What kind of films do you like?

[Sandor 459]

When it comes to films I am an incredible dualistic person. To overly simplify it I could say at one hand I love the commercial Hollywood entertainment industry and on the other hand the more artistic non-typical Hollywood films.

(When I refer to Hollywood I mainly just mean the commercial, entertaining, "flashy", American films)

But like I said; it's too simple a statement. Some films are on the thin line between Hollywood and "art" (because the two don't need contradict each other). Films like Schindler's List, The Silence Of The Lambs even Scorsese: the more serious, dramatic Hollywood.

Also films made outside of Hollywood (let's say Europe, Japan or Italy for example) are of course not automatically "serious" or "arty". They can have a commercial, almost Hollywood character. Also here; there is often a thin line between pure entertainment and dramatic, serious films.

My love for films started in the late '70's/early-mid 80's with the entertaining, imaginative films made by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. In retrospect; what they did in those years can still be regarded as an impressive achievement. Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the original Star Wars trilogy, the Indiana Jones films, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, ... Truly exceptional, classic filmmaking. But during those years other Hollywood films were just as loved by me: Alien and Aliens, The Terminator, Gremlins, Back To The Future, Blade Runner, ... Since the mid 80's the output of these films seemed to lessen a little in quality. Films like Predator, Total Recall, Terminator 2, The Abyss, etc. are all great to me, but I consider Raiders or E.T. to be, well, better. In the late 90's films were developed which I consider really, really entertaining and top "Hollywood" productions: The Matrix films, the Prequels and some others. I don't really like films like The Mummy, Armageddon or Wild Wild West. They are, for me at least, totally inferior to the commercial films I like. I refer to the films Spielberg, Lucas, James Cameron, Paul Verhoeven and a select group of other filmmakers who just had a certain vision that elevated them from the mindless special effects laden movies I despise.

There were three films made in the early years of this century that truly lifted my spirit the same way Star Wars and Indiana Jones did when I was a kid: The Lord Of The Rings. I loved Peter Jackson long before he got involved with Tolkien's epic. I loved his Braindead or Heavenly Creatures. This is a man with a unique, instantly identifiable filmic voice. I love his work! If I were 12 years old again today he would probably be my favorite director.

When I reached puberty and all, I really got interested in other cinema than the Spielberg-type films. When my friends loved Beverly Hills Cop, I was renting The Godfather and Scorsese pictures. During those years I discovered a whole new world of film expression and I LOVED it! There was so much depth, so much richness to be found. At that time I put Star Wars or Aliens away for a while and totally immersed myself in the more serious films.

There are not many films I really enjoy pre-late 60's. The original King Kong, Lawrence Of Arabia, Vertigo, Ben Hur, Pronenosets Potyemkin, Ivan Grozny, The Wizard Of Oz and others come to mind. I like them; also from cinema-historical perspective (the Eissenstein films for example).

I truly feel that film came of age during the 70's when censorship regulations and rating systems changed. American cinema during that decade has provided a wealthy range of extraordinary films including some of my favorite films of ALL TIME. These include: Mean Streets (my favorite Scorese film), Taxi Driver, Chinatown, The Godfather, The Godfather part II, Apocalypse Now (although to a lesser extent), Midnight Cowboy, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, The Deer Hunter (was my favorite film for years), The Exorcist, Deliverance, Network, The China Syndrome (loved the fact for once that this movie had no score!) and many, many more. I truly, truly LOVE all those films.

Of course Spielberg and Lucas redefined Hollywood in a way with Jaws and Star Wars, but during the 80's darker, dramatic films did not end. Some favorites from the 80's: Blood Simple, Blue Velvet, Goodfellas, Christiane F. (German film - one of the best films ever made) and others. I LOVE those films too. Madly.

During the 90's and 00's some truly great films were made often recapturing the realistic, gritty feel of the 70's films: The Pianist, Requiem for a Dream (Ellen Burnstyn's best role), Memento, Fargo, Pulp Fiction (I love Tarantino!), 12 Monkeys, Boogie Nights (man, I LOVE this film!), Magnolia, Fight Club, Mystic River (Eastwood's best film ever), Monster's Ball, Heat, Moulin Rouge, The Human Stain (the greatest plot-twist ever), The Sweet Hereafter, The Piano (it shocked me how good it was) and even films like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en. I love those films GREATLY!

