One I might suggest, if you like animation, is the Animation podcast. It is really interesting to me. They talk about alot of the art and tech side of animation.
I agree that mass censorship is wrong. If you want to censor works of art, film, books, whatever then choose not to spend your money on it. Be your own censor for what you do not want to see. The consumer should do due dilligence in this regard however don’t tell me what I can and cannot watch because our values may differ. That being said I also feel that there is a double standard with the Hollywood studio system in that the NC-17 rating is like a death sentence to film but then when the latest Judd Apatow movie is realeased on DVD, the plaster “UNRATED!”, “UNCESORED!”, “THE VERSION TOO HOT FOR THE THEATERS”, etc. While I know there really is not that much difference in the films (maybe at most 5-10 minutes added and even at that you can see why it was cut) it seem too much like a double standard that they like to use for marketing. It is not ok to release this unrated version in the theaters where the young people could, in theory, be kept from viewing the film. When I worked at a local movie theater we were showing Jackass. We had to check ids and tickets for each person that was entering the theater. I know this doesn’t happen all the time but this is what we did. When I worked at Blockbuster I saw how this marketing ploy worked in that probally 90% of the DVDs that were stolen were the unrated version of the flavor-of-the-month comedy or horror movie.
But enough of my ranting.
Jenny-The film that you were talking about is This Film is Not Yet Rated
I believe they are just trying to cash in on the whole recession thing. Trying to be timely or in Oliver Stone’s case controversial. Seems a little late to me. I mean if they are just starting production it could be a year or two before it come out and at that point will people even care about the recession anymore.
Napoleon Dynamite. 15 minutes in and it drepressed me to the point of leaving. I just hated this movie and everything connected to it. I am suprised that I lasted that long.
Maybe the reason it seems as though the film community is more left-leaning is that to enjoy films like Godard, Eisenstein, and Reinfeinstahl one must think outside the box in a way. What I mean is that most people can go to the theater and watch the latest Michael Bay action extravaganza and feel satisfied. However, those of us who enjoy cinema tend to enjoy films with more complexity. Thus it is like we are experiencing the film from a different viewpoint than the populous. I hope I made the point I am trying to make.
I agree with Sean. I believe that they included it more for the technical merit than anything else. I have heard that they are using some of the same techniques in the last Harry Potter films. As far as the film goes, I enjoyed it well enough but it could have been better.
No, at least not all of them. Donnie Darko for example. The director’s cut tries, in my opinion, to make a much artier film and it just does not work for me.
First of all thank you Nathan for starting this topic. It should be very interesting.
In my viewing experience I have often wondered if maybe I am missing something when watching a foreign film by not understanding the language. For the longest time I would only watch foreign films, not so much because I dislike American films but mostly because there was so much that I had not seen that I wanted to get caught up. Then I got to a point where I was not able to watch a film in English without having the subtitles on. I say all of that to make this point, I think that there maybe something lost in the film viewing experience with foreign films but that is the beauty of DVD you can watch it once through and focus on the subtitles and then watch it again focusing on the images.
Nathan,
You should be able to look on the back cover and it will say that the subtitles are the theatrical version. At least that is what I have heard. Let The Right One In is fantastic.
The scene that most recently gave me the goosebumps was in “Broken Blossoms” where we first see Lucy push up the sides of her mouth in a fragile smile only to look at her eyes and see all of that sadness. Just beautiful.
If you are going to call Speilberg a hack for making popular films then you might as well call Hitchcock a hack too. If I am not mistaken his films were popular in their box office run. I don’t know if he has a discernible enough style to rank him among the greatest filmmakers ever but I personally think that when he is on he can do great work such as Schindler, Munich, Jaws, etc. But like any director when he makes a bad movie they are really terrible (i.e. War of the Worlds, etc.)
