+8
For the OP
Personally I think "Arthouse" is a bogus word used to try and define films that don't necessarily fit into normal or Western idealized genres.
Kurosawa is the perfect example. He didn't make his movies to be artsy. He was more Hollywood than Hollywood. His Samurai movies are Japan's version of our Westerns, which is why Hollywood and others stole from him. Seven Samurai became The Magnificent Seven, Yojimbo became A Fistful of Dollars and so on. He was just really, really good at what he does and it was natural for Hollywood to use his ideas.
Godard, didn't start out "Arthouse". Pierrot le Fou is certainly not, by contemporary definition. Of course by Weekend he certainly was trying to be such. Personally, I think, he did it partly because he was bored, and partly just to see if people would watch. If you really feel the need to classify him it would fit better into European New Wave.
Additionally, and this certainly isn't meant to offend anyone, but don't listen to anyone's recommendations on where to start or what to watch. I love Pierrot le Fou, but I hate Weekend, Does that make it bad? No, someone else may say it is their favorite movie. To that extent, Solaris, a movie which I love, can easily be seen as tedious and boring, and I can understand why. I would hate to see you miss out on a movie which you may really love based on someone telling you it's crap.
I don't watch so called "Arthouse" movies because I feel the need to broaden my horizons. I watch them because I love movies and find all forms entertaining. I'll watch damn near anything. I love Rashomon, but you know what? I also love The Dark Knight Trilogy. In my opinion ALL movies are some form of art. It's just that some are really, really, crappy art (see earlier reference to Freddy Got Fingered, which who knows, someone here may like and that's fine.)
I also think that to a lot of people "Arthouse" gives negative connotations. I have friends that will roll their eyes or say, "oh, so it's French?" if they see a movie labeled as such. Due to just that fact I hate the word, because it allows for preconceived notions and often times inaccurate judgement.
That all said, you are opening yourself up to a whole new world of cinema and that is awesome! Hollywood makes some legitimately great movies, but there is soooo much more out there, that it makes me happy to see people watching, appreciating, and discussing it. So enjoy, and please post what you watch and if you like it!
Disclaimer: This is my opinion to which I am entitled, as all of you, yours. I don't claim to be right or any of you to be wrong. I find that when discussing movies(particularly "Arthouse" and foreign in general) people tend to get verrry opinionated and if someone doesn't like what they like or vice versa, then the other person is an idiot. I read every response in here before I posted and thought about what I wanted to say regarding this topic before I posted it. I agree with some of the posts, and disagree with others. However, it is not necessary to point out which is which as they are opinions and me pointing it out would be 100% hypocritical.
Last edited by OMEGA5; 03-15-13 at 12:20 AM.