Okay, this is the introduction item, where we tell a little about ourselves.
For the purpose of this conf, I thought it would be a good idea to start by
saying what our favorite films are.  What one movie or movies have most
influenced you or mean the most to you and why?

42 responses total.

Hi...I'm Richard, (aka Kerouac).  One of my inspirations for starting this
conf was a class I took in college called "Film Appreciation"  Before
then, I was like most people, and usually only saw the blockbusters and
releases.  This class exposed me to thebeauty  of all kinds of films,
foriegn, silent, old, and to respect the work of the director, who is the
real star of any great film.

My three alltiem favorite movies are "City LIghts", "Its a Wonderful
Life and "The Blue Angel"

City LIghts is Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece where his LIttle Tramp
character falls for a blind girl who doesnt know who he really is.  I
think we all suffer under theburden of other people's false illusions at
times during life.  The final scen of this movie, where the blind girl
regains her sight and sees the Tramp on the street and recognizes him is
both exhilirating and heartbreaking.  At the same time that allher
illusions have been shattered, the Tramp can look in her eyes and see that
the love is still there.



"Its a Wonderful LIfe", everyone knows.   I always get misty eyed at the
end of this film.

"The Blue Angel" is a great great German movie that made Marlene Deitrich
a international star.  She plays a cabaret singer who seduces a proud and
strong willed school teacher.  The inner self-destruction of this school
teacher (played by Emil Jannings) is heartbreaking.  This was filmed in
both german and english,but see the German one with subtitles.  

  Avalon  No matter how many times I see it, I still mist up at the end.
This movie is a masterpiece, no matter what Maltin says about it.

Favorite movies? Now that's a heavy list!
Most suspensful fun: Hitchcock's _Notorious_
Best scare: _Alone In the Dark_
Most influential (and don't laugh): _Leap of Faith_
My dear husband has taught me a lot about films and film making, so I'm in
the process of seeing (and dissecting) a huge list. I've developed a ton of
respect for directors and cinematographers.
I think if I ever wanted to move to California, I could have a job as a
continuity specialist, though directors and editors would come to hate me in
very short order. Inconsistencies catch my attention for some reason. <shrug>
Next. . .

Of course it's Alien 3. And second one is Blade Runner.
David Fincher is an excellent director
"Why? Why the innocent, punished? Why the sacrifice? Why the pain?
There aren't any promises. Nothing certain. Only that some get
called, others saved. She won't ever know of the hardship and grief
of those of us left behind. For within each seed, there is always
a promise of a flower, and within each death, no matter how small,
there is always a new life. A new beginning."
-Dillon, Alien 3

   I would like to announce that for personal reasons, I am resigning my
f-w pawers as of Midnite March 5 1997.

 Thank you for your attention.

So are there any other movie buffs out there interested in being a co-fw and
having a chance to develop this new conf?  This material has alot of
potential, what is needed are ideas!

Since no one else has expressed an interest, I will say that I am interested.
I have never been a FW though. I have been in the bbs for almost 2 years now
so that might help a bit. 

thanks giry,  no experience is really necessary.  I will email you a list of
the fw commands.

Once I've communicated with cfadmin that is

Thanks. I got them.

So get busy and witness something, already!! 8^}

<grin> Ok then;)

Like a lot of people, I saw films for a long time as simply entertainment. 
That was upended when I saw _The Killing Fields_, a film based on a true
story of international friendship amidst the political horror of the
Cambodian crisis.  The lush jungle that gave way to deeper secrets in that
film became, for me, a metaphor for the necessity of discovery.  The fact
that it gave personal significance to that discovery really brought things
home. 

At the time, I was beginning to study the elements of literature.  I found
myself absolutely fascinated with theme.  Meaning and its infusion in
story became my focus.  

I suppose my real love with filmmaking actually began a lot earlier, with
my older brother and a pal of his, who made animated films together.  I
was fascinated with their transformation of still art into moving life.  I
eventually tried my hand at some, as well, with varying degrees of
success. 

But it wasn't until later, when I saw a lot more films, that I began to
realize the artistic value of filmmaking as a storytelling medium.

Luckily, the video rental boom had begun, and I was well on my way to
discovery.  Some films bored me, and then intrigued me, later on.  Others
intrigued me without explanation, and I would watch them again, years
later, time slowly wearing away the layers that hid the secrets.  Still
others found an immediate home in my head or in my heart. 

Both my head and my heart found a heaven in the majesty of Ann Arbor's
Michigan Theater, where I've been able to see many wonderful films, old
and new, domestic and foreign, plain and exotic.  I'm delighted to be able
to see as diverse a selection as the grandiose _Citizen Kane_, the newest
roughly-cut but astute Henry Jaglom, or the simple Iranian tale of _The
White Balloon_. 

I gave up television about ten years ago because I didn't really watch it,
anymore.  I haven't missed it.  There's plenty of information around.
I'm much more intrigued with the meaning of it.  That, my friends, can
indeed be found in the movies, if you look into the dark for long
enough...

Well, I skipped the favorite movie thing, I guess.  I enjoy too many movies
for too many different reasons to have one favorite.  A smattering of random
picks would have to include...
       
                _Harold and Maude_
                                       _Brother John_
   _Until the End of the World_
                                 _Mindwalk_
           _Remains of the Day_
                                      _Blade Runner_ (director's cut)
        _Mona Lisa_
                      _Dr. Strangelove_
                                           _Crimes and Misdemeanors_
                 _The Seventh Seal_
                                     _Ikiru_
      _Vertigo_
                           _Toto the Hero_
         _Tito and Me_
                                             _The Flower of My Secret_
                        _Paperhouse_

I'm somewhat confused.  Why are there two movie review items?  And, if
said redundancy is to be corrected, which item should I think about placing
reviews in?

the movie review items are linked from the agora conference, ..that conf is
restarted every three months and there is always a new review item.
Different movies though.  I guess it is a litle ocnfusing

hello I am from India and want to know that what I am doing in this 

welcome ajain, this is a conference where we talk about movies and such. Each
item has a differnt topic to talk about.

