Film Club at my high school

djvaldez · 11-21-2006, 02:44 PM

Hi guys,

I am the founder and president of Film Club at my school. We are committed to watching, analyzing contemporary films (there is already Classic Film Club at my school and we don't try to compete). So far we've watched the following films up to Donnie Darko. The list includes the films we will watch until the end of the year (we can only schedule so many meetings because of other school activities and other conflicts). However, the list isn't final, and I definitely want to scrap Amélie. I was wondering what you experts think. I would like some films with impressive cinematography, and maybe foreign. And if something is terribly wrong with this list, what should I change?

Run Lola Run
Being John Malkovich
The Usual Suspects
Donnie Darko
American Beauty
Fight Club
American History X
Cidade de Deus
Léon
V for Vendetta
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
Requiem for a Dream

**Pirate** · 11-29-2006, 06:21 PM

Before I make any suggestions, can I ask how old your group of students are? I don't want to make suggestions that you can't watch if this is for a high school or something.

tomdkat · 11-29-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Before I make any suggestions, can I ask how old your group of students are? I don't want to make suggestions that you can't watch if this is for a high school or something.

Well, they've watched Fight Club. Does that serve as a gauge?

I would add the following:

Memento
The Experiment (Das Experiment, German)
Sin City
Silence of the Lambs
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Game
Mulholland Dr
Swordfish
United 93

Peace...

**Pirate** · 11-29-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Well, they've watched Fight Club. Does that serve as a gauge?

Peace...

Not really. One of the films that I think is really interesting to discuss is "Irreversible" and that makes "Fight Club" look like "Blue's Clues."

tomdkat · 11-29-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Not really. One of the films that I think is really interesting to discuss is "Irreversible" and that makes "Fight Club" look like "Blue's Clues."

I see. I didn't list OldBoy or Hard Candy for similar reasons.

Peace...

djvaldez · 11-30-2006, 04:20 PM

Wow, thanks for the replies. I didn't know this topic was gonna be posted - I put it up a long time ago. Anyway, we're a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds.

tomdkat · 11-30-2006, 04:23 PM

Be sure to let us know which of the recommended films you watch and what you thought of them.

Peace...

**Pirate** · 11-30-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djvaldez

Wow, thanks for the replies. I didn't know this topic was gonna be posted - I put it up a long time ago. Anyway, we're a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds.

OK, then here is my list for you lovely 17 and 18-year olds.

Irreversible
Schindler’s List
Saving Private Ryan
Good Night, and Good Luck
El Mariachi
American Beauty
Clerks
Hustle & Flow
You Can Count On Me
Gangs of New York
City of Lost Children
Kontroll

I also 2nd some of Tom's suggestions:

Memento
Sin City
Silence of the Lambs
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
United 93

If you need more, don't hesitate to ask.

**SilentBob** · 12-01-2006, 05:11 AM

Why would you want to scrap Amelie. The movie is a great movie to watch and breakdown. We have a thread here on the forum about our thoughts on the movie Amelie Suggest you read some of the things people thought about the movie and its characters. Unless the movie has been done before

Anyways i will suggest a few myself. Some have already been mentioned and some have not

Pleasantville
Memento
Following (Nolan's earlier film in the same sort of editing style)
Duck Soup (classic Marx Bros comedy)
The Triplets of Belleville
The Cooler (although its a hard R rated movie)
Unbreakable
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
MirrorMask
The Royal Tenenbaums

Sycho · 12-01-2006, 02:34 PM

Snakes on a mother fucking plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MrMike · 12-01-2006, 03:36 PM

I would unsuggest Irreversible as it is a very brutal and disturbing film. Is this an official club at your school? If so, even though, members are 17 and eighteen, I believe you have to receive parent permission to watch rated R movies.

I would unsuggest Tom's Swordfish, while entertaining, it requires no further discussion and dissection.

Other films I would consider are...

Videodrome
Naked Lunch (really any Cronenberg
12 Monkeys
21 Grams
28 Days Later (Technical merits)
American Psycho
Apocalyspe Now
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Rear Window
The Birds
Audition
Barton Fink
Miller's Crossing
Citizen Kane
Magnolia
The Machinist
Midnight Cowboy
Pi
Primer
Straw Dogs
any Kurosawa films
Taxi Driver
To Kill a Mockingbird

Taxi · 12-01-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djvaldez

I didn't know this topic was gonna be posted - I put it up a long time ago.

Yeah, the guy who's supposed to be moderating these threads has been slacking.

But don't worry, he has been beaten appropriately.

**Pirate** · 12-01-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

I would unsuggest Irreversible as it is a very brutal and disturbing film. Is this an official club at your school? If so, even though, members are 17 and eighteen, I believe you have to receive parent permission to watch rated R movies.

I would unsuggest Tom's Swordfish, while entertaining, it requires no further discussion and dissection.

