NationStates Jolt Archive

There are only a few masterpieces I have seen in my life: Ran, Pan's Labyrinth, and Barry Lyndon. I also loved The Duellists, but I am still trying to decide whether or not it was a "masterpiece".

Does anyone here know of films which can match the superb quality of the aforementioned?

Have you seen "The Seven Samurais"?

I haven't seen anything on your list, but I thought The Darjeeling Limited was one of the most perfect films of the last decade, a triumph of the medium.

Dr. Strangelove, for starters.

Have you seen "The Seven Samurais"?

Sure, I own it. I love everything of Kurosawa's.

Dr. Strangelove, for starters.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"

the philadelphia story

katharine hepburn, jimmy stewart AND cary grant.

Well, we've recently discussed Metropolis - http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=564503 - a thing definitely worth watching.

The Prestige is a very good modern psychological movie, and I think you should find it interesting.

Then you should take a look at "100 years, 100 movies" and other such top movies lists, as they list a lot of good movies, even though mostly old.

I might suggest The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn and a very young Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins. 1968, Directed by Anthony Harvey.

I might suggest The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn and a very young Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins. 1968, Directed by Anthony Harvey.

I second this suggestion most enthusiastically!

I would add Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, and Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot.

You'll be wanting "Mac and Me" then.

it happened one night

claudette colbert and clark gable

Oh, and if the 1997 overblown fantasy Titanic turned you off to historical drama, try the 1958 British telling of that tragedy, A Night to Remember. I weep openly at the end of that film every time I see it.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"

Dr Strangelove had a pie fight filmed for it but it ended up on the cutting room floor and apparently lost. All that's left is a few still photos. :(

http://www.indelibleinc.com/kubrick/films/strangelove/images/pie_scene2.jpg

http://www.indelibleinc.com/kubrick/films/strangelove/images/pie_fight1.jpg

M (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022100/) is haunting, creepy, and fascinating. Peter Lorre is just so pathetic as Hans Beckett, but scary too.

Another classic: A Man for All Seasons, featuring an excellent performance by Paul Scofield as Thomas More, standing up to Henry VIII in grand, stoic and reasoned fashion.

Diamonds of the Night, directed by Jan Nemec. I love it.

Oh, and if the 1997 overblown fantasy Titanic turned you off to historical drama,

I hate love stories. But except for Pan's Labyrinth, which takes place during World War II, every film I named is pre-twentieth century.

Ran
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5484/castleburnranev4.jpg

Barry Lyndon
http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Barrylyndon5.jpg

The Duellists
http://www.kingfisherpress.com/images/duelists-2.jpg


try the 1958 British telling of that tragedy, A Night to Remember. I weep openly at the end of that film every time I see it.

A fine film.

Watch:
Annie Hall
Crimes and Misdemeanours
The Seventh Seal
The Grand Illusion
La Strada
Bicycle Thieves
Do The Right Thing

And then report back for further instruction.

Das Leben der Anderen is excellent, as is Pot Luck - originally L'auberge Espagnol, although I believe it might ALSO be called The Spanish Apartment in the US, as a more literal but less arty title.

Another classic: A Man for All Seasons, featuring an excellent performance by Paul Scofield as Thomas More, standing up to Henry VIII in grand, stoic and reasoned fashion.
Saw it at the theatre a couple of months back, a superb play. Very... err... Brechty, and good in general.

You could start here (http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/the_complete_list.html). They've managed to capture both crap and excellence in the same list...

Thank goodness for Netflix.

Dark City
Murderball
Hoop Dreams
He Got Game
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Bubba Ho-Tep
The Iron Giant
Unforgiven
Frailty
The Descent
Hot Fuzz
Unbreakable
Evil Dead II

I'm trying to think only of the ones you might not have seen that I can confirm are either of exceptional quality or are, as in the case of Bubba Ho-Tep, Unbreakable, and Dark City, are criminally underrated.

The Prestige is a very good modern psychological movie, and I think you should find it interesting.


I watched this one the other night and really enjoyed it.

Hero by Zhang Yimou.

12 Angry Men (1957) - painfully obvious that it's meant to be a play, but still compelling viewing.

The Machinist, if you're after something more modern.

The original Nosferatu, and The Battleship Potemkin are worth watching, if only to see what film was like in its infancy.

