I Can't Believe You've Never Seen/Read That!

[Gadarene]

*Originally posted by rackensack *
Gadarene,

In David Lodge’s novel Changing Places one of the characters (most of whom are literary academics) invents a parlour game he calls “Humiliation”.

And what’s funny, of course, is that I have read Changing Places–and every other David Lodge book. Malcolm Bradbury’s better, though.

And while I have read a couple of Dickens novels, I couldn’t agree more with anyone who says

Dickens has never interested me as much as, say, Wodehouse

who no doubt interests you strangely.

Indeed. Have you ever read Wodehouse’s School Stories? Never could get into Blandings, though.

RealityChuck:

I’ve actually seen all the films on Gadarene’s list. Some are undeniably great (Citizen Kane, Singin’ in the Rain) some are OK (Titanic, It’s a Wonderful Life) and some are terrible (Alien). You’re not doing yourself any favors
by deliberately skipping them. It’s nothing to be proud of.

I’m with Veb on this one. It’s not a point of pride with me–except, as I said, in the case of Titanic, my aversion to which is equal parts its length, its hype, its DiCapriosity, and its sappy love story. Nor am I deliberately skipping the movies: If Citizen Kane came on TV, I wouldn’t go “Ack! No! Classic!” and lunge for the remote control. Which reminds me…

bafaa:

Gadarene, if you really are a film buff why would you deprive yourself of such excellent movies as The Godfather, Jaws, Citizen Kane, etc?

Good question. For most of the movies on my list–and you can throw Casablanca in there as well–I just haven’t gotten around to it. When I have the inclination to rent a movie, there’s always something I want to see just a little bit more. And sometimes, actually, it’s not for lack of trying…my local Blockbuster carries neither In the Heat of the Night nor The Hustler, both of which I’d really like to see.

I’ve seen (and enjoyed) Double Indemnity and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Alternatively, when my roommates rented Some Like It Hot a few months ago, I watched it with them and wasn’t particularly impressed. So while I won’t rush out and see something just because it’s a classic (unless there’s something about it which interests me especially), neither will I consciously avoid something due to it’s being a classic.

To address the specific films you mentioned. I don’t want to see the Godfather movies for the same reason I’ve never felt inclined to watch The Sopranos–I’m not big on the whole gangster motif. In fact, I find it kind of boring. So I’m sure Godfather is a fine film, but it’s not for me. (I might make an exception of this kind for Once Upon a Time in America, if I ever have four hours to kill, just because I love James Woods.)

Similarly, monster/disaster films don’t really appeal to me, so I haven’t taken time to see Jaws. I know it’s more than just a monster movie, but there you are–better things to do.

Citizen Kane, on the other hand, I’m going to get around to seeing one of these days. I need to get over the fact that a)I pretty much know what the whole film is about and b)I’m hip on Rosebud (both its actual and connotative meaning). But I want to see it.

Oh, and one more–I’ve never seen Streetcar Named Desire, and I’ve only seen a five-minute scene from On the Waterfront.

[bluecanary]

…Tends to require couch potato status. Never watching soaps or sitcoms has done me no favours!

[GuanoLad]

I dunno if Titanic deserved all the Oscars it got. What I personally liked about it, apart from some impressive special effects, was that it was an entertaining all-rounder of a movie that managed to tug on my heart strings despite everything.

(And I really wish people didn’t think that James Cameron was being arrogant when he cried out ‘I’m the King of the World!’ when he picked up his Best Director award. He was just expressing elation - just as Jack did in the movie)

Anyhoo. Enough defending the movie. I’l now contribute.

I’ve never seen:

The Godfather movies
Gone With The Wind (first five minutes had the worst acting I’ve ever seen)
Almost any Julia Roberts movie
um…

Actually I hardly see any movies at all. There are literally thousands I won’t see, and regret seeing against my better judgement. Succumbing to people’s encouragement to see a movie I seriously didn’t want to see in the first place has without fail meant I did not like the movie. As expected.

[Flutterby]

It’s funny… some of the ones mentioned I have seen (ie Titanic, Braveheart) but a lot I haven’t (I’ve never watch It’s a Wonderful Life through and I haven’t seen Casablanca and others like that)

[hijack] Those who said their interested in shipwrecks have you seen the stuff from the Atosha? They are dragging up tons of stuff off the floor of the ocean and they had an exhibit at a jewelry store not too long ago here in Edmonton. I wish I had had enough money to buy something but I didn’t so I’ll have to be content with saying I held peices of eight and a gold bar that were from the wreck.[/hijack]

[ElusiveMiser]

Originally posted by bafaa *
**** Gadarene*, if you really are a film buff why would you deprive yourself of such excellent movies as The Godfather, Jaws, Citizen Kane, etc? (not Titanic though, good move there)

Having said that, I’ve never seen The Sound of Music, Gone With The Wind, or Singing in the Rain either and I have a friend who’s never seen Rocky.
One day I was quoting Mickey at him “You’re a BUM!” and he just looked at me in confusion.
I was like, “Hello? Burgess Meredith in Rocky?”
“Oh, I’ve never seen Rocky…”
What?!? And you call yourself an American?!? **

Well, here’s a helpful strategy for your pal, seeing as I’ve never seen any of the Rocky movies: Memorize key quotes and character/actor names. If the movie ever comes up in a discussion, be the first to make a joke, and you’re home free. Just smile and nod. Works for me.

[ThisYearsGirl]

hijack

*Originally posted by Cisco *
i absolutely loathe taxi driver

I can’t stand Taxi Driver, either. I am so sick of people treating me like I’m ignorant when I say that, too. It’s nice to meet you!

hijack

I’m adding a new category to the thread title: I have never heard the following songs:
Stan by Eminem (sp?)
That “Who Let the Dogs Out?” song
I’ve only heard two Brittney Spears song (“One More Time,” and the one where she was a waitress or something with Sabrina the teenaged witch in the video)

I’m not purposely trying to avoid them; I just never listen to the radio, and I no longer have cable, so I can’t watch MTV (big loss, too). . .

I don’t think I’ve ever heard “Jumping Jack Flash” either. I’m not a huge Stones fan, so I only have two of their albums, and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard that one.

[Sangria]

Forget about you movie list*
The Godfather trilogy
Jaws
Citizen Kane
Gone with the Wind
Titanic
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Sound of Music
Terminator
Alien
Singing in the Rain
Beauty and the Beast
Braveheart
Rocky
Annie Hall *
These are all too old to bother with.
Only Titanic is new enough for me to ever have cared about, and it was shown on TV just yesterday, for 4 hours.
After 1 hour I was glad I’d never seen it in the theater. It was just the standard rich girl-poor boy BS.
Try to set your goals on newer movies, or you will be behind the rest of your life.

[NicePete]

TOO OLD TO BOTHER WITH? WTF?

Do you apply this standard to other works of art as well?

Those Rembrant pix are too old to bother with – not worth looking at. That Shakespeare guy is so passe. Bach? Nah. Too old.

Whatever. A great movie is a great movie, regardless of its date of origin. Some of the ones on your list are WELL worth taking the time to see – moreso than any new releases from the past 3 - 5 years.

Your loss.

[rackensack]

*Originally posted by Gadarene *
** . . . what’s funny, of course, is that I have read Changing Places–and every other David Lodge book. Malcolm Bradbury’s better, though. **

Maybe better in toto . . . Besides Changing Places and Small World I’ve liked but not loved Lodge’s books. Having first read both of the them in my first year of an English lit Ph.D. program at the height of the post-structuralist, post-colonialist, post-modernist 80s, CP and SW will always be among my favorite books – not least because they contributed heavily to my decision to bail out of grad school.

Have you ever read Wodehouse’s School Stories? Never could get into Blandings, though.

I haven’t. I’ve done most of the Jeeves tales, a fair amount of the Blandings stuff, the Drones Club stories, and a certain number of the Mulliner/Ukridge/miscellaneous stories. I can’t say that I’m as fond of Emsworth et cie as of Jeeves and Bertie or even the Drones Club stories, but it was the Mulliner stuff I found insufficiently toothsome.

[Gadarene]

You’ve probably read Lucky Jim. Bradbury’s best, in my opinion, are The History Man and Eating People is Wrong, both of which are academic satires a la David Lodge.

Oh, and Wodehouse’s School Stories are collected in his books The Pothunters and The Golden Bat. They’re his earliest works, and I think you’d enjoy them.