re: Greatest Movie of All Time?

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Why even attempt to reason with a guy who is just being a dick?

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That's the thing, he isn't. R2R has a valid opinion to discuss in context of the OP.

You have a great list.

You seem like you are trying to figure out that formula that Robin Williams had ripped out of his textbooks.

Measurable greatness.

I heard Alan Menken speak at a theatre seminar a couple of years ago. While he is of course a genius, he still can't figure out why Newsies bombed.

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Because if something like Casablanca can be great, or To Kill a Mockingbird, or the Mona Lisa, or any other old piece of art, then art has some sort of consistency. If we know that Casablanca is better than Kung Pow (sorry OML, great movie though), then Why? There must be something relevant, even measurable.

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Good points here. The key then I guess would be, identifying the measuring stick(s). I think if you start with an intelligent, open-minded and articulate group of people (in itself a subjective and tough thing to vet) then you have the basis of being able to cumulatively agreeing up some standards by which "great films" should be defined.

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Whether or not we can put that into language is the tough part.

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Tough, as well as time-consuming. Hence why you see the "Good Burger" or "Caddyshack 2" posts in threads like these.

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If we don't try to define greatness then we can never hope to achieve it.

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Agreed. My primary problem with this thread is a semantical one. Were it titled: "your favorite movie of all time" I'd have lot less of a truck with it.


Like those threads I've seen on the board; the "xx movies we agree don't suck." I enjoy reading those .. you are really able to get a full scope of why people choose certain titles and on which criteria they base their choices.

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R2R has a valid opinion to discuss in context of the OP.

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And what's that? That the title should have been worded differently? Either way, the OP is reaching for the same thing. The "Greatest Movie of All Time" is subjective and, therefore, an opinion. There is no correct answer. R2R just wanted to be a dick.

The Empire Strikes Back

The Buttercream Gang

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You seem like you are trying to figure out that formula that Robin Williams had ripped out of his textbooks.

Measurable greatness.

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You're damn right I am.

Conviction. Don't get my started on the shite-tastic ideas of reader response and "everything means SOMETHING!" bullshite. Post-Modern scholack, the author doesn't matter, etc.

All that is is a lack of conviction. It's the very thing Williams' character was for.

We like Marlon Brando for a reason. If there is no reason that he is great, then why is he great?

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