Citizen Kane

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I finally rented it today. It's be on my to-see list for years. What's it like for those who've witnessed it?
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I'd definitely agree with the idea that it's one of the best films ever made, although subjectively speaking I wouldn't really call it a favourite film that I own or watch repeatedly.
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It's not as good as Casablanca. Does that help?
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28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds
Iro sums up my thoughts. Extremely well made and way ahead of it's time.

Yet I don't care to watch it again.
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The Elected Movie Eliminator
Well, I'm doing a English project on ten films that changed cinema, obviously Citizen Kane is a perfect example. I'll see how it goes, I'm giving it a watch either tomorrow or the next day. My hopes are just mediocre.



The film gets better with repeat viewings.
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The Elected Movie Eliminator
What are the other 9?
Well it's not a professional list, just a made up one.

It's got Reservoir Dogs because of Tarantino's Hollywood impact, Jaws of it's social changes, The Godfather, Jaws, Star Wars, 2001, etc etc. All movies that changed it's genre and changed cinema.



28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds
I would have thrown down Pulp Fiction before Reservoir Dogs, and where is The Matrix at? It single handedly changed the way sci/fi action films are made today.

Also, you threw down Jaws twice.



How can you disagree that the Matrix has changed the way action/sci-fi films are made today?
It's your statement Suspect, convince me it has. Three plus rep points if you do.



Also, you threw down Jaws twice.
Pulp and Dogs is a toss up for the topic you're doing
Matrix: Tis a benchmark in the cinematic mountain
Jaws is allowed two throw downs sir
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The Elected Movie Eliminator
I would have thrown down Pulp Fiction before Reservoir Dogs, and where is The Matrix at? It single handedly changed the way sci/fi action films are made today.

Also, you threw down Jaws twice.
Mis-type with Jaws.

Pulp Fiction was very similar to Reservoir Dogs (Mixed up scenes etc.), before Reservoir Dogs was released nobody knew who Tarantino was, so because Reservoir Dogs was so similar to Pulp Fiction and it was released first, I'd give RD the credit. The Matrix I don't take notice of, and probably never will.



Its a remarkable achievement; not only did it redefine film as a mode of artistic expression but it still holds up as a thoroughly entertaining look at big city commercialism, corporate hubris and lost childhood.

Citizen Kane single handedly pioneered the fractured chronology that encompasses many filmic narratives to this day. Also Welles continued to develop the deep focus cinematography that Renoir experimented with two years earlier in La Regle du jeu. One can also look at the films use of narrators; for me the story in Citizen Kane is always subjective, in other words it is controlled individually by either Kane, Thompson, Thatcher or Susan. And I havent even mentioned how it changed special effects, make-up and soundtrack.



I often hear that Citizen Kane is overrated. It is not. I dont know any other way to put it. You must not forget that Welles penned, produced, starred and directed Citizen Kane at the age of 25; it was his debut feature.

Anyway mate, i'm sure you'll enjoy it. I have seen it many times now, including a shot by shot screening and only recently in a beautiful, restored 35mm print. It is not my favourite film but damn it, its right up there.



The Elected Movie Eliminator
Its a remarkable achievement; not only did it redefine film as a mode of artistic expression but it still holds up as a thoroughly entertaining look at big city commercialism, corporate hubris and lost childhood.

Citizen Kane single handedly pioneered the fractured chronology that encompasses many filmic narratives to this day. Also Welles continued to develop the deep focus cinematography that Renoir experimented with two years earlier in La Regle du jeu. One can also look at the films use of narrators; for me the story in Citizen Kane is always subjective, in other words it is controlled individually by either Kane, Thompson, Thatcher or Susan. And I havent even mentioned how it changed special effects, make-up and soundtrack.



I often hear that Citizen Kane is overrated. It is not. I dont know any other way to put it. You must not forget that Welles penned, produced, starred and directed Citizen Kane at the age of 25; it was his debut feature.

Anyway mate, i'm sure you'll enjoy it. I have seen it many times now, including a shot by shot screening and only recently in a beautiful, restored 35mm print. It is not my favourite film but damn it, its right up there.
Thank you for the detailed description. Welles must've did excellent on debut (especially starring, producing and directing). Should be an interesting watch.



Kane is superb. Probably a film that'd be in my top 20 favourites. A great film I've yet to tire of watching. I agree with Harry that it gets better with every viewing and, along with all its other attributes, I'd suggest that it's also one of the best scripts ever written too. Some wonderful dialogue, Mr. Berstein's short monologue about seeing the girl in a white dress on the ferry, being a particular favourite.

Also, I don't know if you've set all your films for this project but, if I may suggest one, it'd be Easy Rider. A much more revolutionary film that is often thought in terms of its impact on Hollywood. Worth looking into, just for its own sake, if nothing else.



I respect and understand everything that Citizen Kane has accomplished in the world of cinema, but I personally didn't care for it at all. The story and characters completely uninterested me, and I made a genuine attempt to get into the movie but couldn't. Perhaps, a couple years down the road, a rewatch is in order to re-evaluate those feelings, but as of right now, that's where I stand with Citizen Kane.
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I've seen it a bunch of times in film classes, so I know and respect what Kane did for cinema. It's also a really good film.

I just recently bought it, too, although I haven't gotten around to watching it again.