But The Seventh Seal - if you haven't seen it already, see it NOW!

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, possibly. I enjoyed it, at least.

Hero by Zhang Yimou.

I was going to suggest this. :)

I'd also recommend "Curse of The Golden Flower".


Also on this list that I would strongly support:

The Machinist
The Prestige
Dark City


A couple of movies that MIGHT match up with the recommendation of Pan's Labyrinth:

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
The Others
Dek Hor (Dorm)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)


Other strong suggestions:

Fight Club
K-Pax
Seven
The Usual Suspects
The Fifth Element
Bladerunner
Sunshine
Solaris
The Sixth Sense
Equilibrium
Children of Men
Twelve Monkeys
Cloverfield

A couple of movies that might not get consideration, normally:

Labyrinth
The Princess Bride

Solaris


Ah - but which one? The impenetrably weird original Russian version? Or the one that has been mauled in a Cloonificator?

Stanislaw Lem rocks!

Ah - but which one? The impenetrably weird original Russian version? Or the one that has been mauled in a Cloonificator?

Stanislaw Lem rocks!

I have both, and I actually prefer the remake. It's one of the rare few movies where that is the case. There are elements of the original I prefer, certainly. But, overall, I like the Clooney version. And normally - I can't abide him.

If I was recommending one, I'd say that - unless you have a lot of patience - watch the remake, and even that hardly has rushed pacing.

clockwork orange.

I was going to suggest this. :)

I'd also recommend "Curse of The Golden Flower".


Also on this list that I would strongly support:

The Machinist
The Prestige
Dark City


A couple of movies that MIGHT match up with the recommendation of Pan's Labyrinth:

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
The Others
Dek Hor (Dorm)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)


Other strong suggestions:

Fight Club
K-Pax
Seven
The Usual Suspects
The Fifth Element
Bladerunner
Sunshine
Solaris
The Sixth Sense
Equilibrium
Children of Men
Twelve Monkeys
Cloverfield

A couple of movies that might not get consideration, normally:

Labyrinth
The Princess Bride

I agree with the Bolded!

Cloverfield.... I felt that was too 'Blair Witch'-y

I agree with the Bolded!

Cloverfield.... I felt that was too 'Blair Witch'-y

I don't like it as much as Gwoemul (The Host), maybe - but I still thought it was very good. But then - I really liked Blair Witch, too.

Hero by Zhang Yimou.
Only if you are a ninja and can actually follow it. But, it was easier to follow than Fearless.

Classics of various forms:
Ghost in the Shell
pretty much anything by Miyazaki, but definitely Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Howl's Moving Castle
The Blues Brothers
The Godfather

Awesome movies:
Army of Darkness (aka Bruce Campbell is awesome)
Kung Fu Hustle

City of God.

Spoken in Portuguese, but has english subtitles.

To name a recent one, The Dark Knight may not be a masterpeice in and of itsself, but Ledger's Joker is a master performance.

Going back a few years, Children of Men. It is my favorite sci-fi/futuristic film, period.

Also, there's a movie titled either United 93 or Flight 93, about the events of September 11th. A fine historical drama, with a documentary feel that comes off much better than Oliver Stone's sappy melodrama World Trade Center.

...wait, I wasn't the only one who saw Sunshine??

That movie seriously rocked my socks. Utterly captivating.

I was going to suggest this. :)

I'd also recommend "Curse of The Golden Flower".


Also on this list that I would strongly support:

The Machinist
The Prestige
Dark City


A couple of movies that MIGHT match up with the recommendation of Pan's Labyrinth:

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
The Others
Dek Hor (Dorm)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)


Other strong suggestions:

Fight Club
K-Pax
Seven
The Usual Suspects
The Fifth Element
Bladerunner
Sunshine
Solaris
The Sixth Sense
Equilibrium
Children of Men
Twelve Monkeys
Cloverfield

A couple of movies that might not get consideration, normally:

Labyrinth
The Princess Bride

*cough*SERENITY*cough*

Catch-22!!!!
I also dug Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
*shrug*

''The Great Dictator''.

Well, Parkissimo, you've got fantastic taste in film.

