I remember someone posting a while ago that old movies can't be compared to modern ones because the art of film relies heavily on technology. That's true in theory, but I'm yet to see it apply in practice. For example, Metropolis' effects and set design look dated, but everything fits together so tightly that it doesn't bother you. You can get used to them quickly, like with graphics in a DOS game. Metropolis does stack up against the Dark Knight, just like Duke Nukem stacks up against New Order.
Another problem old movies face is their best scenes fading into cliché. Buster Keaton, for example, was parodied and referenced a million times. I've seen all his gags before, but I still laughed like crazy watching The General. It's not just that the jokes are funny, it's that he knew how to present them. This applies to any genre, not just comedy. Talent can't be replicated, and doesn't age.
There's also the problem of socio-political context. Movies that rely on social commentary can become obsolete after the issues they comment on change or disappear. That's why I hate the yugoslav black wave, but Dr. Strangelove also relies on social commentary and it hasn't aged a day. Is that simply because it has merits outside of social commentary, or is there more to it? I'm not sure on this one
What do you think? Is a truly great movie one that's great for its time, or for all time?
Another problem old movies face is their best scenes fading into cliché. Buster Keaton, for example, was parodied and referenced a million times. I've seen all his gags before, but I still laughed like crazy watching The General. It's not just that the jokes are funny, it's that he knew how to present them. This applies to any genre, not just comedy. Talent can't be replicated, and doesn't age.
There's also the problem of socio-political context. Movies that rely on social commentary can become obsolete after the issues they comment on change or disappear. That's why I hate the yugoslav black wave, but Dr. Strangelove also relies on social commentary and it hasn't aged a day. Is that simply because it has merits outside of social commentary, or is there more to it? I'm not sure on this one
What do you think? Is a truly great movie one that's great for its time, or for all time?