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Which movies changed your life?
- Thread starter Bodhitree
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Snow4maen
macrumors 6502a
I can't say it changed my life, but I found the very gritty portrayal helpful to me. Bringing Out The Dead, by Martin Scorsese is a film that stays with me. It highlights a paramedics life in his job in New York, but I am from England, they are not called paramedics in the States. An Ambulance worker. EMT? Tough life, tough job. Shows how tough it can get.
I think as with so many of these films it’s when they touch your life that can make the difference. I saw ET: The Extra-Terrestrial in the cinema when I was 11, and it affected me deeply, I was crying my eyes out at various points, but it didn’t really make a change to my life.
That said, it’s funny what can and can’t change your life. I remember hearing a long news piece on the television when I was young, about the overpopulation crisis that they were worried about, and at that point I made the decision not to have children myself. I’ve stuck to that too.
That said, it’s funny what can and can’t change your life. I remember hearing a long news piece on the television when I was young, about the overpopulation crisis that they were worried about, and at that point I made the decision not to have children myself. I’ve stuck to that too.
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So, from my European or German perspective, or maybe it's just me, only two films immediately come to mind that I would consider formative. If you can even say that.
One is the Dutch film *Antonia's Line*, which we also discussed in philosophy class, and the other is *Real Men*. The latter deals with relationships between the sexes, but also with how homosexuality is handled.
That seems to be a huge issue for many people, which certainly isn't the case for me.
One is the Dutch film *Antonia's Line*, which we also discussed in philosophy class, and the other is *Real Men*. The latter deals with relationships between the sexes, but also with how homosexuality is handled.
That seems to be a huge issue for many people, which certainly isn't the case for me.
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Well, I'm not familiar with dialogue like that. It's probably because I only know the German dubbed version. Where exactly do you see or hear that? I'd like to test it out, so to speak, to see if it also occurs in our dubbed version.
But as I already mentioned in the other thread, what you perceived as "macho" in relation to Magnum doesn't really happen here in Germany.
And to the Persuaders, from German Wikipedia translated:
While the series flopped in the US (and therefore no further episodes were produced), it was a success in Great Britain, Australia, and several European countries. In Germany, the series even achieved cult status. This was due to the dubbing based on Rainer Brandt's dialogue scripts, which differed considerably from the original in some parts: While the English original is also a crime series with humor, the German version added flippant and witty lines ("Hands up – I'm an armpit fetishist!" or "Sleep well in your bed frame!"). There were also references to the German broadcasting company or television itself. Danny Wilde commented on the parking violation with the remark: "I always do that in front of ZDF."[11] In another episode, the following comment was made: "Stop with the jokes, they'll cancel the next episode!"[12] Brandt even parodied the free translation of the dubbing itself in the series: To Judge Fulton's remark, "You've already made a lot of jokes that weren't to everyone's taste," he has Danny Wilde reply: "People who prefer to hear the original texts aren't interesting!"[13] With this series, Brandt definitively established his so-called "Schnodderdeutsch" (a German dialect of colloquial speech).
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Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies
Yes, why are these films so popular here in Germany and why are the two actors so highly regarded? It's because there's finally a consistent dubbed version. Since Terence Hill himself understands German, as his mother is German, he considers our dubbing or version considerably better than the "original." He said in an interview that there wasn't really a script, but rather everyone spoke in their own language until the Germans found a kind of correct version. You can see here (see below) the version that's available on DVD; a completely different dubbing is shown on television. This one is considered funny, while the other is seen as serious. Terence Hill can hardly resist the affection of his fans, and I think there's even a tunnel or something named after Bud Spencer.
Yes, why are these films so popular here in Germany and why are the two actors so highly regarded? It's because there's finally a consistent dubbed version. Since Terence Hill himself understands German, as his mother is German, he considers our dubbing or version considerably better than the "original." He said in an interview that there wasn't really a script, but rather everyone spoke in their own language until the Germans found a kind of correct version. You can see here (see below) the version that's available on DVD; a completely different dubbing is shown on television. This one is considered funny, while the other is seen as serious. Terence Hill can hardly resist the affection of his fans, and I think there's even a tunnel or something named after Bud Spencer.
It’s certainly true that dubbed cinema can have a completely different flavour for people in the dubbed language. I’m bilingual in Dutch and English, but in the Netherlands we don’t tend to dub many programmes, most films are presented in the original language with subtitles.
But for example the Studio Ghibli films I prefer to see with an English soundtrack rather than the original Japanese with subtitles. It’s just one of those things that comes with many years of living in England.