How about:

Empire of the Sun
Gandhi
The Four Feathers (1939)
The Longest Day
The Constant Gardener
Tsotsi
The Fourth Protocol
Happiness [warning: disturbing but excellent]
Last of the Mohicans
Start the Revolution Without Me
The Mouse That Roared
The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Front Page (1931 or, surprisingly, 1974)
The Madness of King George

I second City of God, best film I have seen recently. I would add Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and the original Cat People, Fight Club...I could go on, usually I do.

i still think super panchro-press is pretty good, but the convenience of digital is worth the slight loss in resolution. kodachrome is a cheap spectical, pretty, but now a day's with digital, kind of superfilous.

i still think super panchro-press is pretty good, but the convenience of digital is worth the slight loss in resolution. kodachrome is a cheap spectical, pretty, but now a day's with digital, kind of superfilous.

"A great film", not great film. Nice one, though.

...wait, I wasn't the only one who saw Sunshine??

That movie seriously rocked my socks. Utterly captivating.

I liked it a lot, had a similar visual impact to Hero. I also loved the flash-scenes introducing the horror-like section of the plot; really reminded me of F.E.A.R. the computer game. But perhaps also like Hero, the overall plot was rather confused at times.

I was going to suggest this. :)

I'd also recommend "Curse of The Golden Flower".


Also on this list that I would strongly support:

The Machinist
The Prestige
Dark City


A couple of movies that MIGHT match up with the recommendation of Pan's Labyrinth:

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)
The Others
Dek Hor (Dorm)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)


Other strong suggestions:

Fight Club
K-Pax
Seven
The Usual Suspects
The Fifth Element
Bladerunner
Sunshine
Solaris
The Sixth Sense
Equilibrium
Children of Men
Twelve Monkeys
Cloverfield

A couple of movies that might not get consideration, normally:

Labyrinth
The Princess Bride

I like the majority of these suggestions (haven't seen all of them). They would certainly be included in best films of the part 15 years, but of older films? My exposure to modern films is far greater than older ones (say pre-1970), but I intend to rectify this gradually.

Stalker is also pretty good, though it is a matter of taste - if you struggled with the original version of Solaris you won't enjoy Stalker.

There are only a few masterpieces I have seen in my life: Ran, Pan's Labyrinth, and Barry Lyndon. I also loved The Duellists, but I am still trying to decide whether or not it was a "masterpiece".

Does anyone here know of films which can match the superb quality of the aforementioned?

Here's two for you, the beutifull 'Hero' and the sublime 'Bliss'

I would name Princess Mononoke as an equal to Pan's Labyrinth. Hayao Miyazaki is the animated counterpart to Guillermo del Toro.

Some other masterpieces:
The Dark Knight
The Longest Day
The Lord of the Rings
The Right Stuff
Apollo 13
Children of Men
Alien
Blade Runner
Lion King

Some films I would call genre masterpieces - rather than transcending their genre, they define it.
The Bourne Ultimatum (masterpiece action flick)
Silverado (masterpiece Western)
Iron Man (masterpiece comic book film)

The War of the Worlds (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046534/) (1953)

*cough*SERENITY*cough*


I ummed and aahed about it (and "Dog Soldiers", actually), but it's one of the films where I am aware my love for the product might be so blind, I'm not capable of beign fair.

I don't think so, of course - I think Serenity is just that good. (And, "Dog Soldiers"). But I was trying to be fair. :)


Catch-22!!!!
I also dug Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
*shrug*

Not seen it. Criminal, I know.

I ummed and aahed about it (and "Dog Soldiers", actually), but it's one of the films where I am aware my love for the product might be so blind, I'm not capable of beign fair.

I don't think so, of course - I think Serenity is just that good. (And, "Dog Soldiers"). But I was trying to be fair. :)



Not seen it. Criminal, I know.

Serenity! No man you have let your bias blind you. It is a reasonable film, but not excelent. I would not call it great nor a classic, nor a masterpiece.

Serenity! No man you have let your bias blind you. It is a reasonable film, but not excelent. I would not call it great nor a classic, nor a masterpiece.

This

...wait, I wasn't the only one who saw Sunshine??

That movie seriously rocked my socks. Utterly captivating.

I know. I nice blend of Sci-Fi, Suspense and Drama.

Well, Parkissimo, you've got fantastic taste in film.

I thank you. Many persons tell me I have a depressing taste in film, especially for a 19-year-old. I tried to show Barry Lyndon to my father and he hated the thing: he could not see any depth in it, he just saw a tragedy that said humans are worthless and wicked.

