I have to admit something. There are some classic or well loved movies I only checked out for the first time in the last two years. Whether it’s something like the first two Alien movies, A Clockwork Orange or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Predator. I never checked them out in the years before. Some of them I didn’t see when I was young was simple, because I wasn’t allowed to see them and because my parents never watched many movies, but as I got older I still didn’t.
I have been very busy catching up, but I regularly read someone on another blog mention a “classic” movie I have not seen. With so many movies available I don’t blame myself for doing so, but it’s annoying when you can’t join the conversation because of it. With the recently started director’s relay race I realise there are a lot of directors I never saw any work from.
This week’s Monday question:
Which classic movies haven’t you seen, but do you think you should?
So which ones do I think I will need to see as soon as I can?
The Colors trilogy. More Fellini films. I checked out 8 1/2 last week and have to admit I really didn’t enjoy it. It looks beautiful, but it bored me a lot. Still I want to check other movies by this director.
Most of the movies on the IMDB top 250 I have not watched yet including Metropolis, Rashomon, Platoon, Fanny och Alexander and La Strada. I could go on and on, but will leave it at this for now.
Which classic movies haven’t you seen, but do you think you should?
This is a good question, actually… Most of the time I don’t think I SHOULD watch anything… Whatever I happen to be in the mood for, or whatever happens to be available, I watch. I’ve never seen, say, FORREST GUMP, but I’ve also never felt inclined to. Sometimes I do feel ashamed to call myself a cinephile and at the same time have missed out on so many classics. I guess it depends on how you define “classic”, too.
I guess I’d have to say that I have not seen all of Hitchcock’s films yet, and I’ve always been meaning to. I’ve seen a lot of them and I don’t think there’s a single one I didn’t enjoy. Most of them were downright brilliant, and masterful filmmaking, like REAR WINDOW and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. There are a few Kubrick films I’m missing, too, like BARRY LYNDON. Hm… Lynch’s THE ELEPHANT MAN…
And there’s a shitton of film noir I still want to see…
Damn… This question has really reminded me of a lot of films I want/need to see…
Oh, and quite a few westerns… Still haven’t seen THE SEARCHERS, and I’ve been meaning to do that for over a decade…
Thanks! Mood does play a very big role in selecting what to watch, but personally I like setting a goal for myself when it comes to watching movies, this year I want to have seen at least 225 out of the IMDB top 250 and as you can see on the right side I’m on my way (if only the list wouldn’t change so much I probably would be a lot closer).
Hitchcock has got so many great movies, so it’s nice to know you still have more of his to see). I’m missing that Kubrick movie too. You should check out the elephant man, stunning movie. Haven’t seen the searchers either!
Ahh… there are tons of classics I haven’t seen yet. Actually, I’m happy I managed to see quite a few in the past few months, such as Toy Story 1+2 and many others…
I need to see the Colours Trilogy too, and Star Wars, definitely… More films from the decades before 1990, although I think I’m doing fine, at least saw many of the famous silent films already.
It’s nice to be able to back into history and discover movies that can take your breath away. I think the Colours trilogy is one a lot of people want to see, but still haven’t. I’m going to try and see them before the end of the year. Hope I’ll manage to!
Classics are not really my strong point. I have been better this year and I am getting there. But I still need to get some of the top must watch films done!
Nostra, I am asking a QUESTION today in my weekend round-up when it goes live. I hope this is OK. I will link you up as the inspiration….
I really have been putting effort into seeing more classics and actually like the mix of old and new.
Of course it’s not a problem asking a question on Monday Scott, I’m flattered that I am the inspiration 😉
Great question. Well I still haven’t seen Alien yet or its sequel which seems to be something of an insult whenever I mention that to anyone; I have Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in my film collection but haven’t got round to watching that yet either. I actually decided a couple of years ago that I was going to try and watch all films in the IMDB Top 250 and I started, buying a lot of them, watching some of them (sometimes when I buy a film it takes me months to get round to watching it) but then I just decided that instead I just wanted to buy movies that I was interested in, not just to watch them because everyone else likes them.
I only saw them for the first time last year, so no shame in that. Really suggest you watch them as soon as you can though because they are such great films.
I can understand that reason for buying movies, but sometimes it’s nice to challenge yourself a little.
The Three Colors trilogy everyone should see at least once in their life I think.
A number of westerns I haven’t got to yet: Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, High Noon, The Magnificent Seven, The Wild Bunch
Looking at the IMDB top 250 I found : Modern Times, Some Like It Hot, On the Waterfront, Touch of Evil, The Big Sleep , Stalag 17, Grave of the Fireflies, The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Maltese Falcon. The list goes on and on what I missed, shame on me…
The IMDB top 250 is a good place to start for the classics. If you like animation, go with those first. If you like war films, you could pick them out. Depends what types of film you enjoy. The ones I haven’t seen yet from list are mostly film noir, silent, westerns and animation because not my favorite kind of film.
Thanks for reminding us to check out the classics!
I will try to watch the trilogy before the end of the year Chris. It’s been getting so much love I really want to know why.
I’m not good at westerns either, lots I have not seen yet.
You’re welcome!
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I’m not sure I’d say that I “should” see these films, but I’m definitely interested in checking them out soon. In fact, I’ve forced myself to watch one a month this year for the blog since I just can’t seem to pull the trigger and watch them:
Easy Rider, Solaris, West Side Story, Barry Lyndon, Cabaret, The Best Years of Our Lives, Fitzcarraldo
I keep reading about other films that I haven’t checked out yet, so this is just a starting point.