Other films I would consider are...

Videodrome
Naked Lunch (really any Cronenberg
12 Monkeys
21 Grams
28 Days Later (Technical merits)
American Psycho
Apocalyspe Now
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Rear Window
The Birds
Audition
Barton Fink
Miller's Crossing
Citizen Kane
Magnolia
The Machinist
Midnight Cowboy
Pi
Primer
Straw Dogs
any Kurosawa films
Taxi Driver
To Kill a Mockingbird

He's looking for modern films only, but I'd 2nd the following on your list.

28 Days Later
Magnolia
The Machinist
Pi

MrMike · 12-01-2006, 04:44 PM

I guess I should pay closer attention.

tomdkat · 12-01-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

I would unsuggest Tom's Swordfish, while entertaining, it requires no further discussion and dissection.

I would re-suggest Swordfish since it's got some great cinematography, which is a criterion mentioned in the original post.

Peace...

MrMike · 12-01-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I would re-suggest Swordfish since it's got some great cinematography, which is a criterion mentioned in the original post.

Peace...

I do enjoy the movie for what it is but it has no substance. I still un-suggest it. What are you refering to when you mention great cinematography?

djvaldez · 12-01-2006, 09:43 PM

Thanks guys these are way more than enough suggestions.. I will have to look some of them up on imdb.com later. Only crappy thing about film club is that we can't afford a receiver nor does our school have a decent one (theater room has an old Onkyo that I'm pretty sure only does stereo) and it belongs to theater only. Oh, and the projector is pretty crappy too. But, most people don't really mind as long as they get a picture (some people still insist fullscreen is the way to go).

**Pirate** · 12-01-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djvaldez

(some people still insist fullscreen is the way to go).

I hope those people aren't in your club.

tomdkat · 12-02-2006, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

I do enjoy the movie for what it is but it has no substance. I still un-suggest it. What are you refering to when you mention great cinematography?

The scene featuring Halle Berry's breasts, obviously.

Seriously, the opening sequence has about the best cinematography the film offers even though there are several well shot scenes.

Swordfish has about as much substance as V for Vendetta. IMO.

Peace...

**Pirate** · 12-02-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Swordfish has about as much substance as V for Vendetta. IMO.

Dude...

tomdkat · 12-02-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Dude...

It's true, IMO. I'll give it up for the

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):
words that start with the letter 'V' discourse

and for the

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):
dominos at the end

but other than that....

Peace...

**Pirate** · 12-03-2006, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

but other than that....

You’re, of course, entitled to your opinion.

To me, "Swordfish" is a pretty mindless actioner. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it and I even bought it on HD-DVD because it is a pretty film, but to think that "Swordfish" has even a smidgen of the intelligence and importance of "V For Vendetta" is a befuddling point of view, IMO. I know that not everyone on the forum agrees and I know a few have called the film heavy-handed an even stupid, but I respectfully and totally disagree.

tomdkat · 12-04-2006, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratehunter

but to think that "Swordfish" has even a smidgen of the intelligence and importance of "V For Vendetta" is a befuddling point of view, IMO.

Actually, I was leaning the other way. 'V' lacked any kind of intelligence or importance to me.

I wasn't bringing Swordfish "up" as much as bringing "V" down.

Still, Swordfish is a beautiful film to watch and since the OP didn't mention quality as a criterion, as cinematography was mentioned, Swordfish definitely qualifies. From that standpoint, 'V' would qualify as well.

Peace...

MrMike · 12-04-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Actually, I was leaning the other way. 'V' lacked any kind of intelligence or importance to me.

I wasn't bringing Swordfish "up" as much as bringing "V" down.

Still, Swordfish is a beautiful film to watch and since the OP didn't mention quality as a criterion, as cinematography was mentioned, Swordfish definitely qualifies. From that standpoint, 'V' would qualify as well.

Peace...

I still disagree with you Tom, but I'm not going to argue back and forth. You mentioned the opening scene, which granted is a nice sequence, but any of the Matrix films tops this scene. I do enjoy Swordfish, I will not deny that, but to me is just a mindless actioner as Piratehunter stated. From the original list as posted by djvaldez it seemed obvious to myself that quality was a criterion as all of those films are highly regarded.

tomdkat · 12-05-2006, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMike

I still disagree with you Tom, but I'm not going to argue back and forth.

Fine. I'm not arguing the quality of the movie but the cinematography of it. Whatever.

Quote:

You mentioned the opening scene, which granted is a nice sequence, but any of the Matrix films tops this scene.

I disagree with this as well. Many do since Swordfish isn't filled with scenes shot like the opening sequence but certainly not all or any scene in any of the Matrix films do.

Quote:

I do enjoy Swordfish, I will not deny that, but to me is just a mindless actioner as Piratehunter stated.

And that's cool. I've never disputed that. In the case of PH, I considered 'V' to be basically as you describe Swordfish.

