What Film? Made You Fall In Love?

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by assydingo

The first movie that made me realize movies can be more than entertainment?

... I personally don't understand how anyone could not know or understand that film is an art form... just like TV, theater, literature, painting and many others are. It is of course more than just "entertainment" but that again is all up to the eye of the beholder and what he/she personally takes out of it.

[nick1091]

I remember being a little kid on vacation with my family in Virginia Beach and we went to go see Ghostbusters, and it totally blew my mind. I was amazed a movie could be funny, scary, action packed all in one package. It was also the first time I remember moviegoing as a community experience - hundreds of people just thoroughly entertained together, laughing together, etc.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

... I personally don't understand how anyone could not know or understand that film is an art form... just like TV, theater, literature, painting and many others are. It is of course more than just "entertainment" but that again is all up to the eye of the beholder and what he/she personally takes out of it.

for the most part i completely agree, but that's painting a pretty broad stroke. there are certain movies that i think do exist just as money-whoring entertainment and nothing more. i find it hard to believe someone could watch scary movie, meet the spartans, etc and take away something meaningful (but like you said it's all in the eye of the beholder). overall however, i do think film is an art form, but not when a director's vision is steered solely by profits.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

... I personally don't understand how anyone could not know or understand that film is an art form... just like TV, theater, literature, painting and many others are. It is of course more than just "entertainment" but that again is all up to the eye of the beholder and what he/she personally takes out of it.

As a child anything is possible.

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

for the most part i completely agree, but that's painting a pretty broad stroke. there are certain movies that i think do exist just as money-whoring entertainment and nothing more. i find it hard to believe someone could watch scary movie, meet the spartans, etc and take away something meaningful (but like you said it's all in the eye of the beholder). overall however, i do think film is an art form, but not when a director's vision is steered solely by profits.

Well, even in the case of films that either turn out bad or where made with not-so-pure of intentions, they are still pieces of art... bad or empty art, sure, but still.


On the whole though, agreed.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

... I personally don't understand how anyone could not know or understand that film is an art form... just like TV, theater, literature, painting and many others are. It is of course more than just "entertainment" but that again is all up to the eye of the beholder and what he/she personally takes out of it.

Perhaps, some people only wish to be entertained.
They have no want or need to break a movie down into the aspects of camera angle, the vision, the underlying message, political agenda(if any), etc.

A Bug's Life - was entertaining. I liked it!
Cars - was entertaining. I liked it.
LFODH - Great action and crashes. I liked it!

If anyone wishes to look at a movie as an art form, have at it!
The main purpose of watching a movie, for most people, is for entertainment.

OT, sort of:
Many people think of their car as a mode of transportation only.
I look at most as a form of art.
A Lotus Esprit is more than a "grocery getter", it is a beautiful piece of work.
A Corvette, who doesn't appreciate a 'Vette?
RS/SS 396 Camaro... not just a "car".

Even a lowly S-10 pickup has it's points. A Vortec 4300 in a small truck? Hell Yes!

[Count Zero]

The movie that did it for me was Bloodsport. Horrible, I know... That was the first movie I ever bought on VHS, and I could watch that movie over and over again. I was really into martial arts and I think it was the spirit of the movie that grabbed my fascination, I felt I could relate to it. As a kid, however, I did not percieve just how cheesy the movie actually was. I don't think I could watch it today.

After that, I think the second movie I fell in love with was Blade Runner, and it is still at the top of my list. That was the first movie I saw that really incorporated interesting, philosophical ideas and provoked thought long after the movie was over. Also, the imagery and ambience of Blade Runner is wonderfully detailed and draws me right in. I'd like to jump into the world and just wander through the city.

[jkwest]

Old Yeller, hands down....it moved me soooo much as a kid. I laughed, I cried...it still has a spot in my heart.

Many of the old Disney Family films still hold dear to me for what they meant to me as a kid.

Swiss Family Robinson
Old Yeller
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

still waiting for these classics to show up on Blu-ray

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by dadkins

Perhaps, some people only wish to be entertained.
They have no want or need to break a movie down into the aspects of camera angle, the vision, the underlying message, political agenda(if any), etc.

A Bug's Life - was entertaining. I liked it!
Cars - was entertaining. I liked it.
LFODH - Great action and crashes. I liked it!

If anyone wishes to look at a movie as an art form, have at it!
The main purpose of watching a movie, for most people, is for entertainment.

OT, sort of:
Many people think of their car as a mode of transportation only.
I look at most as a form of art.
A Lotus Esprit is more than a "grocery getter", it is a beautiful piece of work.
A Corvette, who doesn't appreciate a 'Vette?
RS/SS 396 Camaro... not just a "car".

Even a lowly S-10 pickup has it's points. A Vortec 4300 in a small truck? Hell Yes!

Well, since you nor I speak for "most people" I nor you truly know what any given majority feels or thinks about film. Still, if by entertainment you mean to just simply be engaged and/or provoked by something visually with no imagination, intelligence or emotion behind it than I'd have to disagree with this so-called majority if you were indeed right about them.


Movies (or art) is so much more than the pursuit of pleasure or relaxation which is at the nitty-gritty what the word "entertainment" means. If that's all one wants to take from any medium of art, fine, but I personally cannot understand that mindset. To me, there are few things more pleasurable or even relaxing (depending on certain factors for the latter, of course) than art.

