divemaster
12-26-2012, 09:52 AM
There are a number of movies that no matter how many times I watch them, I get something new out of the experience. I can watch these over and over and the viewing experience is still fresh and powerful.
What are some of your examples? I'm aiming for more than just "hey, this is a movie I liked and have watched a lot of times." I'm looking for emotional resonance or continued freshness or intellectual stimulation--stuff like that.
Here's a few of mine.
1) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Prior to watching this movie, my experience with Asian cinema consisted of a few Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies. I liked those well enough and was impressed by the skills and stuntwork, but I knew nothing beyond that. I had never heard of wuxia before this. I was not aware of martial arts fantasy films.
When I saw Crouching Tiger I was mesmerized. My chest hurt after the first fight confrontation. I realized that I had forgotten to breathe, I was so overwhelmed. I re-watch this on a regular basis and I never fail to re-experience an emotional wallop. Perhaps more importantly, this film opened doors for me that changed my entire world of movie watching.
2) Comrades, Almost a Love Story
The amazingly touching story of two star-crossed lovers payed against the backdrop of the 10 years leading up to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Just a romance? It is so much more than that, and yet without all the trappings you might expect from a big-budget Hollywood film. There are no wisecracking sidekicks, no cute kids making fools out of the adults, no slapsticky miscommunications. Just two wonderfully engaging people and the lives they lead and the difficult choices they make.
I’ve seen Comrades numerous times and I still get leaky. I know what happens, I know how it ends – there are no plot surprises. Yet every time I watch it I can’t help but be absorbed by the acting, the pacing, and the emotional impact of the story.
3) Mullholland Dr.
I'm not quite sure what to say about this masterpiece from David Lynch other than every scene is fascinating. There is so much depth here (reading a point-by-point plot summary helped me to understand just what the fuck was going on); but aside from figuring out the plot, this movie just sticks with me. I find myself from time to time humming "Every Little Star" and picturing that scene from the movie. Or, the visit with the Cowboy at the midnight corral. The blue box. The monster behind the diner. The two women. And, of course, Silencio. Every re-watch seems as fresh as the first viewing.
4) The Pillow Book
I watched this for the first time as a VHS rental about 10-12 years ago. And I didn't like it. I returned it to Blockbuster thinking mostly that it was a rather offbeat movie--didn't care for it. Too pretentious or something.
But a strange thing happened. I could not get it out of my head. I spent most of that night replaying certain scenes and re-questioning what Greenaway might have been saying. I was so intrigued that I went back the next day and rented it again. And I watched it again, and again. The refrain of the drawing on the daughter ("painted in the eyes... the lips... and the sex") and the musical refrains (the chanting juxtaposed with the old-time Japanese pop tune) repeated throughout. These things stick with me and always lead me back for another go.
What are some of your examples? I'm aiming for more than just "hey, this is a movie I liked and have watched a lot of times." I'm looking for emotional resonance or continued freshness or intellectual stimulation--stuff like that.
Here's a few of mine.
1) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Prior to watching this movie, my experience with Asian cinema consisted of a few Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies. I liked those well enough and was impressed by the skills and stuntwork, but I knew nothing beyond that. I had never heard of wuxia before this. I was not aware of martial arts fantasy films.
When I saw Crouching Tiger I was mesmerized. My chest hurt after the first fight confrontation. I realized that I had forgotten to breathe, I was so overwhelmed. I re-watch this on a regular basis and I never fail to re-experience an emotional wallop. Perhaps more importantly, this film opened doors for me that changed my entire world of movie watching.
2) Comrades, Almost a Love Story
The amazingly touching story of two star-crossed lovers payed against the backdrop of the 10 years leading up to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Just a romance? It is so much more than that, and yet without all the trappings you might expect from a big-budget Hollywood film. There are no wisecracking sidekicks, no cute kids making fools out of the adults, no slapsticky miscommunications. Just two wonderfully engaging people and the lives they lead and the difficult choices they make.
I’ve seen Comrades numerous times and I still get leaky. I know what happens, I know how it ends – there are no plot surprises. Yet every time I watch it I can’t help but be absorbed by the acting, the pacing, and the emotional impact of the story.
3) Mullholland Dr.
I'm not quite sure what to say about this masterpiece from David Lynch other than every scene is fascinating. There is so much depth here (reading a point-by-point plot summary helped me to understand just what the fuck was going on); but aside from figuring out the plot, this movie just sticks with me. I find myself from time to time humming "Every Little Star" and picturing that scene from the movie. Or, the visit with the Cowboy at the midnight corral. The blue box. The monster behind the diner. The two women. And, of course, Silencio. Every re-watch seems as fresh as the first viewing.
4) The Pillow Book
I watched this for the first time as a VHS rental about 10-12 years ago. And I didn't like it. I returned it to Blockbuster thinking mostly that it was a rather offbeat movie--didn't care for it. Too pretentious or something.
But a strange thing happened. I could not get it out of my head. I spent most of that night replaying certain scenes and re-questioning what Greenaway might have been saying. I was so intrigued that I went back the next day and rented it again. And I watched it again, and again. The refrain of the drawing on the daughter ("painted in the eyes... the lips... and the sex") and the musical refrains (the chanting juxtaposed with the old-time Japanese pop tune) repeated throughout. These things stick with me and always lead me back for another go.