Which classics are actually still worth watching?

Sophia Evans76 said:Maybe you just messed up a little... 🙄

Afkors, thanks to Sophia Evans76.

What I actually meant to say was

I’ve been binge-watching stuff from the modern era lately, specifically 2001: A Space Odyssey, and I also just flew through the entire Star Wars saga. Honestly, I used to be such a huge fan of George Lucas, while Stanley Kubrick never really clicked for me. But lately, my perspective has shifted—sure, his style can feel cold as ice, but the man absolutely knows his craft. His framing and cinematography are nothing short of perfection. George Lucas is great, but Kubrick is on another level.

But yeah, I totally tripped over my own feet there. It felt kind of weird to lump Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Charlie Chaplin all into one breath.

Anyway, my bad.😳

Revisiting Ilo’s masterpiece (Jacques). Just watched it again—and man, it still hits just as hard.
👍

... but I ended up rewatching Blade Runner, prompted by that new movie based on the Philip K. Dick story, Paycheck.

Blade Runner—based on a novella where Philip himself mentioned how tricky it is to adapt because it doesn't follow a standard sci-fi plot, but rather focuses on that slow, steady drip of atmosphere from a future world. That whole vibe stems from the question of what actually makes us human in an era where Replicants exist. My own little angle on it—every single leap forward for the human race seems to have the seeds of discrimination baked right into the core of what we call "civilized progress." There's a parallel there—back in the day, bringing slaves over from Africa to the USA was a massive turning point for development, a move still cited as foundational to American society. I won't even waste words pointing out the obvious roots of discrimination in that era. Interestingly, even then, there were specialized hunters looking for runaways, much like the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Sort of like Blade Runners. I don't have the time or the space for a full-blown comparison, but to answer the prompt—yeah, Blade Runner still holds up.

BTW—Paycheck feels more like The Impostor, so it's a one-time watch. And that’s being generous, considering the terrible casting. But hey, who gives a .... 😉

A Clockwork Orange...Africa Queen🙏 🙏 🙏

There are certain movies I absolutely obsessed over when I was a kid, but honestly? They’re totally unwatchable to me now. Like, I just sat through Excalibur recently and—ugh—the dialogue was just unbearable... But then there are those classics I still find myself revisiting a few times a year, like Dreams, the submarine, or the meaning of life... plus Cabaret,
I caught Underground Warrior the other day, but I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it.

Jeffrey Long said:A Clockwork Orange 🙏 🙏 🙏

👍 👍

A Clockwork Orange - it isn't nearly as ultra-violent as the sensitive types claim, but it’s an absolute masterpiece
Mad Max - even today, it holds up perfectly despite the age and the shoestring budget

Rebecca still holds up beautifully
I think The Wages of Fear might actually be even better (especially with Véra Clouzot... mmm)

crimsonmoose3 really went out of his way to dig some interesting topics out of the archives; looks like things were pretty lively in years past.

this whole discussion reminds me of an intriguing IMDb thread titled "to see with fresh eyes." It’s about those movies that either completely floored us during our first viewing or felt totally mediocre, only for us to circle back years later and realize we were dead wrong. Personally, I find that kind of mental recalibration fascinating.

Here’s one instance where my perspective shifted entirely: Apocalypse Now. I probably watched it far too young; at the time, it just seemed tedious—just endless drifting on a river, which honestly felt like a slog similar to Aguirre: The Wrath of God, a film I still haven't quite wrapped my head around. Plus, I tended to dodge war movies altogether back then. Today, though, I see it through a completely different lens—it's a masterpiece of imagery and raw emotion, an incredibly intimate experience for anyone willing to dig deep enough. And from a filmmaking standpoint, the secret footage captured by Coppola's wife during production is absolute gold; it offers such a subtle, haunting look at the sheer agony Coppola endured while filming Apocalypse Now.

Anyway, that's just one little thought of mine...

Birds die singing. It’s just one thing after another. I stayed up all night watching, and honestly, I’m still a total wreck.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers — even now, that movie still manages to put a smile on my face. 😍
And yes, Gremlins — that one is truly timeless.

crimsonmoose3 said:Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - honestly, that movie still manages to put a smile on my face today. 😍

😲 No way! 🤣

Flying above the coward's nest 😂

Whoops! Wrong emoji there. What I meant to say was that the movie is just as good today as it was on day one...

The last one was decent, but honestly, Decameron is even more fun just because the English subtitles are so hilariously bad.
Besides the seal and the samurai stuff, I wish he could keep up with what's coming next—maybe some new Dogme movement or perhaps a new Tarkovsky

mimicro said:Kurosawa's Rashomon.

It came out back in 1950. Honestly, I find myself revisiting it every few years, and man, it hits just as hard every single time—it’s one of those rare gems that hasn't lost its edge at all.
There isn't any of that cheap sentimentality, mushiness, or that weirdly naive vibe you tend to run into when rewatching old classics. The whole concept behind Rashomon stays relevant forever, and Kurosawa’s take on it? Absolute perfection. Well, obviously if you're into that kind of stuff.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind catching another Kurosawa flick soon.

👍 I actually just sat down and watched it recently after a long hiatus. Everyone is always obsessing over Seven Samurai, but honestly? Rashomon is way better. It’s less about the samurai action and more this deep psychological dive—it gets pretty creepy in some parts, too...

Ah... Rashomon, one of those films on my "must-watch" list... 😢

crimsonmoose3 said:Ah... Rashomon, one of those films on my watchlist... 😢

Ahem... I actually have it right here...

Dr. Miller said:Ahem... I actually have it...

We can finalize this once my movie collection arrives (which is going to be quite an investment, $113. Oof... but it's 53 films, including Raging Bull, Critters, Creepshow, Apocalypse Now...) 🙏 🙏 🙏
P. S. I Love You
When did you pick that one up? It wasn't on my list...🤔