# What makes a movie great? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724 "2009-02-20T15:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/41 "2009-02-28T00:07:23Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > 1958 Academy Award was given to _The Bridge on the River Kwai_ which was a damn good movie with a very memorable scene. This means it beat out another great movie that moved me more and meant more (at least to me): _12 Angry Men_. \*12 Angry Men \*was a simple looking movie with a great ensemble cast and a lasting message. I think it still has a lasting impact and one greater than _The Bridge on the River Kwai_. For what it’s worth, I think \*Kwai \*is a \*\*Great \*\*movie; I think \*12AM \*is not. While the “message” of _12AM_ may be more immediate and relevant to everyday life, the “message” of \*Kwai \*is more deeply, personally, human. At least to me and–judging by the two films’ respective ongoing audiences–to many other people as well. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/42 "2009-02-28T12:55:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > What makes a movie great is if it creates a strong and lasting emotional response in its audience, and in audiences over many years. This is plausible. But you drop the ball here: > [@](#): > > If it’s still as fresh today as when it was released, then it’s a great film. If this is true, _Metropolis_ is not a great film. It shows its age badly in the special effects, acting style, storytelling, and even the general theme. (Well, the general theme in _Metropolis_ isn’t old so much as simplistic and mawkish.) Yet _Metropolis_ is and remains a great film because it is a thing of beauty that transcends the limited plot, laughable acting, and other shortcomings. Stills from the film could plausibly be enlarged and hung on a museum wall. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/43 "2009-02-28T15:06:48Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > For what it’s worth, I think \*Kwai \*is a \*\*Great \*\*movie; I think \*12AM \*is not. While the “message” of _12AM_ may be more immediate and relevant to everyday life, the “message” of \*Kwai \*is more deeply, personally, human. At least to me and–judging by the two films’ respective ongoing audiences–to many other people as well. No surprise. We have different opinions and I fully expect another doper would tell us that neither was very good. I was just giving an example that stood out in my mind. I find \*12 Angry Men \*a powerful movie. I find \*Bridge \* a great War Movie. You are surely more learned in the art of movie making than I. You care deeply. But \*12 Angry Men \* successfully moves me on a personal level. Almost as much a _To Kill a Mockingbird_ and more than even _Grapes of Wrath_. Actually I think _To Kill a Mockingbird_ is a good test case. I have yet to see a doper denigrate this movie. It seems to have some sort of near universal appeal. “The Godfather I & II” are my favorite movies but I have seen plenty negative about these two. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/44 "2009-02-28T15:30:21Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Actually I think _To Kill a Mockingbird_ is a good test case. I have yet to see a doper denigrate this movie. It seems to have some sort of near universal appeal. “The Godfather I & II” are my favorite movies but I have seen plenty negative about these two. Just chiming in to say that TKAM does tend to escape a lot of negative response. Maybe another thread would be the proper place to expand on this, but to stay within the intent (as I see it) of this thread, I see the components of Mockingbird that contribute to its greatness would have to include: 1. a comment on race issues set in the South by a renowned (maybe not at the time of the movie) Southern writer 2. the expanding awareness in children of right and wrong and shades of gray 3. a reverence for the time and place 4. spectacular acting by Peck and the kids AND [Robert Duvall](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000380/) in his first memorable movie role (he had some prior TV work to his credit) 5. reasonable courtroom drama 6. non-preachy treatment of tolerance and justice 7. probably a lot more and maybe even more important reasons why the theme and execution of Mockingbird makes it a Great Movie. Side note to **What Exit?** : do you think it peculiar that Duvall figures in some of your Great Movies, maybe most? Just an observation. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/45 "2009-02-28T16:13:19Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Side note to **What Exit?** : do you think it peculiar that Duvall figures in some of your Great Movies, maybe most? Just an observation. It is a little odd as I am not a particular fan of his. I think he is a very good actor and “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Godfather” I & II really stand out. I also like “M_A_S\*H” very much and love “Apocalypse Now” and “The Natural” but I don’t think in any one of these movies he is a major reason for my love. He is just one of the great supporting actors in each. I actually think his Frank Burns was much better than Larry Linville’s and for most of the roles I preferred the TV Actors characterizations. (I liked Elliott Gould over Wayne Rogers & Pernell Roberts) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/46 "2009-02-28T19:17:35Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Actually I think _To Kill a Mockingbird_ is a good test case. I have yet to see a doper denigrate this movie. It seems to have some sort of near universal appeal. “The Godfather I & II” are my favorite movies but I have seen plenty negative about these two. My search fu is for naught this morning, but I remember participating in a thread where several people came out of the closet regarding their lack of reverence for this overly critic-proof movie. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/47 "2009-02-28T19:35:30Z")
Just to test the waters, I first went to [To Kill a Mockingbird - Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/to_kill_a_mockingbird/?critic=columns&sortby=rotten&name_order=asc&view=#contentReviews) and sorted by “rotten” to see that the only “rotten” one with a full review was [http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/79516/to\_kill\_a\_mockingbird.html](http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/79516/to_kill_a_mockingbird.html) and it’s not an overwhelming condemnation, which makes the 97% Fresh overall rating pretty impressive. There are some “user comments” that might compare to Doper comments, in case that other thread stays hidden. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/48 "2009-03-01T09:46:19Z")
IMO the key to a great movie is great direction,not necessarily great directors because they can have an off day. Great direction can bring out the best in unknown actors,amend not so good scripts and of course deliver the visuals. I consider the Godfather,Saving Private RyanSchindlers List, Angel Heart and Point Blank to be amongst the greats. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724/49 "2009-03-02T09:52:00Z")
The number one thing has to be taking well drawn characters and putting them in extraordinary circumstances. Whatever the genre, if you don’t take the time to set up them up so they seem like real developed people, then the result is either that they become cartoons or we don’t have enough emotional investment in them to care what happens to them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-great/486724.md?page=2)