Quote:

From the original list as posted by djvaldez it seemed obvious to myself that quality was a criterion as all of those films are highly regarded.

With the exception of 'V', IMO.

Peace...

SoulOnIce · 02-20-2007, 05:34 PM

Anyone who recommends Swordfish for a movie club is, frankly, an idiot.

In fact most of these movie suggestions are embarassing.

**Pirate** · 02-20-2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoulOnIce

Anyone who recommends Swordfish for a movie club is, frankly, an idiot.

In fact most of these movie suggestions are embarassing.

Thank you for posting your thoughts, but instead of name-calling, perhaps you should post your own list. Just a thought.

11-21-2006, 02:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
djvaldez Supporting Actor Join Date: Jul 2004	Film Club at my high school Hi guys, I am the founder and president of Film Club at my school. We are committed to watching, analyzing contemporary films (there is already Classic Film Club at my school and we don't try to compete). So far we've watched the following films up to Donnie Darko. The list includes the films we will watch until the end of the year (we can only schedule so many meetings because of other school activities and other conflicts). However, the list isn't final, and I definitely want to scrap Amélie. I was wondering what you experts think. I would like some films with impressive cinematography, and maybe foreign. And if something is terribly wrong with this list, what should I change? Run Lola Run Being John Malkovich The Usual Suspects Donnie Darko American Beauty Fight Club American History X Cidade de Deus Léon V for Vendetta Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Requiem for a Dream

11-29-2006, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pirate Director/Moderator Loves Yellow Subtitles Join Date: Jun 2003	Before I make any suggestions, can I ask how old your group of students are? I don't want to make suggestions that you can't watch if this is for a high school or something. __________________ Early Adopting So You Don’t Have To.

11-30-2006, 04:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	Be sure to let us know which of the recommended films you watch and what you thought of them. Peace... __________________ My DVD Aficionado List "At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we shall have revenge!"

12-01-2006, 05:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
SilentBob Silent Director/Silent Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Burlington, Ontario	Why would you want to scrap Amelie. The movie is a great movie to watch and breakdown. We have a thread here on the forum about our thoughts on the movie Amelie Suggest you read some of the things people thought about the movie and its characters. Unless the movie has been done before Anyways i will suggest a few myself. Some have already been mentioned and some have not Pleasantville Memento Following (Nolan's earlier film in the same sort of editing style) Duck Soup (classic Marx Bros comedy) The Triplets of Belleville The Cooler (although its a hard R rated movie) Unbreakable Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind MirrorMask The Royal Tenenbaums __________________ SilentBob's DVD's Supporting both HD-DVD and Blu-ray XBOX LIVE: luvthempocket8s PS3 ONLINE: pokerlover

12-01-2006, 03:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
MrMike Part of the Younger Demographic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Norwalk, OH	I would unsuggest Irreversible as it is a very brutal and disturbing film. Is this an official club at your school? If so, even though, members are 17 and eighteen, I believe you have to receive parent permission to watch rated R movies. I would unsuggest Tom's Swordfish, while entertaining, it requires no further discussion and dissection. Other films I would consider are... Videodrome Naked Lunch (really any Cronenberg 12 Monkeys 21 Grams 28 Days Later (Technical merits) American Psycho Apocalyspe Now One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Rear Window The Birds Audition Barton Fink Miller's Crossing Citizen Kane Magnolia The Machinist Midnight Cowboy Pi Primer Straw Dogs any Kurosawa films Taxi Driver To Kill a Mockingbird __________________ My collection along with my wife's crappy movies. "I have twenty stores in thirty states."

11-30-2006, 04:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
djvaldez Supporting Actor Join Date: Jul 2004	Wow, thanks for the replies. I didn't know this topic was gonna be posted - I put it up a long time ago. Anyway, we're a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds.

12-01-2006, 02:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sycho I needs to show ID with a personal check Join Date: Dec 2003	Snakes on a mother fucking plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12-01-2006, 04:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
MrMike Part of the Younger Demographic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Norwalk, OH	I guess I should pay closer attention. __________________ My collection along with my wife's crappy movies. "I have twenty stores in thirty states."

12-01-2006, 09:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
djvaldez Supporting Actor Join Date: Jul 2004	Thanks guys these are way more than enough suggestions.. I will have to look some of them up on imdb.com later. Only crappy thing about film club is that we can't afford a receiver nor does our school have a decent one (theater room has an old Onkyo that I'm pretty sure only does stereo) and it belongs to theater only. Oh, and the projector is pretty crappy too. But, most people don't really mind as long as they get a picture (some people still insist fullscreen is the way to go).

02-20-2007, 05:34 PM	#26 (permalink)
SoulOnIce Actor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto	Anyone who recommends Swordfish for a movie club is, frankly, an idiot. In fact most of these movie suggestions are embarassing.