Which classic movie don’t you like/can’t enjoy and why?
One that comes to mind is Apocalypse Now. I've always heard how brilliant it is, and the idea of retelling Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness as a Vietnam War film is intriguing. But I didn't like the movie. I saw it over 20 years ago, so I don't remember it well -- I'm not even sure why I disliked it.
I just recall that the themes I remembered vividly from Heart of Darkness didn't quite come through for me. And when we heard "This Is the End" by the Doors blasting over a war-torn landscape, I felt like I was being bludgeoned over the head with a cinematic message. The movie was dealing with serious, disturbing subjects, and this struck me as style over substance.
Given that I didn't remember the movie well, for while, I thought I'd give it a second viewing. Then I heard they'd actually butchered a cow in front of the camera, so ... nope.
Which ten classic movies haven’t you seen yet? Wow ... there are many classics I haven't seen yet. Here are some:
- The Bicycle Thief
- Ben-Hur
- All About Eve
- Dr. Strangelove
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- On the Waterfront
- Strangers on a Train
- Singin' in the Rain
- A Clockwork Orange
- The Seventh Seal (and most other Bergman films, I'm sorry to say. :-))
Hmmm ... I don't think so. Although it sounds like the kind of thing my brother and I would've done when we were kids.
From which big director have you never seen any movie (and why)?
Michael Haneke -- after hearing the premise of Funny Games, I've been a little afraid of this director. Did he make Funny Games to convey a serious message or does he just enjoy shocking and disgusting viewers? Of course, I've always been put off by what I've heard about Lars von Trier, and I did watch Breaking the Waves.
Which movie do you love, but is generally hated?
Darn ... I can't think of one. Though I will admit to having a weakness for sappy "chick flicks" like Terms of Endearment, Beaches, and Steel Magnolias.
Have you ever been “one of those annoying people” at the cinema?
Hmmm ... I don't think so. However I do have trouble sitting still; I'm like a hyperactive kid, so occasionally I accidentally kick the back of someone's seat.
I recently went to see The Woman in Black with some friends. The friend sitting next to me would occasionally let out a ear-splitting scream. It was hilarious. I think I enjoyed it more than the movie, actually.
Did you ever watch a movie, which you knew in advance would be bad, just because of a specific actor/actress was in it? Which one and why?
When I was in high school and college, my best friend and I had a major crush on the actor Richard Gere. This led to my seeing several pretty bad movies including American Gigolo and Breathless (not the French New Wave film).
Did you ever not watch a specific movie because it had subtitles?
No, I love subtitles, and I'm surprised at how many people dislike them. I worked at a movie theater during college. Patrons would sometimes come out in a huff, after seeing subtitles on the screen, and want their money back. Excuse me, but didn't you know you were buying a ticket for a foreign film?
Are there any movies in your collection that you have had for more than five years and never watched?
I don't think so.
Which are the worst movies in your collection and why do you still own them?
Well, strictly speaking, I don't have a personal movie collection -- my husband and I consider all our movies community property. :-) As a result, we have some DVDs which I consider dreadful, but my hubby won't let me dump them at the Salvation Army. These include American Pie and Land of the Lost. For the record, my husband and all three of my kids really like Land of the Lost. Go figure.
Do you have any confessions about your movie watching setup at home?
We have a huge wide screen T.V., which seems like an indulgence in a family that can't afford a working dishwasher. :-) But we love it. My daughter MovieBuff25 has a T.V. in her room for watching movies; she got a region-free DVD player for Christmas one year to expand her access to obscure foreign films.
Our DVD cabinet is overflowing and spilling all over the floor. We need to give some of them away, but we can't all agree on which movies are expendable.
Any other confessions you want to make?
I sometimes watch the same movies over and over. My brother and I once watched The Princess Bride about five times in the same day -- I'm not sure why. I've probably seen The Princess Bride about 20 times altogether -- if pressed, I might be able to quote the whole script. :-P
It's been awhile since I've seen Apocalypse Now, but I can't say that it left a big enough impression on me.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen 1 out of your 10, that being On the Waterfront, which I really liked. Man, the bad thing about these confessions is I'm finding out how many classic movies I actually haven't seen..ugh!
An Officer and a Gentleman is my all-time favorite sappy "chick flick". I'll watch it anytime I come across it when flicking through channels.