I agree that I don’t think anyone is calling Hitchcock a hack and I also agree that Hitchcock popular films as an art form are miles ahead of Speilberg’s. But the point I am trying to make is that it is wrong to call Speilberg a hack just because his films are popular. Also the works of Ford, Kurosawa, Hitchcock and Hawks are much better than Speilberg on a artistic level. I have just read too many times on this theard and others in other forums saying Speilberg is horrible just because he makes popular films with no other arguement than that. I hope I have stated my point clearly.
Roscoe, in the modern time with the business aspect having so much more control than the artistic in film will we ever see another masterwork on the lines of the films you mentioned?
As much as I love There Will Be Blood and Zodiac, it is hard for me to think that they are on the same level as Stagecoach, Rear Window or Seven Samurai. Also how can any living director set out to specifically make a masterpeice? Would it not take the death of the director or for the director to quit making films to really claim one film is his/her masterpeice?
Also, I agree with Fredo in that he makes the films that he wants to make and leaves it to the critics to decide what is his masterpiece.
You mention too that Speilberg has made crap movies but is it not true that every great filmmaker has made bad movies?
In our discussion argueing for or against the artistic merit of Spielberg I got to thinking about whether or not one can have a masterpiece while they are still creating. Any thoughts?
But can you really apply it while they have the possibility to make more. Also should the masterpiece tag not be given till you have a chance to view all of the films of their carrer?
In my hometown they filmed Big Fish, Rustin (an independant film staring Meat Loaf), and some scenes for Cobb and near my hometown they shot parts of Talladega Nights.
Here is an interesting quote that I found from the LA Times via Yahoo to add to this debate:
“Interestingly, the L.A. Times also reports that “Transformers” executive producer Steven Spielberg doesn’t actually get paid anything for his work on the movie. As part of the deal between Paramount and his company, DreamWorks, he only gets paid directly for movies he directs, not the ones he produces."
I would go with something like The Virgin Spring to ease into Bergman. The Seventh Seal is alot to take in for a first time Bergman watcher. I agree with others that Wild Strawberries would be good also. Smiles of a Summer Night is pretty easy to take in too.
Also The Virgin Spring has been remade at least twice in American as The Last House on the Left and the most recent remake. So that one is pretty accessible.
Podcasts for Cinemaphile about 3 years ago
One I might suggest, if you like animation, is the Animation podcast. It is really interesting to me. They talk about alot of the art and tech side of animation.
Go to Comment
Censorship about 3 years ago
I agree that mass censorship is wrong. If you want to censor works of art, film, books, whatever then choose not to spend your money on it. Be your own censor for what you do not want to see. The consumer should do due dilligence in this regard however don’t tell me what I can and cannot watch because our values may differ. That being said I also feel that there is a double standard with the Hollywood studio system in that the NC-17 rating is like a death sentence to film but then when the latest Judd Apatow movie is realeased on DVD, the plaster “UNRATED!”, “UNCESORED!”, “THE VERSION TOO HOT FOR THE THEATERS”, etc. While I know there really is not that much difference in the films (maybe at most 5-10 minutes added and even at that you can see why it was cut) it seem too much like a double standard that they like to use for marketing. It is not ok to release this unrated version in the theaters where the young people could, in theory, be kept from viewing the film. When I worked at a local movie theater we were showing Jackass. We had to check ids and tickets for each person that was entering the theater. I know this doesn’t happen all the time but this is what we did. When I worked at Blockbuster I saw how this marketing ploy worked in that probally 90% of the DVDs that were stolen were the unrated version of the flavor-of-the-month comedy or horror movie.
But enough of my ranting.
Jenny-The film that you were talking about is This Film is Not Yet Rated
Go to Comment
Wall Street Redux about 3 years ago
I believe they are just trying to cash in on the whole recession thing. Trying to be timely or in Oliver Stone’s case controversial. Seems a little late to me. I mean if they are just starting production it could be a year or two before it come out and at that point will people even care about the recession anymore.
Go to Comment
What was the first Criterion movie you watched? about 3 years ago
Chasing Amy, I think.
