Holy hell, it's been a month since my last post. Hopefully Brandon's latest quiz will wake me up from hibernation. I'll echo John in saying, thanks for doing this.
1. What are your top five Spielberg films (ranked)?
1. Catch Me If You Can
2. Jurrasic Park
3. Schindler's List
4. Lincoln
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Have you ever been convinced by a member of Film Club to change your mind about a movie (tell us about it)?
Sort of. Before I joined Film Club, I never would've considered seeing BIRTH OF A NATION. Thanks to John, I will give Griffith's white supremacist, propaganda film a shot.
3. What is your favorite sub-genre and why?
I'm lame and don't necessarily have a favorite sub-genre. But the two that stand out the most are detective noirs and slapstick comedies (classic slapsticks).
4. Do you enjoy violence in film and if so do you feel bad and if so why?
When it's justified and good and evil are clearly defined. Although some films do a great job of blurring the lines of good and evil when it comes to violence. But I only enjoy/prefer to see it up on the screen when some sort of vengeance/justice is being carried out. DRIVE and SIN CITY are pretty violent films, but they're both movies that I've walked out of feeling tougher or grittier...or something.
And what would a 'violence in films' discussion be without mentioning Quentin Tarantino- KILL BILL and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS have some great, violent scenes. I really like the battle between Uma Thurman and the Crazy 88s in Vol. 1.
And while I'm not a big horror fan, I can understand why people love certain films for their excellence in make-up and effects. While I'll never be a big EVIL DEAD guy, I can understand the coolness of having Ash's arm replaced with a chain saw so he can maim demons.
I don't feel bad about this, and I also feel the need to say that I don't look down on or feel superior to those who absolutely love violence in film. At the same time, this country has a real problem with violence that other civilized, modern countries don't seem to have. I'm not looking to get a gun debate going again or anything, but any negative feelings I have about violence in film is directed more toward the viewer. Most Americans are very stupid and cannot differentiate between film and reality. It's pretty sad, really. We have way too many assholes walking around who think they're movie stars. Sorry to take on this tone and to start a mini-rant.
5. Tell us about a few of your strangest theater going experiences.
1) I saw PINEAPPLE EXPRESS in a theater in Basalt, Colorado when it came out. I went with my older brother, Brent, and our friend Evan. They both smoked up beforehand, but I did not. Anyway, 10 minutes into the movie (the actual movie, not the trailers) the lights turn on...and two cops stroll down the middle aisle of the theater. Everyone goes still, and despite the fact that the movie is continuing to play, it suddenly feels silent. The room is filled with a palpable mix of fear and anger. The cops make it to the middle of the theater, stop, and ask this guy to get up and follow them. The three walk out, but all the while, the tension is still very real; it was almost as if I expected someone to get up and challenge the cops for dragging this dude out. After they exit, the lights go back off and there are no other interruptions. Very strange, and thankfully I wasn't high, otherwise I probably would've shit my pants...haha.
2) The only other interesting movie theater story I have is when I was at school in New Paltz. I forget what movie I was seeing but this was another theater with two long rows of seats separated by a middle aisle. Anyway, so I'm toward the back of the theater on the the right side and to my immediate left on the other side of the room are a small pack of douchey bro-types. During the movie one of the douchey bros gets a call on his cell. Is it on vibrate? No. Is it on silent? No. Is the ringtone on? Yah, brah. So instead of turning his phone off or ignoring the call, this asshole answers his phone and engages in a conversation with whomever called him. Naturally/understandably another guy, who is sitting in the row in front of Asshole and his friends, turns around and says, "Are you serious?"
Asshole tells the person on the other line that they'll talk later and he hangs up. Then, for the rest of the movie, Asshole and his douchey bros decide to fuck with the guy who told him to hang up his phone. They flick him, poke him, and put shit in the hood of his sweatshirt. I witnessed all of this and was so pissed. Instead of concentrating on the movie, I kept thinking of different ways that I could fuck with the bros. I wanted to go buy a soda or something and dump it on them. In the end, I did nothing and I do regret not acting. The guy they were fucking with was like Gandhi, though. Did not react to anything they were doing him. He was there with one other friend, though, and was outnumbered. It was really unfortunate and bummed me out.
6. Name 5 films that you have been eager to re-watch, perhaps even despite your tepid response to some of them.
ON THE WATERFRONT - no tepid response here; it's just been too long since my last viewing.
CITIZEN KANE - same as above.
Scorcese 4-pack: THE AVIATOR, GOODFELLAS, TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL - only b/c it's been too long.
GRAND ILLUSION - I would never deny its brilliance, but it isn't one of favorites so I'd like to re-watch it in the hope of taking more away from it.
7. Name 5 films that you absolutely love or respect that you have no desire to see ever again.
Hmmm...I don't love SPRING BREAKERS (respect is more accurate), but that's a movie I probably wouldn't watch again. THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS...again, more respect than love, but that one bored the hell out of me. I hate to say it, but it really did.
Damn, this is a tough one. I'd probably give most films a second chance...of course, there will be plenty that I only see once. Singling certain films out right now is proving to be difficult, though. SPRING BREAKERS seems like the perfect kind of pick for this one. I wonder how many other movies I saw that had the same affect on me.
8. What are five films that you really want to see for the first time?
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
MODERN TIMES
TO THE WONDER
I'm probably forgetting a handful of good ones.
9. Name 5 surprising "classic" popular films that you have not seen.
KING KONG (the original) - would definitely see it.
EVIL DEAD - mild interest, I guess.
ALIEN - more than mild interest.
DIE HARD - I'd see it, sure.
THE HUSTLER - would definitely see it.
the ONLY Bond film I've seen is GOLDENEYE
10. Who are your top five directors of all time?
Derrr....Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, John Ford, Preston Sturges, Francois Trauffaut, Woody Allen for a sixth.
