It sounds like it's definitely one of those "you must see this in the theater" films.
Oh, absolutely. Seeing it in a theatre is no guarantee that you'll love it, but seeing it on a TV is a near-sure bet that you won't. So much of what I love about it is the visuals and sound design, and there's too much that just doesn't come across unless you're practically surrounded by it.
(There's also the problem of it really being 4 movies of varying quality rolled into 1 big one. Dawn of Man = good. Space station = meh* HAL = great! Acid trip = um?)
*Well, meh on the bits that involve people talking to each other. The balletic spaceship sequences are some of the most beautiful things ever filmed, including the Best Match Cut Of All Time. So maybe it's more like 5 movies in 1.
I was
TOTALLY
meh on Arsenic and Old Lace.
Okay, HAL was pretty great. I do find myself saying, "What are you doing, Dave?" on occasion.
I have Gone with the Wind issues, as well. My big problems with the film are the racial stereotyping, which I understand was part and parcel of that era of films, but that doesn't mean I don't wince while watching them, and even worse IMO is that I cannot stand Scarlett! I just want to smack her so hard every time I see her.
but it's one of my wife's favorites (along with The Fifth Element, a movie that makes me want to claw out my eyes)
I love
The Fifth Element
! It's
Die Hard
in space!
I was perplexed by
2001
as well.
And I like all of GC's meh classics except for
Grand Hotel,
which I've never even heard of.
Another classic that I'm totally meh on (this one drives GF absolutely insane as she loves it): The Maltese Falcon
Okay, HAL was pretty great. I do find myself saying, "What are you doing, Dave?" on occasion.
"I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" is a good one, too.
I liked
The Maltese Falcon
too, although it was a little strange.
I like
Fifth Element
it's mindless fun with pretty colors and fighting. I've never seen
Lawrence of Arabia
but now that I have a new tv I probably well. TCM's infomercial thing about why widescreen is the only way to watch a movie features
Lawreance of Arabia
and
Gigi
(another of my favorite movies -- good songs and beautiful clothes). I was never a fan of GTWT the book or the movie. In the book I liked Rhett and Melanie and wanted them to ditch thier respective spouses and hook up.
To get my cred back up, I love these classics:
The Philadelphia Story
Casablanca
His Girl Friday
Bringing Up Baby
Rebecca
To Be Or Not To Be
Mildred Pierce
Notorious
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Sunset Blvd.
And many many more
I like The Fifth Element as long as the sound is off. It's a very pretty movie, but the plot, dialogue, and performances make me want to throw things.
I was obsessed with GWTW when I was a kid, but I haven't seen it in years. I wonder how it'd hold up.
