Movies that hold up to repeate viewing
POSTED BY: SergeantX
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 00:26
VIEWED: 11686
PAGE 3 of 7
Quote:
Originally posted by chronicthehedgehog:
Leon - Love this movie, only gets better.
You're talking about Leon (aka the Professoinal) with Jean Reno, right? I completely agree. If you liked that, you should check out Wasabi. Also made by Luc Besson, starring Jean Reno, with Eric Serra doing the music (he did music for Leon and the Fifth Element as well). It's the best French Japanese Action Comedy I've seen.
Some movies I would say stand (and benefit) multiple viewings are:
Leon (the Professional)
Wasabi - this movie is deep and moving while at the same time being totally hilarious. Plus Jean Reno plays DDR!
The Fifth Element - there's just so much timing packed into this movie, everything happens at once
Labyrinth - every time I watch this movie I see something different. Try finding all of the characters Sara meets represented in her room decorations.
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"If you take sexual advantage of her, you're going to burn in a very special level of Hell, a level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater." -Book
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Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
For those of you kind enough to respond, what is it about the movies you listed that really makes them work over and over again?
oh sorry about that:
A Hard Day's Night
this was an early Beatle's film, and each of them are such individuals..the first time I saw it I realized I had missed most of the action...so I went back four more times so I could focus on each of them individual in the rewatch. Over the years I've never tired of the music and humor and personalities.
King of Hearts w/Alan Bates
an amazingly magical fantasy, with great humor and a political message, when I first saw it I went back over and over again bringing all my friends with me to see the movie. I have never grown tired of it.
Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline
wonderful music, lots of humor, I own this and love to put it in when I'm working around the house.
The Big Chill with Kevin Kline
again, filled with music and interesting characters and clever dialogue...I've seen it dozens of times and it always interests me.
It is one of those movies with a lot of very interesting characters, all deserving your attention and understanding.
Enchanted April
another magical world, I wish I could just live there.
Gosford Park
more than a dozen brilliant actors in a complicated plot with some beautiful music and lots of humour. I've seen it a number of times but I keep wanting to see it again (I recorded it on video off TV but I keep renting the DVD for the 'extras')
and by the way...I KNOW that Serenity will be on this list!
Because I am never tired of my Firefly DVDs either
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Quote:
SergeantX wrote:
Saturday, April 23, 2005 07:47
We seem to have a pretty good list of movies here. I've definitely added several to my rental wish list. But I was hoping someone would take the bait and venture into the why of it all. What makes some movies get better as you watch them, while some just seem to grow stale?
I cant quite put my finger on it, the great shows have an almost magical quality to them. I do know that the great shows(to me) are like old friends that you just have to catch up with from time to time.
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Quote:
Originally posted by captaincdc:
Star Treks 2, 4, 6, 8
There is a saying, "Even numbered Trek films don't suck."
It was once true, as this list shows.
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Enchanted April I forgot about! Absolutly marvelous! Thanks for reminding us.
Magic luvin' Chrisisall
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Quote:
Originally posted by manwithpez:
I LOVE Tai-Chi Master! That movie is so cool. Wait...you're talking about the one with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh, right?
That I am! A lushly photographed and produced costumed period piece with Kung Fu, wire fu, drama, broad comedy, all wrapped around the idea that we are who we choose to be and that 'fate' is a false notion embraced by the weak-willed to excuse their actions.
Viewed from the surface, it could be mistaken for just another dopey chop-sockey flick, but like a great song, every viewing draws you more into it's story. "Lower your burden; run towards new life" has a special meaning to all who dive into this unexpectedly deep pool.
Ebert and Chrisisall
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I actually liked A.I. the first time I saw it and every time after.
What I don't get is the many mentions of The Big Lebowski. This one got a mental shrug from me even though I love Jeff Bridges. I definitely prefer him in Starman (another movie that can stand up to a few extra viewings).
I think the funniest movie ever is Big Trouble in Little China. I've probably watched this movie on purpose more often than any other.
I also liked the first Matrix.
Regarding the reasons why movies are rewatchable: For me it usually involves character development and good dialoge as mentioned by others.
Plot points and pratfalls are usually only going to get ya the first 1-3 times. (Although Tom Hanks going through the scaffolding and down the hill in a wheelbarrow in The Money Pit makes me laugh every time.)
If I like a movie I'll usually listen to the commentaries on the DVD for further insight. The best one ever for me was Sixth Sense - it would have been about 10 viewings for me to discover the significance of red on my own.
Some obscure and quirky movies I love:
Fargo
Clay Pigeons
Nurse Betty
Foul Play (edited to add this one)
Apparently, for me, murder can be funny. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Appears they've canceled the show and we're still here. What does that make us?"
"Big damn junkies, Sir!"
"Ain't we just."
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Quote:
Originally posted by msckaren:
...What I don't get is the many mentions of The Big Lebowski. This one got a mental shrug from me even though I love Jeff Bridges. I definitely prefer him in Starman (another movie that can stand up to a few extra viewings)...
Yeah.. I get shrugs from a lot of people on this one. For me it's mostly the dialogue. There's a lot of subtlety behind the typically absurd Coen brothers schtick.
Listen for the way bits of dialogue are repeated, usually (seemingly inadvertantly) by different characters, throughout the movie. I also enjoyed the over the top characterizations. Bridges as the burnt-out, sixties slacker; Goodman's uptight Vietnam vet with anger management issues; the hapless Donnie. I dunno. They just seemed very real, somehow, in their unlikely friendships.
It's also a good example of how music can be made to really add to a story. Where a director like Joss usually uses music to support a scene, melding it with the scenery, the Coen brothers often use it like some kind of Chorus, reiterating and commenting on the dialogue and visuals.
It is hard to describe though, and that's what I was getting at when I posted. I fully understand why some people don't like this movie. The plot meanders, the mystery isn't terrible satisfying - yet after you've seen it a few times, or at least after I'd seen it a few times, it just started to take on new life. There's just something poetic about the way it works on you, the music, the dialogue, the pacing. I don't quite get it myself.
*** EDIT to add:
For trivia buffs - look at the opening scene of the movie where the Dude is in the supermarket. On the television behind the checkout is George Bush senior making war noises against Saddam Hussein. The camera pans down to the check the Dude is writing. If you look, the date on the check is 9/11. Kinda spooky, no?
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
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"Serenity"
I mean, else why are we here, eh?
***
Keeping relevant focus....
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Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Enchanted April I forgot about! Absolutly marvelous! Thanks for reminding us.
Magic luvin' Chrisisall
you know, I've been thinking about this question and I think it does come down to creating a world where we would want to live,
filled with characters we miss when we don't rewatch the film (or TV DVDs or reread the book).
This is what I love about 'Firefly',
I so want to take a trip on that ship....
I want to be friends with the crew,
I want some of this in my own life.
And with all the movies I revisit time & time again there is that element,
something that touches me deeply.
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