"OMG! you've never seen _____?!"

[zombie no.one]

The Big Lebowski is one of those movies that I could tell by knowing the people that LIKED it, that I WOULDN'T.

you gotta stick with it man I thought the same thing!

[Rev. Powell]

Black and white films are not all boring. In fact, there's tonnes of absolute fantastic black and white film out there...especially in the horror, sci-fi, mystery, thriller and film noir genres. Look for names like Hitchcock, Welles, Wise, Lewton, Hawks, Whale in particular. And that's just for starters. In fact, black and white in some ways with its use of shadows is actually more effective in the above genres.

This brings to mind something I've noticed about mainstream film "fans"... they pay attention to actors, not directors.  Most don't bother to notice the director of the film they either liked or hated, but give the credit or the blame to the stars.  It's much more likely that if you liked STAR WARS, you'll like other movies directed by George Lucas rather than other movies starring Mark Hamil, but people aren't in the habit of thinking that way.

People always assume I've seen THE MATRIX.  I'd like to see it someday, but it's WAY down on my list; there are so many other movies I'd like to get to first.

[HappyGilmore]

Black and white films are not all boring. In fact, there's tonnes of absolute fantastic black and white film out there...especially in the horror, sci-fi, mystery, thriller and film noir genres. Look for names like Hitchcock, Welles, Wise, Lewton, Hawks, Whale in particular. And that's just for starters. In fact, black and white in some ways with its use of shadows is actually more effective in the above genres.

People always assume I've seen THE MATRIX.  I'd like to see it someday, but it's WAY down on my list; there are so many other movies I'd like to get to first.

Don't bother with the Matrix.  God-awful.

I've never seen The Big Lebowski or Resevor Dogs.  The sad thing is both DVDs are sitting on my shelf.  For some reason once I bought them, I lost the urge to see them.

Well, I still might watch The Big Leboski one day. 

Still haven't seen any of The Godfather movies, or Scareface. 

Do yourself a favor and see Reservoir Dogs.  If anything, for the performances by Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi and Tim Roth in particular.

[Derf]

Well, I've seen Citizen Kane, and I found it heavy handed in its symbolism, and mostly boring. Add me to the list of those who've never seen Lebowski. I am a little surprised at the occasional backlash on this board against the original Star Wars trilogy. They have become way overhyped, but they are still fun movies.

I live around people who (mostly) only want to see the latest blockbusters. They are constantly amazed when they find out I haven't seen {fill in the blank with almost any movie made in the last five years}. I'm always amazed when they dismiss movies like Casablanca or Bringing Up Baby as just boring, old B&W films. I try to stay relatively open to any genre of movie, because a good story is a good story, but I've run into any number of people who dismiss a movie (no matter how critically acclaimed or well reviewed) just because it is "old" or "not realistic" or even "overhyped" or "too popular." Some movies that have become massively popular are actually quite good; some are absolute rubbish. Some sci-fi or fantasy movies tell outstanding stories that are worth watching even if sci-fi isn't your thing.

[lester1/2jr]

 isaw this philipino movie rcently called "super noypi"  that ripped of lara croft, spy kids, and x men and I knew it though i 'd never actually seen any of those

[ToyMan]

it's unfortunate that so many of you guys seem to be anti-lebowski. if you've seen raising arizona, or fargo, and enjoyed it, you might just like it. i mean, be honest with yourself- if you were watching it, and you found yourself enjoying it, would you let yourself dig it, or keep fronting?

i can see how some people might be sour on it, though. nearly a decade ago, friends of mine kept raving on and on about dead alive (aka: brain dead), and if they'd just mentioned it once i might have been keen on it, but every time they went on about it again, i got less interested in the film. five years later, i watched it, and guess what? i should have watched it when they were telling me to, because i really dug it.

sometimes you are the only person keeping yourself from finding your next favorite film.

[Javakoala]

"Slaughter House Five" is one that kind of blows my mind that science fiction/art film/off-beat fans haven't seen. Most people say, "I don't like horror movies" when I mention the title.  I have to count to five to keep from backhanding them and then attempt to explain it isn't horror.  Then they shrug and say, "It doesn't sound interesting. Ooh, have you seen 'Hancock'?" At that point, I'm not sure whether to laugh, cry or vomit.

Okay, yeah, I'm a bit of a snob.

But "Hancock"?  jesus........

[Eyesore]

Never have seen E.T., Titanic, or The English Patient. I fast forwarded through The Passion of The Christ so I could check out the creepy Satan and infant scene for a prop I built. The same is true for 99% of main stream movies (except oddly, I loved Hellboy).

I didn't see Wizard of Oz until I was 35, sheesh that was a trippy movie!

[Kester Pelagius]

My wife has some strange phobia about anything in black and white.  She must have seen something really boring once, and now assumes that anything B&W is the same. 

While she probably wouldn't go for the old B&W westerns or war movies I'd recommend she try THE SCARLET PIMPERNELL or CYRANO DE BERGERAC.  Classics.