[Crim122]

Originally Posted by dadkins

Perhaps, some people only wish to be entertained.
They have no want or need to break a movie down into the aspects of camera angle, the vision, the underlying message, political agenda(if any), etc.

Thats entertainment to me, when I see a shot that lasts really long I get excited

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

Well, since you nor I speak for "most people" I nor you truly know what any given majority feels or thinks about film. Still, if by entertainment you mean to just simply be engaged and/or provoked by something visually with no imagination, intelligence or emotion behind it than I'd have to disagree with this so-called majority if you were indeed right about them.


Movies (or art) is so much more than the pursuit of pleasure or relaxation which is at the nitty-gritty what the word "entertainment" means. If that's all one wants to take from any medium of art, fine, but I personally cannot understand that mindset. To me, there are few things more pleasurable or even relaxing (depending on certain factors for the latter, of course) than art.

Look at what people are wwatching.
How can Meet The Spartans make *ANY* money whatsoever?
*Insert trash movie here*_______ made millions too!

You or I can not definitively say, but look at what's happening at the box offices.
Slapping together a POS that makes millions? If you consider that art... well, that's some messed up art!

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by dadkins

Look at what people are wwatching.
How can Meet The Spartans make *ANY* money whatsoever?
*Insert trash movie here*_______ made millions too!

You or I can not definitively say, but look at what's happening at the box offices.
Slapping together a POS that makes millions? If you consider that art... well, that's some messed up art!

Not messed up art... just bad art. People pay money to go and see it in spades, yes, and that is the conundrum of the individual and "the eye of the beholder" mantra.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Crim122

Thats entertainment to me, when I see a shot that lasts really long I get excited

Watch Akira Kurosawa's The Lower Depths, although if you are "excited" for more than four hours please seek medical attention.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Crim122

Thats entertainment to me, when I see a shot that lasts really long I get excited

I'm ok with that!
*YOU* are entertained by a long lasting shot... Cool!
J6P wants to forget the world for ~2 hours and be entertained by drama/comedy/action/horor/whatever.

Who the director was is something I'm guessing most people won't know.
What focal length and what ISO was used is something they couldn't care less about.

Whether you or I want to accept it, it's the J6Ps of the world that makes those insane box office numbers.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

Not messed up art... just bad art. People pay money to go and see it in spades, yes, and that is the conundrum of the individual and "the eye of the beholder" mantra.

Absolutely!
Messed up = bad. Either way...

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by dadkins

I'm ok with that!
*YOU* are entertained by a long lasting shot... Cool!
J6P wants to forget the world for ~2 hours and be entertained by drama/comedy/action/horor/whatever.

Who the director was is something I'm guessing most people won't know.
What focal length and what ISO was used is something they couldn't care less about.

Whether you or I want to accept it, it's the J6Ps of the world that makes those insane box office numbers.

I think more people go to a movie (or watch TV, read a book, listen to music etc.) than to be just "entertained" than you would perhaps believe or acknowledge... but, that is just my opinion and since there are millions if not billions of truths and/or realities in this world, yours is just as valid as mine or anyone else's. Perhaps we just have a somewhat-differing take on what the definition or meaning of "entertainment" is, though... either way, no problem.

[gentrycoach]

I've always loved movies. But I think the Godfather is what really got me. I could watch that movie everyday.

[uziel5000]

The Goonies and Back to the Future are the ones that did it for me. I spent more money renting BTTF than for many others combined. I saw The Goonies three times in the theaters which may not sound like much but when you are a kid like I was and had to drag your mom every one of those times, its a LOT.

The Goonies spoke to me as a child of course. I was at the perfect age to watch that film. Going out and discovering new worlds and treasures... I couldve cared less who directed it ( I do now) but this was the film that made me realize that in movies you could do whatever you wanted.

Back to the Future... who did NOT want to be Marty McFly in 1985? This was the film that got me into the Filmaking aspects of films. How it got made? How did they do that? etc.. Amazingly, I only found out when it came out on DVD that there was a lot of controversy about Marty's mom having a crush on his own son and stuff. Despite watching the film thousands of times it never occured to me that there was anything wrong with the whole issue. Go figure.

[dmb70]

I remember seeing the original Frankenstien on TV back in 74 or 75 when I was a little kid & Willy Wonka in the theater about the same time. I also distinctly remember watching Planet Of The Apes on TV in the late 70's & seeing Star Wars in the theater in 77. We had HBO when I was a kid so around 1980 or so I remember watching Animal House, The Exorcist, Stir Crazy, The Jerk, The Shining, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Up In Smoke (yes my parents were pretty liberal with what they allowed us to watch).
By the time I was in my early teens I remember seeing everything I could in the theater from Return Of the Jedi to Blade Runner to Conan The Barbarian to Poltergiest to The Terminator & First Blood.
In my late teens I saw both Citizen Cane & On The Waterfront in high school english classes & then in my early 20's I really discovered the Godfather, Taxi Driver & A Clockwork Orange.

So all those movies & many more have made me a film fan.

[toef]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

as a KID, and i know im gonna get jabbed for this, but robin hood prince of thieves.

I like Costner's on-again/off-again English accent. I heard he tried to use one when they started filming, and then, after realizing it sounded horrible, said f-it and filmed the rest without it.