How about:

Empire of the Sun
Gandhi
The Four Feathers (1939)
The Longest Day
The Constant Gardener
Tsotsi
The Fourth Protocol
Happiness [warning: disturbing but excellent]
Last of the Mohicans
Start the Revolution Without Me
The Mouse That Roared
The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Front Page (1931 or, surprisingly, 1974)
The Madness of King George

Surprisingly, I have only a seen couple of the those films, but I shall be sure to investigate the rest, as the ones I have seen I enjoyed much.

I would name Princess Mononoke as an equal to Pan's Labyrinth. Hayao Miyazaki is the animated counterpart to Guillermo del Toro.

Hm.

Some other masterpieces:
The Dark Knight

That was a fine film, though I would have considered it far better if someone actually did blow-up a boat, and then it turned out that Joker rigged it-up so that either switch exploded both vessels. As far as super-hero movies are concerned, it was great, and the ending was superb.

The Longest Day

Well done.

The Lord of the Rings

:$

The Right Stuff
Apollo 13
Children of Men

I have yet to see these.

Alien
Blade Runner
Lion King

While these films are undoubtedly good in their own sense, they are not exactly what I was looking for.

Some films I would call genre masterpieces - rather than transcending their genre, they define it.
The Bourne Ultimatum (masterpiece action flick)

I liked The Bourne Identity, but I found the sequels somewhat jarring due to confusing camera-work and plots that just proceeded ":mp5:????:mp5:????:mp5:????:mp5:". The first film had a workable concept, which became over-worked. I also found it disconcerting that Bourne could keep besting opponents carrying fire-arms, while he used his fists. At least he uses a gun the in the Bourne Identity. As far as "shoot 'em up" movies go, I would say that Terminator 2: Judgment Day cannot be superseded, if only because guns are handled so realistically. And all-in-all, if guns play an important part in a movie, I prefer that the fights are shorter and fewer, and thus more poignant.

If I had to pick a favorite action film, it would be Yojimbo.

Silverado (masterpiece Western)

Methinks The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is better.

Iron Man (masterpiece comic book film)

The Dark Knight perhaps was; Iron Man was a decent action film, but hardly a "masterpiece".

I thank you. Many persons tell me I have a depressing taste in film, especially for a 19-year-old. I tried to show Barry Lyndon to my father and he hated the thing: he could not see any depth in it, he just saw a tragedy that said humans are worthless and wicked.

Surprisingly, I have only a seen couple of the those films, but I shall be sure to investigate the rest, as the ones I have seen I enjoyed much.

If you like being taken to ALL corners of the human experience, that doesn't make your taste depressing, that makes it comprehensive.

Happiness, for example, does such a good job at portraying a kind of character that's almost a criminal/psychopathic stereotype as someone you can actually feel some kind of sorrow for (I'm being non-specific to preserve your investigation's integrity).

If you like being taken to ALL corners of the human experience, that doesn't make your taste depressing, that makes it comprehensive.

I like Edgar Allan Poe, he likes Norman Vincent Peale.

Anyway, I did not think that Barry Lyndon portrayed humans as wicked; it portrayed humans as humans. It was morally aloof, but it made you feel a sympathy for people who were not particularly likable. The only characters which did not have redeeming qualities (to the viewer) were the polite and refined. The irony of the film was that the title character gains all his fortune via unscrupulous methods, yet he loses the game of life because of his admirable traits.


Happiness, for example, does such a good job at portraying a kind of character that's almost a criminal/psychopathic stereotype as someone you can actually feel some kind of sorrow for (I'm being non-specific to preserve your investigation's integrity).

Excellent.

I'd go for any of the epic war films.

The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far (I've walked across that bridge irl.. Well, the rebuild. ^^) Apocalypse Now.

Modern Epics, Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan.

As for Westerns. Rio Bravo! High Noon. Fistful of Dollars.

Don't say a Word was a good thriller, as was Ronin.

Comedy, 51st State, for modern times. I'm not too up to date on older comedies.

Anyway, I did not think that Barry Lyndon portrayed humans as wicked; it portrayed humans as humans. It was morally aloof, but it made you feel a sympathy for people who were not particularly likable. The only characters which did not have redeeming qualities (to the viewer) were the polite and refined. The irony of the film was that the title character gains all his fortune via unscrupulous methods, yet he loses the game of life because of his admirable traits.

