What movie has left you wondering. . .

[A24 4,331]

So, what was so special about Crash?

Brrrrr...

[Morlock 11]

For me, it presented a didactic, yet thought provoking view on Racism. Raised essential question to me. The nature of racism, the limits of it, perceived racism, misconstrued racism. It presented so many different angles, which is what made it didactic, but it really struck home with me. Many have disagreed with me, obviously (In fact, I believe that Rottentomates has it down as one of the absolute lowest rated best picture winning films).

[QMM 4]

Do the Right Thing

Don't like it at all

[Humpty Dumpty 0]

All the critics lauded the plot of Donnie Darko for its supposed brilliance, but I was thoroughly disappointed by it. Richard Kelly poses to the audience mystery after mystery to be disentangled, but rather than trying to resolve them meaningfully, he explains them away by making up a bunch of pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo, which, on top of it, can be barely understood from watching the movie alone and is only clarified by reading his nonsensical theories in their entirety on the film’s website. Additionally, when Donnie resets time at the end, it is presumable Patrick Swayze's character will have never been discovered as a child pornographer, which is very dissatisfying, especially since Donnie goes back in time to "take all those hours of pain and darkness and replace them with something better." Kelly further tries to wriggle out of this dilemma by saying on the website Patrick Swayze's character had phantom memories of getting caught in the alternate timeline which drove him to shoot himself. The plain truth is that Kelly made a script too complex for his storytelling abilities to handle, so he came up with a series of ridiculous cop-outs to fix what his mangled plot couldn't.

I agree with the critics. The movie is fascinating and one of my personal favorites of this decade. I'm glad that the film wasn't explanatory because film is not about resolving. The answers are not important.

Why, because Kelly is a bad screenwriter?

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Donnie Darko is not that great of a film, severely overrated. S. Darko, the sequel, will be worse.

Brokeback Mountain is a good story, but hardly anything spectacular. I'm glad it didn't win Best Picture.

[Humpty Dumpty 0]

Here’s another one: Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. First of all, I didn’t so much as snicker once throughout the entire duration of the film, very bad considering I was supposed to have been watching a comedy. Secondly, the whole movie was so convoluted that when it was over, I still felt as if I had never seen it.

[Red 75]

Do the Right Thing

Don't like it at all

That's too bad.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

I fail to see the genius of No Country for Old Men, but maybe I'll "get it" on a second viewing.

Also saw the original Halloween last year and was completely unimpressed, but I guess that the impact of many horror movies fade over time.

Halloween doesn't fade, perhaps you weren't in the right frame of mind or maybe its just not the movie for you.

If you don't get into the story, perhaps you can appreciate it for its style, and its restraint.

And Carpenter's score is still magnificent.

[Dole 17]

And Carpenter's score is still magnificent.

I'll give you that.

I think the ending of the film spoiled it for me. I'm not really into horror films based in some kind of sense of reality where the killer can't be killed. If it's a cyborg from the future like in Terminator, fine. But if it's an escaped mental patient, he shouldn't be Superman.

Then again, maybe I'm just mad that none of my babysitters ever looked like Jamie Lee Curtis.

[Ollie 1,059]

None of mine did.....

[Smeagol 0]

Amelie is another one that comes to mind. Ever since it came out every one around me loved the movie. The first time I rented it I turned it off half way through the movie because I found myself unbelieavably bored. To this day there are friends of mine who can't understand why I didn't like it. I don't quite remember either because I only tried to watch it once and it was a looooong time ago. Every one I know loves the movie though so I might give it a try sometime soon.

Same thing happened with the score for that movie. People would tell me how beautiful it was so I bought it a couple of years ago. Never even put it on my computer because I also couldn't listen to the entire thing when I first got the cd.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Do the Right Thing

Don't like it at all

Yeah, I watched that in college and thought it was really preachy in a pretty transparent way. Maybe at the time it was made it had more relevance.

[A24 4,331]

Why, because Kelly is a bad screenwriter?

The answer is not important. It's the trip, the experience, the question that is intriguing.

I got one! The Wild Bunch. Is this loved because its so bad, a la an Ed Wood film?

[Morlock 11]

The faces, Alex. It's all about the faces. Holden, Borgnine, Oates, Johnson, Ryan....the film is all in the faces.

[A24 4,331]

The faces, Alex. It's all about the faces. Holden, Borgnine, Oates, Johnson, Ryan....the film is all in the faces.

If I want faces and much more I'd rather watch Once Upon A Time In The West.

