If any person can watch Inland Empire in the middle of the night, in the dark, by themselves, and not be genuinely spooked during and after the film, then there is something wrong with that person. I love flicks like Alien or The Shining or Silence of the Lambs or The Ring, but David Lynch really one-upped himself with Inland Empire, making those other films just seem like child’s play.
I will give a nod to The Descent though. The first 20-30 minutes of that one were almost unbearable for me.
Recently: the use of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” in Dogfight
“why i would say this but in Korine’s GUMMO where the two male lead characters and riding there bike down these streets and DIO or some Black Sabbath-ish band is playing.”
It’s been a while, but I think that it is the early 90’s band Sleep. That whole soundtrack is killer, and though I like Dio, he definitely could not have made it on. Great stuff by Sleep, Bethlehem, Brujeria, Spazz, Bathory, Eyehategod, Absu and even an abridged version of a minimalist song by Burzum. Probably the most extreme/metal soundtrack of all time, especially for a movie that could be found in Blockbuster. It’s out of print though, so it would probably be at least $20 used.
Personally, I almost never buy blind when it comes to films. The few times I have, I was never thrilled with my purchases. I would recommend subscribing to Netflix. I’ve got a plan for $9 (maybe $10) a month, where I can have one movie checked out a time (they have most of the Criterion editions), with an unlimited amount/month, PLUS i can watch an unlimited amount of their online/instant selections (which is a lot, including a bunch of art-house sort of stuff). So if I get, watch, and send back one movie a week, this means that I will get four movies/month plus unlimited online viewing for only $9 bucks/month. Plus there’s always the library, which is free, and is where I checked out the copy of …Beehive that I just watched. Even if I like a film, I probably won’t buy it because there is so much other material at my fingertips that I haven’t watched that it seems kind of pointless.
I know that collecting is what some people are really into, which is fine, but if your goal is only to watch movies, there are ways that are much easier on the wallet.
Not only is it a flawless film that is extremely easy to watch over and over, but it has the best DVD commentary that I have ever heard. Almost as funny/insightful as the film itself.
I don’t think that any film buffs would consider Schindler’s List one of the great films. But it did serve the purpose of re-introducing the atrocities of the Holocaust to a mainstream America in the 90’s. Most people have no interest in “great film”, but for whatever reason this film struck a chord with a very significant portion of America. I remember that middle schools would take fieldtrips to to the the theater to see it.
Plus I think that Ralph Fiennes is phenomenal in it. But Kingsley is one of the most overrated actors today (IMHO of course). Not terrible, but far from great.
I love Howard’s End, but I am infinitely more in love with A Room With A View. That movie is perfect in every way.
I also was not that crazy about the artwork for Howard’s End. Maybe it will grow on me, but for such a lush film, I was disappointed by the lack of color.
Yeah, probably a tie between Royal Tennenbaums and Dazed and Confused. Howard’s End would be next in line. Years ago I would have said Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, but I’m not as big a fan of it anymore
Personally, I find the more mainstream films to be rewatchable. Life of Brian, Spinal Tap, Silence of the Lambs, Rushmore, Videodrome. I’ll probably watch those at least once a year. Whereas with arthouse/foreign/classic /experimental films, I’ll generally watch them once, and then not again for a long time, if at all. A big part of this is that the more “mainstream” films require less thought on my part, so if I am in the mood to see something familiar, it’s usually because I’m feeling kind of lazy, so I’ll go with something like Dazed and Confused over L’Avventura or a Godard film.
Is this definite? I don’t see anything about it on Netflix (in the Instant Queue or on the individual pages, though I only looked at a couple of the pages).
If it is, I’ve gotta look on the brightside. My Instant Queue will knocked down from Completely and Utterly Ridiculous size to only Borderline Ridiculous size.
It really does depend on the particular class and at what level you are taking it. I never really took any film courses in college, but was an English major. Though literature has been around much longer than film, I would not expect a professor to know everything, even every writer that is included in the “canon.” Professors generally had their niches, and I wouldn’t really expect a prof who specialized in African American lit to have much knowledge (if any) of The Song of Roland. And I wouldn’t really expect my Shakespeare profs to have much knowledge of postmodern literary theory.
It’s good to be well rounded, but most professors are so wrapped up in their very small literary worlds, it becomes easy for them to miss or forget some names/works that are considered extremely influential to others.
As far as Breathless, I would expect a prof to have at least heard of it, but at the same time there are plenty of “important” works (film/lit/etc), that I have heard of, but never experienced. So really, what’s the difference. I have heard of many of the “great” Russian authors, but have never read any of them. Hopefully I’ll get to it one day, but I don’t think that my knowledge of world lit is any greater just because i have heard of them.
To Patapon: I do agree that a prof should let you know exactly what course you are enrolling in. I took a couple of classes in college that I would not have taken if I had understood what they were going to entail.