Of all American/English speaking countries- directors I truly LOVE Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, The Coen brothers, David Lynch, Woody Allen (forgot to mention his films, but films like Mighty Aphrodite or even Celebrity are all classic to me), Peter Jackson and many others.

But during those years I started getting interested in all aspects of American Cinema I found another passion: the cinematic world OUTSIDE America. One of the first non-US films I saw was Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker. I still have the old VHS of that film. It was SO different, but I LOVED it! I hungered for more and over the years I've collected a whole bunch of non-American films which I ALL am so fond of. Just some examples: Lars von Trier's Breaking The Waves (saddest movie I ever saw), Dancer In The Dark (both spoken English), Festen (the revelation scene is one of the best scenes in history!), F*cking Amal (this is a teen movie with so much taste and passion), Il LÁdro Di Bambini (best Italian film ever), City Of God (wow!), Christiane F., Farewell My Concubine, Amacord (not really into Fellini, but I like this one), Kaos and so many more. Most people won't even know what films I'm talking about here!

My world is not so small Alex. Ever see a cartoon like My Neighbour Totoro? Princess Mononoke? Nausica? Really, really great. I remember that you once said something like: "Although I haven't seen it I'm sure Dancer In The Dark is my favorite (musical)" Sometimes I wonder how pretentious you are when it comes to films with remarks like that. I've actually seen Dancer In The Dark. Twice. Love it.

In short: I like the best of both worlds. The Hollywood and, what others refer to as, the more artistic pictures. And sometimes I like films which are a little difficult to categorize: Gladiator, George A. Romero's Dead Films, 28 Days Later and stuff like that. Guilty Pleasures I guess. I like Jean Claude Van Damme's Bloodsport. Another guilty pleasure. Is it good cinema? No. But highly enjoyable to me. Babe (the pig film): same thing. Chicken Run. Disney's Pocahontas. I can't really explain those.

Alex; I don't have to prove anything to you, but just because I'm proud of my collection I will post a picture soon. Need to get a digital camera for these kind of things soon!

About King Kong: I'm not the fan of mindless Hollywood productions. I don't like X-Men or something. But King Kong is made by a man who I ever enormous faith in: Peter Jackson. I loved his Lord of the Rings, his Braindead, his Heavenly Creatures. He has a gift for translating his vision on screen. Like Sam Raimi, Spielberg and Tarantino his style differentiates himself from other filmmakers. I view King Kong from THAT perspective. Not: COOL! Special effects! Dinosaurs! Loudness! Action! It must be good!! No way. It's a Peter Jackson film.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Shouldn't you be working right now?

Stefancos- on a lunch break.

[Sandor 459]

Stefancos- on a lunch break.

Me too

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

I'm not attracted to any one single genre. If it's good, I'll watch it. Mainly I'm biased towards films I grew up with.

[Sandor 459]

I'm not attracted to any one single genre.

Me neither. I hope my post will make that clear.

[AC1 3,565]

I admit, your world is not small after all. For a minute I thought you were only interested in big mindless spectacles (Star Wars, Sequels&Prequels/Jackson's LOTR Trilogy). It was wrong and narrow-minded of me and I apologize for that, Master Roald. The avatar, your love for the Prequels and your faith in King Kong as best film of the year, have blindsided me.

Well, it's a relief to know not all Prequel fans are living in small worlds .

BTW, unlike you, I like the two X-Men films. In fact, they're the only spectacle movies (series) that I can endorse! I really admire Bryan Singer's work and I'm looking forward to his Superman movie.

Also, 28 Days Later is a very good film and shouldn't be disposed as a "guilty pleasure" (I just checked it and yes, once more the critics agree with me, it scores 89% on the tomatometer).

----------------

Alex Cremers

[Luke Skywalker 1,285]

the avatar is pure class.

And guts

[AC1 3,565]

the avatar is pure class.

And guts

Says Luke Skywalker, champion of Ewoks.