[Morlock 11]

The faces in Once Upon a Time in The West are the faces of excellent perfomers performing. The faces in The Wild Bunch tell the story of an entire lifetime. More than any other film I've seen, The Wild Bunch is about faces. Both are among my favorite films. But Leone's film is opera, Peckinpah's is new wave. I get very different things from each of them. One is grandiose, the other is understated. I have room for both.

[artyjeffrey 20]

The Exorist.  

You should know what I mean. Besides, it lacked anything interesting, possession is absurd and silly, it wouldn't have been much different if the film was about elves, globins or hell even ewoks. And the antics of the evil spirit are supposed to be scary? The only thing that approached scary is some of the music.

The Exorcist had about 10 minutes of music,because Lalo shiffin's score was rejected.And wether it's scary or not depends in some way to your religious background.Possesion IS still considered possible by Jesuit priests,and it's listed as unwelknown phenomena still listed in cuerrent psychiatry books,called "posession trance".Of course it's a diagnosis of exclusion.

And if you didn't know ,it caused mass panic and faintings in many movie goers in 73,and I recently saw the version recently showed in theaters,and people had very tence nervous reactions and were NOT laughing,I can tell you that.

The whole movie has this foul and chilling atmosphere and storyline that far exceeds the sight of Linda Blair in demon makeup.

And whatever you say,it IS generally considered as the scariest movie ever.

K.M.

Damn right, Mark. I was in my twenties before I finally sat down and watched that movie, and after it was over, and I went to check the locks on all of the doors before going to bed, I was VERY nervous. That movie hits a nerve, and it is dependent on your background.

For me, the movie that left me wondering was THE ENGLISH PATIENT. Holy Lord, there I sat in the theatre, tormented by this grinding waste of time.

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

No Country for Old Men....I just watched this..and I'm kinda errr....

[Saxbabe 28]

2001: A Space Odyssey. I should see this again drunk. Or medicated. Or something.

It was fine until they actually got in space. And I liked the ending! But I think a lot of the middle could've been cut.

It wasn't too bad though. But one I hated was Rosemary's Baby.

[A24 4,331]

Strange that no one mentioned Return Of The Jedi yet. As a Star Wars fan, that film literally baffled me more than any other one. Either it's really infantile and stupid or I just don't get it. Is it perhaps the 2001 amongst the Star Wars movies? Should I see it drunk or medicated? Would it help if I watched it together with some Ewok?

Alex

[JoeinAR 1,949]

well Alex, I'm still pondering how Return of the Jedi should be re-written.

Obviously you must start on Tatooine with the rescue of Han, but instead of going it alone, Luke, Leia, Chewie and Lando could have taken along some Rebel soldiers, instead of Leia killing Jabba, I'd have had Han kill him. Also the death of BobaFett would have been a lot more spectacular, perhaps having Chewie dispatching him, ever since the comment about a wookie ripping peoples arms off I wanted to see that. And who would be more motivated than Chewie.

Since its called Return of the Jedi, I think I'd have a lot more Jedi return, surely with all the Jedi more than just Ben and Yoda survived (at least in my mind, 3 or 4 should have survived), what a perfect opportunity for them to show up, later in the film when Luke really needed help, that way Vader wouldn't be redeemed, he'd remain evil, and would die along side his master at the hands of Luke, and the suddenly returned Jedi defeat the Sith, and the rebel fleet destroys the newest Death Star.

All traces of the ewoks would be removed and replaced with human slaves on the Endor moon. The rebels would infiltrate and enlist their help to destroy the sheild generator, which would still remain a wooded planet, so that some of the better effects idea's could remain intact.

Luke wouldn't go on about how he feels good in his father, the killer of millions and the killer of his mother shouldn't be given redemption. He should have remained truly evil.

[Henry B 50]

I think Vader should have seen the error of his ways and saved Luke, as he did in the film, but he should have then died with overwhelming regret, realizing that he could never atone for all his wrongs and become one with the Force. Luke's attempts to redeem Vader could have been handled differently, too.

And no second Death Star, please!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

see I can't do that, thats like having Hitler have a SL moment and regret killing millions, it wouldn't ever be believable.

It would always be just lame.

[Henry B 50]

That's because Hitler was a real person, so any depiction of him showing regret - which has no historical basis - would be in poor taste. Besides, Star Wars clearly established that Vader was a great Jedi before he turned to the dark side, and that's before Lucas decided he was actually Anakin.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

yes but once you become a monster, a monster is all you can be. remember that ever archetype is based upon real people of this world. Of course my reworking of Jedi would be limited to the original trilogy and I would avoid any references to the prequels, which when I am put in charge will all be confiscated, put into a box and burned.

I'd have Yoda live so he and the Emperor could fight, not with sabers but with lightning, Luke would kill Vader by either slicing him in half from the top of the head, or by decapitation like the dream in the tree.