Out of those I’ve only seen The Best Years of Our Lives and Fitzcarraldo, both very recently. If you watch Fitzcarraldo make sure you also see Burden of Dreams, which is an amazing documentary about the making of it. It really makes you appreciate Fitzcarraldo more.
Gone with the Wind. But I’ve got it ready to watch. I just need 4 hours spare now. I’ve seen no Bergman, no Fellini, Three Colours Trilogy. Um… Seven Samurai, 12 Angry Men, none of the Sergio Leone Westerns, West Side Story. There’s too many. It’s going to take me a lifetime to catch up!
That was in my DVD stack for a long time, that running time was the reason I had not checked it out. I’m happy I’ve seen it, but never want to watch it again though.
So many great movies out, which means there’s always something to choose which you’ll enjoy!
Well, considering I’ve seen basically all of the essential classics, it’s hard to say which one I still need to see. I will admit I have yet to see any of The Lord of the Rings films, which I plan to watch in preparation for The Hobbit.
Nice to see someone who seen a lot of the classics. I really need to rewatch the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has been way too long since I’ve last seen them. They do cost a lot of time though as I would watch the extended versions.
There are tons of classics I haven’t managed to catch up with yet. Having only been a hardcore film fan for four years has its drawbacks at times. The first one that comes to mind for me is Jaws, though. That one feels like something anyone should have seen at some point, and yet I haven’t.
Yeah, know what you mean. I have been quickly trying to catch up with those classics and think I’m doing pretty well. Jaws is one you should see. I will have to do so as well, because I hardly remember anything about it.
I have been working my way through a lot of classics lately, but there are still so many to see… I am about halfway through my current 50 movies project and it has been a blast so far. Without these lists, I don’t think I would ever get around to seeing even half of them.
It’s a nice motivation to check out movies you’d otherwise never would. There are so many great surprises out there!
Absolutely hundreds of classics I’ve not seen. Everything from The Godfather to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, To Kill a Mockingbird… so many. I’m trying to work my way through some of these though.
I like the feeling of so many great movies still to be watched. I’ve worked my way to lots and still so many to check out and experience for the first time!
A day late: “Gone With the Wind”, “400 Blows”
I’ve seen the first one and started watching the second one last night (had to go to sleep, so unfortunately couldn’t finish it)
Oh, so so SO very many…
The one that I was recently thinking about is Once Upon a Time in America
And speaking of Three Colors…I need to see Kieslowski’s Dekalog, even though I suppose it’s technically a miniseries
I have seen Once Upon a Time in America ages ago, but can’t remember anything about it! I guess I should rewatch that.
According to Flickchart, the top ten movies I’ve never seen:
1. Seven Samurai
2. The Third Man
3. Rashomon
4. City Lights
5. Ikiru
6. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
7. 12 Angry Men
8. The Night of the Hunter
9. Notorious
10. Cool Hand Luke
So….yeah, lots of Kurosawa.
Looking at your list I’ve seen about 7 of those, so I guess I’m doing pretty good working through them 😉
Well, since you mentioned ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ that’s one I haven’t seen either and I feel like I should given the guest post my friend just did over on my blog. I have TOO many classics I need to catch up on, one I really want to see soon is ‘It Happened One Night.’
Yeah, give it a shot. Personally I didn’t like it as much as the rest of the internet seems to do…
Haven’t seen It Happened One Night either…
Yea I’ve only made an effort to see more classics in the last couple years. Some movies I haven’t seen yet: Chinatown, 12 Angry Men, Sunset Blvd, and The Shining.
All great movies. Have not seen The Shining, but looking at the other titles I liked Sunset Blvd the most.
This is a very good question. to add to it, I would say that there are several that I have seen bits of but never gotten to finish…and that’s even more frustrating. haha.
I still haven’t seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Usual Suspects, Vertigo, Dr. Strangelove, Sophie’s Choice, Patton, and The French Connection. Just to name a few. I have an entire list of movies that keeps growing.
Yeah, I sometimes start one and don’t get around finishing it for ages. Very frustrating indeed 🙂
There are some great movies in that list you mention….try to check those out. Of those I really like The Usual Suspects, Vertigo and The French Connection.
To answer your question…A lot! I have many many classic I haven’t watch. Recently I have this urge to watch My Fair Lady (since I love Hepburn in some movies of her I’ve already seen). 12 Angry Men, Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve and many others.
Hope you will manage to watch them as they are good movies.. Except for My Fair Lady I have seen the other ones you mention.
There are loads of “classics” I haven’t seen. Ferris Bueller comes to mind straight away, as well as Magnificent Seven and 12 Angry Men. I’m sure there are a host of others as well. I become reluctant to see “classics” though because a lot of the time, I don’t rate them as highly as everyone else seems to.
Well, that happens to me as well. Sometimes I don’t understand why some movies are loved so much and they don’t do anything for me.
The list is endless.. I have 8 1/2 with me on my vacations right now and have had it for a while but have not seen it. Bicycle Theives, 7 Samurai, Chinatown… I can go on and on and on…
Saw 8 1/2 about two weeks ago and ended up not really liking it. Have been disappointed quite a lot lately by older movies. Bicycle Thieves is good though, as is 7 Samurai