What are you watching with your teenagers? (1 Viewer)

[Lew Crippen]

I just noticed this thread Zen—a great question. I am quite pleased at the number of thoughtful responses, especially from our members who are still in their teens.

My son is well past his teens now, but he was open to most things other than musicals back then. He was more action-oriented in his early teens and made a transition to directors like Jean-Luc Godard as he hit his late teens (which means that I think that, just was we all do, teenagters change their tastes as they grow and mature).

The 400 Blows has already been mentioned—and I would reinforce that suggestion. It so perfectly captures the angst and humanity of being a teenager, that I think it might be well received.

And if you want a bit of a subtle teaching lesson, do a double feature of The 400 Blows and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

 

[Zen Butler]

Mike, I will put that (In America)in my rental que.

Lew, The 400 Blows is a great suggestion. The boys have enjoyed a handful of foreign films that I have introduced to them. Not only was the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon theater experience a gateway to more Hong Kong films for them, it opened their minds enough to at least consider far more foreign and independent choices.

Some successes:

Brotherhood of the Wolf
Amelie
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Iron Monkey
Ghost World
Seven Samurai

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, despite it's mediocrity, I believe, has opened the door a bit for many.

 

[Nathan V]

Yet another 18-year old film lover chiming in here. My family grew up without television or movies (something that, in hindsight, I'm actually very happy about). We didn't get a TV until 4th grade, which I believe was around '95 or so. The first thing I saw on that screen were the Charlie Chaplin shorts. My dad was somehting of a Chaplin fanatic. So, my introduction to film was the opposite of most people's- I started with Chaplin and Keaton, i.e. super-old stuff, and worked my way up to today's stuff. My earliest experiences with movies was with Snow White, It's a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music, real family-friendly stuff. My first R-rated flick was Saving Private Ryan (NOT a good transition into violent films, lemme tell ya), which was excellent. Anyway, I think starting with old movies, without seeing any new ones, really created a different set of expectations for me. I expect a good story and strong characters. I have since become a photographer, so I pay great attention to visuals, as well.

My favorite decades of film are the 70s and 90s; I have a leaning towards post-new wave movies, as they just seem so much more naturalistic. I also have a tendency towards movies with a big "cool" factor- not action, but badass characters/antiheros, etc. Anyway, some classics I really love-

Fellini's 8 1/2 (probably my favorite "old" movie)
The Wild Bunch (some of THE best editing I've seen)
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Raging Bull
Taxi Driver
(everything by Scorsese, really)
Cuckoo's Nest
2001 (see this in a theater if you can- it's twice as good)
Clockwork Orange (if this doesn't stay in the mind for days, nothing will)
Once upon a time in the west
Apocalypse Now (forget what I said about 8 1/2, THIS is my favorite)
Ben-Hur
Le Cercle Rouge (one word: Melville)
Badlands (everyone needs to see this at least once)
Days of Heaven
Bridge...Kwai
Band of Outsiders
The Right Stuff (great family film)
Godfather trilogy (1 & 2 are the epitome of film; it's so much fun being in those brown rooms that 3's worth it)
The Conversation (some really creative sound; heartbreaking final shot)

Some new films I love-
Heat (the film of the decade [until I watch Schindler's List again])
Casino (sooo much fun to watch; not one lull, and the camera work is exhilerating)
The Insider (perfect in every way. Crowe's best role, and the music is outsanding; Michael Mann is such a badass!)
21 Grams
Amores Perros
City of God (basically, it's Goodfellas 2: the kids; my pick for 2003)
Goodfellas (absolute perfection.)
The Thin Red Line (the most philosophically complex thing I've ever seen; the cast is great)
JFK (good way to get kids politically interested, I think)
Nixon
BraveHeart
Fight Club (really opened my eyes to consumerism and materialism)

I completely echo Tim's comments. I was going to type something similar, but boy, I could not possibly have better worded it myself. I love it when people don't stereotype my age group.

Regards,
Nathan

 

[Estevan Lapena]

You can, and you can’t. Film is 2 things, entertainment and art. 90% of the people who go see a film are looking for some basic entertainment, while others are looking for something more. There certainly is film smarts. I've tried to get my friend who is an honor roll A+ student to watch some serious films, and he just doesn't get quality movies. He would rather watch the newest MTV comedy than sit down and see Taxi Driver.

 

[george kaplan]

Well, I'd say you can't. Intelligence and taste are two completely different things. There are people of all levels of intelligence who like 2001, and those of all levels who don't. Assuming that someone who doesn't like The Seventh Seal is just not smart enough to get it, is no more accurate than assuming the same thing about someone who doesn't like Gigli.

 

[Nathan V]

One thing's for sure, you can tell a hell of a lot about a person by looking at their taste in film. Powers of observation & introspection; interest in human nature & psychology; appreciation of art and aesthestics (sp) in general. It takes a certain type of mind to like great film.

 

[george kaplan]

OK, analyze me. Some of my favorites:

Rear Window
The Apartment
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Raiders of the Lost Ark
2001
Toy Story
The Long, Long Trailer
Psycho
It's a Wonderful Life
M. Hulot's Holiday

what exactly does my taste in films tell you about me?

 

[Mike Frezon]

Obviously, George, you are a wheel-chair bound apartment-dweller who likes to stare out the window when not renting the apartment out for trysts to people who want to cross the country in an expensive RV with a Cuban and daffy red-head in search for treasure or to those who want to travel to exotic places with their whip in search of treasure or to those who simply like to take holidays. Speaking of the holidays, I would pin you as a guy who understands the impact your life has on those around you, even your anthromorphic toys and computer.

Simple, really!

 

[Zen Butler]

LADIES: George is a Scorpio.... loves long walks on the beach and likes to let his hair down on the weekend. He's a Bergman man trapped in a Monster Truck body. He likes his chili hot but likes the cool, refreshing effervescence of a wine spritzer.

 

[george kaplan]

Those are both funny in different ways. The first cause of how it incorporated those films, and the second in that it's almost entirely incorrect.

Here's a more truthful version of that second one:

George is a Gemini.... loves long sits in an easy chair and likes to remember when he had hair. He's a James Bond man trapped in a Woody Allen body. He likes his pizza hot but likes the cool, refreshing effervescence of classic coke.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Hey Zen:

I just picked up this certain set of three "older" films (late '70s/early '80s). I'll be watching them with 14-year-old son VERY soon.

We peeked at the first film last night in the few minutes we had available and were quite pleased with the presentation (I know. I've been reading closely the threads over in software.) Anyway, he agrees that while the films look extremely dated in some areas (those big oversized helmets the rebel soldiers wear in the opening sequences come to mind)...certain effects and situations hold up VERY well.

You got fans in your house?

 

[Zen Butler]

One ceiling, one pedestal and one box.