But for example the Studio Ghibli films I prefer to see with an English soundtrack rather than the original Japanese with subtitles. It’s just one of those things that comes with many years of living in England.
While the dialogue in Hitchcock's movies certainly contributes to the sexism they exhibit, it is only one part. Even if one turns the sound off, the sexism is still there. For example...
Rebecca: Joan Fontaine's character, even though the movie is centered around her, doesn't have a name.
Vertigo: despite being an accomplished artist, Barbara Bel Geddes's character's entire existence is defined by her (probably) decades-long pining for Scottie.
Marnie: Tippi Hedren's character is "justifiably" attacked by Sean Connery's character.
Don't get me wrong, I think Hitchcock made enjoyable movies but I also view them as problematic in a modern context (in a similar vein, I like Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well). I don't believe in suppressing or bowdlerizing them, however, because it is impossible to make progress without knowing what has come before you.
Rebecca: Joan Fontaine's character, even though the movie is centered around her, doesn't have a name.
Vertigo: despite being an accomplished artist, Barbara Bel Geddes's character's entire existence is defined by her (probably) decades-long pining for Scottie.
Marnie: Tippi Hedren's character is "justifiably" attacked by Sean Connery's character.
Don't get me wrong, I think Hitchcock made enjoyable movies but I also view them as problematic in a modern context (in a similar vein, I like Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well). I don't believe in suppressing or bowdlerizing them, however, because it is impossible to make progress without knowing what has come before you.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Seriously?
You don't even notice the misogyny in these movies?
Even leaving the dialogue apart, some of his movies delight in humiliating the female characters, and the very premise of Rear Window is deeply unsettling, and rather creepy. Moreover, the murder (of a female character) in Psycho is altogether too.......unexpected (for where the plot was heading, at that point), but, I would argue that Hitchcock took just a little too much pleasure in it, pleasure he wouldn't have taken in the murder of a male character.
Yes, he was a master of suspense, but much of his suspense consisted of murdering women, or of finding a way to humiliate them and render them powerless.
His best movies (to my mind) were adaptations of works written by Daphne du Maurier - material he couldn't murder, or twist; works such as Rebecca (which was excellent, but was also faithful to the source material) and The Birds.
I tend to view Hitchcock as a part of the times, it took a while for women to come into their own and in the 1950s and 1960s there was still a lot of prevailing older attitudes. You could say that my father was ahead of his time in encouraging his wife to be able to earn her own money in the 1970s.
I must admit, I never really thought of Hitchcock as misogynistic. I’m not a huge fan of his but have watched North by Northwest (probably my favourite of his), Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window and Vertigo. I always thought of them as quite memorable and fairly good movies of their time, but now that you mention it his treatment of his female characters was always somewhat flat, stereotypical and pastiche-like.
I don’t rate Hitchcock in the same bracket as Kubrick or Kurosawa as a film maker. He made good thrillers, in my view, but never produced a masterpiece like 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
I'm an historian by profession and used to be an academic, thus, I don't doubt at all that "it took a while for women to come into their own"; my mother was involved with the women's movement - I know all of this.
Nevertheless, my point is that while such movies may reflect the values of their times, nowadays, I don't find them at all interesting, educational, and least of all do I find them remotely entertaining, as I find their treatment of - portrayal of - women very unpleasant.
More to the point, there were some. movies of that era - Sunset Boulevard, a superb movie is one - with a subtle, nuanced, intelligent treatment of female characters, and they still managed to portray and reflect the attitudes of the era in which they were set.
However, this was not the case with Hitchcock, who - to my mind - took far too much pleasure in the discomfort, distress, humiliation (and, of course, the occasional murder) of his female characters.
I don’t know enough about Hitchcock to have developed a strong opinion on him, but I would agree he did women in film no favours by treating them in such a stereotypical fashion. I know Sunset Boulevard only from its IMDB page, but I would think perhaps Casablanca is another? I’d be very interested to hear what other films you consider woman-friendly of that time.
Also not being a woman I don’t have that sensitivity to the subject. I remember some highlights, such as Princess Leia in Star Wars, who set a milestone for new appearances, and Ripley in Alien. But that was in the late seventies when perhaps the worm had turned and we were starting to see new, more empowering images of women in film. I grew up with these.
But I think earlier directors who managed to put believable women on screen should be lauded. They may not have had success in their time, going against social mores but they were ahead of their time.