I thought he lost it all because of his impatience and lack of perspective, but it has been a while since I have seen it. Those aren't costumes, by the way. They're original clothes from the period.

I recommend Miler's Crossing.

Turtles Can Fly was really good.

I thought he lost it all because of his impatience and lack of perspective, but it has been a while since I have seen it.

Spoiler concerning the film:

His first great blow came when his son died, the only person he seemed to love. This is admirable because it shows he cares for a certain human very deeply, which contrasts with his generally selfish behaviour.

He next great lost was his leg. It had to be amputated after his stepson shot it in the climatic duel. Yet, it was because Barry forfeited his shot by deliberately firing into the ground that allowed his stepson to shoot him.

Next, Bullington repossessed the Lyndon fortune, which Barry would have been able to have, had he killed Bullington in the duel.
Those aren't costumes, by the way. They're original clothes from the period.

I love historical accuracy.

I recommend Miler's Crossing.

I shall look into it.

Munich.

Eh, I've not gotten too deep into Miyazaki, but Princess Mononoke struck me as somewhat uninspired. Well-developed characters, but the story just didn't grip me. I have to say that among animated artists, I think Brad Bird beats Miyazaki by a mile, and The Iron Giant is his seminal work. Better than Disney, better than anything I've seen yet by Miyazaki. I realize that I'm in the minority, and I realize it's somewhat a matter of taste, but I think I'm right.

I might suggest The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn and a very young Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins. 1968, Directed by Anthony Harvey.

:fluffle:

One of my top 5 favorite movies.

"He's got a knife!"

"Of course he's got a knife, we've all got knives. It's 1183 and we're all barbarians."

Another classic: A Man for All Seasons, featuring an excellent performance by Paul Scofield as Thomas More, standing up to Henry VIII in grand, stoic and reasoned fashion.

My mom's favorite movie! Also recommend Becket. Peter O'Toole was just born to be Henry II.

12 Angry Men (1957) - painfully obvious that it's meant to be a play, but still compelling viewing.

Good pick--I love this version and the Jack Lemon remake, hard to choose.


Empire of the Sun

:fluffle: Absolute best movie in the whole world. Your taste is impeccable.

The Man Who Came to Dinner

And then of course In the Heat of the Night, just in case you haven't seen it.

Le Roi de Coeur, 1966, French with subtitles, set during WWI

Jean de Florette, 1986, French with subtitles, classic

In the Company of Men, 1997, English

Probably pretty obvious and you've already seen them, but if not, Cool Hand Luke and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Waterworld.

Favourites of mine:

Rashomon - Akira Kurosawa (probably my favourite director)
The Burmese Harp - Kon Ichikawa
Allegro non Troppo - Bruno Bozetto
The Tree of Wooden Clogs - Ermanno Olmi
La Strada - Frederico Fellini
Wings of Desire - Wim Wenders
Bringing up Baby - Howard Hawks
Dr Strangelove - Stanley Kubrick
Citizen Kane - Orson Welles
The General - Buster Keaton
Some Like it Hot - Billy Wilder
The Children of Paradise - Marcel Carné
Paprika - Satoshi Kon
Malcolm - Nadia Tass
Lantana - Ray Lawrence
Bad Boy Bubby - Rolf de Heer

You'll have to forgive me for including 3 Australian films (the last 3).

Also in the list is one anime - Paprika. As much as I like Miyazaki, I think he pales compared with Satoshi Kon. Miyazaki does high quality but, nonetheless quite straightforward movies; Kon uses animation to do things that can only be done with animation and in a way that is like no-one else.

Methinks The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is better [than whatever utter pish Western Mirkana Nominated].
And For a Few Dollars More is the best of the series. Disagree and you are wrong.
I would name Princess Mononoke as an equal to Pan's Labyrinth. Hayao Miyazaki is the animated counterpart to Guillermo del Toro.

Some other masterpieces:
The Dark Knight
I lol'd. Ledger was good. On the other hand it was in dire need of a capable editor. DIRE NEED. Example : The whole Hong-Kong bit - why? Seriously?

Eh, I've not gotten too deep into Miyazaki, but Princess Mononoke struck me as somewhat uninspired. Well-developed characters, but the story just didn't grip me. I have to say that among animated artists, I think Brad Bird beats Miyazaki by a mile, and The Iron Giant is his seminal work. Better than Disney, better than anything I've seen yet by Miyazaki. I realize that I'm in the minority, and I realize it's somewhat a matter of taste, but I think I'm right.

I agree. Brad Bird is indeed a genius.

My mom's favorite movie! Also recommend Becket. Peter O'Toole was just born to be Henry II.

His last excellent film was My Favorite Year.

Good pick--I love this version and the Jack Lemon remake, hard to choose.

I like the modern one too, because of Hume Cronyn (his last film) and Mekhi Phifer as a Black juror spouting very telling racist lines about the Latino suspect. George C. Scott was very good, too.

:fluffle: Absolute best movie in the whole world. Your taste is impeccable.

Aw.:$ Thanks.

And then of course In the Heat of the Night, just in case you haven't seen it.

You're thinking that I suggested Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Sidney Poitier), which is an excellent film. I suggested The Man Who Came to Dinner (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033874/), which is excellent for a completely different reason.

The Gods Must be Crazy

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Must_Be_Crazy)

You're thinking that I suggested Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Sidney Poitier), which is an excellent film. I suggested The Man Who Came to Dinner (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033874/), which is excellent for a completely different reason.

This is what I get for being illiterate. >_< I've seen that too (I actually did a scene from it in an acting class in college). Not bad. I like mine better. :P

:fluffle: Absolute best movie in the whole world. Your taste is impeccable.

I have your favourite movie down as: Chasing Amy.

Dr. Strangelove, or how I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Failsafe
On the Beach
On the Waterfront
The Wild Ones
A Clockwork Orange
Lord of the Flies

All of the above, classics and/or at least exceptionally thought provoking.

I have your favourite movie down as: Chasing Amy.

What, what? What dirty lies have you been listening to??

I guess it depends on the genre that you like:
Two American war films that made me want to cry - Saving Private Ryan and Gettysburg (Colonel Chamberlain's speech). The French film "A Very Long Engagement", two great German war films: Das Boot (The Boat) and Cross of Iron, the clasic "From Here to Eternity". Full Metal Jacket and the Deerstalker were two good films onVietnam
Fantasy - Lord of the Rings of course, Pan's Labyrinth, definitely, japanese anime like "Howl's Moving Castle". Then there is 'The Golden Compass" and "Prince Caspian".
For Unionism - Norma Rae, Matewan, The Molly Maguires
Sci Fi - ooh so many! Charlton Heston made some good ones in the 60's (Planet of the Apes, The Omega man) There were classics like Jules Verne's "Fantastic Planet" a bit dated with special effects, a good black and white: "The Incredible Shrinking Man".
That'll do for now!

I guess it depends on the genre that you like:
Two American war films that made me want to cry - Saving Private Ryan and Gettysburg (Colonel Chamberlain's speech). The French film "A Very Long Engagement", two great German war films: Das Boot (The Boat) and Cross of Iron, the clasic "From Here to Eternity". Full Metal Jacket and the Deerstalker were two good films onVietnam
Fantasy - Lord of the Rings of course, Pan's Labyrinth, definitely, japanese anime like "Howl's Moving Castle". Then there is 'The Golden Compass" and "Prince Caspian".
For Unionism - Norma Rae, Matewan, The Molly Maguires
Sci Fi - ooh so many! Charlton Heston made some good ones in the 60's (Planet of the Apes, The Omega man) There were classics like Jules Verne's "Fantastic Planet" a bit dated with special effects, a good black and white: "The Incredible Shrinking Man".
That'll do for now!

That's the Deer Hunter, unless the title got changed overseas or it's not this film (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/). DeNiro, Walken, Streep. Excellent film.

That's the Deer Hunter, unless the title got changed overseas or it's not this film (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/). DeNiro, Walken, Streep. Excellent film.

When I was 8 or 9 my friend and I had rented a movie for a sleepover, some kiddie fantasy thing, and when we popped the tape in it was the Deer Hunter. That was a very confusing and upsetting 10 minutes.

The Gods Must be Crazy

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Must_Be_Crazy)

:salute:

I watched The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky earlier today. I really like the visual style, and similarly enjoyed Requiem for a Dream when I watched it some months ago. Music for both is good as well: not intrusive but effectively invoking the moods of the scenes.

