Schindler’s list sounds like something I feel I should see, but I just can’t. It’s too real and too depressing.
Never saw Citizen Kane either.
We saw Lawrence of Arabia in an old timey theater with seats that creaked and squeaked with every move and broken springs, and I was never so happy to see a 2-hour movie end. Then I saw the “Intermission” reel pop up. :rolleyes:
If you haven’t seen L.A. Confidential, see it tomorrow.
As mentioned earlier, I can get “anti” films for foolish and flimsy reasons, based on title; and am also a book-versus-film snob – have never in my life found the film better than the book it was based on, if I’ve read the book.
Read the book re Schindler (source of the film), by Thomas Kenneally, and found it compulsive reading, and very moving (and I really liked Mr. Schindler – a hero, but highly flawed and with strong “anti-hero” elements). “Knew” before time, that I’d think the film inferior: also, a matter of naming. Kenneally titled the book Schindler’s Ark – as in, saving a few from a disaster. I understand that the film’s makers changed the title, figuring that the unsophisticated hordes would think “Ark = Noah”, and stop there, not getting the connection; and would thus be less likely to go and see the film. The “List” thing struck me as clunky and banal, as opposed to the original “Ark”. Thus – have never gone to see the film, don’t plan to.
Call me a shallow, foolish snob about inessential details, and I won’t disagree…
Personally, I haven’t watched Schindler’s List because I’m not a big fan of Steven Spielberg when he makes dramatic movies. I feel he attempts subjects that are beyond his abilities. He’s fine at making light entertainment movies but he tries to use the same gimmicks in his serious dramas. And, in my opinion, they weaken the movies.
Since several people mentioned recent movies, I tried to watch “Boyhood” a few weeks ago. I got about 30 minutes into it, realized I was watching a trainwreck in progress, shut it off, and never went back to it.
Lawrence of Arabia and Once Upon a Time in the West are the highest ranked IMDB top 250 movies I haven’t seen, mostly because they’re approximately 17 hours long. Gone with the Wind was really long too but I found it to have a modern style of pacing, nice and snappy. I’m to understand these two drag quite a bit, but I could be wrong. Can anyone confirm/deny?
Never saw, from list #1:
Gone with the Wind
Pulp Fiction
Titanic
Sound of Music
Braveheart
Harry Potter Series (saw the first 3)
The Graduate
The Shawshank Redemption
The Godfather
The Lion King
Generally, I won’t bother with musicals, and I’ll usually pass on any movie or TV show derived from a book I enjoyed.
From mbh’s list, I haven’t seen
The Sound of Music
The Lost Weekend
Sunset Boulevard
Bonnie and Clyde
The Wild Bunch
I also saw only 4 of the 6 Star Wars movies: Jar Jar Binks put me off the franchise.
I don’t “follow” the movies and don’t see all that many.
The ones on your original list I have never seen include:
Gone with the Wind – no interest
Pulp Fiction – know just about nothing about it.
Jaws – I was a teenager when it came out and I remember friends saying it was more cheesy than scary.
Braveheart – see Pulp Fiction.
Ghostbusters – my kids were the wrong ages
Schindler’s List – my wife REALLY didn’t want to see it (triggers)
The Shawshank Redemption – again, see Pulp Fiction
The Godfather – saw the first half, was called away b/c of a family emergency, was having a hard time figuring out what was going on, never had any interest in going back to it
The Lion King – again, kids were the wrong ages
The Silence of the Lambs – sounded too disturbing for my taste
Titanic
The Sound of Music - watched in parts
Braveheart(as a Scotsman this is either unforgiveable or understandable)
Any of the Harry Potter films
The Lion King
Pulp Fiction - nope
Sound of Music - pieces, never the whole thing
Braveheart - nope
Harry Potter Series - neither of the book 7 movies
The Shawshank Redemption - nope
The Godfather - pieces
The Silence of the Lambs - nope
Gone with the Wind: Bloody long, and my grandparents were big into it. I remember it being this huge deal when it was released on VHS and they got a copy. Not things that work to recommend a film to me.
Jaws: I lack the general pop cultural fascination with sharks, and I don’t dig horror movies (which, for whatever reason, this is categorized as in my head).
Sound of Music: Not big on musicals (though I have some that I adore). The specific songs in this movie irritate me, and the iconic “the hills are alive” shot makes me stabby.
It’s a Wonderful Life: Actually tried this a few years back and couldn’t get into it. It’s a shame–I’m a big Jimmy Stewart fan. May try again some day.
Schindler’s List: Wasn’t interested. Still am not interested.
Harry Potter Series: See Schindler.
The Shawshank Redemption: See Schindler and Potter.
The Lion King: Came out when I was pretty virulently anti-Disney. Plus, that song. Sir Elton, what happened to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road? Ugh. May check it out at some point, as it’s pretty much as “in my wheelhouse” as a thing can be.
Never seen any of The Godfather movies. Just on principle. I despise the mafia and don’t think they’re cute, amusing, or interesting. I also hate Marlon Brando.
Seen bits of Pulp Fiction. I thought it was appalling. Wished they would all die.
Any rom-com like When Harry Met Sally or Pretty Woman, if those are considered iconic. Loathsome.
Never saw one minute of any Spiderman movie, nor do I plan to.
Most other movies, I have seen at least once, often several times, and have enjoyed and re-watch happily. I love knowing they ARE iconic movies beloved by billions and will never ever die, long after the men-in-tights and idiot frat boys movies of today have in the future sunk without a trace. Some are just too complex for the casual observer to absorb, some have lotsa boring history you’re supposed to know, some movies
requiring a longer attention span than 2 minutes. I understand and sympathize. Pity.