# The Best Movie You've Never Seen **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2000, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953 "2000-08-19T08:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/1 "2000-08-19T08:26:34Z")
You’ve all heard of movies that are _soooooo_ good that you simply have to see it. Your friends tell you about them, or a critic praises it. And you really want to see it, but you don’t get a chance when it’s in the theater. Then it comes out on video, and you again seem to be busy. Now, years later, you’re still saying to yourself, “I’ve really got to see that movie.” I actually have two that, to this day, I really want to see: _Schindler’s List_: I really don’t know why I haven’t seen this movie. I’ve wanted to for a really long time, but have never seemed to have gotten around to it. _Braveheart_: Well, I really did want to see this, then I caught the end of it on Superchannel. After that, though I still wanted to see it, I saw the climax first so it kind of made me wanted to see it less. Now I really wanted to see it again. For being the movie buff that I am, I feel kind of silly when people talk about these movies and I can’t join in. Then I get the same question all of the time, “Really, you’ve never seen it?!?” So what’s the best movie that you’ve never seen? ---
**Author:** ![BjorkBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BjorkBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BjorkBoy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/2 "2000-08-19T08:36:42Z")
I fell asleep during Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man (I was really sleepy, and c’mon, that’s a somnulant movie if nothing else) and always meant to rent it again, as the beginning was so good. Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams.” I don’t know why I haven’t seen this one. Pure, unadultered laziness I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/3 "2000-08-19T08:45:09Z")
The Blair Witch Project: Well actually I did want to see it at one time I rented it watched the first 5 minutes and turned it off. It still doesn’t bother me that I haven’t seen it all. I have yet to see Gladiator. I really want to see that one. The Crow (the first movie) Its been reccommended and I have yet to get to the video store. I can’t think of anymore off he top of my head. If I remember more I’ll get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/4 "2000-08-19T09:42:52Z")
Akira Kurosawa’s _Seven Samurai_. I haven’t had an entire day to put into it yet. 😃 Also… _Taxi Driver_. Don’t hit me! I’m renting it this weekend! Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/5 "2000-08-19T11:57:50Z")
I haven’t seen either of those two either, ed. Other “best” movies I’ve never seen are: _The Graduate_ _M_A_S_H\* _The Hustler_ Haven’t seen a lot of war movies, like _Saving Private Ryan_, _Full Metal Jacket_, _Apocalypse Now_. I saw _The Godfather_ for the first time about a month ago. Still have to see parts 2 and 3. And _The Princess Bride_ only this past weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/6 "2000-08-19T12:24:00Z")
This is depressing, but Ihave yet to see Spinal Tap. Also: Shindler’s List (I never seem to get around to seeing this. I even missed the TV telecast) A Christmas Story (I’m usually not in the mood to watch Christmas TV. I’m going to make a real effort to see it this year) Also, there are plenty of classics I need to see (Citizen Cane, Dr Strangelove, The Malitese Falcon(sp)). ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/7 "2000-08-19T13:37:29Z")
People keep telling me to see _The Matrix_. I tried to see it in Kenora, Ontario but got shot down by my fellow movie-goers, with the explanation, “We’re not paying money to see a Keanu Reeves movie.” I’ve also never seen _ET_, and I’m pretty sure I missed one of the original Star Wars movies (I don’t know which one - I just know I didn’t see all three). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/8 "2000-08-19T15:45:58Z")
I will stick to highly acclaimed films that I’ve never seen, rather than blockbusters that everybody seems to have seen but me. 1. Everything by Kurosawa. I know enough about his work to use “Rashomon” as a metaphor, and to compare Sergio Leone’s work to “Yojimbo,” but I’ve never actually seen any of Kurosawa’s films. 2. I’ve never seen any of Fellini’s films. I know enough about him to recognize homages to his work in films by other artists (especially Woody Allen), but I’ve never seen a Fellini film. 3. Except for “The Seventh Seal” (great) and "Scenes from a Marriage (godawful), I’ve never seen any of Bergman’s films. Moreover, I have NEVER seen the following Oscar winners: “The English Patient” “The Deer Hunter” “Platoon” “Lawrence of Arabia” ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/9 "2000-08-19T16:23:11Z")
I’ve never seen… Citizen Kane Godfather I & II (saw III though.) Lawrence of Arabia … and a few others. I need some food, then I’ll be back. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/10 "2000-08-19T16:45:55Z")