Hot Shots! Part Deux
Dracula: Dead and Loving it
Down Periscope
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
High School High
Spy Hard
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Loaded Weapon
Beverly Hills Ninja
haha, no worries, I think that if that were a serious list, I would be the asshat. Though I will admit that I think I saw every one of these in the theatre. Thankfully my tastes have changed since I was 13.
I feel like i’m being kind of generous with that score. I like Woody Allen films, but I just didn’t find this one very funny. Mainly gave it the score I did because I dig on Diane Keaton.
I feel like i’m being kind of generous with that score. I like Woody Allen films, but I just didn’t find this one very funny. Mainly gave it the score I did because I dig on Diane Keaton.
Yeah, not sure if either of them are still considered hip, but i will most definitely go with Harmony Korine (though Buffalo ‘66 was great). Didn’t he have a comic book collection that was published recently (or something like that)?
Most everything really. Definitely The Little Prince (though its been a while since I’ve seen it).
Also I have to say Moby Dick (with Gregory Peck/Richard Basehart). A family member made me a copy of that when I was very young (5 or 6 I believe), and I probably watched it 100 times when I was a kid. Probably 50 times as an adult
Haven’t seen nearly enough to make an informed decision, but I wasn’t instantly biased for Aguirre because it was on the shelf in one of those awesome old gigantic boxes. What are those called? (roughly about twice the size of a normal VHS)
Considering that The Sopranos is the most filmlike of all TV shows, I am surprised that it is not mentioned more. Anyways:
1. #1 is by far The Sopranos. Can’t imagine anything ever toppling it, though efforts to do so are more than welcome.
2. The Simpsons
3. Seinfeld
4. Rocky and Bullwinkle
5. Arrested Development
6. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
7. Home Movies
8. Ali G
9. 30 Rock
10. The Wire
Don’t really know a lot of pre-90’s TV, so I am very biased in that regard. Also, never really watched Twin Peaks, so not included.
Honorable mentions (shows I haven’t really seen in a long, long time, but used to love)
Robin of Sherwood
Shelley’s Duvall’s Faery Tale Theatre
Hitchcock Presents
Ray Bradbury Theater
So, if you had your birthday cinephile wish, what film would you watch on your birthday? Lets assume that whoever you would be with be completely OK with whatever film you pick..
No rules, the film doesn’t necessarily have to be be birthday related, but just wondering what particular film you think best encapsulates your b-day.
Not garbage, but Goodfellas. That is one film that was hailed as a masterpiece when it came out and for a while after, but time has really taken its toll. That said, I still enjoy it.
The Happening. A friend and I went to go see this in the theater, actually expecting to be scared, but after only a few minutes in we were both cracking up. I think that we annoyed others in the theater. One of the highlights was actually in the credits, when we noticed that one of the crew members was named Tina Fuchs Wanner.
As far as Labyrinth, i think of it probably exactly opposite of how the OP does. Seems like it would be good, be every time I’ve tried to watch< I can’t finish it because it is so cheesy, and not in a good way. I understand if you grew up with it, because its nostalgic, but it gets a lot of eye rolling from me.
Whats the scariest film ever or some of ur favorites over 4 years ago
If any person can watch Inland Empire in the middle of the night, in the dark, by themselves, and not be genuinely spooked during and after the film, then there is something wrong with that person. I love flicks like Alien or The Shining or Silence of the Lambs or The Ring, but David Lynch really one-upped himself with Inland Empire, making those other films just seem like child’s play.
I will give a nod to The Descent though. The first 20-30 minutes of that one were almost unbearable for me.
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What films do you always catch shit for for not liking? over 4 years ago
The Blues Brothers. The last 10-15 minutes were OK, but beyond that, I was not impressed. Maybe it will grow on me.
Almost anything that obviously uses CGI.
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Favorite use of a song in a film. over 4 years ago
Recently: the use of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” in Dogfight
“why i would say this but in Korine’s GUMMO where the two male lead characters and riding there bike down these streets and DIO or some Black Sabbath-ish band is playing.”
It’s been a while, but I think that it is the early 90’s band Sleep. That whole soundtrack is killer, and though I like Dio, he definitely could not have made it on. Great stuff by Sleep, Bethlehem, Brujeria, Spazz, Bathory, Eyehategod, Absu and even an abridged version of a minimalist song by Burzum. Probably the most extreme/metal soundtrack of all time, especially for a movie that could be found in Blockbuster. It’s out of print though, so it would probably be at least $20 used.
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Is this worth a blind buy? over 3 years ago
Personally, I almost never buy blind when it comes to films. The few times I have, I was never thrilled with my purchases. I would recommend subscribing to Netflix. I’ve got a plan for $9 (maybe $10) a month, where I can have one movie checked out a time (they have most of the Criterion editions), with an unlimited amount/month, PLUS i can watch an unlimited amount of their online/instant selections (which is a lot, including a bunch of art-house sort of stuff). So if I get, watch, and send back one movie a week, this means that I will get four movies/month plus unlimited online viewing for only $9 bucks/month. Plus there’s always the library, which is free, and is where I checked out the copy of …Beehive that I just watched. Even if I like a film, I probably won’t buy it because there is so much other material at my fingertips that I haven’t watched that it seems kind of pointless.
I know that collecting is what some people are really into, which is fine, but if your goal is only to watch movies, there are ways that are much easier on the wallet.
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Werner Must get CRITERIONED!!! over 3 years ago
I second (or 3rd/4th?) the Herzog/Kinski boxset. Five films plus the My Best Fiend doc, decent transfer, and all for under $40 on Amazon.
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Favourite film of the decade (so far)? over 3 years ago
Sideways.
Not only is it a flawless film that is extremely easy to watch over and over, but it has the best DVD commentary that I have ever heard. Almost as funny/insightful as the film itself.
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watching schindler's list: a tug-of-war? over 3 years ago
I don’t think that any film buffs would consider Schindler’s List one of the great films. But it did serve the purpose of re-introducing the atrocities of the Holocaust to a mainstream America in the 90’s. Most people have no interest in “great film”, but for whatever reason this film struck a chord with a very significant portion of America. I remember that middle schools would take fieldtrips to to the the theater to see it.
Plus I think that Ralph Fiennes is phenomenal in it. But Kingsley is one of the most overrated actors today (IMHO of course). Not terrible, but far from great.
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Merchant Ivory over 3 years ago
I love Howard’s End, but I am infinitely more in love with A Room With A View. That movie is perfect in every way.
I also was not that crazy about the artwork for Howard’s End. Maybe it will grow on me, but for such a lush film, I was disappointed by the lack of color.
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Now that Salinger is dead, Which Director could pull off Catcher in the Rye? over 3 years ago
“Nihilo sanctum estne” -Rushmore (Wes Anderson)
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Most rewatchable Criterion film? over 2 years ago
Yeah, probably a tie between Royal Tennenbaums and Dazed and Confused. Howard’s End would be next in line. Years ago I would have said Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, but I’m not as big a fan of it anymore
Personally, I find the more mainstream films to be rewatchable. Life of Brian, Spinal Tap, Silence of the Lambs, Rushmore, Videodrome. I’ll probably watch those at least once a year. Whereas with arthouse/foreign/classic /experimental films, I’ll generally watch them once, and then not again for a long time, if at all. A big part of this is that the more “mainstream” films require less thought on my part, so if I am in the mood to see something familiar, it’s usually because I’m feeling kind of lazy, so I’ll go with something like Dazed and Confused over L’Avventura or a Godard film.
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say it ain't so! over 2 years ago
Is this definite? I don’t see anything about it on Netflix (in the Instant Queue or on the individual pages, though I only looked at a couple of the pages).
If it is, I’ve gotta look on the brightside. My Instant Queue will knocked down from Completely and Utterly Ridiculous size to only Borderline Ridiculous size.
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Should a good film teacher be interested in world cinema, not just independent or "canon"? over 2 years ago
It really does depend on the particular class and at what level you are taking it. I never really took any film courses in college, but was an English major. Though literature has been around much longer than film, I would not expect a professor to know everything, even every writer that is included in the “canon.” Professors generally had their niches, and I wouldn’t really expect a prof who specialized in African American lit to have much knowledge (if any) of The Song of Roland. And I wouldn’t really expect my Shakespeare profs to have much knowledge of postmodern literary theory.
It’s good to be well rounded, but most professors are so wrapped up in their very small literary worlds, it becomes easy for them to miss or forget some names/works that are considered extremely influential to others.
As far as Breathless, I would expect a prof to have at least heard of it, but at the same time there are plenty of “important” works (film/lit/etc), that I have heard of, but never experienced. So really, what’s the difference. I have heard of many of the “great” Russian authors, but have never read any of them. Hopefully I’ll get to it one day, but I don’t think that my knowledge of world lit is any greater just because i have heard of them.
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Should a good film teacher be interested in world cinema, not just independent or "canon"? over 2 years ago
To Patapon: I do agree that a prof should let you know exactly what course you are enrolling in. I took a couple of classes in college that I would not have taken if I had understood what they were going to entail.
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Pitch me the worst idea for a movie you can think of over 2 years ago
I remember posting on IMDB (in response to Hilary Duff playing Bonnie), that it would actually be amazing to see Zac Efron do some classic remakes.
Zac Efron as Travis Bickle!!!
Zac Efron as Charles Foster Kane!!!
