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Classic Film Or Not: That Is The Question!

Brian Seay Vent Writer
Published 09-30-05
Graphic By: Stephanie Huppert
What is a classic? Well, there are many dictionary definitions but here are two that pertain to the subject:

  • Belonging to the highest rank or class

  • Having lasting significance or worth; enduring

I always wanted to talk about classics and relate them to the movies. What does it take for a film to become a classic? First off, it must endure for a certain period of time, still maintaining its popularity with the audience. For me, in order for films to be classics, they must have a certain quality to them. Films such as Gone With The Wind, Casablanca and It's A Wonderful Life are classics. The films listed are not only considered classics by critics, but also the audience. Classic films do not have to be in black and white; they have to have quality to them.

Could movies during 2000-2005 become classics? To me, I don't believe so. Films are churned out quicker then me changing my underwear! Movies are made way too fast without the quality and class that I believe a film should have. What I mean by a quality film is that the storyline must make sense, the actors and actresses must bring their talents to the screen in order to breathe life to the characters, and aside from the storyline making sense, the film must have one. A quality film means it has high standards. There are lots of films that have run in the movie theatre such as Dude, Where's My Car?, the American Pie series (that were basically about sex), and Bubble Boy that were churned out too quickly and have the most ridiculous storylines of all time. I like my films to have not only a storyline but some meaning too.

I seem to be into the older films, and one of my favorite classic directors is Alfred Hitchcock. All of his films are considered classics. He revolutionized the film world with certain camera and acting techniques that are copied in today's films. If you watch his films such as Psycho and his masterpiece Vertigo you'll see what a classic is.

I don't believe that the movies today will be considered classics unless film makers place quality in them. You can churn out films fast and still maintain a film with a plot; there isn't an excuse for these ridiculous plots. I'm not saying that all of the older films are considered classics, because they are not. But if you watch a black and white film and compare it to a film in the '80s, of course it will be different. If you compare a film from the '80s to 2005, it will be different. Times change, and technology has advanced in films, but the concept of storytelling in these films are the same.

In my opinion, movies that contain sex, nudity or strong language will not be considered classics because these are taboo subjects that exist in the United States. Sex, nudity and strong language are used because film makers think that the audiences will like the movie better. I've seen movies that use profanity about 20-30 times and it was only about 2-4 minutes into the film. I'm not saying that a movie shouldn't have these things or should, but will it be a classic? Nope.

Also you have to wonder: why do film makers remake the classic films? They do this to attract an audience, revamping the film by updating it with ridiculous scenes that just makes you think "why was the original ever messed with?"

For some of the movies that came out in 2005 such as Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, War of the Worlds and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, it makes me think if any of these films will be considered classics one day. It depends on time and how the audience perceives the film in the present and the future.

Classics can be watched over and over, with most of them containing not a single flaw that I can pinpoint. So next time if you watch a film, ask yourself:

  • Can I watch this film over and over?

  • Is there a storyline that makes sense?

  • Are there any flaws in the film in terms of plot and performances from actors and actresses?

  • Can this film stand the test of time and endure throughout the years by the audience and critics?


This is Brian's first year working on the Whim, so give me some slack!

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Classics
Posted by Adam

Well, there's the overall sense of a classic - like Citizen Kane and then there's movies that are considered cult classics to certain groups - and I think that a lot of comic book fans might say that Batman Begins is a classic, in the sense that it's arguably the best of the series, etc. Being a movie buff, I really liked the story - good stuff.
No Subject
Posted by Joseph

Batman wasn't really remade. I mean Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a remake, it retells the story, War of the Worlds is a remake. Batman Begins really doesn't retell any of the old movies it's pretty much a prequel. As Adam said though it is already considered a classic by most.
Question
Posted by Brian S.

