out the scenes of old age, but I know that at the end, humanity takes the next step in evolution (not population evolution, individual evolution), and the space child is born.
Clockwork Orange is visionary. It’s interesting to me how the book has a last chapter that has Alex actually changing into a good person, that Kubrick left out.
The bottom line, you might not agree with what he says. But he says it, and challenges you to decipher the message.
Love all these covers, some of them are genius and would probably be used by Criterion if they were to release the films…I’ll work on making a few myself. If any of you wanna tackle these titles, because you love them too, be my guest:
That’s right. I’m fortunate enough to live close to a movie theater, that consistently plays movies that are good enough to be discussed on this website.
It’s called the New Beverly Cinema, usually double bills, for about 7 dollars an admission. It’s really a cinephile’s dream.
There is something to be said about watching a movie in a theatre vs. a dvd. Comforts aside, watching it in a theatre is a quite a different experience. And since this theatre is quite special, (in other words, not many people will show up for Bergman’s Smiles of a Summer Night on a Saturday night), there is an aura hanging over the heads of the audience, a sort of union of cinephiles based on the love of movies.
So the topic really is….where do you get to see your favorite movies?
haha…same question posed during Bertolucci’s The Dreamers…
I’m going to have to pick Chaplin. He tackled a vast amount of topics, and every one of his films is memorable. While Keaton has a masterpiece or two under his hat (The General), he’s just not as good as Chaplin. I think Chaplin’s works led to the sappy, poppy movies as we know them (so that’s a vice on his part), while it takes patience for any modern viewer to watch any of Keaton’s films.
Btw, by quality I was referring to the auteur-status movies as compared to the regular junk in movie theatres nowadays…But ya, I’m going on Thursday, so we’ll see how it turns out…Will probably write a review on the movie as well…
If you live in the LA area…this is the theatre to visit: http://www.newbevcinema.com/
Theyre playing two by Sergei Parajanov this Wednesday and Thursday.
Ive also seen Metropolis, King Kong (‘33), Rules of the Game, and Smiles of a Summer Night here. Truly extraordinary crowd, no bother at all to the viewers. In fact, as I’ve started to become part of the regular crowd here, we make it a point to stare down and point some negative energy at anyone even crankling their keys while in their seats. A truly wonderful experience every time.
Bergman’s Silence of God (except the one about the priest, not a bad movie but weak compared to Silence and Through a Glass Darkly)
Antonioni’s (All three are great, probably the best Italian director)
LOTR
Its more than a trilogy, but…the Adventures of Antoine Dionel (aka the one starting with 400 Blows, but really progresses to some great French Wave stuff. The guy has different wives, has an affair with an Asian lady…good stuff)
wow Bob…epic post…I cant wait the see the first half of that list plus possibly Pi…I’m gonna wait on Blockbuster to send me Virgin Spring though…
Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke are on google video…I’ve been looking for Grave of Fireflies, but cant find it. Great GREAT, I can’t emphasize how great of a film Grave of Fireflies is…I want to be able to share with friends.
Also, I don’t take credit for this, but I saw a post about Herzog’s films on Youtube, including Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo…
Movies Not On Criterion (& therefore, not on TheAuteurs) over 3 years ago
Color of Pomegranates (Parajanov)
Tripletes of Belleville
Definitely some more Peckinpah
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Tarkovsky over 3 years ago
I’ve only seen Solaris so far, and was absolutely blown away with it. The only comparison with 2001 I could possibly see would be the use of space as a metaphor for finding some ultimate truth, but Solaris is more about the characters rather than the allegory, and in my opinion works better as a film. The first few scenes, the plants in the water was just so well captured, and really transmitted something about the grace and perfection of nature. The whole idea of a planet as a realizor of our consciousness is mind blowing to say the least. I loved the part of Sos Sarkisyan, very eerie. And honestly, this movie’s portrayal of futuristic space ships (the interior at least) is superior to 2001 in every way. I was very impressed with what Tarkovsky was able to do in the Soviet Union.
After reading all these posts, I’m definitely finding the book Sculpting in Time, and watching Stalker as soon as I can. Btw, I’m new to these forums, and am absolutely blown away to find this many cinephiles in one place. Usually no one knows what I’m talking about.
Go to Comment
If you had to pick ONE film as your favorite... over 3 years ago
This is a horrible topic. I hate the person who made it (just kidding buddy, but it is horrible). The only reason I want to respond is because I saw a lot of great posts. I was surprised at seeing Barry Lyndon here a couple of times, definitely one of my favorite Kubrick flicks, and definitely underrated. I remember being at awe at the end, and really overwhelming by the orgy of images my eyes had just witnessed. If only Tom Jones had been shot in the same way.