[Sandor 459]

I admit, your world is not small after all. For a minute I thought you were only interested in big mindless spectacles (Star Wars, Sequels&Prequels/Jackson's LOTR Trilogy). It was wrong and narrow-minded of me and I apologize for that, Master Roald. The avatar, your love for the Prequels and your faith in King Kong as best film of the year, have blindsided me.

My love for the prequels is of course heavily influenced by the admiration I have for George Lucas. Whether you like the films he did or not, he is a true original, a true visionair in the world of film. He said himself in the Star Wars Insider magazine back in 1998 that people would hate what he was going to do to Star Wars. He knew it, but he remains true to the films he wanted to make. I admire him.

BTW, unlike you, I like the two X-Men films. In fact, they're the only spectacle movies (series) that I can endorse! I really admire Bryan Singer's work and I'm looking forward to his Superman movie.

I don't know. My wife loves X-Men, but the movies never did anything for me. Maybe I'll give the sequel a second chance.

Also, 28 Days Later is a very good film and shouldn't be disposed as a "guilty pleasure" (I just checked it and yes, once more the critics agree with me, it scores 89% on the tomatometer).

Nah, 28 Days Later is not really a guilty pleasure. I know it was well recieved, but its almost amateur way of filming (intentionally of course- digital camera- to give it a highly realistic feeling) might make it a little "weird" for some people.

For me; 28 Days Later is one of the best horror-films ever made. It's the film I lend to people who want to see a scary movie (and have realized A Nightmare on Elm Street or Scream are not really scary). I was disappointed by Romero's Land Of The Dead and I feel 28 Days Later is a million times better (although it's not really a zombie-film).

[AC1 3,565]

 

BTW, unlike you, I like the two X-Men films. In fact, they're the only spectacle movies (series) that I can endorse! I really admire Bryan Singer's work and I'm looking forward to his Superman movie.

I don't know. My wife loves X-Men, but the movies never did anything for me. Maybe I'll give the sequel a second chance.

Introduce me to your wife!

[Sandor 459]

Introduce me to your wife!

[Hitch 55]

I'm only attached to one particular director....namely me.

[Luke Skywalker 1,285]

the avatar is pure class.

And guts

Says Luke Skywalker, champion of Ewoks.

Yub Yub

[Sandor 459]

That should be Yub NUB!!

[Luke Skywalker 1,285]

In the X-Wing novels, i think they make the yoke with Yub Yub.

I think thats what wicket speaks, not the finale chorals.

[Lurker 5]

I like good movies.

Neil

[Justin 2]

Is that extent of your contribution?

Justin - Who likes good movies too.

P.S. Hey Alex I rented The Machinist and I'll watch it in the next few days.

[AC1 3,565]

I like good movies.

Hey, I was going to say that!

[AC1 3,565]

P.S. Hey Alex I rented The Machinist and I'll watch it in the next few days.

May the Bale be with you.

[Sandor 459]

I like good movies.

So how come you like Star Trek The Motion Picture?

[pat_burke 0]

the avatar is pure class.

And guts

I'm afraid to turn off my firewall so I can't enjoy all these allegedly great avatars. Feeling left out now.

[Hitch 55]

P.S. Hey Alex I rented The Machinist and I'll watch it in the next few days.

May the Bale be with you.

You may as well just bale out now

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I like good movies.

So how come you like Star Trek The Motion Picture?

It's good-ish...

[Lurker 5]

I like good movies.

So how come you like Star Trek The Motion Picture?

I'll take TMP any day of the week and twice on Sunday over any of the Star Wars prequels or sequels. Thoughtful science fiction with a clear, sensible narrative.

Neil

[Sandor 459]

Thoughtful science fiction with a clear, sensible narrative.

Whatever works for you.

It's still just an average film.

[SturgisPodmore 0]

The perfect film ought to be stylishly photographed, funny, with good direction, good dialogue, good drama, good acting, etc.

I'll take spectacle movies, as well. As long as it's made well, which I think many are.

I like the X-Men movies very much, too, especially the second; they are themselves, unlike i.e. Spider-Man 2, which tried way too hard to be a comedy and ended up quite ridiculous in several parts.