Okay, I'm gonna get this out of the way before I list 'em all. I am an
undiscovered screenwriter. I am inspired by too much elements of life to
name them all. But first, KIDS. Not a very good plot. Doesn't really get
anywhere, but nice to just sit back and watch. KIDS has had a very big
inspiration on me in the way that a kid, Harmony Korine, could write up
something for fun, that would become such a big hit. 
    Now for the movies:

 The Crow(original)                                 Alien


            Aliens


  Alien3                        Batman


            Batman Forever


  Legend                       IT



            Menace II Society


  SCREAM                                         The Basketball Diaries


            ID4


  Virtuosity                                    Dead Presidents


            

(That's all I can think of now. Not in any kind of order) 

There are some great movies in there.

Which ones do you like??

I own Legend and ID4 right now. Legend has always been a favorite of mine.
I have always wanted to get my hands on a directors cut of it. I had seen
it so many times with various people that when we finally bought it I
noticed a part that I had seen before that wasn't on the video. After
doing some research I learned that I wasn't just making it up in my mind.
Also the original soundtrack is out on CD now as well as the Tangerine
Dream soundtrack which for tthe longest time was only available on Tape.

Tangerine Dream scored it?  Wow...I guess I hadn't realized that.  Of course,
they scored quite a few films in that period.

re #18 Have you read the book "The basketball diaries" by Jim Caroll<sp?>?
The book is really fantastic and I can't imagine that a movie could 
capture it's combination of graphic sex and lyrical graceful writing.

hi...I'm the co-fw here...I've been off a bit but wanted to say hellop
to all who ar reading this.

re #22 Yup Tangerine Dream scored Legend, or at least the American version
of it.

re #24 Nice to see you back richard, I was wondering if you were coming back
or not.

hi sousapeg,giry,mziemba,raven,richard.....
    u all seem u be active member of this conference,from now 
onwards considered me also as one of u.
    As far as movies are concerned , I like 
    IN ACTION : Braveheart
    I like lovey-dovey stuff more,smthg like
    WALK IN THE CLOUDS
    I also like thrillers like SPEED
    and ofcourse light movies like TRAPPED IN PARADISE..
    
    that's all for time being......

hi kayceee...welcome!]

Hi, I'm new around here.  I was on cyberspace.org before, but could never get
through.  Hopefully that will change this year. ;-)  Anyway, my top ten list
is of foreign films more than anything (in no particular order cause I can't
rank them to my satisfaction):
1. Europa Europa
2. Au Revoir, Les Enfants
3. Strictly Ballroom
4. The Commitments
5. Cinema Paradiso
6. Reservoir Dogs (cause it's amazing what one can do with great actors and
   no budget)
7. Schindler's List (grudgingly.. Speilberg [sp] did quite a bit of
   Hollywood-ization on this one)
8. Il Postino

That seems to be all that I can come up with right now.  My list is gone (I
actually wrote it down somewhere) and I don't have my good video guide to find
them.  Also, my favorite actor is Steve Buscemi.

Hi, spangler. Welcome to the cinema conference and to Grex.

I don't know if I can actually call this a new favorite movie of mine cause
I have only seen it once, but it is worth mentioning. _Swingers_ it is kind
of an undergroung favorite right now. It is out on video to rent but not to
buy right now. It is basically about a guy who moves out to Holleywood for
his carreer leaving his girlfrind behind. She decides that she doesn't want
to deal with it and dumps him. The film is about him getting back into the
swing of things with the help of some friends. The soundtrack has tons of
swing music in it. The main charachters are reminicent of some 20's figures
with thier dress and way of talking. It is definitly worth checking out.

I've seen several (alot actually) movies. From blockbusters to one time
showing. It starred Marla Gibbs, Stoney Jackson, and unknowns.. _off the wall_
I believe was the title.  Good story, but it didn't last long at the theater.
My favorite movie is _Angus_ Good story and acting. If you get a chance to
see it, go for it. That's my recommendation.

My favorite movie would have to be Hackers It has All the interests i am
interests in and I dont know but i just like the movie.

has someone seen " Andheri Raat Mein, Diya Tere Haath Mein "?
Watch it - Better today than late

What language is the title in?

My favorite movie is POPEYE. I have always liked popeye cartoons as akid and
I think the movie was good. It is one of the few musicals I can stand and
actually like.

every thing is food food food....

Mine would have to be Akira Kurosawa's "Stray Dog". I saw it late one time
on t.v and was amazed. "Usual Suspects" is an other obvious choice. "godfather
part II" was the best of a good series and "Go" is a more up to date choice.
the killer is good in a style-only way.

My favorite movie is Casablanca

I first answered this question so long ago that it deserves another short 
list:
>>>_Tombstone_ 
Story. From-The-Toes Acting. Cinematography. Fun. The sad misfortune of 
being released in the same year as _Schindler's List_, therefore no 
recognition. Val Kilmer earned an Acadeny Award, but didn't get it.
>>>_True Lies_
Outrageous action, which is what an "action" movie is about. Decent 
characters. Cops (ok, spooks) who talk like real cops. A sense of humor 
and a flat refusal to take itself seroiusly. Jamie Lee Curtis is a 
comedic wonder.
>>>_Heat_
Long. Worth it for the story.


We'll do this again...

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss