Titanic: best movie ever?

[Mel Fulks]

Bill ,thanks. I have only seen it several times and don't remember ever hearing that. One reason I find that interesting is some years back I commented to my wife that I thought the whole adultery situation with good people in tough times was carefully calculated to take advantage of war time stress to tell a scandalous story in an acceptable light. Don't think the story would have gone over with her staying with Rick. Always find it interesting to try to understand art in original social context.

[Bill Jobe]

Bill ,thanks. I have only seen it several times and don't remember ever hearing that. One reason I find that interesting is some years back I commented to my wife that I thought the whole adultery situation with good people in tough times was carefully calculated to take advantage of war time stress to tell a scandalous story in an acceptable light. Don't think the story would have gone over with her staying with Rick. Always find it interesting to try to understand art in original social context.

I agree wholeheartedly. Had he used the letters himself and taken Lazlo's wife with him the movie would have been a total flop.

By the way, since, as you wrote, you've seen it a number of times, I thought I'd mention a couple of my favorite scenes and see if you have some that are of particularl interest to you. Rarely have I run into hardcore fanatics.
Both scenes in Rick's office always appeal to me.....both the conversation between he and Rains' character and between he and Lazlo.
But I think perhaps the best scene (or one of them) is between Rick and the young married lady from Bulgaria who came to him for advice.
Bogart has such a command of being nonshalant and intense at the same time.
But, of course, the scene of him drunk and Sam entering the scene prior to Ilsa showing, but it disappoints me after she enters.

My apologies to OP. Didn't intend to derail your thread.

[Joe Mioux]

Titanic, it ranks between Caddyshack and A French Lieutenant's Women (god that was a horrible movie).

[Yonak Hawkins]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Godfather, the second best movie ever.

[Ole Anderson]

OK, now that I have been thoroughly insulted due to my taste in movies and lack of due respect for the oldies (in all fairness I did ask), lets go a different direction: What makes a great movie, and how does that differ from what makes a wildly popular movie?

Looking at the IMDb's top 100 greatest movies, only 2 of the top 20 are less than 25 years old, Shawshank Redemption (1994) at #2 and Schindler's List (1993) at #3, while 12 of the top 20 are 50 years or older. I sense a theme here. By the way IBDb lists the Godfather as #1. http://www.imdb.com/list/ls055592025/ There are certainly other lists of the top 100 with differing results.

I believe popularity is best measured by top grossing box office receipts adjusted for inflation. Here #1 is Gone with the Wind (1939), at $3.76 billion, followed by Avatar (2009), Star Wars Episode IV (1977) and #4 Titanic (1997) with $2.75 billion in receipts. Keep in mind that #1 has had an additional 38-58 years to gather receipts. http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/fea...lobal/?slide=7

Now, Jaws (I have seen 3 times and I enjoyed it) is rated as the 50th greatest movie of all time. Other than a great dialogue by Robert Shaw (while he was literally 3 sheets to the wind I might add) I fail to see how that movie can be considered in the same category as any of those in the top 20. So I guess I must be missing the great movie gene.

[Roger Feeley]

+1 on the Green Mile. Every time I see that film, I'm impressed with the great cast. There's just not a weak link in that movie. Even the minor characters worked for me. Another one that always works for me is 12 Angry Men.

+ Shawshank redemption and here's a few others that top my list
The Patriot, Thin red line, good will hunting, Saving Private Ryan, Heat, Se7en, Goodfellas, 300, Lord of the rings, Gladiator, Braveheart, The green mile

[Mike Henderson]

Just to mention another excellent movie - "Miller's Crossing" by the Coen brothers.

Mike

[Rich Engelhardt]

Best ever?

Wizard of Oz.

It holds nearly universal appeal for anyone of any age.

[Jim Tobias]

+1 on "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest".....one of the best ever.
Also, I can get caught on " A Beautiful Mind" anytime I am flipping through channels and run across it.
I tend to like "stories" and not "sermons" in my movies

Jim

[Bill Jobe]

Best ever?

Wizard of Oz.

It holds nearly universal appeal for anyone of any age.

Do you buy the Pink Floyd assertion ?

[Rich Engelhardt]

Nah - I don't like to delve too far into the meanings people derive from movies.

[Stan Calow]

Box office sales is no more an indicator of quality than record sales indicates quality of music. Its a Wonderful Life is considered a great classic movie, but failed miserably at the box office, only to be recognized as a great film through television. Besides, the population of the US has doubled since I was a kid, so comparing dollar sales then and now is pointless, IMO.

[Ole Anderson]

Box office sales is no more an indicator of quality than record sales indicates quality of music. Its a Wonderful Life is considered a great classic movie, but failed miserably at the box office, only to be recognized as a great film through television. Besides, the population of the US has doubled since I was a kid, so comparing dollar sales then and now is pointless, IMO.

So to get back to my question (post #35): "What makes a great movie, and how does that differ from what makes a wildly popular movie?" Never said they were the same.

[Mel Fulks]

Films ,like books, are great if you never fail to to see some new nuance or can believe that the mood or meaning of a scene is
a "little different this time". Visual metaphors can be used to make strong points in subtle ways. A great one in "Cinama Paradiso " for going back in time is a son's visit back home after years away. Mom is knitting in a chair when he knocks at the door. When she goes to the door the camera stays on the knitting unraveling from the thread end she takes with her.
Subtly in both mediums is what makes "a great YARN"....

[Stan Calow]

So to get back to my question (post #35): "What makes a great movie, and how does that differ from what makes a wildly popular movie?" Never said they were the same.

When I was young, I thought it was great actors (like talented baseball players). Later, I thought it was great screenwriting. Then I decided it was great directing (coaching). Then realized it was the producers that make it happen (like general managers in baseball). I guess it takes the combination of all of those to make a great movie.
I think it is rare that you can make a complex and engaging screenplay into something that appeals to the masses. In the case of the Godfather, which is a great film and wildly popular, some people just took it as a violent gangster film, and that was enough. Others saw the complexity of the inter-personal relationships and the cultural commentary as the interesting part. So there was something for everyone.