PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Dec 4, 2014 20:47:26 GMT -5
1. Metropolis: I literally just finished a 2000 word essay about why this film redefined science-fiction cinema. Anyway, this movie is a landmark, a game changer, and one of the best and most important films of the era.
2. The Jazz Singer: The first "talkie", even if it's only for a few scenes.
3. Sunrise: Really inventive and progressive use of sound and it used expressionistic visuals in new and exciting ways. Also one of the most praised silent films of all time.
4. The General: Buster Keaton is one of silent cinema's most important figures and this is his most iconic film.
5. Napoleon: A massive epic which used a number of innovative techniques and would have an impact on French New Wave in the 1950s.
Honourable Mentions:
The Lodger: Early breakthrough for Hitchcock, but the man made many more important films and this is a tight year.
Wings: The first film to win Best Picture, but it's nothing special.
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Knerys
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Post by Knerys on Dec 4, 2014 20:53:11 GMT -5
1. Metropolis: I literally just finished a 2000 word essay about why this film redefined science-fiction cinema. Anyway, this movie is a landmark, a game changer, and one of the best and most important films of the era. 2. The Jazz Singer: The first "talkie", even if it's only for a few scenes. 3. Sunrise: Really inventive and progressive use of sound and it used expressionistic visuals in new and exciting ways. Also one of the most praised silent films of all time. 4. The General: Buster Keaton is one of silent cinema's most important figures and this is his most iconic film. 5. Napoleon: A massive epic which used a number of innovative techniques and would have an impact on French New Wave in the 1950s. The only movie I've seen from this year is Metropolis so... sure. |
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Dec 4, 2014 20:57:42 GMT -5
Didn't it start science fiction cinema more than redefine it? What's before it?
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Dec 4, 2014 20:59:03 GMT -5
1. The Jazz Singer 2. Metropolis 3. Sunrise 4. Wings 5. The Lodger? Didn't notice The General.
1. The Jazz Singer
2. Metropolis
3. Sunrise
4. The General
5. Wings
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Dec 4, 2014 21:09:07 GMT -5
Didn't it start science fiction cinema more than redefine it? What's before it? A Trip to the Moon, Frankenstein (1910), Dr. Jeykl and Mr. Hyde (1920), The Lost World (1925)....they were primitive, but they were an early science-fiction. Or at least they're often labelled as such my film scholars. |
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Dec 4, 2014 21:21:55 GMT -5
Everyone remember we held The General out of 1926 for this year instead due to the new years eve release
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Dec 4, 2014 21:39:08 GMT -5
Metropolis
The General
The Jazz Singer
Sunrise
Napoleon
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 4, 2014 21:42:51 GMT -5
Oh give me a break. How exactly is Metropolis important?
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Dec 4, 2014 21:47:27 GMT -5
Stop, my spidersense is tingling!
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Dec 4, 2014 23:16:25 GMT -5
General, The
Metropolis
Sunrise
The Jazz Singer
Underworld
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Dec 4, 2014 23:20:15 GMT -5
Oh give me a break. How exactly is Metropolis important? |
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Dec 4, 2014 23:29:35 GMT -5
You're not helping.
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 4, 2014 23:30:56 GMT -5
Stop, my spidersense is tingling!  |
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 5, 2014 8:05:55 GMT -5
Didn't notice The General.
1. The Jazz Singer
2. Metropolis
3. Sunrise
4. The General
5. Wings
Right now I like this list, but I would like to hear a little more about Napoleon. |
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Dec 5, 2014 11:41:26 GMT -5
Taken from the film's wikipedia page:
"The film is recognised as a masterwork of fluid camera motion, produced in a time when most camera shots were static. Many innovative techniques were used to make the film, including fast cutting, extensive close-ups, a wide variety of hand-held camera shots, location shooting, point of view shots, multiple-camera setups, multiple exposure, superimposition, underwater camera, kaleidoscopic images, film tinting, split screen and mosaic shots, multi-screen projection, and other visual effects. A revival of Napoléon in the mid-1950s influenced the filmmakers of the French New Wave."
