Movie Classics

[michelanCello]

We had quite a disagreement with Sjoerd on this topic and we'd like to hear other opinions to have a better view on the whole...

So first of all, what do you consider a "classic" movie? Is it based on release date, on popularity, on the story?
And what is your favorite classic?

And, most importantly: do you consider Dirty Dancing a classic??

 

[pip]

I'd go for popularity. To be a classic lots of people have to love it. Time does have to pass to see if its popularity lasts.
For me Rollerball is a classic.

Sadly for Sjoerd Dirty Dancing is definitely in the classic bracket.

And thanks foe the cardo

 

[Willem]

Yup, it's a classic. A classic example of movies to be avoided!

Hard to say what defines a classic movie but I'd say time is definately a factor, it has to prove it can stand the test of time.

 

[chris.ph]

blade runner is a classic

dirty dancing is a chick flick classic

 

[Kin Arad]

Is Blade Runner the one with Harrison Ford? Or am I thinking of another one....

 

[Quatermass]

No, Blade Runner does have Harrison Ford in it.

A classic has to be a mixture of vintage and popularity. A decent story wouldn't hurt either.

 

[The Mad Collector]

I'm with Q on this one. A certain amount of age is required in order to see if the film stands the test of time. After all loads of people saw Titanic so it was popular (no idea why though) but I'm pretty sure nobody would describe it as a classic film.

 

[ChristianBecker]

I second that.

 

[Tonyblack]

I think there's a difference between a 'cult' and a 'classic'. Star Wars, for example could have been a cult hit as it genre specific, but it appealed to a wide range of people who might not have been interested in such a genre. That made it a classic, in my opinion. A film that transcends its genre and has universal appeal.

Lord of the Rings isn't an old film (or films) but I think it will be considered a classic because it has broken free of its genre.

Look at books that are considered 'classics'. They are often genre specific and yet they have a wide appeal to people who might not normally be interested in that genre.

HG Wells - The War of the Worlds is Sci-Fi pure and simple, yet many people who wouldn't normally read Sci-Fi can and do enjoy it.

Dirty Dancing, I'd tend to put in the catagory of 'cult' rather than 'classic'. But this may change.

The Shawshank Redemption is an example of a cult that became a classic with time.

 

[michelanCello]

I like Tony's theory and I can't really argue with it (I've tried it, promise, but Sjoerd's not being really helpful )

 

[Quatermass]

Lord of the Rings isn't an old film (or films) but I think it will be considered a classic because it has broken free of its genre.

But it was based on a classic book. Anyway, a film can be classic if it's relatively old. Like the best part of a decade at the earliest.

 

[Tiffany]

Gosh! What a question to answer. For me there are lots.
Dirty Dancing is a classic. But going back further Barbarella is as well.
Gone With The Wind, though I wasn't keen.
Any of the Disney's feature films, up to 1994 were brilliant. They changed after that & haven't been as good.
There must be loads more, but off hand I can't think of any.

 

[Dotsie]

After all loads of people saw Titanic so it was popular (no idea why though) but I'm pretty sure nobody would describe it as a classic film.

Lots of people saw it, but I don't think as many people loved it. It really needs to stand the test of the opening weekend, the age of the film doesn't have that much to do with it. There are some instant classics, but only with time can they be widely recognised.

Dirty Dancing, I'd tend to put in the catagory of 'cult' rather than 'classic'. But this may change.

No, it's too well-loved to be a cult. Definitely a classic. And even though some might describe it as a chick-flick, it definitely isn't. A lot of men like this film, and everyone knows that you don't put Baby in the corner.

To be a classic, you have to be able to watch it again and again. And if it came out again tomorrow, it would be just as well-received as the first time.

 

[pip]

Gosh! What a question to answer. For me there are lots.
Dirty Dancing is a classic. But going back further Barbarella is as well.
Gone With The Wind, though I wasn't keen.
Any of the Disney's feature films, up to 1994 were brilliant. They changed after that & haven't been as good.
There must be loads more, but off hand I can't think of any.

What about the Disney Pixar films since 94 , Pirates of the Caribean and the brilliant Remember the Titans for Disney classics

 

[Dotsie]

Not classics, I feel. They haven't lasted well.

 

[pip]

Toy Story isn't a classic.

 

[DaveC]

Toy Story isn't a classic.

Tis.

 

[Bouncy Castle]

To Infinity........... AND BEYOND!!

 

[michelanCello]

Dirty Dancing, I'd tend to put in the catagory of 'cult' rather than 'classic'. But this may change.

No, it's too well-loved to be a cult. Definitely a classic. And even though some might describe it as a chick-flick, it definitely isn't. A lot of men like this film, and everyone knows that you don't put Baby in the corner.

*clapclap*

My thoughts exactly, I just couldn't put them so well I'm not a big fan of skipping-jumping-dancing-and-a-thousand-elephants movies and I've only seen Dirty Dancing once (which was enough) but it doesn't seem fair not to call it a classic! Most people know it, or know about it, isn't that enough? Not everyone likes The Godfather (I do!) but that's classic nr1...

 

[pip]

Toy Story isn't a classic.

Tis.

Exactly. Disney hasn't died off its just refocused