I remember seeing The Princess Bride in the theater, coming home and constantly repeating "my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die". I think I drove my parents crazy, although that could have just been me driving my parents crazy like usual. :)
I really liked An Officer and a Gentleman, too. It's sappy and predictable, but what can I say ... it works. :-) And how could you resist repeating that Inigo Montoya line? As a matter of fact, there are so many insanely quotable lines in that movie. :-)
DeleteI love Apocalypse Now even the 4 hour redux but can completely get why its not for everyone. I like Haneke but like all "shock" films it can be hard to define between art and easy scare tactics, if your in the mood I would check his films out, he makes chilling films that have a lasting impression on you. And the princess bride is great. This is a good idea for a blog by the way, combining two loves of yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks! That is a good point about it being difficult to draw the line between art and cheap shock tactics. Like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder, I guess. :-)
DeleteInteresting response -- personally, I've never loved The Princess Bride. But hey, I'm glad you do.
ReplyDeleteI can see why The Princess Bride wouldn't appeal to everyone. It's a pretty goofy movie. :)
DeleteI've only seen one Haneke film, Cache, and I'd highly recommend it. I really need to revisit Apocalypse Now. I remember liking it, but I really felt its length at times. I think that's another case where expectations are so high that it's likely to disappoint new viewers.
ReplyDeleteI do think the hype around certain movies kind of ruins them. I'll keep Cache in mind. Thanks for the recommendation.
DeleteMichael Haneke's films are definetly one of a kind, they are not as heavy and unpleasant as Von Trier's though. The Piano Teacher is my favorite, it's quite disturbing but it's also great and beautifully acted character study.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation -- I'll definitely keep The Piano Teacher in mind.
Deleteinteresting answers, Steph.
ReplyDeleteAbout that screaming banshee...I also find them interesting, more than the movie, they made me laugh. Because I find them amusing, i prefer to watch horror at home where no one screams.
I am also like you when it comes to watching movies over and over again. I watched Sherlock like 3 times in one day when series 2 episode 1 was first aired.
I can see where that would be a benefit of watching horror movies at home. Unless you need the screaming for comic relief. :-) I haven't watched Sherlock yet -- but as a Dr. Who fan, it's probably just a matter of time.
DeleteYou can never watch The Princess Brides one too many times in one day. That is just an inconceivable idea. Adore that film on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteI remember, over here in the UK, there were people who'd gone to see The Artist and were demanding their money back as they didn't know it was black and white and was silent. *rolls eyes*
You're right ... inconceivable! :-) That is sad that people wanted their money back because The Artist was black and white and silent. Some people really like their movies familiar and predictable.
DeleteI wasn't crazy about Apocalypse Now and I'm not sure why either.
ReplyDeleteSome people wanted money back because a film was subtitled? Jeez. Madness.
That is pretty crazy, isn't it? I can understand why some people might not want subtitles if they have vision or reading issues. But don't they know they're buying tickets to a foreign film?
DeleteHi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteRichard Gere in his younger years must've been so dreamy. But I don't know if he ever in a bad film, perhaps I just never see it.
I can understand watching a movie over and over again, though not 5 times in a row on the same day. I watched 10 things I hate you countless times, and me and my sisters sometimes remembered the dialogues and laughed.
10 Things I Hate About You is a fun movie. And though I get ragged on about this, I contend that Richard Gere is STILL hot. :-)
DeleteThat's a great list of classics to see. As for Haneke, I'd recommend Cache or Code Unknown over Funny Games. My DVD collection fills up a tall bookshelf and some boxes/containers, but they're still overflowing. I really should go through them and get rid of some. I also watch the same movies over and over sometimes, but I haven't done it lately.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations. Several people have mentioned Cache, so I may look for it on Netflix.
DeleteI really like this meme! And very nice answers. I happened to like Apocalypse Now, but I think it is because my boyfriend, who is a Gulf War vet, recommended it so highly. If you want to see a good war movie, watch Act of Valor. My bf and I went to see it and he said it was very realistic.
ReplyDeleteI really recommend Mr. Smith Goes to Washington!
I have no idea in the whole world if there is a director whose movies I have not watched!
Thanks, Becca! I will definitely add Act of Valor to my list. The fact that it's recommended, for its realism, by someone who served in the Gulf War really makes me want to see it.
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