I haven't seen Napoleon so I can't personally speak for it, but all I've read suggests that this is indeed accurate. Additionally, earlier in my silent film class Napoleon came out quite a bit in a few readings, all of which emphasized the technological innovations of the film.
Wings, on the other hand, doesn't seem nearly as inventive. The film has some impressive aerial sequences, but all of its other technical strengths, such as its use of sound and limited colour, seem to be inferior to other films of the time. So really, it's only legacy is being the first Best Picture winner, which is worth considering, but I feel like the technological influences of Napoleon are more important. I also looked up Underworld and apparently it's the first Hollywood gangster film, so that's probably worth looking at.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2014 11:47:37 GMT -5
Okay...quick question: would it be too late to go back and add Jungle 2 Jungle to 1997?
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 5, 2014 15:27:20 GMT -5
Okay...quick question: would it be too late to go back and add Jungle 2 Jungle to 1997? Done and done. As for Naploeon, you have convinced me. |
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SnoBorderZero
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Post by SnoBorderZero on Dec 5, 2014 15:39:35 GMT -5
1927, the greatest year of silence!
Sunrise - Probably the best silent film ever for a lot of reasons, truly a masterpiece
Metropolis - Incredible on every level and set the stage for numerous films to follow
The General - Probably Keaton's best film, the stunts in it are awesome
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Dec 5, 2014 15:41:11 GMT -5
I'm fine with Napoleon in the fifth slot.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2014 17:43:57 GMT -5
Echoing Sno's sentiments: Sunrise (a masterpiece), Metropolis, and The General.
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 6, 2014 10:25:28 GMT -5
Okay, a much less heated debate this time come sup with:
Sunrise
Metropolis
The General
The Jazz Singer
Napoleon
Next year: 1998
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Dec 6, 2014 11:03:26 GMT -5
Big Lebowski (I like it, but I'm not sure how it became a cult classic)
American History X
Saving Private Ryan
Pi (debut for Aronofsky)
There's Something About Mary? (I feel like this started a trend of gross-out comedies. Am I wrong? Or should we leave that for American Pie...)
Pleasantville? (Had to at least mention it as it's one of my favorites)
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Dec 6, 2014 11:27:33 GMT -5
Saving Private Ryan
The Truman Show
Ringu
American History X
The Big Lebowski
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Dec 6, 2014 11:57:19 GMT -5
Something about Mary is a good pick.
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PG Cooper
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Post by PG Cooper on Dec 6, 2014 12:42:22 GMT -5
1. Saving Private Ryan: Its realistic and visceral portrayal of war was ground breaking and has influenced a number of films since.
2. The Truman Show: It's portrayal of a society obsessed with reality tv is poignant and more relevant now than ever, while more abstract themes like fighting against God's will are timless.
3. The Big Lebowski: One of the most loved cult movies of all-time.
4. There's Something About Mary: Started a new era of gross-out comedies.
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: I may be going out in a limb here, but I think this movie deserves to at least be considered. Stylistically, this is something of a peak for Terry Gilliam and is also the last really strong movie he made before fading into irrelevance. I think it also deserves some credit for capturing the attitude of one of the 20th century's most interesting literary figures and the film's cult continues to grow.
Honourable Mentions:
American History X: It's a very problematic film, and I think there are better choices for films depicting racial tension.
The Thin Red Line: I thought for sure I'd have placed this in my list. After a twenty year absence, Malick returned to filmmaking with a more grand film than anything he'd done previously. He also clearly hadn't missed a beat as the film is just as technically accomplished as his previous efforts, if not more so.
Rushmore: It wasn't the debut film of Wes Anderson, but it did establish his sensibilities very well. It's also a great movie, but we already have The Royal Tenenbaums, and that's probably enough representation.
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