Comments on: My top 50 movies of the last 10 years http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/ Eric D. Snider's blog. Fri, 18 May 2012 02:42:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: He says, She says http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-201271 He says, She says Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:29:46 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-201271 I'm so glad you put About A Boy and Moulin Rouge on your top 10 list. Definite favourites of mine. I loved Fight Club, but you put it 7th on your top ten of 1999 and now it's your favourite movie of 1996-2005? Opinions changed over time, I guess. I’m so glad you put About A Boy and Moulin Rouge on your top 10 list.
Definite favourites of mine.
I loved Fight Club, but you put it 7th on your top ten of 1999 and now it’s your favourite movie of 1996-2005?
Opinions changed over time, I guess.

]]> By: K-man http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-32450 K-man Sat, 05 May 2007 22:28:00 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-32450 If you have the stomach for it, South Park is the most thought-provoking, hilarious show on television (in my mind). The movie is probably in my top 5 all-time, but I can understand why some people would shy away from South Park's style of humor. If you can take it though, either you don't understand it, or you aren't watching. If you have the stomach for it, South Park is the most thought-provoking, hilarious show on television (in my mind). The movie is probably in my top 5 all-time, but I can understand why some people would shy away from South Park’s style of humor. If you can take it though, either you don’t understand it, or you aren’t watching.

]]> By: David Manning http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-207 David Manning Tue, 26 Sep 2006 06:25:15 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-207 Thanks for the commentary on my "South Park" question. I think the show can be occasionally hilarious, but that the movie was just awful. I didn't laugh once. I prefer your humor style over Stone's/Parker's *because* it handles everything in a mature manner, and without the tongue of Mike Tyson. (Come to think of it, I prefer your style of humor to any other, including that of entire movies'.) The guys at South Park make some good points (this is my opinion), but the way they treat their victims/indulge in what they're blasting/joke about Saddam Hussein having sex with the devil I often find to be simply too cruel/unnecessary/overdoing it, no matter how badly Saddam Hussein asked for it. Even when you're (Eric) making fun of something/someone, there's a certain mandatory level of respect you uphold, and I've always loved that. I guess I see your stuff not as sophomoric, but ...I don't know--really, really funny. That's all. I promise. Thanks for the commentary on my “South Park” question. I think the show can be occasionally hilarious, but that the movie was just awful. I didn’t laugh once. I prefer your humor style over Stone’s/Parker’s *because* it handles everything in a mature manner, and without the tongue of Mike Tyson. (Come to think of it, I prefer your style of humor to any other, including that of entire movies’.) The guys at South Park make some good points (this is my opinion), but the way they treat their victims/indulge in what they’re blasting/joke about Saddam Hussein having sex with the devil I often find to be simply too cruel/unnecessary/overdoing it, no matter how badly Saddam Hussein asked for it. Even when you’re (Eric) making fun of something/someone, there’s a certain mandatory level of respect you uphold, and I’ve always loved that. I guess I see your stuff not as sophomoric, but …I don’t know–really, really funny.

That’s all. I promise.

]]> By: Card http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Card Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:59:37 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-191 I have to say that I was horrified by the movie "Life Is Beautiful," and I really liked it. It portrayed the Holocaust to me in a way that I was able to recognize the inhumanity that went on without causing me to want to commit suicide after watching it. I actually got the same feeling from "Schindler's List," except that "Schindler's List" caused me to feel of the inhumanity for about three hours consecutively. I sobbed and sobbed. Similarly, the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. gave me the same feeling. I liked the movie "Life Is Beautiful" for that reason. It got across the horror of the situation plus a touching storyline of sacrifice for another's cause, and I didn't need counseling afterward. Also, I prefer "Princess Mononoke" over "Spirited Away." In fact, I didn't really like "Spirited Away." Wow, I love seeing everyone's opinions. I have to say that I was horrified by the movie “Life Is Beautiful,” and I really liked it. It portrayed the Holocaust to me in a way that I was able to recognize the inhumanity that went on without causing me to want to commit suicide after watching it. I actually got the same feeling from “Schindler’s List,” except that “Schindler’s List” caused me to feel of the inhumanity for about three hours consecutively. I sobbed and sobbed. Similarly, the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. gave me the same feeling. I liked the movie “Life Is Beautiful” for that reason. It got across the horror of the situation plus a touching storyline of sacrifice for another’s cause, and I didn’t need counseling afterward.

Also, I prefer “Princess Mononoke” over “Spirited Away.” In fact, I didn’t really like “Spirited Away.”

Wow, I love seeing everyone’s opinions.