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What films have you walked out on and why ? about 3 years ago
Napoleon Dynamite. 15 minutes in and it drepressed me to the point of leaving. I just hated this movie and everything connected to it. I am suprised that I lasted that long.
Go to Comment
Is there a liberal bias in the film community? about 3 years ago
Maybe the reason it seems as though the film community is more left-leaning is that to enjoy films like Godard, Eisenstein, and Reinfeinstahl one must think outside the box in a way. What I mean is that most people can go to the theater and watch the latest Michael Bay action extravaganza and feel satisfied. However, those of us who enjoy cinema tend to enjoy films with more complexity. Thus it is like we are experiencing the film from a different viewpoint than the populous. I hope I made the point I am trying to make.
Go to Comment
Non-Disney Animation about 3 years ago
I personally thought that La Maison en Petits Cubes was quite good. It won the Academy Award for animated short subject this past year.
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Where are you from? about 3 years ago
Birmingham, Alabama
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Where are you from? about 3 years ago
Birmingham, Alabama
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3 Favourite Movies From 5 Favourite Directors about 3 years ago
Double post. Sorry computer is acting up.
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3 Favourite Movies From 5 Favourite Directors about 3 years ago
Kurosawa
1. Seven Samurai
2. Ikiru
3. Rashomon
Wilder
1. Sunset Boulevard
2. The Apartment
3. Ace in the Hole
Hitchcock
1. Psycho
2. Rear Window
3. The Birds
Ozu
1. Tokyo Story
2. The Story of Floating Weeds
3. Early Summer
Allen
1. Annie Hall
2. Manhatten
3. Crimes and Misdemeanors
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IS "BENJAMIN BUTTON" WORTHY OF BEING IN THE COLLECTION? about 3 years ago
I agree with Sean. I believe that they included it more for the technical merit than anything else. I have heard that they are using some of the same techniques in the last Harry Potter films. As far as the film goes, I enjoyed it well enough but it could have been better.
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How Big Is Your DVD Collection? almost 3 years ago
1200 I believe. Including Blu-ray and box sets.
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IS THE "DIRECTOR'S CUT" ALWAYS BETTER? almost 3 years ago
No, at least not all of them. Donnie Darko for example. The director’s cut tries, in my opinion, to make a much artier film and it just does not work for me.
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Most depressing film you have ever seen? almost 3 years ago
The Persuit of Happyness. Such a depressing movie and no redemption. By the time something good happend in the film I was too depressed to care.
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Pure Cinema and Subtitles almost 3 years ago
First of all thank you Nathan for starting this topic. It should be very interesting.
In my viewing experience I have often wondered if maybe I am missing something when watching a foreign film by not understanding the language. For the longest time I would only watch foreign films, not so much because I dislike American films but mostly because there was so much that I had not seen that I wanted to get caught up. Then I got to a point where I was not able to watch a film in English without having the subtitles on. I say all of that to make this point, I think that there maybe something lost in the film viewing experience with foreign films but that is the beauty of DVD you can watch it once through and focus on the subtitles and then watch it again focusing on the images.
Go to Comment
Pure Cinema and Subtitles almost 3 years ago
Nathan,
You should be able to look on the back cover and it will say that the subtitles are the theatrical version. At least that is what I have heard. Let The Right One In is fantastic.
Go to Comment
Pure Cinema and Subtitles almost 3 years ago
I was able to see the film in the theater and also on DVD and the theatrical titles are much better. But that is off subject for this topic.
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Movie scenes that give you goosebumps almost 3 years ago
The scene that most recently gave me the goosebumps was in “Broken Blossoms” where we first see Lucy push up the sides of her mouth in a fragile smile only to look at her eyes and see all of that sadness. Just beautiful.
