This has little, if anything, to add to the topic. I am someone who has had a deep interest in film since I was 5 or 6 years old. I have never found a good film that I would not watch again and in fact have watched some films many, many times (even a few that no one but I would dare watch more than once
)
In the long-gone days of the roadshow picture, if you were around then, I saw one particular film ten times (I am not going to reveal which one). In the same era, I saw
2001 a Space Odyssey 4 times in a roadshow engagement, attending opening night in Hollywood (the film was much shorter the very next day, and I know this fact because I saw the film again the very next evening).
To assess good from bad, it requires you to see anything and everything. Even the worst of the worst can sometimes surprise with an unexpected scene. I think I had seen all of Ed Woods’ oeuvre many years before Tim Burton did the biopic. I am also a big fan of 50's and 60's B-grade films (science fiction in particular). I believe I have seen the film “Them” some 5 or 6 times.
It is important to experience a wide range of film (good, bad, and ugly) in order to fully appreciate those which bring new and creative ideas to the theatre. That simple fact may explain why I find many of today's blockbusters disappointing.
It strikes me that story has been subjugated to big moments in many of today's films and I fail to understand the adulation many of those receive. A good example of that for me is the most recent film version of
Dune. It is a cumbersome, lifeless, unemotional mess in my opinion. The aborted misstep that was David Lynch’s version shows more economy and vision than this 2021 release. Chalamet’s performance in the central role is much inferior to Kyle MacLachan’s and how could the new film possibly top Sting as Feyd Rautha. Also, the new film takes over two and a half hours to only cover about two thirds of the book and leaves you hanging at a critical juncture of the story (Boooooooooo!!!!!!!!). I do not know if I have it in me to watch part 2.
In my view, Denis Villeneuve is a director who is all style over substance. He does not know how to direct the emotions of the characters in his films, and they are left to swing in the wind or deliver performances that are difficult to connect with on any level. Obviously, I do not consider
Dune (2021) to be a good film, so my current refusal to watch it again does not meet the topic heading for the simple reason that even with all my loathing for it, I may one day deign to view it again, even though I am quite certain a second viewing will not change my opinion.
These are just the ramblings of someone who has no compunction when expressing my thoughts on any and every film I have experienced. So, confessing that, I apologize for running on and on. It is just that I am rather hopeless when anyone starts a topic about film.