]]> By: Eric D. Snider http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Eric D. Snider Mon, 25 Sep 2006 06:25:48 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-171 APMUSICMAN: "Napoleon Dynamite" was not on the 400 list. "Finding Nemo" was, but didn't make my top 50. It was probably 51. DAVID MANNING: "South Park" is on my list because it's a brilliantly funny parody of: 1) musicals, both the Disney animated variety and the old-fashioned Broadway type, and 2) modern American society in general, including but not limited to people's rush to blame the media for everything and the media's overindulgence in shallow shock humor. The fact that "South Park" IS responsible for some things and that it DOES indulge in shallow shock humor gives the parody the added dimension of being self-referential, making it all the more clever. RICHARD: Almost everyone I know liked the LOTR movies, and I don't know anyone younger than about 20. The box office receipts suggest most of movie-going America liked them, in fact, including people both over and under the age of 15. I think your statement is an example of a common tendency in humans: We prefer to believe that everyone agrees with us. You didn't like LOTR, so you convince yourself no one else did either, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. PIZZOCALABRO: I have watched "Princess Mononoke" twice now and yet I continue to fail to love it. There are people who think this means there is something wrong with me. I WANT to love it, but it just isn't happening for me. JEFF: True enough, but you can see why people would expect a movie that's based on a real event to be honest about it. That said, to complain about "Life Is Beautiful's" failure to properly address the horrors of the Holocaust is to miss the point of the movie. The movie isn't ABOUT the Holocaust. It's about a man's love for and devotion to his family, sacrificing everything in an attempt to ensure their happiness even under the darkest of circumstances. The Holocaust is the setting Benigni chose, but it could have been any grim or difficult situation. I do understand why people become sensitive about Holocaust-related films, but I really think you have to watch "Life Is Beautiful" not literally but as something of a parable. APMUSICMAN: “Napoleon Dynamite” was not on the 400 list. “Finding Nemo” was, but didn’t make my top 50. It was probably 51.

DAVID MANNING: “South Park” is on my list because it’s a brilliantly funny parody of: 1) musicals, both the Disney animated variety and the old-fashioned Broadway type, and 2) modern American society in general, including but not limited to people’s rush to blame the media for everything and the media’s overindulgence in shallow shock humor. The fact that “South Park” IS responsible for some things and that it DOES indulge in shallow shock humor gives the parody the added dimension of being self-referential, making it all the more clever.

RICHARD: Almost everyone I know liked the LOTR movies, and I don’t know anyone younger than about 20. The box office receipts suggest most of movie-going America liked them, in fact, including people both over and under the age of 15. I think your statement is an example of a common tendency in humans: We prefer to believe that everyone agrees with us. You didn’t like LOTR, so you convince yourself no one else did either, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

PIZZOCALABRO: I have watched “Princess Mononoke” twice now and yet I continue to fail to love it. There are people who think this means there is something wrong with me. I WANT to love it, but it just isn’t happening for me.

JEFF: True enough, but you can see why people would expect a movie that’s based on a real event to be honest about it.

That said, to complain about “Life Is Beautiful’s” failure to properly address the horrors of the Holocaust is to miss the point of the movie. The movie isn’t ABOUT the Holocaust. It’s about a man’s love for and devotion to his family, sacrificing everything in an attempt to ensure their happiness even under the darkest of circumstances. The Holocaust is the setting Benigni chose, but it could have been any grim or difficult situation. I do understand why people become sensitive about Holocaust-related films, but I really think you have to watch “Life Is Beautiful” not literally but as something of a parable.

]]> By: Jeff J. Snider http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Jeff J. Snider Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:21:23 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-165 Can anyone really have, as a criterion for judging the quality of a movie, whether it is a lie? I have a shiny one-dollar bill for anyone who can name a movie that was completely factual. Even movies that claim to be true stories take artistic liberties; I don't think "Life is Beautiful" ever claimed to be even based on a true story, other than that the Holocaust happened. It reminds me of people who think it's silly that I like professional wrestling because "it's fake." I often have to remind them that Ross and Rachel didn't get together in real life, Kiefer Sutherland can't really kill an entire army with his bare hands, and that guy from "Party of Five" isn't really a doctor stranded on an island after a plane crash. If "not fake" was what I was looking for in my entertainment, I would avoid TV and movies altogether. (And I would be bored most of the time.) Can anyone really have, as a criterion for judging the quality of a movie, whether it is a lie? I have a shiny one-dollar bill for anyone who can name a movie that was completely factual. Even movies that claim to be true stories take artistic liberties; I don’t think “Life is Beautiful” ever claimed to be even based on a true story, other than that the Holocaust happened.

It reminds me of people who think it’s silly that I like professional wrestling because “it’s fake.” I often have to remind them that Ross and Rachel didn’t get together in real life, Kiefer Sutherland can’t really kill an entire army with his bare hands, and that guy from “Party of Five” isn’t really a doctor stranded on an island after a plane crash. If “not fake” was what I was looking for in my entertainment, I would avoid TV and movies altogether. (And I would be bored most of the time.)

]]> By: pizzocalabro http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-159 pizzocalabro Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:03:56 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-159 >Um, no, the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions that existed there. Understand first that I really don't have any strong feelings for or against the movie. But I really don't think you can say that Life Is Beautiful "depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions" when most of those elements are either pushed to the background or are simply elided. The concentration camp was merely a background to Guido's experience--a background that he hardly even seemed to notice at times, a luxury that was hardly available to anyone actually living in a death camp. My point was, however, that it is possible for a person to believe that Life Is Beautiful was a "lie" without being a holocaust denier--while being quite the opposite, in fact. >Um, no, the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions that existed there.