Zac Efron as Jesus!!!
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What is in your Netflix "At Home" Queue right now (i.e., what the f are you renting)? over 2 years ago
A Simple Man
Just turned in The Ben Stiller Show Disc 1, and waiting for Syndromes and a Century
I’ve mainly just been watching Futurama on Instant Watch
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Best films of the 90's over 2 years ago
In no particular order:
Hot Shots! Part Deux
Dracula: Dead and Loving it
Down Periscope
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
High School High
Spy Hard
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Loaded Weapon
Beverly Hills Ninja
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Best films of the 90's over 2 years ago
haha, no worries, I think that if that were a serious list, I would be the asshat. Though I will admit that I think I saw every one of these in the theatre. Thankfully my tastes have changed since I was 13.
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Darren Aronofsky / Black Swan over 2 years ago
Personally, I really don’t expect much of anything from a film with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, but hopefully I’m wrong!!!
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Last movie you saw and rate it over 2 years ago
Play It Again, Sam 7/10
I feel like i’m being kind of generous with that score. I like Woody Allen films, but I just didn’t find this one very funny. Mainly gave it the score I did because I dig on Diane Keaton.
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Last movie you saw and rate it over 2 years ago
Play It Again, Sam 7/10
I feel like i’m being kind of generous with that score. I like Woody Allen films, but I just didn’t find this one very funny. Mainly gave it the score I did because I dig on Diane Keaton.
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Vincent Gallo vs. Harmony Korine over 2 years ago
Yeah, not sure if either of them are still considered hip, but i will most definitely go with Harmony Korine (though Buffalo ‘66 was great). Didn’t he have a comic book collection that was published recently (or something like that)?
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I remember that movie over 2 years ago
Most everything really. Definitely The Little Prince (though its been a while since I’ve seen it).
Also I have to say Moby Dick (with Gregory Peck/Richard Basehart). A family member made me a copy of that when I was very young (5 or 6 I believe), and I probably watched it 100 times when I was a kid. Probably 50 times as an adult
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What if Criterion released video games? over 2 years ago
< Miasma
http://www.palesky.com/misc/gaf_collection_collected/
Is this the website you were referring to?
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Favorite Werner Herzog Film over 2 years ago
Haven’t seen nearly enough to make an informed decision, but I wasn’t instantly biased for Aguirre because it was on the shelf in one of those awesome old gigantic boxes. What are those called? (roughly about twice the size of a normal VHS)
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Top 10 TV Shows of all time over 2 years ago
Considering that The Sopranos is the most filmlike of all TV shows, I am surprised that it is not mentioned more. Anyways:
1. #1 is by far The Sopranos. Can’t imagine anything ever toppling it, though efforts to do so are more than welcome.
2. The Simpsons
3. Seinfeld
4. Rocky and Bullwinkle
5. Arrested Development
6. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
7. Home Movies
8. Ali G
9. 30 Rock
10. The Wire
Don’t really know a lot of pre-90’s TV, so I am very biased in that regard. Also, never really watched Twin Peaks, so not included.
Honorable mentions (shows I haven’t really seen in a long, long time, but used to love)
Robin of Sherwood
Shelley’s Duvall’s Faery Tale Theatre
Hitchcock Presents
Ray Bradbury Theater
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Clint Eastwood over 2 years ago
All I will say right now is that Eastwood is a MUCH better actor than John Wayne
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Birthday Film over 2 years ago
So, if you had your birthday cinephile wish, what film would you watch on your birthday? Lets assume that whoever you would be with be completely OK with whatever film you pick..
No rules, the film doesn’t necessarily have to be be birthday related, but just wondering what particular film you think best encapsulates your b-day.
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BLADE RUNNER IN REVERSE: FILMS THAT WERE VERY POPULAR AND REVERED WHEN FIRST RELEASED, BUT ARE NOW CALLED GARBAGE BY THE MANY over 2 years ago
Not garbage, but Goodfellas. That is one film that was hailed as a masterpiece when it came out and for a while after, but time has really taken its toll. That said, I still enjoy it.
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Best Worst Movies Ever over 2 years ago
The Happening. A friend and I went to go see this in the theater, actually expecting to be scared, but after only a few minutes in we were both cracking up. I think that we annoyed others in the theater. One of the highlights was actually in the credits, when we noticed that one of the crew members was named Tina Fuchs Wanner.
As far as Labyrinth, i think of it probably exactly opposite of how the OP does. Seems like it would be good, be every time I’ve tried to watch< I can’t finish it because it is so cheesy, and not in a good way. I understand if you grew up with it, because its nostalgic, but it gets a lot of eye rolling from me.
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what your opinion about Master & Commander - far side of the world ? over 2 years ago
I agree with all of the positive comments on this film, but I do always have to watch it with subtitles to understand what they are saying.
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