Also anything by Cecil B. Demille should be good as should the old Laurel & Hardy, Abbot & Costello, or Dean & Martin movies.  Actually I think both starred in B&W features after their split and some of those were decent.  For unintentional humor there's always the FLASH GORDON or BUCK ROGERS serials.  Or how about B&W AND silent.  The two that come immediately to mind are NOSFERATU and METROPOLIS.

[Kester Pelagius]

"Slaughter House Five" is one that kind of blows my mind that science fiction/art film/off-beat fans haven't seen.

Believe it or not this was on a local PBS station in the mid 80s.  Never really knew what it was but because of it I spent a good few months researching what the peplum was the guy was watching.  Can you imagine the blank and confused stares when I tried to explain the scene then, on top of that, tried to explain the movie I saw it in?

[HappyGilmore]

Never have seen E.T., Titanic, or The English Patient. I fast forwarded through The Passion of The Christ so I could check out the creepy Satan and infant scene for a prop I built. The same is true for 99% of main stream movies (except oddly, I loved Hellboy).

I didn't see Wizard of Oz until I was 35, sheesh that was a trippy movie!

Wizard of Oz is great, for what is essentially a bomb.  From what I heard, it didn't fare to well back then financially, but it's since become a classic.  And really, why wouldn't it be a classic?  Flying monkeys, midgets in bright costumes singing to each other, gay lions, and Ray Bolger doing a great Scarecrow.  Good movie.

[frank]

Well I've seen Dr. Strangelove.. but not The Big Llebowski AFAIK.  Then again I haven't seen a LOT of flicks.  OTOH

[Clinton Mode On]
It depends on what your definition of "seen" is.
[/Clonton Mode Off]

I've seen portions or extracts from one or two of the SAW movies but have never actually sat down to watch one from beginning to end, nor do I have any intention of ever doing so.

I have never really watched AMERICAN PIE, though I did record it off satellite once and scanned through it on FF just for the heck of it.  Looked dull and boring.  (And I've never seen ANY of the sequels.)

Don't think I ever watched DiCaprio's TITANIC (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) or any of the new FANTASTIC FOUR movies properly from begining to end either.

I've never sat down to watch LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, depite the fact it seemed to come on ad nauseum on satellite not that long ago.

Haven't watched 300 from beginning to end, though I have seen a goodly portion of it when it aired on Satellite.  I note this because I have it on DVD and it's still in the shrink wrap.

I also have yet to see MEET THE SPARTANS.

I haven't seen STARLOST, but then again it never aired anywhere I lived.  Though I understand the series has been released to DVD.

Speaking of TV series I've never seen. . . LOGAN'S RUN.  Never saw it.  Read lots about this series though.

I've never seen VAMPIRE CIRCUS.  But that's only because it seems to be interdicted from release to R1 DVD.

I've also never seen UNDERDOG, MAX PAYNE, any of those HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL flicks, MARK OF THE DEVIL 2, FLAVIA THE HERETIC, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, CALIGULA: THE UNTOLD STORY (properly framed and uncut), any of TYLER PERRY'S movies, ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, ORGAZMO, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, FRED CLAUS, DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, either of the THE INCREDIBLE HULK movies (though I have the 1st one on DVD), IRON MAN, GET SMART, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, SPEED RACER, DADDY DAYCARE, JINGLE ALL THE WAY, or MESSALINA, MESSALINA et al.

Actually if it's a Hollywood movie, especially anything supposed to be remotely romatic or comedic or dripping with sacchrine sentiment and charm, and it's come out in the past 3 to 5 years, just assume I haven't seen it.   

Astonishing! I've seen The Big Lebowski and it's one of my favorites ever since, but I also haven't seen any of the others you mention...

[Kester Pelagius]

Well I've seen Dr. Strangelove.. but not The Big Llebowski AFAIK.  Then again I haven't seen a LOT of flicks.  OTOH

[Clinton Mode On]
It depends on what your definition of "seen" is.
[/Clonton Mode Off]

I've seen portions or extracts from one or two of the SAW movies but have never actually sat down to watch one from beginning to end, nor do I have any intention of ever doing so.

I have never really watched AMERICAN PIE, though I did record it off satellite once and scanned through it on FF just for the heck of it.  Looked dull and boring.  (And I've never seen ANY of the sequels.)

Don't think I ever watched DiCaprio's TITANIC (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) or any of the new FANTASTIC FOUR movies properly from begining to end either.

I've never sat down to watch LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, depite the fact it seemed to come on ad nauseum on satellite not that long ago.

Haven't watched 300 from beginning to end, though I have seen a goodly portion of it when it aired on Satellite.  I note this because I have it on DVD and it's still in the shrink wrap.

I also have yet to see MEET THE SPARTANS.

I haven't seen STARLOST, but then again it never aired anywhere I lived.  Though I understand the series has been released to DVD.

