Litmus Test Films
10-28-03 | 09:00 AM
#26
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Originally posted by das Monkey
I think you're approaching the question the wrong way. While some may think this, prefering Saving Private Ryan to The Thin Red Line doesn't make you a brainless action junkie, but it does mean you're looking for something different in these films than the guy who feels the reverse.
I think you're approaching the question the wrong way. While some may think this, prefering Saving Private Ryan to The Thin Red Line doesn't make you a brainless action junkie, but it does mean you're looking for something different in these films than the guy who feels the reverse.
I'm probably a bit oversensitive, but I've been put off by years of "Don't like [ARTSY MOVIE X]? Perhaps you'd be more comfortable in [BADLY REVIEWED FLUFF MOVIE Y]?" posts that make up so much film "discussion" on the Internet.
10-28-03 | 09:05 AM
#27
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
• Quoth Groucho •<HR SIZE=1>I'm probably a bit oversensitive, but I've been put off by years of "Don't like [ARTSY MOVIE X]? Perhaps you'd be more comfortable in [BADLY REVIEWED FLUFF MOVIE Y]?" posts that make up so much film "discussion" on the Internet. <HR SIZE=1>
Probably, but I'd expect no less from someone who didn't like Magnolia. Perhaps you should stick to movies like Good Boy!.
das
10-28-03 | 09:29 AM
#28
DVD Talk Legend
I don’t have a litmus test for specific movies, I like a lot of very stupid movies and hate what some people here would consider classics.
What I consider a true test is WHY someone likes or dislikes a movie.
What I consider a true test is WHY someone likes or dislikes a movie.
10-28-03 | 01:34 PM
#29
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally posted by Groucho
You're mean.
Seriously, though, if there's one thing I've found in my many years of film watching it's that people can be unpredictable.
To use some examples in this thread, I didn't like Magnolia. According to most in this forum, that makes me a "Joe Six-Pack" who didn't understand the film and prefers Hollywood fluff. Which couldn't be farther from the truth at all.
I prefered Saving Private Ryan over The Thin Red Line. Again, in the eyes of most around here that makes me a brainless action junkie. But I found The Thin Red Line to be pretensious and overwrought, whereas I thought the themes explored by Saving Private Ryan (influenced by Ambrose's "Citizen Solider") where more interesting. But both films are severely flawed.
The bottom line is that people are deeper thinkers than we give them credit for, and everybody's tastes are different and varied that you can't just take a handful of opinions and say "A ha! I've got you pegged!"
You're mean.
Seriously, though, if there's one thing I've found in my many years of film watching it's that people can be unpredictable.
To use some examples in this thread, I didn't like Magnolia. According to most in this forum, that makes me a "Joe Six-Pack" who didn't understand the film and prefers Hollywood fluff. Which couldn't be farther from the truth at all.
I prefered Saving Private Ryan over The Thin Red Line. Again, in the eyes of most around here that makes me a brainless action junkie. But I found The Thin Red Line to be pretensious and overwrought, whereas I thought the themes explored by Saving Private Ryan (influenced by Ambrose's "Citizen Solider") where more interesting. But both films are severely flawed.
The bottom line is that people are deeper thinkers than we give them credit for, and everybody's tastes are different and varied that you can't just take a handful of opinions and say "A ha! I've got you pegged!"
My own opinions change over time both on films I have seen before, genres, styles, etc. to try to sum up a movie personality. I enjoy being challenged and exposed to different viewpoints and wouldn't want to narrow that to only include a select group.
I can understand using some general guidelines but even then people grow/change. I hope over the years my own does as well.
10-28-03 | 03:57 PM
#30
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From: MI, aka bug heaven
If you like the Princess Bride and The Shawshank Redemption, and can intelligently say why, we'll be just fine.
If you think Ben Stiller, Rob Schneider, David Spade, or Tom Green are the height of comedic talent, we'll have to agree to disagree.
If you think Ben Stiller, Rob Schneider, David Spade, or Tom Green are the height of comedic talent, we'll have to agree to disagree.
10-28-03 | 06:21 PM
#31
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I will say this - I kinda liked The Matrix Reloaded, but not because it is a deep work of art as many think.
I showed a friend Waking Life and he argued that The Matrix and Reloaded are better, because each has the same philosophical content, but if both were books, The Matrix would be the version WITH PICTURES. Our friendship has never been quite the same.
If you agree with my friend, we need to talk. Otherwise, my tastes are pretty broad and I try not to be condescending to those that disagree.
I showed a friend Waking Life and he argued that The Matrix and Reloaded are better, because each has the same philosophical content, but if both were books, The Matrix would be the version WITH PICTURES. Our friendship has never been quite the same.
If you agree with my friend, we need to talk. Otherwise, my tastes are pretty broad and I try not to be condescending to those that disagree.
10-28-03 | 09:44 PM
#32
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From: Where the sky is always Carolina Blue! (Currently VA - again...)
Originally posted by Cusm
Pulp Fiction is the big one with me. If you love it and think it is the best QT film, you are obviously a fad boy. If you thought it was horrible because you do not see what is in the briefcase, you need to stick to 2F2F, and Patrick Swayze films.
Pulp Fiction is the big one with me. If you love it and think it is the best QT film, you are obviously a fad boy. If you thought it was horrible because you do not see what is in the briefcase, you need to stick to 2F2F, and Patrick Swayze films.
My main complaint over "The Thin Red Line" (like most adaptations) is that if it had stuck by the book, it would have been interesting, and what actually ended up on film seems like a parody of the actual story and characters.
I enjoyed AI as an effects-fest and interesting retelling of a classic story, but as a piece of cinema, it falls far short of something like Blade Runner.
Last edited by Tuan Jim; 10-28-03 at 09:46 PM.
10-29-03 | 02:00 PM
#33
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Which reminds me...
Litmus Test: If you say you didn't like a film because the book was better, then we will disagree on most films.
Litmus Test: If you say you didn't like a film because the book was better, then we will disagree on most films.
Last edited by DigIt; 10-29-03 at 02:02 PM.
10-30-03 | 01:31 AM
#34
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If you think it's possible to generalize that we will disagree on most films based upon our mutual reactions to one specific film, then it's probable that we will disagree on most films, but that we both enjoy the same flavors of pie and ice cream.
10-30-03 | 03:47 PM
#36
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Originally posted by aroney
My Litmus test's:
A Clockwork Orange
Apocalypse Now
Evil Dead 2
Blue Velvet
never met a woman who could make the grade. got married anyway.
My Litmus test's:
A Clockwork Orange
Apocalypse Now
Evil Dead 2
Blue Velvet
never met a woman who could make the grade. got married anyway.
10-30-03 | 05:56 PM
#37
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Originally posted by Sessa17
Anyone who says Forrest Gump is their favorite movie, I cannot even talk about anything movie related w/ that person. I may not even want to know that person. - If you fail this, we can't talk movies.
Anyone who says Forrest Gump is their favorite movie, I cannot even talk about anything movie related w/ that person. I may not even want to know that person. - If you fail this, we can't talk movies.
10-31-03 | 08:15 AM
#40
Originally posted by cross
Although not a movie,
I know a guy who judges whether or not any of his potential friends have any taste by asking them if they liked the Buffy Musical Episode.
Although not a movie,
I know a guy who judges whether or not any of his potential friends have any taste by asking them if they liked the Buffy Musical Episode.
As far as this thread is concerned, I don't mean to be a snob, but if I had a "litmus test" movie, most people probably wouldn't have heard of it. By "most people" I mean real people, not the people in this forum.
As far as less obscure films, maybe Sunrise or Rules of the Game.