My all time favorite: fuckkkkkkk…Ikiru, The Silence (Bergman), Metropolis, Prairie Home Companion/Nashville (tie), Citizen Kane, 8.5, im gonna stop
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Who do you think the most overrated director is? over 3 years ago
Mann and Bay
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Challenging Films over 3 years ago
Bergman is a wonder to watch every time, and you have to really be in tune with his themes to understand his movies. I think Hour of the Wolf is supremely misunderstood as a horror film, its a film about insanity, just because there are spirits it doesnt mean that Bergman intends for you to believe them or be scared by them.
Tarkovsky definitely.
Pickpocket wasn’t that challenging to watch though. Just a simple story with a lot of implications like Bicycle Thieves.
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GREAT SITE, BUT AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO'S NOT A BIG FAN OF AUTEUR THEORY over 3 years ago
There’s nothing wrong with the auteur theory, it’s just that not everyone is an auteur. Kubrick, Bergman, Kurosawa – you know theyre the geniuses behind their movies.
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Directors over 3 years ago
Christopher Nolan (the two Batman movies have been great but dont judge him just on that. The fact is that Memento changed the course of movie history, and The Prestige only shows hints of what this man will be able to do).
Almodovar, I look forward to a lot.
Coen Brothers for sure
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Michael Mann over 3 years ago
The only movie worthy of any praise, in my opinion, is Manhunter. Pretty cheesy director if you ask me.
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"FAVOURITE" CHRISTMAS MOVIE over 3 years ago
Christmas Story
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Criterion too pricey for you? over 3 years ago
Blockbuster Online and Netflix..buy it when you can, but there are too many to buy..
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What movies desperately need a U.S. dvd release? over 3 years ago
Parajanov
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Your favorite title sequence over 3 years ago
Catch me if you can
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The Great Ingmar Bergman! about 3 years ago
The Silence definitely appealed to me, and seemed to make a lot of sense with what I was going through at the time. Great love scene in the theater, I mean a great director can direct anything, and Ingmar is the greatest (maybe tied with Tarkovsky, I dont know). Fanny and Alexander, and Persona are probably his other best.
But to get really personal here, and these are opinions that not many hold. I think his other two masterpieces are The Serpent’s Egg and The Hour of the Wolf. I have many reasons for these two picks, too many to go through. I dont think you should skip them while browsing his filmography.
I have yet to see Autumn Sonata and Magic Flute.
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? about 3 years ago
Segei Parajanov
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Speed Racer about 3 years ago
Obviously, visually this film kicks ass. I don’t know how people expected the race scenes to be filmed in any other way but CG. Emile was caught complaining about how he never got to drive a car for the movie. Shut the hell up and follow directions. This movie is intended for kids, and I think they would have a lot of fun with it. I liked the monkey, I liked the little brother a lot (the kid has genius gestures). The last scene, if you make it to the end of the film, makes the whole ride worth it. The only problem with the movie is that it depends too much on the last climactic scene, but I guess it works in that its just like the last lap of a race, the most interesting and the most memorable.
Go to Comment
Is there a liberal bias in the film community? about 3 years ago
There should be a liberal bias in everything, especially movies and art. It takes an open mind to reflect upon life, and reproduce it for communication of ideas. The fact is, only a minority of right wing folks would even attempt to make movies, for anything other than propaganda. If they do, and it’s good, I’ll watch it. But like I said, they’re the minority.
And there’s nothing wrong with communism. Democracy has killed just as many, and the killing continues.
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WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? about 3 years ago
Marisa Tomei
Monica Votti
Claudia Cardinale
Natalie Wood
The triple-D chick from La Dolce Vita (just kidding, she’s not that special)
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K.U.B.R.I.C.K. about 3 years ago
Another vote for Barry Lyndon, you really have to watch this twice to appreciate it, and it stays with you…
Dr. Strangelove, The Killing, Lolita…all classics in their own right. If any director made even one of those, he’d be a proud man.
I saw Spartacus recently, and was impressed. It’s not a perfect film, but its as close to a Hollywood-Rome movie as Kubrick could get, while infusing it with grander themes.
2001 is a perfect movie. I saw it for the first time at home, and out of respect for cinema did not fast forward the beginning. Those “sounds” tripped me out, and set the tone for the whole movie. Great metaphorical beginning with an pre-human picking up a bone and using it as the first tool/weapon. That’s humanity rising above the rest of the living creatures on earth. The next “creature” who even comes close is artificial intelligence, which is when we become gods ourselves, creating life. I still haven’t figured out the scenes of old age, but I know that at the end, humanity takes the next step in evolution (not population evolution, individual evolution), and the space child is born.
