PERFECT MOVIE?

Allhallowsday · July 12, 2011, 09:01:36 PM

I'm watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on TCM right now. I've sat through that film at least a dozen times from beginning to end, and piecemeal many times. It never gets tired or boring for me. I do not own it as TCM shows LAWRENCE OF ARABIA very often, so I don't need to own it. And though I think LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is ENDLESSLY WATCHABLE, it's more than that. I suspect it is not historically accurate, but I am not talking about historic perfection, but CINEMATIC PERFECTION! TCM shows it regularly, and I always find myself enraptured by it. It is, for me, enthralling.

What film for you is PERFECT?

Flick James · July 12, 2011, 10:01:35 PM

There are a few that for me personally are perfect films:

12 Angry Men: This one doesn't do as well watching in piecemeal fashion as Lawrence is. It really depends on dramatic development from start to finish. Put me at the beginning of this film and, no matter how many times I've seen it, I am absolutely hooked.

Papillon: This film is interesting and intriquing to me no matter what point I happen to arrive. I guess it's the triumph over impossible odds that gets me.

Cool Hand Luke: Again, triumph over adversity, and the protagonist has got some serious balls. Again, this one gets suck me in no matter what segment I come into.

Patton: The film, and the man, fascinate me for a myriad of reasons. That's the most appropo term to describe this film for me, endlessly fascinating.

Mr. DS · July 12, 2011, 10:07:27 PM

Jaws - Great thrills, believable story line to a point and wonderful characters. Its my all time favorite and I never get sick of watching it.

indianasmith · July 12, 2011, 11:45:03 PM

THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. As a lifelong fan of the series, I just eat it up every time I get the chance! What a cinematic masterpiece.

I also love GLADIATOR. I watch it every fall with my sophomore World History class, and I cry at the end every time.

akiratubo · July 13, 2011, 12:08:10 AM

RoboCop. It's as though it was made specifically for me to enjoy.

Allhallowsday · July 13, 2011, 12:10:03 AM

I think PATTON was on my list of ENDLESSLY WATCHABLE films, and I would definitely include it as a candidate for CINEMATIC PERFECTION.

JAWS is great, but for me, NOT ENDLESSLY WATCHABLE, and therefore falls short of perfection, though, it comes CLOSE.

LORD OF THE RINGS?

Yawn.

I like ROBOCOP. Perfect? Nah.

Leah · July 13, 2011, 12:29:32 AM

Plan 9 from Outer Space- it is the perfect bad movie out there because it is very enjoyable and dumb, a good Friday night late movie.

Hammock Rider · July 13, 2011, 08:57:16 AM

These are all great choices. I could jump into any of these movies at any point and feel like I was picking up from where I last left off. I know it sounds really weird but watching movies like these almost feels like catching up with an old friend, interesting yet familiar.

I'd add the 1972 Three Musketeers to the list, and M*A*S*H. The Three Musketeers takes place in a historical period I find interesting, it's got humor and swashbuckling, and it's just a good old fashioned adventure story. The acting is top notch. It doesn't take itself too seriously either. To me it's about as good as fun, exciting escapist fare can get.

M*A*S*H manages to be funny, biting, messy, tragic and hopeful all at the same time. Altman is one of my favorites. It's about as subversive as a movie gets, with stroing political and religious ideas but it's also incredibly funny.

akiratubo · July 13, 2011, 09:37:52 AM

Wow, you all really like boring movies.

Flick James · July 13, 2011, 09:41:45 AM

Quote from: akiratubo on July 13, 2011, 09:37:52 AM
Wow, you all really like boring movies.

Sorry.

Allhallowsday · July 13, 2011, 10:12:08 AM

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1972) is great! Yeh, that's just about PERFECT!

12 ANGRY MEN is ENDLESSLY WATCHABLE with PERFECT performances.

Nightowl · July 13, 2011, 10:37:35 AM

Tremors- Okay, maybe it's not as classical as some mentioned, but it's perfect and happens one of my favorite movies.

Road House-As far action films go, you cant get any better than Road House

Allhallowsday · July 13, 2011, 11:34:37 AM

Quote from: akiratubo on July 13, 2011, 09:37:52 AM
Wow, you all really like boring movies.

Grow up.

akiratubo · July 13, 2011, 11:42:42 AM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on July 13, 2011, 11:34:37 AMGrow up.

If growing up means watching Lawrence of Arabia all the way through, I will gladly stay a child.

Flick James · July 13, 2011, 12:20:30 PM

Quote from: akiratubo on July 13, 2011, 11:42:42 AM
Quote from: Allhallowsday on July 13, 2011, 11:34:37 AMGrow up.

If growing up means watching Lawrence of Arabia all the way through, I will gladly stay a child.

Hey, I love a good mindless, fast-paced, b-movie. Otherwise I wouldn't be here so much. But I also like the slower-paced films as well. This is a truly unique community and I'm glad that it is.

Cheers.