I'm doing some research for er, my website.
A space alien lands on earth and asks what 10 films he should view to have an understanding of our culture and film in our country. What are your picks and why? These are not neccesarily your geeked out faves or "AFI bests" but ones for the history books--if you wrote the history books.
Your horror host,
Mr. Lobo
http://www.cinemainsomnia.com
"To Kill A Mockingbird"
"It's a Wonderful Life"
"A Christmas Story"
But still, one that would give the aliens something to think about.
Breakin
Deliverance
Godzilla vs. Monster X
Greaser's Palace
Gymkata
Petey Wheatstraw
Repo Man
Any "Santo" movie
Solarbabies
The Warriors
Almost any John Waters film
Granted, what the aliens might be thinking about is the best way to kill us all off.
Well then, I guess Independence Day woudln't exactly give a flattering view of human society then? Show them how many movies we have made make fun of aliens, and they'll be screaming for our blood.
That and if we ever subject them to anything involving Fran Drescher and the Cast of Friends.
I wonder, though, are there any alien movie-type-things which depict humans? That would be interesting to watch.
Also, why American Genre Films? Doesn't the world have a say to how they should be depicted? If we go by just American films, then the aliens would think that all Asians know Karate, all Arabs sit in caves and own AK-47's and Russians always say 'capitalist Dog' alot.
Mind you, if we ever showed the majority of 'popular' Aussie films, then they'd think we were a bunch of beer drinking larrikans and smart alecs who like sports. Damn Aussie movie industry.
I'd have to say that all three Dead films would be in my list.
Lets see:
1. Night Of The Living Dead
2. Dawn Of The Dead
3. Day Of The Dead
4. Fight Club
5. Requiem For A Dream
6. Goodfellas
Now if they are evil aliens plotting to kill us, then I would subject them to Labyrinth. That movie is awful enough to kill anyone or anything.
Well, Mr. Lobo is not going to try to represent another culture other than my own. Surely, you can, for your own edification apply this question anyway you wish...I can't name ten movies from your country cause I'm ignorant. i'm certainly not going to try to give this list to a space alien...
Mad Max
Road Warrior
Mad Max 3
Young Einstien
Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee II
Rescuers: Down Under
The Adventures Of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert
Whatever the Hell the name of The Crocodile Hunter movie is
Ace Ventua II: When Nature calls?
Your International Horror Host,
Mr. Lobo
American Grafitti
(for American pop culture)
A Fistful of Dollars
(Americans as individuals who, though flawed, stand up for what's right).
the Deer Hunter! throw that somewhere in there. and if you wanted to thwart the alien's plan of destruction getting it drunk and forcing it to watch the Deer Hunter would surely influence it to commit suicide.
"Now if they are evil aliens plotting to kill us, then I would subject them to Labyrinth. That movie is awful enough to kill anyone or anything."
LoL. I used to hang out with these morons that loved that film. To this day I don't see what they saw in it.
I would automatically assume that the alien is hostile so with that in mind, my list would be (in order):
Close Encounters- To show what we thought aliens were or should be
ET- To show how we thought aliens could be "cute"
Terminator- To show massive carnage
Alien Nation- To show how we wouldn't mind co-existing too much but don't step outta line Mr. alien
The Hidden (1987)- To show our idea of bad aliens and what we do to them
House of 1000 Corpses- To show how disturbed some of us can be. "Would you like to take a chance on that Mr. Alien?"
If the alien still wants to see more at this point, I pull out the secret weapon:
Gigli- This will kill the bastard.
American Beauty
Fight Club
Requiem for a Dream
Natural Born Killers
Quills
Kids in the Hall: Braincandy
Office Space
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
...those films sum up humanity nicely, I think.
Great! Very funny stuff, Odinn7. Mr. Lobo may be stealing some of your material! Actually, everyone has given me great "fast food for thought". I really like the vibe at this bulletin board. You B-maniacs are not snobby like some of those others. You know the ones. They're hiding under the floorboards with their turtlenecks and espressos! There they are--Shine a light on them!
Anyway, keep it up...Mr. Lobo likes where this thread is going!
Your Horror Host,
Mr. Lobo
http://www.cinemainsomnia.com
Nobody,
I applaud that list! It's almost like you were in my mind!
All of those films are among my top 50
The international angle is interesting. Imagine if the alien attempted to understand all of humanity with a limited sampling of films from each country.
What would your impression of Canada be if you judged it by Strange Brew and the works of David Cronenberg? What if all your information on Britain came from the Carry On movies, or your assessment of Japan was based on Gamera films? Taken a country at a time, it would confuse the hell out of an alien.
Kind of reminds me of Galactica 1980, when they judged humanity based on monitoring television - mostly cartoons and cop shows.