Speaking of TV series I've never seen. . . LOGAN'S RUN.  Never saw it.  Read lots about this series though.

I've never seen VAMPIRE CIRCUS.  But that's only because it seems to be interdicted from release to R1 DVD.

I've also never seen UNDERDOG, MAX PAYNE, any of those HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL flicks, MARK OF THE DEVIL 2, FLAVIA THE HERETIC, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA, CALIGULA: THE UNTOLD STORY (properly framed and uncut), any of TYLER PERRY'S movies, ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, ORGAZMO, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, FRED CLAUS, DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, either of the THE INCREDIBLE HULK movies (though I have the 1st one on DVD), IRON MAN, GET SMART, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, SPEED RACER, DADDY DAYCARE, JINGLE ALL THE WAY, or MESSALINA, MESSALINA et al.

Actually if it's a Hollywood movie, especially anything supposed to be remotely romatic or comedic or dripping with sacchrine sentiment and charm, and it's come out in the past 3 to 5 years, just assume I haven't seen it.   

Astonishing! I've seen The Big Lebowski and it's one of my favorites ever since, but I also haven't seen any of the others you mention...

Well I suppose I have to amend the above statement as I watched part of FANTASTIC FOUR and part of X-Men 2 on some commercial cable channel recently.  There was just nothing else on and, well, O-M-G!  Where's the :stinkyface: smiley?

I used to read the X-men comics. 

As for some of the one's mentioned above. .

MEET THE SPARTANS is one of those Hollywood assembly line spoofs like NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE or, what was it called, Superhero Movie?  Anyway it's spoofing 300.

STARLOST was Canadian TV's answer to STAR TREK.  It's supposed to be a really bad, which means I really want to see it.   

And VAMPIRE CIRCUS is a Hammer horror about vampire's and a circus.  It, like TWINS OF EVIL, has had no R1 DVD release.

MARK OF THE DEVIL 2 was supposedly Hoven's attempt to redo MARK OF THE DEVIL the way he intended.  (IIRC he got booted off the project or something.)

MESSALINA, MESSALINA is worth seeing because it stars two of the same wouldbe Penthouse starlets that appear in Tinto Brass/Guccione's epic mess CALIGULA.  It was a exploitationer shot on the sly on some of the same sets and, this is the best part, actually was released to theaters BEFORE Caligula.  Then again most of the Caligula knock-offs manages to make it to theaters before Guccione's Caligula debacle so that isn't really saying much.

Speaking of which CALIGULA: THE UNTOLD STORY is an Joe D'Amato sleaze fest starring Laura Gemser, so that right there makes it a must see.   

[schmendrik]

STARLOST was Canadian TV's answer to STAR TREK.  It's supposed to be a really bad, which means I really want to see it.   

I think that's the one that was Harlan Ellison's pet project originally, but it got completely revamped in the process of being produced (gee, I'll bet that never happens) and he was pretty disgusted with the final project.

Not coincidentally, people's favorite episodes from the original Star Trek are often the ones that Ellison wrote.

[peter johnson]

There really is no reason not to see the Harry Potter films -- yes, they truncate the books (No Peeves, for example, wherein they really should have cast Bob Hoskins -- a perfect Peeves!!), but given their length, that was a necessity.  They all work quite well for what they are:  Adaptations.  Same with the Spiderman films -- they can be enjoyable for what they are, as long as you're not expecting them to expound on the entire ouvre --

Everyone really should see Citizen Kane & Casablanca & Double Indemnity -- these are films that are still being stolen from by filmmakers today.

I have seen The Big Lebowski.  I enjoyed it, but not as much as Barton Fink or O Brother, Where Art Thou?  I guess you have to be in the mood.

Okay, confession time:  Even though I consider myself a film afficionado, I still have never seen The Bicycle Thief or Open City or Battle of Algiers.  Other things always seem to keep coming up.  Even though I say Ingmar Bergman is my favorite director, I didn't see Hour of The Wolf until a few weeks ago.  I have also never seen Wedding March, even though I pride myself in the number of silent films I own and have seen.  Wedding March is called by some critics the best silent film ever made, period.  And I still haven't seen it & still call myself a silent film buff.  I am a fraud . . .

Slaughterhouse Five is one of those rare films that I find even better than the book.  One of the best films ever made about World War 2, let alone a good science-fiction flick.  I trot it out to the VHS player at least twice a year.

To shock and bewilder some of the regulars on this board, I will also confess to never having seen Dead Alive. I only recently saw the Evil Dead trilogy -- I now know what an Ash is.

To post on this board and confess to never having seen Robot Monster is totally unacceptable.  Go watch that thing immediately & don't come back until you do!!  You ought to be milked . . .

I have a friend with somewhat different tastes in cinema -- he really loves Italian zombie movies, eg. -- so we are frequently saying to each other:  "WHAT?  You've never seen . . ..?", so I know the drill.

peter johnson/denny von sternberg