Comments on: New column: What’s the Big Deal?

By: Corbin G

Corbin G — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:06:01 +0000

In honor of Tron Legacy getting it’s release soon, I believe some emphasis on how well the original Tron was done with it’s computer effects, and the world it created inside computers would do well to get some attention. When I was a boy, I remember nothing but wanting to play on a lightcycle, and began to wonder what IF the little characters I played with in video games WERE real sentient beings. Great movie, and a milestone in early CGI.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:06:35 +0000

Salutations Eric, new reader here, ‘Moriarty’ — I mean, Drew McWeeny sent me from HitFix.com. After reading your introduction to ‘What’s the Big Deal?’, you have an audience that just got bigger by one as of right now. Your rationale for embarking on ‘What’s the Big Deal?’ is one that I can identify with as a fellow moviegoer, seeking to educate myself one film at a time, and you and I also are of like brain when it comes to the wide disconnect that could be filled in by a resource like the one you hope to create with the new column. For one other example which brings us back to 1960, a suggestion for a future installment of the column : Ray Wise’s “The Haunting”…I saw it recently and it scarcely kept me in my seat until the end; what’s the big deal?

By: Niall

Niall — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:55:08 +0000

I ditto 2001.

And @CoolBoy – that’s really interesting about Casablanca, I’d never thought about it like that before!

By: Steve S

Steve S — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:48:43 +0000

The Philadelphia Film Society is always looking for ideas of 35mm film screenings as part of its “filmadelphiaCLASSICS” series. “The Seekers” sounds like a good choice as part of next year’s program. I’ll send this first “What’s the Big Deal?” column to the programmers — maybe they can get some other ideas from your future columns as well.

@MattW — I enjoyed Eric’s re-review of “Fight Club” as well.

But Eric — I was “SHOCKED, SHOCKED” to read that Chuck Pahlaniuk is gay (guess I’ve never checked his wikipedia entry before). Next you’ll be telling me Anderson Cooper is!

By: LeviSJ

LeviSJ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:24:03 +0000

I love the format of this new feature. It’s like you’re picking right through my thought process when I’m watching a “classic” movie and not understanding why it was so great. I especially enjoy the many categories you have going: it fits my analytical thinking just right.

It’s like you knew just what I always wanted in a film review….

Are you Santa?

By: Adrianne

Adrianne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:08:51 +0000

Great idea for a column, Eric! We’re looking forward to it. My husband & I periodically check the AFI “Top 100 Whatevers” lists as a generic guideline to discovering classic film; however there have been a few head-scratchers on that list for us, including:

The Philadelphia Story
Annie Hall
Singin’ In The Rain
2001 (too easy, I know)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1930s w/Clark Gable)

And more! Anyway, can’t wait to read on…

By: Hermie

Hermie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:08:54 +0000

Excellent idea! I’m personally going through Film Studies RIGHT NOW, so this can prove incredibly helpful in some cases. Some movies hold up, like The Graduate, but when watching other, older movies, I often get that feeling that while I appreciate where this movie took narrative storytelling and techniques, there’s a blank hole in what I am supposed to be getting from it. (Shane)

…

SHAAAAAANE!

By: Argus Skyhawk

Argus Skyhawk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:48:03 +0000

Man, I think the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey was just made for this column. There is definitely a classic movie that a lot of people have trouble “getting.”

By: CoolBoy

CoolBoy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:04 +0000

Re: Casablanca

I don’t wish to ruin anything if Eric chooses to write for this film (which he definitely should, I love that movie) but the point of Casablanca was to show why the United States needed to get involved with WWII.

Rick simply refused to get involved in the situation surrounding himself as long as he continued to make money (starting to sound like the US yet?). but he later finds he’s already invested in the conflict whether he intended to be or not. It’s convenient that the name of the town was Casablanca (Spanish for White House). Things continue from there, but I’ll leave that to more capable hands.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:13:48 +0000

I’m sorry to see the time capsule/10-year-itch go, but I’m excited to see something like this. (I’m sure I’ll be happy as long as Eric’s Bad Movies stay)

I’ve always been wondering what the big deal is about
Dr. Zhivago
Gone with the Wind
The Graduate
Apocalypse Now

I’m eager to see what next week holds.