I hate to admit this, but I am yet to see this American masterpiece. Not that I don't want to, I just haven't. Like so many other great films on my list . . .

i saw it on the new dvd:P i thought it was an interesting but somewhat boring movie. i've been to hearst castle and already knew a bit about the guy so that helped. the special features helped round out the context of the film:P

all in all.. i'm not all that excited about it.

hmm.

there are certain breakthrough film techinques employed in the movie. example, there's at least one low shot that was physically impossible to get without someone coming up with the idea to dig a hole in the ground and stick the camera/tripod in it. might be the opening shot. i forget.

heh, one important thing about it is the subject matter. in case the rock you were under also prevented you from finding out who william randolph hearst is, the movie pretty much criticizes the most powerful man in the country at the time. you HAVE to respect orson for going after him.

May be you should check the commentary to truly appreciate a masterpiece like this.

Re: Re: Have You Seen Citizen Kane???
 

....but then it would be a snapper!

i actually saw it first on tcm and then bought the dvd. Great movie and defiently not overrated.

May be you should check the commentary to truly appreciate a masterpiece like this.




i did. as i said, i enjoyed it in its historical context. but its more like watching a documentary then anything else to me

What ads to the film, is that Welles was only 24, he just got done with THE MERCURY THEATER who was doing awsome radio plays including a little one called WAR OF THE WORLDS, he went after one of the most powerfull men in the county, AND we all know what happened after this movie. He made some great noir, but the industry shut him out, and he wasn't able to ascend to better things.

This would be like someone going after Ted Turner today.

I tried watching it on AMC once, but I fell asleep halfway through. I'm planning on getting it on DVD just so I can hear the Ebert commentary and maybe change my opionion of the movie.

I recently saw it for the first time in October and it was an amazing watch.

I just listened to most of Ebert's commentary and I learned quite a bit.

A really enjoyable movie that I am very happy made its way to DVD.

Nope, and I don't plan on it. I'm not a film buff, or a film lover, but just a casual movie fan. Old movies just don't do it for me. I watch movies for entertainment only, not for artistic value.

Yea, I have watched it a dozen times... Great flick... If they would only put out the widescreen version... ;)

is there a widescreen version?

--kev/entitee
http://entitee.com/dnb

heard all the hype, rented it from BB, tried hard to like it, fell asleep 20 mins in. never bothered again.

No Kev, the the ;) that Lono posted indicates he was kidding. Citizen Kane was created in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio. No widescreen version.

Welcome to DVD Talk! :wave:

yes but was there ever a version that was maybe matted?
kind of like the theatrical version of Eyes Wide Shut?

--kev

No. Never ever.

Not a good reason not to watch it. It's actually an extremely entertaining movie. Also, it may be from the '40s but it honestly doesn't play like an old movie. I forced a friend of mine who hated old movies to watch it, and he ended up thinking it was one of the best films he'd ever seen. He wasn't analyzing it either...just looking at it as entertainment.

But hey, to each his own.

thank you... I was waiting for somebody else to pick that up...

I hate that excuse people use "i watch movies to be entertained, not to think" ..um.. excuse us for needing stimulation of our minds to be entertained :p

The first option gets my vote. Of course I've seen it just like everyone else has. It's one of the best movies ever made. I love this film. :)

I ran out and rented Citizen Kane after AFI touted it as the best American film ever. I already knew about the technical achievements of the film and noticed them during my viewing but in all honesty, I just didn't enjoy the film. I'm sure this will bring flames from all directions but it did nothing for me. In terms of groundbreaking technical achievment, I might agree it is one of the best American films every made. In terms emotional involvement with a film, this one isn't even close to being the best. IMHO

Honesty is all that matters, nobody is going to flame you for sharing your opinion and the fact that you backed up your argument, makes your statement even more respectful. ;)

I don't understand that comment at all. Older films can't be entertaining? Just because it's in black and white, you think it must be "artistic" and not entertaining?

Citizen Kane is a great film, but it wouldn't be #1 on my top lists. However, I can understand why it is usually listed as #1. I prefer Touch of Evil a little bit more from Welles - it's a little more entertaining to me (even though it is in black and white).

That's right. I found Citizen Kane and some other classic to be very entertaining. I laughed on some part of Citizen Kane and I'm very entertained.

Black and White is very artistic, and I'll definitely take B&W movies any day. :)