What Makes A Movie An "Epic"?

[RickJay]

I’d define an epic as being

1. A dramatic film,
2. Lasting over two hours,
3. With considerable money and effort put into the film’s visual production, and which
4. At least in part relies on wide, external shots, such as battle scenes, external crowd shots, or other such scenes.

I would exclude all comedies by definition.

“The Lion King” has most of the basic elements of an epic, but is a very short movie; “Children’s epic” would be a fair description.

[GuanoLad]

I don’t see how the length of the film is necessary to qualify it as “epic”. I think if it has the necessary wide scope, spectacle, and “big” imagery, it should be enough.

[BMalion]

@RickJay

I’d define an epic as being

1. A dramatic film,
2. Lasting over two hours,
3. With considerable money and effort put into the film’s visual production, and which
4. At least in part relies on wide, external shots, such as battle scenes, external crowd shots, or other such scenes.

I would exclude all comedies by definition.

“The Lion King” has most of the basic elements of an epic, but is a very short movie; “Children’s epic” would be a fair description.

But excluding comedies would mean you have to exclude It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, I just cannot agree with that.

Be that as it may, I exclude animation, you exclude comedy, we still don’t have a consensus.

[RickJay]

@BMalion

But excluding comedies would mean you have to exclude It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, I just cannot agree with that.

(Shrug) Different strokes for different folks. It honestly never would have crossed my mind to put the word “epic” together with “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”

[BMalion]

@RickJay

(Shrug) Different strokes for different folks. It honestly never would have crossed my mind to put the word “epic” together with “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”

it occurred to somebody:

@wikipedia

The film followed a Hollywood trend in the 1960s of producing “epic” films as a way of wooing audiences away from television and back to movie theaters. Television had sapped the regular moviegoing audience and box-office revenues were dropping, so the major studios experimented with a number of gimmicks to attract audiences, including widescreen films.

[Helen_s_Eidolon]

@Beware of Doug

In classical literature, an epic must have 12 chapters

Where did you get that?

[sturmhauke]

@BMalion

Be that as it may, I exclude animation…

Why don’t you go watch those ones I mentioned and then see if you still say that?

[Horatio_Hellpop]

@RickJay

I would exclude all comedies by definition.

What about satire? **Paths of Glory, Monsieur Verdoux **and **The Great Dictator **were pretty epic.

[well_he_s_back]

Excuse me Krokodil, but how is “Paths of Glory” a satire? Is that what you meant to say?

[BMalion]

@sturmhauke

Why don’t you go watch those ones I mentioned and then see if you still say that?

Well, I may be delayed, I got rid of my TV.

[Horatio_Hellpop]

@well he's back

Excuse me Krokodil, but how is “Paths of Glory” a satire? Is that what you meant to say?

It holds the human foibles of powerful men (The French officers) up to ridicule. That’s what satire is.

You don’t think I meant “parody,” do you? Very different thing. Satire isn’t necessarily hilarious; sometimes it’s biting and sarcastic.

[amarinth]

@BMalion

I think not, I think that part of what makes a movie an epic is a breathtaking sweep of history with sweeping vistas, crowds of extras, and a sense of historic importance.

And if you rip out Donny Osmond’s singing, that pretty much describes “Mulan.”

[BMalion]

@amarinth

And if you rip out Donny Osmond’s singing, that pretty much describes “Mulan.”

I doubt it not. What’s missing for me is the actual effort that went into filming the work.

Yes, I know how much work goes into an animated film. I love animated films. However, a studio in Burbank can create an animated movie set in China, Russia, under the sea, on the moon or in a sewer, then go home every night. However, a film crew, until recently, had to actually go to Tunisa, or Morroco, or Africa, or New Zealand and film on location to get that sweeping vista and scope. For me, that makes a difference.

The new technology of CGI is also worth mentioning.

If the vistas of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow were the same for you as the ones in The Bridge on the River Kwai, then I guess we’ll just have to agree that an epic is whatever the individual thinks it is.

[sturmhauke]

@BMalion

However, a studio in Burbank can create an animated movie set in China, Russia, under the sea, on the moon or in a sewer, then go home every night. However, a film crew, until recently, had to actually go to Tunisa, or Morroco, or Africa, or New Zealand and film on location to get that sweeping vista and scope. For me, that makes a difference.

Tolkien didn’t have to go anywhere to write Lord of the Rings. Does that mean it’s not an epic story?

[BMalion]

@sturmhauke

Tolkien didn’t have to go anywhere to write Lord of the Rings. Does that mean it’s not an epic story?

I was only asking about movies.

But, according to that logic, if it’s an epic story, so is Curious George.

[JoeSki]

How’s this for a definition?

Epic: A story that spans a significant amount of time and space?

[Ludovic]

It’s it. What is it?