After we get 10 films from each country, then I'll compile the world list. Yeah, right. Like, I'M qualified to do that! I really can't think of any films made by South America...Iceland...Norway...Finland...Belgium...Most Of Africa...Vietnam...Korea...Thailand...Other than Ballywood nothing in the Middle East...and on and on. I guess I'm not much of a film buff after all,
Your Horror Host,
Mr. Lobo
hmmm...
The trick to listing films from other countries is making sure that the ones you pick were made and financially based in that country, not just set in that country, or directed by somebody from that country: case in point, Master and Commander and The Truman Show were directed by Peter Weir, an Aussie, but aren't Aussie films.
Also, for example, Scooby Doo 1 and the Matrix Trilogy were filmed in Australia, but aren't Australian films. Kangaroo Jack was set in Australia and also isn't an aussie film. Crocodile Dundee, however, is just something we'd prefer to forget...
Um, my contribution for ten movies to represent my country is tough, since there isn't enough really good ones that I have seen which accuratley represent the culture, but here goes:
Rabbit Proof Fence
Gallipoli
Undead [since it has zombies, hurray!]
Breaker Morant
The Dish
The Castle
Lantana
Romper Stomper
Gettin' Square
Mad Max [aka Road Warrior]
Mind you, I'm only listing one's I've seen, and aren't necessarily the best out there.
I think it's a great idea for a worldwide list, so let's go for it!!
Thanks Dean,
I have a lot of flms to catch up on! Except for Gallipoli and Undead--I have seen those but I forgot them. Not that either of those films are forgetable...just not funny enough to make my point in the other post. Let's fill out this list...Theres got to be a brit Out There or a Japan-o-phile...or a Canadian that can chime in at this point...
Your Horror Host,
Mr. Lobo
i am not japanese mr. lobo but i know of a couple of japan films:
Battle royale 1 and 2( good amount of gory)
bio zombie (chinese made)
tomie
parasite eve
ichi the killer
the returner
uzumaki
lone wolf and the cub (if your a samurai fan)
hope this helps you mr. lobo
"I know I know ive been exposed permeant psychoses..
at least the colors are nice"- Aeon Flux
Set out to come up with 10 Canadian films, and came up with 11 off the top of my head. These are all genre films that would appeal to this crowd.
The Adjuster
Scanners
Videodrome
Cube
The Brood
Heavy Metal
Strange Brew
Black Christmas
Trailer Park Boys
The Pit (Tra-la-logs!)
and
Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter!
First I would show them Brazil, to make them wonder about the strange but beautiful human beings.
Next I would show them Plan 9 from outer space, just so they could say HEY THOSE AREN'T ALIENS and maybe they would get angry with me, so I would show them Amelie, and we would all be friends because after seeing Amelie you can't help but love the entire human race.
TheEvilDoctor wrote:
> so I would show them Amelie, and we would all be
> friends because after seeing Amelie you can't help but love the
> entire human race.
>
It's true!
I'm thinking, I'm thinking!
Post Edited (06-10-04 15:10)
SCARFACE
how did everyone forget 28 days later? honestly, it would give them a vary good perspective on humanity
* Woodstock: 3 days of Peace, Love and Music
* Easy Rider
I chose these because I think they really capture what was going on in America during the late 1960s.
* Taxi Driver
* Midnight Cowboy
Two really gritty looks at the seedy side of New York City.
* The Godfather, Part II
In addition to being a great gangster film, the immigrant flashbacks are fascinating.
* From Here to Eternity
Just because.
* Marty
An amusing peek at regular guys hanging around and doing regular things. Plus, it's Ernest Borgnine's best performance.
* Shaft
* Superfly
Two blaxploitation classics.
* Psycho
Of course.
Dark-Knerd wrote:
> how did everyone forget 28 days later? honestly, it would give
> them a vary good perspective on humanity
Did you mean to say how couldn't you forget the hackneyed crap which is 28 Days Later???
However here are some:
- Lion King - we don't want them taking out our animals!
- Memento - show them the best movie we have
- Donnie Darko - Even the aliens will be like.... WHoah!
Did you mean to say how couldn't you forget the hackneyed crap which is 28 Days Later???
Donnie Darko - Even the aliens will be like.... WHoah!
I think you got those backwards :)
heres my list,
( not all of theese whre made in thier countries but who cares!!!)
from ireland
the commitments- hey they gotta like the music
michel collins- we're tough basterds!!
the quiet man- john wayne alert!!
from scotland
rob roy- i'am warning ya' we got sheep!!!
brave heart- and we will use um
macbeth- the good version
england
any monty python movie
any bond movie- (with connery of course)
trian spoting
28 days later
France
amile
all other french films will not be shown, they may destroy us imediatly if we do.
germany
das boat- submarines!!!
metropolis- fritz lang!!!
nosfatu- vamoires!!!
the triump of the will- maybe they should destroy us
russia
alita- great sf movie
italy
susperia- witches!!!
the leoperd
life is bueatifull - that guy!!!
greece-
spartacus
japan-
the seven samari
any godzilla flick
the ring
akira- a master work