I watched The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky earlier today. I really like the visual style, and similarly enjoyed Requiem for a Dream when I watched it some months ago. Music for both is good as well: not intrusive but effectively invoking the moods of the scenes.

Agreed. "The Fountain" is absolutely awesome - and deliciously gorgeous.

When I was 8 or 9 my friend and I had rented a movie for a sleepover, some kiddie fantasy thing, and when we popped the tape in it was the Deer Hunter. That was a very confusing and upsetting 10 minutes.

...Bambi?

On topic: If it hasn't been suggested yet, Pan's Labyrinth.

...nevermind....And THIS is why I need to start reading the OP...


What about Equilibrium?

On topic: If it hasn't been suggested yet, Pan's Labyrinth.

...nevermind....And THIS is why I need to start reading the OP...


What about Equilibrium?

Wayyy ahead of ya. :)

I would get The Maltese Falcon.

There are only a few masterpieces I have seen in my life: Ran, Pan's Labyrinth, and Barry Lyndon. I also loved The Duellists, but I am still trying to decide whether or not it was a "masterpiece".

Does anyone here know of films which can match the superb quality of the aforementioned?

Just about anything by Kurosawa except for the WWII era stuff. Also The Good The Bad and The Ugly and the other Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns

I really like the visual style, and similarly enjoyed Requiem for a Dream when I watched it some months ago.
I don't think "enjoyed" is quite the word for that very disturbing movie, but it was excellent.

There are only a few masterpieces I have seen in my life: Ran, Pan's Labyrinth, and Barry Lyndon. I also loved The Duellists, but I am still trying to decide whether or not it was a "masterpiece".

Does anyone here know of films which can match the superb quality of the aforementioned?

I'm amused by your mention of Pan's Labyrinth. At my university, it seems to be the film that pseudo-intellectuals bring up when speaking to film students or in film lectures. I've never sat through all of it. I can see it's allure, but I don't think it's a "masterpiece". I should sit down and properly watch it.

Depends whether you mean classics or like..the "best" films?

One of my favourite films is Babel. I'd call it one of the best films of our current time.

Something I'd consider a classic is Polanski's Chinatown.

I'm a film student though, so it's probably best for me not to go on and on, haha.

I'm amused by your mention of Pan's Labyrinth. At my university, it seems to be the film that pseudo-intellectuals bring up when speaking to film students or in film lectures. I've never sat through all of it. I can see it's allure, but I don't think it's a "masterpiece". I should sit down and properly watch it.

Depends whether you mean classics or like..the "best" films?

One of my favourite films is Babel. I'd call it one of the best films of our current time.

Something I'd consider a classic is Polanski's Chinatown.

I'm a film student though, so it's probably best for me not to go on and on, haha.

I agree, Pan's Labyrinth is a good film but not a great film. I thought Devil's Backbone was better but still not a classic.

I don't think "enjoyed" is quite the word for that very disturbing movie, but it was excellent.

Hehe, this is true.

Bit like A Clockwork Orange, in fact. And Trainspotting.

I agree, Pan's Labyrinth is a good film but not a great film. I thought Devil's Backbone was better but still not a classic.

For me, "Pan's Labyrinth" scores particularly well because it does something special - that is, it tells a story while discussing what it is to tell stories. Other films that have done it, to varied effect, might be "Labyrinth", "The Last Unicorn"... "Boondock Saints"... "Hero"... "Frankenstein". Even "The Matrix".

I'm not sure it's a classic, but it is timeless and ephemeral, simulatneously. It forges a new story in the midst of a traditional fairy-tale, without being untrue to either. And it scores well (for me) on the main measures: direction, acting, script, production. It's visual art, it's musical art, it's literate art, it's performance art - and it's art in the eye of the lens.

I'm not sure it meets a traditional definition of 'classic', because I really don't know how that should be defined. But, I think it's a classic.

I'm amused by your mention of Pan's Labyrinth. At my university, it seems to be the film that pseudo-intellectuals bring up when speaking to film students or in film lectures. I've never sat through all of it. I can see it's allure, but I don't think it's a "masterpiece". I should sit down and properly watch it.

The ending is what (I think) makes the film great.

Spider.

Spider.

...-Man 3?

...-Man 3?

NO!


This spider http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1120292-spider/