Go to Comment
About Spilberg. Is he a cinematic artist or a businessman looking to score a 'few' bucks. Film thorists...UNITE. almost 3 years ago
If you are going to call Speilberg a hack for making popular films then you might as well call Hitchcock a hack too. If I am not mistaken his films were popular in their box office run. I don’t know if he has a discernible enough style to rank him among the greatest filmmakers ever but I personally think that when he is on he can do great work such as Schindler, Munich, Jaws, etc. But like any director when he makes a bad movie they are really terrible (i.e. War of the Worlds, etc.)
Go to Comment
About Spilberg. Is he a cinematic artist or a businessman looking to score a 'few' bucks. Film thorists...UNITE. almost 3 years ago
Roscoe
I agree that I don’t think anyone is calling Hitchcock a hack and I also agree that Hitchcock popular films as an art form are miles ahead of Speilberg’s. But the point I am trying to make is that it is wrong to call Speilberg a hack just because his films are popular. Also the works of Ford, Kurosawa, Hitchcock and Hawks are much better than Speilberg on a artistic level. I have just read too many times on this theard and others in other forums saying Speilberg is horrible just because he makes popular films with no other arguement than that. I hope I have stated my point clearly.
Go to Comment
About Spilberg. Is he a cinematic artist or a businessman looking to score a 'few' bucks. Film thorists...UNITE. almost 3 years ago
Roscoe, in the modern time with the business aspect having so much more control than the artistic in film will we ever see another masterwork on the lines of the films you mentioned?
Go to Comment
About Spilberg. Is he a cinematic artist or a businessman looking to score a 'few' bucks. Film thorists...UNITE. almost 3 years ago
As much as I love There Will Be Blood and Zodiac, it is hard for me to think that they are on the same level as Stagecoach, Rear Window or Seven Samurai. Also how can any living director set out to specifically make a masterpeice? Would it not take the death of the director or for the director to quit making films to really claim one film is his/her masterpeice?
Also, I agree with Fredo in that he makes the films that he wants to make and leaves it to the critics to decide what is his masterpiece.
You mention too that Speilberg has made crap movies but is it not true that every great filmmaker has made bad movies?
Go to Comment
Can a director have the masterpiece tag applied to their film before their carrer has ended? almost 3 years ago
In our discussion argueing for or against the artistic merit of Spielberg I got to thinking about whether or not one can have a masterpiece while they are still creating. Any thoughts?
Go to Comment
Can a director have the masterpiece tag applied to their film before their carrer has ended? almost 3 years ago
But can you really apply it while they have the possibility to make more. Also should the masterpiece tag not be given till you have a chance to view all of the films of their carrer?
Go to Comment
Which Kurosawa film to record? almost 3 years ago
I would vote for Red Beard. However, I have not seen Kage all the way through yet.
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What films were shot in or near your hometown? almost 3 years ago
In my hometown they filmed Big Fish, Rustin (an independant film staring Meat Loaf), and some scenes for Cobb and near my hometown they shot parts of Talladega Nights.
Go to Comment
About Spilberg. Is he a cinematic artist or a businessman looking to score a 'few' bucks. Film thorists...UNITE. almost 3 years ago
Here is an interesting quote that I found from the LA Times via Yahoo to add to this debate:
“Interestingly, the L.A. Times also reports that “Transformers” executive producer Steven Spielberg doesn’t actually get paid anything for his work on the movie. As part of the deal between Paramount and his company, DreamWorks, he only gets paid directly for movies he directs, not the ones he produces."
Go to Comment
Best Bergman Film to Start Out With almost 3 years ago
I would go with something like The Virgin Spring to ease into Bergman. The Seventh Seal is alot to take in for a first time Bergman watcher. I agree with others that Wild Strawberries would be good also. Smiles of a Summer Night is pretty easy to take in too.
Also The Virgin Spring has been remade at least twice in American as The Last House on the Left and the most recent remake. So that one is pretty accessible.
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ANY SUGGESTIONS OF FILMS WITH THEMES OF REVENGE? about 2 years ago
I know Old Boy was mentioned earlier but how about the whole vengeance trilogy. Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and Lady Vengence
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