Your Parents and Your Film Taste?

[criterionmaster]

police386 said:

criterionmaster said:

Haha, my parents also watch those shows, just for some mindless trash. Have you ever tried showing them something foreign before?

It would be an effort in complete and utter futility. They wouldn't know who Akira Kurosawa was if he rose from the grave and walked into my living room with a shirt saying "Hello my name is Akira Kurosawa."

Haha, it always amazes me that people don't know who some directors are, I mean, I was on this one forum, a movie forum mind you, who knew so many directors, and tons, and tons about film, and one time I mentioned Ozu and not a single person had a clue who I was talking about, and hadn't even heard of Tokyo Story. And speaking of not knowing about Kurosawa, I was doing this Spanish homework where we had to make a conversation, and I used Kurosawa and Kubrick, and my teacher had no clue who they were, it really surprised me. I guess I am so used to people who know about movies, where I can mention whoever I want and they will know who I mean, that when one of these philistines don't know what I mean I am baffled. Does this ever happen to anyone else? Like you mention a movie that is so obvious to you, and the people on here or something, and they have no clue what you are talking about? One time a teacher of mine mentioned Pan’s Labyrinth and no one in the class even heard of the film, and it was out in the theaters and trailers were on TV. They said “where do you see these films?!” It seems like there must be at least one foreign film they (your parents) would like. I always try and think about what foreign films I could show kids at my school, or someone, that would be a great introduction to foreign films, and one that they might like. It is such a hard question. Anyone have any idea of an accessible foreign film that would be a good starter for people?

[captainofbeef]

Well, usually you have to go with something with loads of style and unfortunately, it usually has to have a ton of violence in it to attract younger viewers. So Pan's Labyrinth, City of God, Man Bites Dog, and others would work. Even if they miss the true meaning of those films, it would still introduce them to a world of cinema few know.

Personally, my first foreign film was Das Boot. My dad showed it to me when I was younger and I have never looked back since. I am fortunate in the fact that my parents will watch foreign films and any other type of film I tell them to watch. They don't always agree with me on stuff, but they will at least watch it.

[Clark Nova]

Good starter for someone in our age group? Oldboy or Man Bites Dog.

[criterionmaster]

Yeah, Man Bites Dog is a film they would definitely like, also I think they would like La Haine. City of God would also work. It sucks that the only foreign movies most of these people would like are films that are loaded with violence and/or swearing and stuff. That is the only reason some of these idiots even like movies, it is so stupid.

I could never think of what was the first foreign film I ever saw.

[ie]

Otherwise it's just boring shit about shit no one cares about and shit. Of course that's entertainment right there.

At least with a bit of the old action here and there, something's happening.

Just to give you an alternate point of view. Devil's advocate, maybe.

[criterionmaster]

ie said:

Otherwise it's just boring shit about shit no one cares about and shit. Of course that's entertainment right there.

At least with a bit of the old action here and there, something's happening.

Just to give you an alternate point of view. Devil's advocate, maybe.

You know you like movies with people talking, too. There doesn't always have to be something happening, if the dialogue is well-written or interesting, like you with Waking Life. You know what I mean? Also, I love looking at the filmmaking techniques, don't you?

[jelizarose]

My brother told my mom we were watching Clerks and she thought it was Office Space. "Oh that movie's good." She obviously didn't know anything about Kevin Smith.

What we watched was heavily censored. But luckily like ie I didn't really get into films until I was about 18/19. How could I? Sure they showed us Hitchcock films which were always a treat, but most of the stuff was Pg-13 or under. bad, tasteless stuff for the most part. They also used to force me to watch movies for "family time". There is nothing worse than watching Forrest Gump TWICE. I protested of course but to no avail. I hate that movie to this day.

[sacrilegend]

Damn! That is pure torture.

[ie]

Well, I require substance in my movies. That's all I require; something to be going on, either action-wise (that's unique or at least done well) or thought-wise (dialogue with meaning, et cetera). I feel like a lot of classics are good on the technical end, but not on the substance end, so I'm bored with some of them.

I don't really have much else to say.

[criterionmaster]

Well, I will just say this. Don't dismiss them if they are called "classics" or anything, 'cause there is definitely some that have meaningful dialogue and/or something going on. I can definitely see what you are saying; I don't like being told that just because a film is a "classic" I am supposed to like it or something.

[slapshot63]

My parents don't care at all what I buy or see. If my Mom is with me when I'm buying something, she'll ask me what it is, I'll show it to her and she'll either sigh, make a face or say, "Yuck, not anything I'd watch". She doesn't like a lot of the movies I do (her favorite is Tommy Boy, so, yeah) and, for some reason, thinks that all the movies I watch and/or buy are scary, violent and bloody. But they don't care. Well, my Mom doesn't like me to see nudity for some reason (I'm 18 but she still likes to think of me as 8). She'll freak out and my Dad will say, "Will you shut up. He's 18. Jeesh!" (not in a mean way to her of course, ). He doesn't care, but I'm sure my Mom would have a conniption if she were to watch some of the movies I've got.

[ie]

criterionmaster said:

Well, I will just say this. Don't dismiss them if they are called "classics" or anything, 'cause there is definitely some that have meaningful dialogue and/or something going on. I can definitely see what you are saying; I don't like being told that just because a film is a "classic" I am supposed to like it or something.

I don't. There's always the cultural value in seeing a movie, regardless of what you think of it. After a while of getting disappointed with things, though, you tend not to bother.

[PTAhole]

First foreign film I saw was probably Princess Mononoke, if that counts. If you're talking live action, then probably Life is Beautiful, which I don't like very much. Then I saw Seven Samurai a year or two later, and that blew my mind, and I started watching more.

[criterionmaster]

ie said:

criterionmaster said:

Well, I will just say this. Don't dismiss them if they are called "classics" or anything, 'cause there is definitely some that have meaningful dialogue and/or something going on. I can definitely see what you are saying; I don't like being told that just because a film is a "classic" I am supposed to like it or something.

I don't. There's always the cultural value in seeing a movie, regardless of what you think of it. After a while of getting disappointed with things, though, you tend not to bother.

yeah, seeing foreign movies normally, at the very least, gives me a look at something, something which i probably wouldn't have known or seen otherwise. so there is at least that that gives me something to take away from them.