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firestorm · 09-08-2005, 06:41 PM

Personally, I think there are "great movies" and then there are great "entertaining movies".

I think a great movie is one that pulls you into a new world, captures your mind and does so without distraction. A great movie can make the unbelieveable believable, make you feel the emotions, send chills down your spine if the moment merits it and straps you to your seat.

Just off the top of my head, the LOTR movies obviously come to mind as good examples. Although long, all three films flow so well, and you only get up to use the facilities because you know your going to watch it again anyway. The music, color, and lighting all bring out the intended emotion. Shawshank Redemption is another with a strong story and you feel the ties between the characters and their destiny.

I received iRobot as a gift and I originally discounted it as another "doomed by technology" movie. However, upon viewing it, I was drawn in and couldn't get enough. I still don't get where the dilapitated suspension bridge in Chicago came from, but it for some reason didn't matter to me.

Examples of entertaining movies would be those like Gone in 60 Seconds or Armageddon. I thoroughly enjoy both films, but particular flaws throw me out of the movie with a "WTF?" embroidend across my mind; all regardless of how many times I watch them. Or the movie may simply feel drawn out or spread thin. In most cases, the movies I feel fit this category are those that missed on some level; beit bad acting, bad cuts, bad audio, bad sync, bad/missing story, etc... or a combination, but somehow manage to be entertaining to a great degree.

When Memphis steals Eleanor, you see him start the car, but the audio of the engine running starts before he has physically turned the ignition all the way. How could they miss that? It's not that the rest of the movie is authentic, but it at least flows and, in the "world" of the movie, it is believeable or forgiveable.

In Armageddon, everybody is screaming while pulling 13Gs. Making the unbelievable believeable. While I believe they succeed in some areas, when you are inundated with unbelieveable elements, those things that *can* be grounded in reality should be whenever possible IMO. I realize that a cast with terror on their faces, breathless and passing out may not be theatrical, but it remains a scene that bothers me. One catastrophe after another got really old as well. But, there are parts that are simply cool or so hilarious that I can't help but wish to see them again.

Although flawed, these movies contain enough "great" aspects and entertainment to counter those flaws to some degree. They may or may not be "great movies" in my eyes, but they find their way into my collection none-the-less. But, considering that the final cut for each of the LOTR movies didn't go to print until the last moment (IIRC), it is often hard to believe what slips through in other films.

I likely didn't select the best examples, but that is essentially how *I* think of *our* collection.

09-08-2005, 06:41 PM	#25 (permalink)
firestorm Actor Join Date: Sep 2005	Personally, I think there are "great movies" and then there are great "entertaining movies". I think a great movie is one that pulls you into a new world, captures your mind and does so without distraction. A great movie can make the unbelieveable believable, make you feel the emotions, send chills down your spine if the moment merits it and straps you to your seat. Just off the top of my head, the LOTR movies obviously come to mind as good examples. Although long, all three films flow so well, and you only get up to use the facilities because you know your going to watch it again anyway. The music, color, and lighting all bring out the intended emotion. Shawshank Redemption is another with a strong story and you feel the ties between the characters and their destiny. I received iRobot as a gift and I originally discounted it as another "doomed by technology" movie. However, upon viewing it, I was drawn in and couldn't get enough. I still don't get where the dilapitated suspension bridge in Chicago came from, but it for some reason didn't matter to me. Examples of entertaining movies would be those like Gone in 60 Seconds or Armageddon. I thoroughly enjoy both films, but particular flaws throw me out of the movie with a "WTF?" embroidend across my mind; all regardless of how many times I watch them. Or the movie may simply feel drawn out or spread thin. In most cases, the movies I feel fit this category are those that missed on some level; beit bad acting, bad cuts, bad audio, bad sync, bad/missing story, etc... or a combination, but somehow manage to be entertaining to a great degree. When Memphis steals Eleanor, you see him start the car, but the audio of the engine running starts before he has physically turned the ignition all the way. How could they miss that? It's not that the rest of the movie is authentic, but it at least flows and, in the "world" of the movie, it is believeable or forgiveable. In Armageddon, everybody is screaming while pulling 13Gs. Making the unbelievable believeable. While I believe they succeed in some areas, when you are inundated with unbelieveable elements, those things that can be grounded in reality should be whenever possible IMO. I realize that a cast with terror on their faces, breathless and passing out may not be theatrical, but it remains a scene that bothers me. One catastrophe after another got really old as well. But, there are parts that are simply cool or so hilarious that I can't help but wish to see them again. Although flawed, these movies contain enough "great" aspects and entertainment to counter those flaws to some degree. They may or may not be "great movies" in my eyes, but they find their way into my collection none-the-less. But, considering that the final cut for each of the LOTR movies didn't go to print until the last moment (IIRC), it is often hard to believe what slips through in other films. I likely didn't select the best examples, but that is essentially how I think of our collection.