[Henry B 50]

That we can agree upon.

I once thought up a story outline for the prequels that would put them much more in line with the Original Trilogy (Anakin and Vader different people, Leia the real daughter of Bail Organa and not Luke's sister, etc.). I ought to type it up some time; it'd be fun.

[Ollie 1,059]

In my version there would be no 2nd Death Star, only Lando and Chewie would rescue Han, Boba Fett and Jabba would both die at the hands of Solo and Chewie.

However if Jabba had been portrayed more like a hardened intelligent smuggle than fat buffoon I would have liked to see Solo and Lando strike a deal after defeating him and get the smugglers to join the rebellion with Solo leading the fleet of smugglers against the empire.

Leia doesn't go to rescue Han because the rebellion comes first, like it did in the first two films. The Emperor's home planet is on a lava planet. She leads a strike force there.

Luke returns to Dagobah to discover the truth and learns that his father is actually alive but NOT Vader. The other Yoda spoke of was Luke's dad who has remained hiding on Dagobah with Yoda. Yoda does not die or could die. a meaningful explanation is given as to why Vader called Luke his son.

The three of them join the rest on the Emperor's home planet for the final battle. Han or Lando sacrifices himself in a key moment to give the rebellion the victory.

Seeing as Vader 'toyed" with Luke during their duel on Bespin we get to see him at his most powerful and it takes both Luke and his dad to defeat him. Yoda deals with the Emperor.

Also perhaps Obi-Wan helps and we get to see the meaning of "if you strike me down I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine".

The ewoks become a planet of wookies or a large group of enslaved people.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train. Reviews were glowing, but did not find this "thrilling" at all. Per Roger Ebert's review, I apparently missed out on the pic's rich underlying sexual tension.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Certain opinions on certain films presented in this thread make me want to strangle certain individuals.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Certainly.

[mrbellamy 6,278]

Certain opinions on certain films presented in this thread make me want to strangle certain individuals.

Big Strangers on a Train fan, eh?

[A24 4,331]

Nah, I think he's one of those people who prefers Return Of The Jedi.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

My preference for ROTJ is limited to the score. I don't think about the films enough to have a real favorite.

Actually it's the Kubrick talk I can't take above all else. But you did a good job of preaching the truth Alex.

The general distaste for deliberate, "impressionistic" films (2001, Fantasia, The Thin Red Line) makes me white with rage.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Interesting.

What do you think of Blade Runner? And Watchmen?

Maybe there is hope for you yet.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

I like both though Blade Runner is not something I have much of a desire to revisit.

There's been hope for me from the start. You've just ignored it!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Well you are a devoted Zimmer apologist!

[King Mark 3,631]

The Dark Knight

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

My mates at uni raved about Scarface and encouraged me to watch it. I didn't get the hype and nodded off.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

Well you are a devoted Zimmer apologist!

All the more reason to trust me!

I'm also a Kubrick apologist. Believe it or not there are times when he needs one. Someone once told me that his films are intellectual masturbation for the intellectually lazy. As I was cleaning this person's blood from my hands, I realized how thankful I was for discovering Stanley's work at the impressionable age of 8. I've been masturbating ever since.

[A24 4,331]

My mates at uni raved about Scarface and encouraged me to watch it. I didn't get the hype and nodded off.

Sounds like you don't need ASMR, Draxie.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

My mates at uni raved about Scarface and encouraged me to watch it. I didn't get the hype and nodded off.

Sounds like you don't need ASMR, Draxie.

Movies with lots and lots of dialogue in latino accents may have a similar effect.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

RAGING BULL. The beginning of the end for Scorsese.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Awful in every way!

[Hlao-roo 389]

RAGING BULL. The beginning of the end for Scorsese.

I still think the Academy did right by Ordinary People on this one.

[A24 4,331]

Today Ordinary People is forgotten while Raging Bull is seen as one of the best 100 American movies.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Today Ordinary People is forgotten while Raging Bull is seen as one of the best 100 American movies.

Hopefully those who have forgotten it will rediscover it some day. Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton each deliver exquisitely pitched performances in a sensitive portrait of the shifting dynamics of a family shaken to its foundation. I love that the Big Moments in the latter half of the film have an air of Oscar-friendly predictability yet coalesce without affectation (because of the care with which Sutherland and Hirsch develop their characters throughout the film), and, in the end, without easy reassurance.

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

Toy Story 3

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

The collected works of Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams and M. Night whatever.

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

[Wojo 2,453]

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Yeah, those kids definitely spent the rest of their natural lives rotting in federal prison for helping an extra-terrestrial escape Earth. But at least the movie had its happy ending.