It’s sort of wonderful to finally see a movie after having denied yourself for so long. Not intentionally, I had never seen “North by Northwest.” One day, it came on American Movie Classics and I was able to watch the whole thing uninterrupted. I appreciated every minute of it, knowing how many people who would envy my the experience of seeing such a movie for the first time. I’ve never seen a Fellini film, either, and frequently feel the lack because Roger Ebert mentions him so often in his reviews. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/11 "2000-08-19T18:15:15Z")
**silent\_rob** , It’s so nice to meet a fellow Illuminatus! The best movie that I’ve never seen (in my sister’s opinion) is “Painted Faces”. It’s supposedly about the school that Jackie Chan was sold to as a young boy. All y’all that mentioned Kurasawa–my favorite is “Ran” (I think it may also be out under another title). “Dreams” is good (if a little disjointed). The best part is the segment where Vincent Van Gogh is played by Martin Scorsese. Incredible painting-like imagery years before “What Dreams May Come”. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/12 "2000-08-19T18:29:44Z")
The only Fellini I’ve ever seen is _Satyricon,_ which is not generally considered one of his best. And I was on acid at the time. As for the other Italian classics, I haven’t seen _The Bicycle Thief_ either. I haven’t seen nearly enough Bunuel; _The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeousie_ is still a blank on my sheet. _The Wages of Fear._ \*Where’s Poppa? Performance Peeping Tom\* all the way through. Shit, I’m not getting any younger. Maybe I’ll mosey over to the video store this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/13 "2000-08-19T18:40:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sealemon88 \* > \*\*This is depressing, but Ihave yet to see Spinal Tap. > \*\* wow you REALLy are missing a fun one there. > [@](#): > > - originally posted by Sealemon88\* \*\* > A Christmas Story (I’m usually not in the mood to watch Christmas TV. I’m going to make a real effort to see it this year) \*\* don’t look at the title, although the story revolves around a kid’s Christmas wish, I see it as a funny rememberance from the adult’s memory of childhood. don’t wait til the holidays, everyone else will be renting it then. back to OP, for me, some friends of mine told me I must see The English Patient. Please don’t tell them I haven’t yet. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/14 "2000-08-19T18:46:56Z")
The 10 movies that make up whasis names Decaloge. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/15 "2000-08-19T18:52:22Z")
I’ve got to pick up on _The Wages of Fear_ because it was **the** moment the power of cinema hit me smack in the gut. I was about 8 years old, Sunday afternoon film on tv and nothing on film has gripped me in quite that way since. Utterly, totally absorbed and err… blown away. God, I was with those guys for every bump in the road. Saw it again about 10 years ago but by then ‘aesthetic appreciation’ had usurped the earlier emotional response so I wasn’t anything like as involved but that first time……….wow. Have never seen _Cinema Paradisimo_ (whatever the bloody things called) and only half of _Betty Blue_ - but any half of Betty is just fine by meeeeeeeeeeee **vandal** - never seen _Citizen Kane_ ? naughty, naughty! ---
**Author:** ![Hunsecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Hunsecker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunsecker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/16 "2000-08-19T20:40:19Z")
Well, I just saw _The Seventh Seal_ last night, and now I feel like an idiot for not seeing any Bergman films earlier. I have it on good authority that _Miracle Mile_ is really good. And one of these days, I’ll watch some Chaplin films (don’t think I’ve seen one all the way through yet, just clips) I’ve also yet to see _Nashville_, though I’ve liked everything else I’ve seen of Altmans (except _Ready to Wear_) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/17 "2000-08-19T21:39:04Z")
Since Humphrey Bogart is my favourite old-time actor, and film noir my favourite genre, how have I managed not to see _The Maltese Falcon_? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/18 "2000-08-20T01:30:45Z")
I consider myself a big-time “film guy”, and I have yet to see any of the _Godfather_ movies. In my defense, I did **read** Puzo’s _The Godfather_, so I’m not a total slacker. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/19 "2000-08-20T02:18:36Z")
Tried to watch Citizen Kane, but, alas! fell asleep both times. Perhaps one day (WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!!!) I’ll know what the freakin’ sled Rosebud has to do with anything. Watched 10 minutes of Platoon and got so upset that I turned the damn thing off. For that reason, I still haven’t seen Schindler’s List or Saving Pvt. Ryan. Sorry Steve. Still haven’t seen The Exorcist either. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2000, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953/20 "2000-08-20T02:51:32Z")
Never had any desire whatsoever to see “Titanic”. Usually try to see all best picture nominees/winners, but still haven’t seen “Shakespeare in Love”, “American Beauty” or “The English Patient”. Some classics I have never seen: Casablanca Chinatown Raging Bull [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-youve-never-seen/29953.md?page=2)