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The Jury Room • View topic - 10 Films to explain all of cinema?
Here's your setup:
We are visited by aliens who are benevolent, helpful, non warlike, but vastly curious about our culture.
While their culture had made films, they were all 100% factual documentaries.
There is no "fiction" to speak of in their culture, but YOU have been selected to choose 10 films from all of Earth's libraries to present to them to explain our cinema.
The governments of the world beg you to choose wisely, and give us a BRIEF explanation of why each film was chosen.
"I ain't a boy, no I'm a man, and I believe in the Promised Land"
-Coming to the USA on January 20, 2009!
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Hmmm.
See, I'd probably doom humanity somehow.
I'd also probably play it safe.
In any case:
Close Encounters of The Third Kind: Give them an idea of what we always imagined their visit would be like.
Steamboat Bill Jr.
: Show them something from the silent era.
Seven Samurai: To show them the power of storytelling and the concept of an epic.
8 1/2: Try to include some films that show the world stage a little.
I'm probably not the best person for that kind of thing, but I'd still make a small effort.
Casino: Because it's awesome.
Fantasia: The power of animation
Wally -E: The evolution of animation
Monty Python and The Meaning of Life: Just to show them we haven't been sitting around on our asses as far as the big questions go.
Aliens: They might get a kick out of it.
Ghostbusters: Just because.
Lame, probably, but that's what I'd go with.
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
-Tom Waits
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So it's like you're programming for an alien film festival?
I'd be tempted to go all SCI FI!
How about ALIEN and ET to show them what we thought their visit would look like.
Then the old classics FORBIDDEN PLANET and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL to prove the point further.
You'd have to throw in SHOWGIRLS to explain camp and how movies can go wrong.
Probably GONE WITH THE WIND just for good measure and to explain cinemascope and technicolor.
GODFATHER to show them our dark and mistrusting side towards each other.
SCHINDLER'S LIST to show them how historical fiction can heal wounds.
BELLE DE JOUR for an artsy kinky French flick.
DEEPTHROAT to explain pornography.
SIN CITY for animation and CGI blended with live action.
Alex: It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.
(Clockwork Orange)
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So far interesting, but I was thinking more of films that exemplify the depth of feeling and expression we can get from film.
My list got weird, too, though.
1.
Seventh Seal- to me, the first film to really question our beliefs, if we can do this, we can proceed with progress.
2.
It's a Wonderful Life - minimum of plot, maximum of feelings.
3.
The Godfather - yep, this is how bad we can get, and interestingly, we actually root for bad people sometimes.
If you knew someone like Michael, you'd hate them, but Pacino makes us like him.
4.
Frankenstein - excellent example of how the real monster isn't the obvious one.
5.
Seven Samurai - okay, see this what we call an epic , and excellent example of how one land's stories can be adapted to another's culture.
6.
Triumph Of the Will - this is what happens when film is used for evil purposes.
7.
M. Hulot's Holiday - this is what we call a comedy, and it transcends language, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, etc.
8.
Laura - yes, we had color, but we used less to make it even more artistic.
By the way, we called this genre noir.
9.
Beauty and the Beast - this here's what we call animation.
Pretty slick, no?
10.
Night Of the Living Dead - not all of our films had the budget needed, but certain geniuses overcame that limitation to create a superb film.
"I ain't a boy, no I'm a man, and I believe in the Promised Land"
-Coming to the USA on January 20, 2009!
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Quote: : Probably GONE WITH THE WIND just for good measure and to explain cinemascope and technicolor.
Somehow, I think the aliens would have a hard time appreciating Cinemascope by viewing a movie released 14 years before the format existed.
No one can beat the Siamese when it comes to dignity, cats, or twins .
Formerly Chamucamel
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Hmm. This is indeed a very challenging question.
Let's see...
- Citizen Kane : Simultaneously a groundbreaking and important piece of filmmaking and a very compelling study of humanity.