Clockwork Orange is visionary. It’s interesting to me how the book has a last chapter that has Alex actually changing into a good person, that Kubrick left out.
The bottom line, you might not agree with what he says. But he says it, and challenges you to decipher the message.
Go to Comment
What Film Are You Most Looking Forward To In 2009? about 3 years ago
Top pick: The Road
Also: The Girlfriend Experience, Public Enemies, The Brothers Bloom (Brick was fantastic), Harry Potter
I was initially excited about the new Jarmusch movie, until I heard it sucks a lot. I’ll probably give it a try.
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The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Love all these covers, some of them are genius and would probably be used by Criterion if they were to release the films…I’ll work on making a few myself. If any of you wanna tackle these titles, because you love them too, be my guest:
Oldboy, Peeping Tom, and Color of Pomegranates…
Go to Comment
Quality Films at a Movie Theatre: Parajanov Films (May 13-14) about 3 years ago
That’s right. I’m fortunate enough to live close to a movie theater, that consistently plays movies that are good enough to be discussed on this website.
It’s called the New Beverly Cinema, usually double bills, for about 7 dollars an admission. It’s really a cinephile’s dream.
There is something to be said about watching a movie in a theatre vs. a dvd. Comforts aside, watching it in a theatre is a quite a different experience. And since this theatre is quite special, (in other words, not many people will show up for Bergman’s Smiles of a Summer Night on a Saturday night), there is an aura hanging over the heads of the audience, a sort of union of cinephiles based on the love of movies.
So the topic really is….where do you get to see your favorite movies?
Go to Comment
You know your a cinephile when? about 3 years ago
….when you use the word cinephile…i hate the term film buff myself…
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Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin? about 3 years ago
haha…same question posed during Bertolucci’s The Dreamers…
I’m going to have to pick Chaplin. He tackled a vast amount of topics, and every one of his films is memorable. While Keaton has a masterpiece or two under his hat (The General), he’s just not as good as Chaplin. I think Chaplin’s works led to the sappy, poppy movies as we know them (so that’s a vice on his part), while it takes patience for any modern viewer to watch any of Keaton’s films.
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Masterpieces By Mediocre Directors about 3 years ago
PTA is not a mediocre director…whatre you smoking on?
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Quality Films at a Movie Theatre: Parajanov Films (May 13-14) about 3 years ago
Btw, by quality I was referring to the auteur-status movies as compared to the regular junk in movie theatres nowadays…But ya, I’m going on Thursday, so we’ll see how it turns out…Will probably write a review on the movie as well…
Go to Comment
Importance of Seeing a Film in Theatres? about 3 years ago
If you live in the LA area…this is the theatre to visit: http://www.newbevcinema.com/
Theyre playing two by Sergei Parajanov this Wednesday and Thursday.
Ive also seen Metropolis, King Kong (‘33), Rules of the Game, and Smiles of a Summer Night here. Truly extraordinary crowd, no bother at all to the viewers. In fact, as I’ve started to become part of the regular crowd here, we make it a point to stare down and point some negative energy at anyone even crankling their keys while in their seats. A truly wonderful experience every time.
Go to Comment
Best Trilogy (NOT Star Wars) about 3 years ago
Bergman’s Silence of God (except the one about the priest, not a bad movie but weak compared to Silence and Through a Glass Darkly)
Antonioni’s (All three are great, probably the best Italian director)
LOTR
Its more than a trilogy, but…the Adventures of Antoine Dionel (aka the one starting with 400 Blows, but really progresses to some great French Wave stuff. The guy has different wives, has an affair with an Asian lady…good stuff)
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Masterpieces By Mediocre Directors about 3 years ago
Gone Baby Gone by Ben Affleck…I’m liking the other Affleck more everyday…
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FYI to anyone interested about 3 years ago
wow Bob…epic post…I cant wait the see the first half of that list plus possibly Pi…I’m gonna wait on Blockbuster to send me Virgin Spring though…
Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke are on google video…I’ve been looking for Grave of Fireflies, but cant find it. Great GREAT, I can’t emphasize how great of a film Grave of Fireflies is…I want to be able to share with friends.
Also, I don’t take credit for this, but I saw a post about Herzog’s films on Youtube, including Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo…
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3 Great Actors You'd Definitely Hangout With. over 2 years ago
1) Warren Oates
2) Kris Kristofferson
3) Christopher Walken
4) Orson Welles
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