~Sturgis

[JoeinAR 1,759]

I like good movies.

Hey, I was going to say that!

hey I was going to say what Alex was going to say that Neil said.

but good movies as defined by each of us individually, as I like Titanic, and Alex likes Blade Runner, and I think each of us is cool with that.

[Ollie 859]

I like good movies and I have my own opinion of what a good film should do. Even though certain films meet my criteria they may not have the same effect on someone else

[Justin 2]

I like good movies.

So how come you like Star Trek The Motion Picture?

I'll take TMP any day of the week and twice on Sunday over any of the Star Wars prequels or sequels. Thoughtful science fiction with a clear, sensible narrative.

I was about to agree with you until you threw in The Empire Strikes Back with AOTC. The comparison is stomach turning. That sin is unforgivable. The Empire Strikes Back is worlds better than TMP.

Justin - Who thinks Neil is lashing out at a good film like ESB just to make a point.

[Sandor 459]

I'm sorry, but as a huge Star Trek fan too, I've really, really tried to like TMP. Sometimes there are moments in TMP that make me think: "It's actually quite a good film", but usually, a day later or so, I'm remembering how emotionally hollow the whole thing is and I just have to face the fact that the film is just above mediocrity.

To even think this film is better that ESB is like saying Weekend At Bernies is a better film than Scorsese's After Hours.

But in the end I agree with Joe. A 'good' film is in the eye of the beholder. By the way; I like Titanic too. Well; I love James Cameron's work (except Piranha II).

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

The only thing I don't like about TMP are those horrible uniforms.

[AC1 3,565]

A problem with ST TMP is the way the movie (re)introduces the old crew to the audience. It's like they are saying, "Yep, we're back, fans! We finally made it to the big screen. Don't we all look bright and shiny?" It's patting itself on the back. It's too self-aware at times. It wants to be too cozy.

----------------

Alex Cremers

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

A problem with ST TMP  is the way the movie (re)introduces the old crew to the audience. It's like they are saying, "Yep, we're back, fans! We finally made it to the big screen. Don't we all look bright and shiny?" It's patting itself on the back. It's too self-aware at times. It wants to be too cozy.

----------------

Alex Cremers

Interesting viewpoint since my knowledge of the TV series is fairly limited. I know bits and pieces of seasons one and two fairly well but I've never seen one episode of the third season.

Don't get me started on Next Gen onwards, that's just too much for me to register. That's about 24 seasons worth! I'll just stick with the movies for the time being.

[Sandor 459]

Don't get me started on Next Gen onwards, that's just too much for me to register. That's about 24 seasons worth! I'll just stick with the movies for the time being.

To bad you're missing out on episodes like The Inner Light, All Good Things, Yesterday's Enterprise, The Visitor, Duet, Deadlock, Drone and countless others then...

They're all lightyears better than any Star Trek film (with the exception of The Voyage Home which is actually a really good film)...

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

Don't get me started on Next Gen onwards, that's just too much for me to register. That's about 24 seasons worth! I'll just stick with the movies for the time being.

To bad you're missing out on episodes like The Inner Light, All Good Things, Yesterday's Enterprise, The Visitor, Duet, Deadlock, Drone and countless others then...

They're all lightyears better than any Star Trek film (with the exception of The Voyage Home which is actually a really good film)...

I've seen "All Good Things" once. The others, I'm not sure about, it was a long time ago.

And no, I couldn't imagine any Rick Berman produced Trek TV episode being better than any of the first six movies. I find Next Gen a bit of a yawn because the crew, especially the captain, seem very distant from eachother, I just don't buy their interaction. Same goes for DS9, which I highly recommend as a cure for insomnia for its soap opera in space approach. Voyager is entertaining when it wants to be, but it still suffers from typical Berman lameness. I've still only seen a couple seasons worth.

[Sandor 459]

And no, I couldn't imagine any Rick Berman produced Trek TV episode being better than any of the first six movies.

To films might LOOK better, but to think that Star Trek V is better than DS9's Duet for example borders the realms of insanity IMO.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

And no, I couldn't imagine any Rick Berman produced Trek TV episode being better than any of the first six movies.