- Casablanca : An example of humanity at its finest.
- Aguirre, The Wrath of God : An example of humanity embracing its darkest instincts.
- Explorers : This is what we imagined it would be like if we met you and you had been studying us by watching our television programs.
Really sorry about that.
- Hamlet (1996) : An rich, cinematic adaptation of one of the world's greatest literary achievements;
A tribute to one of our most respected artists.
- Glengarry Glen Ross : An example of how beauty and insight into the human condition can be found in a world of profane despair.
- The Last Temptation of Christ : Offers an understanding of the person at the center of the world's largest organized religion far better than any of the stiff biblical epics could.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey : A great starting point for a discussion of humanity's knowledge of evolution, space, technology, and an example of our considerable imagination.
- Brazil : Only one example of what we fear we might become if our actions continue unchecked.
- A Prairie Home Companion : Why would any alien want to destroy the home planet of Garrison Keillor?
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The Abyss - To show them our hopes and fears about them.
Waking Life - A panorama of human philosophy wrapped in glorious rotoscoping animation.
2001 : A Space Odyssey - Yeah we came up from monkeys, but we're still mystical.
Jules Et Jim - Human love is a complex thing.
To show them the Nouvelle Vague
Vertigo - When love becomes an obsession, the masterpiece of a master.
Shindler's List - In the middle of genocide and folly , there is still hope.
Modern Times - One of the most perfect blends of comedy and social commentary.
Murder, My Sweet - To show them what noir is.
Metropolis - My favorite silent film, so far.
Commando - Just because it's awesome.
''Where zen ends, ass-kicking begins.''
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Hmmm, tough.
10. METROPOLIS - the best of the silent period and the power of the visual image.
9.
CITIZEN KANE - it sets the stage for pretty much all of film that follows.
8.
DR. STRANGELOVE - how humanity can have the darkest of humour.
7.
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL - to show just how strange we are.
6.
RAN - Do I even need to list the reasons?
5.
GHOST IN THE SHELL - one view of our future, and some of the best animation there is.
4.
BLADE RUNNER - best.
Sci-fi. Ever.
3. DO THE RIGHT THING - often presents humanity at its worse, but a film that forces reflection on the audience and would give a good indicator as to how dark and deep many of humanity's problems are.
2.
LOST HIGHWAY - I honestly just want to see what they make of Lynch.
1.
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA - Jack Burton kicks ass, and they'd better know it.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyyuYE2_hdQ&eurl=http://lj-toys.com/?journalid=1607434&moduleid=4&preview=&auth_token=sessionless:1228096800:embedcontentiurl=http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/TyyuYE2_hdQ/hqdefault.jpg
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Let's see.
1- Silence of the Lambs
2- Clue
3- Star Trek 2
4- Lethal Weapon 3
5- Andromeda Strain
6- Grand Theft Auto
7- Aliens
8- When Harry Met Sally
9- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
10- It's a Mad Mad Mad World -Marshall-
Nun sacciu, nun vidi, nun ceru e si ceru durmiv.
I know nothing, I see nothing, I wasn't there,
and if I was there, I was asleep.
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Clue? Really?
Can I ask why?
I honestly love that movie, but I'm still curious.
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
-Tom Waits
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10. Close Encounters -- To show we're dreamers...
9.
Independence Day -- ...who are not to be messed with.
8.
Fannie & Alexander -- What cinema can do with a sweeping narrative...
7.
Thief of Bagdad -- ...or when fueled by the power of the imagination...
6.
2001 -- ...or when it merges with technology and ideas.
5.
Blade Runner -- It can act as a crystal ball...
4.
Changing Lanes -- showing the best of us...
3.
Goodfellas -- ...and the worst of us.
2.
Short Cuts -- For better or worse, this is who we are.
1.
They Live -- Oh, and Roddy Piper kicks ass and they'd better know it.
Agnes, it's me...Billy.
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Bryan Quote: : 1.
They Live -- Oh, and Roddy Piper kicks ass and they'd better know it.
Unless they have a large supply of gum.
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Bryan Quote: : 1.
They Live -- Oh, and Roddy Piper kicks ass and they'd better know it.
Better yet, Predator .
It's important for them to know that if they bleed, we can kill them.
Sh*t just got real.
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Quote: : Clue? Really?
Can I ask why?
I honestly love that movie, but I'm still curious.
It shows several things.
Bizare comedy, period settings, multiple endings that can be applied at random, great costume work, great cinematography, and much more that I can't think of right now.
-Marshall-
Nun sacciu, nun vidi, nun ceru e si ceru durmiv.
I know nothing, I see nothing, I wasn't there,
and if I was there, I was asleep.
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Andrew Quote: : Quote: : Probably GONE WITH THE WIND just for good measure and to explain cinemascope and technicolor.
Somehow, I think the aliens would have a hard time appreciating Cinemascope by viewing a movie released 14 years before the format existed.
Maybe part of my strategy is to confuse THEM!!!
Alex: It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.
(Clockwork Orange)
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Quote: : Andrew Quote: : Quote: : Probably GONE WITH THE WIND just for good measure and to explain cinemascope and technicolor.
Somehow, I think the aliens would have a hard time appreciating Cinemascope by viewing a movie released 14 years before the format existed.
Maybe part of my strategy is to confuse THEM!!!
Dammit, Brett, it's because of stuff like that that aliens are always out to destroy us.
Agnes, it's me...Billy.
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Quote: : Bryan Quote: : 1.
They Live -- Oh, and Roddy Piper kicks ass and they'd better know it.
Unless they have a large supply of gum.
You know, we need to get a film with Jack Burton and Roddy Piper together, in order to cover both of them.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyyuYE2_hdQ&eurl=http://lj-toys.com/?journalid=1607434&moduleid=4&preview=&auth_token=sessionless:1228096800:embedcontentiurl=http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/TyyuYE2_hdQ/hqdefault.jpg
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Quote: : Quote: : Clue?
Really?
Can I ask why?
I honestly love that movie, but I'm still curious.
It shows several things.
Bizare comedy, period settings, multiple endings that can be applied at random, great costume work, great cinematography, and much more that I can't think of right now.
Ah, fair enough.
All of those things are certainly true.
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
-Tom Waits
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Ten films to explain cinema ?
I would probably have to say these:
!.
A Trip to the Moon (1902) - Even in its infancy, films showed its great potential as a medium.
This 1902 classic offers crude but effectiveexamples of editing, animation and visual effects.
2.
Battleship Potempkin (1925) - Eisenstien uses film (and his new development, the montage) as an effective medium of propoganda.
3.
City Lights (1931) - The (near) silent film perfected.
Chaplin champions the use of syncronized music, sound effects and probably the greatest acting preformance known to film.
4.
Citizen Kane (1941) - The next step in the evolution of film amassing all the innovations of cinematography, editing, sound and music and combining these with probably one of the best scripts ever written.
5.
Sullivan's Travels (1941) - This gem outlined the importance of film as entertainment as well as an indicement of the hollywood system.
6.
Song of the South (1946) - This film offers the successful marriage of music and spoken word, along with reality and animaton.
Unfortunately, this film also shows what happens when small, cruel minds try to censor great works of art.
7.
Rashoman (1950) - A groundbreaking use film where the point of view and perspective of a shared event are described and differentiated visually through lighting, sets, and camera work.
8.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) - An amazing expression of Cinema Verite that manages to capture images that will haunt the viewer.
9.
Eraserhead (1977) - Like any great work of abstract art, this film is what the view makes of it.
10.
Burden of Dreams (1982) - A great example of the documentary format when the film itself offers evidence that, as with art and every great artist, creation can be all-consuming.
[B]uying DVD's is cheaper then spending my money on booze, drugs & hookers -- Harold Gervais
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