Does anyone think that the films that currently being made will be considered classics in the future?
No Subject
Posted by Adam

Well, that's a very good question. I think we have different perceptions of what is extremely entertaining and what is a good film - and lately those two things haven't come together. I would say that many will consider the "Lord of The Rings" films the "Star Wars" of our generation, and they will certainly be held as classics - and I personally think that many would hold Tarentino's work as classic - Pulp Fiction etc. Steven Spielberg will also continue to make movies, and what movie has he made that hasn't really been a blockbuster? I think Saving Private Ryan might be a classic, and it's not that old either.
No Subject
Posted by Meredith

Are you saying that sex and profanity somehow inhibit a film from becoming a classic? That American culture will not allow it? Have you glanced at the American Film Institutes list of the 100 greatest American films of all time? Do you think Gone with the Wind didn't have sex in it? In one pivotal scene Rhett carries Scarlett upstairs to rape her. Granted,it isn't graphic but everyone in the audienence knows what will happen next. Does the fact that it is only implied make it ok? The Godfather is #3 on the list. It is full of violence and profanity... One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Annie Hall, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, A Streetcar Named Desire, Fargo, Easy Rider,Pulp Fiction, Goodfella... In A Clockwork Orange a woman is graphically violated in her own home (with a large phallic sculpture, I believe) while her attackers, making light of the situation, sing "Singin' in the Rain." It was #46. It's in the top fifty. That a movie contains sex or profanity, albeit gratuitous, alone does not make it bad. It does not mean it isn't a great film. All it means is that little childrenand Jerry Falwell should not watch it. You have to consider its purpose in the film. Its use may be necessary in order to convey some greater message to the audience. Good film, moreover good art, should be a representation of the artist's perception of reality. People have sex. They curse. They kill other people. Should we hide this behind some curtain and pretend that the Wizard isn't really just a man? No, that would be a travesty.
Response to sex and profanity in films
Posted by Brian S.

To me I think that a movie with sex and too much profanity just decreases the quality of the film. You can have a good film without this stuff. Sure there can be sex in the film but it has to be implied, not shown in action. You said: "People have sex. They curse. They kill other people." I'm not saying to not include these things in a film but just don't overwhelm the film with this. If there's sex it should be implied, not shown. If there's profanity, use it but don't overuse it.With movies in the old days, yes there was sex, rape, and profanity. Now dealing with the sex issue, the old movies implied what was going to happen next instead of showing. These days it's like: "Show me, show me, show me" and there's nothing left to the imagination. What is there left to imagine after we see 2 people naked having sex with each other. The excitement wears off anyway after you've seen it. Yeah, I know that times change and movies change but why do we need to have these things in the film in order to make it interesting to the audience? Is the audience intelligent enough to imagine scenes in their own mind instead of showing everything? That's just my opinion and I respect everyone's. I didn't make myself clear in the paragraph about "sex, violence & profanity" so I apologize about that and the taboo was a little over the taboo thing was a little over the top too.
Let me fix what I said in my last post
Posted by Brian S.

Here's what I meant to say: That's just my opinion and I respect everyone's opinions. I didn't make myself clear in the paragraph about "sex, violence & profanity" so I apologize about that and the taboo thing was a little over the top too. Ok... I fixed myself.
No Subject
Posted by Michelle

Brian, you don't have to "fix youself" because someone disagrees. Stick to your guns, my man!
Sex and Profanity Follow-Up
Posted by Brian S.

Well I was about to say that I was kidding about apologizing in my last post but didn't get the time to (lol!). I don't really apologize because I believe my beliefs and it's not going to change. To my response to Meredith again: America doesn't inhibit a film from becoming a classic becomes it has sex and profanity but to the audience it won't become a classic. Movies today are made so quickly and are very badly made that you can't watch them over and over (well for me that is). So yeah, America doesn't inhibit sex and profanity these two things doesn't contain quality.
Change
Posted by Adam Frazier

Well, there is the issue of being desensitized to certain acts. Every movie that comes out has to have a bigger bang than the last one, take Rambo for example... Rambo may have killed 10-15 people in the first film, in the second one he came close to 90. This goes for sex, drug use - taboo subjects etc. As our society changes I think the overall idea of what is acceptable will also change, it already has. JAWs was extremely frightening and real to people when it came out - Some said it was too gruesome and that the violence shown could have been avoided by making it implied... but certainly JAWs is a classic, so in the future I'm sure films w/ violence, sex and excessive language will also be considered as such.
sex!
Posted by jenny

It's not just a sex or no-sex thing, I think the most important thing to consider is the meaning for the sexual graphic-ness. Did the sexual scene advance the plot or develop the character in some way? Or did it go like this: "Wow, we just saved the universe from those horrible space mutants. Let's go have some sex."
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