To films might LOOK better, but to think that Star Trek V is better than DS9's Duet for example borders the realms of insanity IMO.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier might be the bad egg of the first six films, but it's still more entertaining than anything DS9 offered me.

[Hitch 55]

I concur. The only good thing DS9 has going for it was the comedy duo Bashir and O'Brien. Those clowns saved it.

[Sandor 459]

I concur. The only good thing DS9 has going for it was the comedy duo Bashir and O'Brien. Those clowns saved it.

Are you one of those guys who only saw a few episodes and thinks he can give an opinion on an entire series based on that?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Ignore Hitch, he's a Voyager fan.

DS9 was a great and unique Trek series and held my interest for a full 7 seasons, unlike Voyager really only got good after Seven Of Nine joined the cast, and then realy only for one or 2 seasons. (it's a bad sign when the best episode of season 5 is one which has Troi and Barclay then entire time and the Voyager main cast for about 3 minutes)

Also Hitch, your precious Janeway can't compete with Kira Nerys.

[Justin 2]

I like how this thread is now about Star Trek.

Anyway, yes I haven't seen DS9 but if it's anything like the novelazations of A Call To Arms and Sacrifice of Angels... then it kicks the crap out of Star Trek V.

Justin - Who thought he knew Drax... :cry:

[Jeshopk 8]

I admit, your world is not small after all. For a minute I thought you were only interested in big mindless spectacles (Star Wars, Sequels&Prequels/Jackson's LOTR Trilogy). It was wrong and narrow-minded of me and I apologize for that, Master Roald. The avatar, your love for the Prequels and your faith in King Kong as best film of the year, have blindsided me.  

Well, it's a relief to know not all Prequel fans are living in small worlds .

Maybe you are just assuming this about ALL Prequel fans. I am a big film fan too, of all sorts of foreign films and documentaries. But I am not about to list them off to try to gain your approval. Hell, I even studied film making, film photography and film history courses by an award winning indie film maker - but the way you think, anyone who has a blast with the prequels for what they are must be small minded. Time to just let that idea go forever. It is completely small minded of you to think that.

[Sandor 459]

It is completely small minded of you to think that.

I agree. Actually; I was thinking Alex was into Once Upon A Time In America and stuff like that, but when he mentioned he likes X-Men and hasn't seen Dancer In The Dark (yet he was sure it's the best movie/musical ever made) I was beginning to see through his masquerade.

[Jeshopk 8]

I agree. Actually; I was thinking Alex was into Once Upon A Time In America and stuff like that, but when he mentioned he likes X-Men and hasn't seen Dancer In The Dark (yet he was sure it's the best movie/musical ever made) I was being to see through his masquerade.

And Matrix, which isn't my preference, but if someone is really into it, fine with me. (But it does confound me that a JWFAN member would prefer it to the Prequels, if only because they are a cornucopia of grand Williams operatic gestures)

I have always really enjoyed Japanese and Chinese films. Though subtitles can be distracting, some of my most rewarding film making experiences have been going to the JAPAN section of my local video store. Ever see Kikujiro or Madadayo? Very small films with very emotional heart, and lots of quiet. Kikujiro is a dramatic comedy about a relationship with a criminal and a lost boy who runs away to find his mother who abandoned him. And the section in Madadayo where the professor loses the cat is heartbreaking. It is about a respected man in retirement, but is very true to life.

[Sandor 459]

Madadayo

I have it.

[AC1 3,565]

Maybe you are just assuming this about ALL Prequel fans. I am a big film fan too, of all sorts of foreign films and documentaries. But I am not about to list them off to try to gain your approval.

Yes, of course. All Prequel lovers have no taste or are too young to have developed one.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Like your son?

[Jeshopk 8]

Yes, of course. All Prequel lovers have no taste or are too young to have developed one.

The truth will set you free, my friend. Until you drop your superiority complex, you'll remain as prickly as a porcupine.

[Sandor 459]

Yes, of course. All Prequel lovers have no taste or are too young to have developed one.

Alex is just joking there Jeshopk.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Actually, I'm fairly sure that's his actual opinion.