Understand first that I really don’t have any strong feelings for or against the movie. But I really don’t think you can say that Life Is Beautiful “depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions” when most of those elements are either pushed to the background or are simply elided. The concentration camp was merely a background to Guido’s experience–a background that he hardly even seemed to notice at times, a luxury that was hardly available to anyone actually living in a death camp.

My point was, however, that it is possible for a person to believe that Life Is Beautiful was a “lie” without being a holocaust denier–while being quite the opposite, in fact.

]]> By: Eric Herman http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Eric Herman Mon, 25 Sep 2006 02:30:16 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-157 >Her grandmother (great-grandmother?) died at Auschwitz, so the Holocaust is kind of a tender subject for her Understandable, but... >the light-hearted portrayal of the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful is insulting and misleading–in other words, yes, a lie Um, no, the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions that existed there. It also depicts a man doing his best to survive and stay sane in the way he best knows how to (with humor) and trying to keep hope and goodness alive in his son. The setting is not light-hearted, the character is. Big difference. And as much of a contrived fantasy as the film is, and as much of a fictional character as Guido certainly is, I'd venture to say that among the millions in the camps, there were probably at least a few who approached their situation in much the same way, because that's just how some people are. Millions died in the camps, but many did survive and were released and went on to live for many years thereafter. Some of them rightfully took hope, gratitude, love and faith out with them, just like the kid in the film. It's a wonderful movie in many ways, unless you're expecting it to be literal truth or veangeful in some way, which it certainly is not meant to be. But artistic truth and beauty is there in abundance. >Her grandmother (great-grandmother?) died at Auschwitz, so the Holocaust is kind of a tender subject for her

Understandable, but…

>the light-hearted portrayal of the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful is insulting and misleading–in other words, yes, a lie

Um, no, the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful depicts the cruelty, mass murder and terrible conditions that existed there. It also depicts a man doing his best to survive and stay sane in the way he best knows how to (with humor) and trying to keep hope and goodness alive in his son. The setting is not light-hearted, the character is. Big difference.

And as much of a contrived fantasy as the film is, and as much of a fictional character as Guido certainly is, I’d venture to say that among the millions in the camps, there were probably at least a few who approached their situation in much the same way, because that’s just how some people are. Millions died in the camps, but many did survive and were released and went on to live for many years thereafter. Some of them rightfully took hope, gratitude, love and faith out with them, just like the kid in the film. It’s a wonderful movie in many ways, unless you’re expecting it to be literal truth or veangeful in some way, which it certainly is not meant to be. But artistic truth and beauty is there in abundance.

]]> By: pizzocalabro http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-145 pizzocalabro Sun, 24 Sep 2006 15:00:05 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-145 You should hear Doctor Ilona Klein at BYU go off on Life is Beautiful. Her grandmother (great-grandmother?) died at Auschwitz, so the Holocaust is kind of a tender subject for her. In her opinion, the light-hearted portrayal of the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful is insulting and misleading--in other words, yes, a lie. She can go on for hours; she really HATES that movie. She also hates Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" for pretty much the same reason. I have to admit, after taking her class and reading Primo Levi's first-hand account of Auschwitz, "If This is a Man," I tended to agree with her. You should hear Doctor Ilona Klein at BYU go off on Life is Beautiful. Her grandmother (great-grandmother?) died at Auschwitz, so the Holocaust is kind of a tender subject for her. In her opinion, the light-hearted portrayal of the concentration camp in Life is Beautiful is insulting and misleading–in other words, yes, a lie. She can go on for hours; she really HATES that movie. She also hates Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” for pretty much the same reason. I have to admit, after taking her class and reading Primo Levi’s first-hand account of Auschwitz, “If This is a Man,” I tended to agree with her.

]]> By: Eric Herman http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Eric Herman Sun, 24 Sep 2006 14:15:16 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2006/09/21/my-top-50-movies-of-the-last-10-years/#comment-142 Life is Beautiful is a terrible movie, and a lie? Huh? Sentimental, yes, but very funny and smart in many ways, incredibly sweet and well acted and directed. And a nice underlying theme that you've got to keep hope and humor alive in the worst of situations. A lie? You better not mean The Holocaust... but otherwise, yeah, it was a romantic fantasy based around an otherwise true setting. Most comedy is contrived, you know. It's not often contrived nearly as well as that, though. Ah yes, As Good as it Gets. Great movie! Life is Beautiful is a terrible movie, and a lie? Huh? Sentimental, yes, but very funny and smart in many ways, incredibly sweet and well acted and directed. And a nice underlying theme that you’ve got to keep hope and humor alive in the worst of situations. A lie? You better not mean The Holocaust… but otherwise, yeah, it was a romantic fantasy based around an otherwise true setting. Most comedy is contrived, you know. It’s not often contrived nearly as well as that, though.

Ah yes, As Good as it Gets. Great movie!

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