@Bodhitree
Sunset Boulevard is a B-movie that turned out to be a classic in so many ways: themes, performances, pacing, cameos, connection to Gloria Swanson's real-life career arc, and much more. I strongly recommend it to anybody who is interested in film (double feature recommendation: Sunset Boulevard and The Player) or film history.
Now, personally, I regard the portrayal and development of Ingrid Bergman's character in Casablanca to not be too different from how Hitchcock treated female characters. Ilsa is defined mainly by her relationships to men and is repeatedly punished for her choices. The Hays Code, of course, forced Hollywood writers and directors to adhere to very conservative "morality" rules but even post-Code era movies frequently adhere to these tropes.
Not many American movies from the 1940s and 1950s immediately come to my mind as entirely "woman-friendly". Two that come closer than most in my opinion, though, are All About Eve (the relationship between two women drives the story) and Double Indemnity (the main male character is manipulated by Barbara Stanwyck's character and then punished). And maybe Ida Lupino's work as a film director.
Sunset Boulevard is a B-movie that turned out to be a classic in so many ways: themes, performances, pacing, cameos, connection to Gloria Swanson's real-life career arc, and much more. I strongly recommend it to anybody who is interested in film (double feature recommendation: Sunset Boulevard and The Player) or film history.
Now, personally, I regard the portrayal and development of Ingrid Bergman's character in Casablanca to not be too different from how Hitchcock treated female characters. Ilsa is defined mainly by her relationships to men and is repeatedly punished for her choices. The Hays Code, of course, forced Hollywood writers and directors to adhere to very conservative "morality" rules but even post-Code era movies frequently adhere to these tropes.
Not many American movies from the 1940s and 1950s immediately come to my mind as entirely "woman-friendly". Two that come closer than most in my opinion, though, are All About Eve (the relationship between two women drives the story) and Double Indemnity (the main male character is manipulated by Barbara Stanwyck's character and then punished). And maybe Ida Lupino's work as a film director.
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Some films I love in that list… Good Will Hunting, Field of Dreams and The Big Lebowski are all wonderful films with good messages.
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I've asked you this before and didn't get an answer. Where exactly does this take place? Please keep in mind that I'm only familiar with the German dub. I don't know the English original.
You said "movies"! American English? AE?
Here in Germany, we distinguish between British English (BE) and American English (AE). For example underground / subway. It reminds me of my school days.
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boswald
macrumors 68030
That's just, like, your opinion, man....
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boswald
macrumors 68030
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macrumors 68030
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Keep your eyes open.
I have already cited Rear Window as an example, and, indeed, Psycho.
I am from the British Isles, and write and speak the language I grew up with.
Quelle surprise.
As do I, not least because I am both a native speaker and a published author.
Anyway, I know this.
Dear God.
Look: I am from the British Isles, and British English is my default language. However, this is an American owned - and dominated - website. One adapts, and language changes and evolves.
Apple_Robert
Contributor
Here is a list of just some of my favorite movies that have stuck with me over the years and have touched my heart and often left me introspective.
The Man without a Face - 1993
Bicycle Thieves - 1948
The Best Years of Our Lives - 1946
The Great Dictator - 1940
The Grapes of Wrath - 1940
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1939
The Pianist - 2002
Schindler's List - 1993
Seven Samurai - 1954
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans - 1927
Of Human Bondage - 1934
To Kill a Mockingbird - 1962
Waterloo Bridge - 1931
The Wizard of Oz
Wings 1927
You Can't Take it With You - 1938
Wuthering Heights - 1939
Sergeant York - 1941
Saving Private Ryan - 1998
The Man without a Face - 1993
Bicycle Thieves - 1948
The Best Years of Our Lives - 1946
The Great Dictator - 1940
The Grapes of Wrath - 1940
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1939
The Pianist - 2002
Schindler's List - 1993
Seven Samurai - 1954
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans - 1927
Of Human Bondage - 1934
To Kill a Mockingbird - 1962
Waterloo Bridge - 1931
The Wizard of Oz
Wings 1927
You Can't Take it With You - 1938
Wuthering Heights - 1939
Sergeant York - 1941
Saving Private Ryan - 1998
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Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Given the attitudes, mores, beliefs, and values of that era, it is not so much "woman friendly", as not "woman unfriendly" (which is what I believe Hitchcock to have been) that I seek.
Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard, The Third Man, Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon are all superb movies; yes, they are of their time, - and reflect those values and attitudes - but they do not come across as despising and disliking women, the way that much of Hitchcock's oeuvre does.
Oh, yes, excellent examples and role models.
Agree completely.