Name some innovative movies at DVinfo.net

Emre Safak · May 1st, 2004, 07:06 PM

Can you name some movies that pushed the form of cinema, and are still at the frontier by today's standards? How were they original?

To name some examples:
2001: Sparse dialog, with emphasis on the score.
Breaking the Waves: Jump cuts to disorient the viewer.
Magnolia: Illustrations to support the narration.

Keith Loh · May 1st, 2004, 08:56 PM

Many of Akira Kurosawa's movies that were pre-war or early post-war are marvels of composition. They have fluid, modern direction that you would recognize in many movies today.

Ken Tanaka · May 1st, 2004, 09:50 PM

I second Keith's nomination for Kurosawa. Largely as a result of Keith and Dylan's interest in samurai films I recently purchased a Criterion Collection edition of some of Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. Watching "Seven Samurai" with the commentary track playing is like a mini-film school. I highly recommend this if you're genuinely interested in the fine points of a really fine film. Lest you think that Kurosawa's samurai films are irrelevant, think again. Their basic model of story and many of their visual attributes have been replicated so often during the past 50 years they've nearly become cliche. You'll find the form over and over, even today.

If you really want to look for works that defined the artform you have to travel back to works such as "Birth of a Nation" and Abel Gantry's "Napoleon". The number of noteworthy references is far too numerous to list here.

For a very good tour, get a copy of "A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies".

For more of a cinematographers' perspective, get a copy of "Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography"

Keith Loh · May 1st, 2004, 10:29 PM

Also, much of his catalogue are non-samurai films. "Stray Dog", "Drunken Angel", "Ikuru", "High and Low" are all excellent movies that are set in post-war Japan.

John Hudson · May 1st, 2004, 11:16 PM

I think Tarantinos PULP FICTION made people step back and look at how movies are made; numerous copycat films because of it. Funny, I always got the impression that his films were very similar to early DePalma (Compostions and Style)

DIE HARD I think changed how the action film is made in terms of PREMISES.

Rich Lee · May 3rd, 2004, 12:35 AM

blade runner for sci-fi. will a sci-fi movie ever get made again that is as cool as this one?

Citizen kane, the techincal things they did in that movie were ahead of there time and still used today.

those are the obvious kinds i guess..

i think 3 movies john frankenhiemer did in the 60's were pretty great at pushing film in another direction...

-Seven Days in May
-The Manchurian Candidate (there was an amazing sequence in this movie when some soldiers were being interviewed by officials from china and russia... brilliant!)
-Seconds (my fav)

the way he used wide angle lenses and "Snorri" cams (cameras attached to people with rods ala darren aronofsky) to help push the story along were amazing.

Frank Granovski · May 3rd, 2004, 01:18 AM

"Last Tango in Paris." First film I studied at university. It opened my eyes for possiblities.

Linda Schodowsky · May 3rd, 2004, 10:17 AM

Spike Lee has alot of shots in his movies where the background is moving when characters are walking and talking, but the characters themselves seem to be standing still. Almost like they're floating.

Very different, I must say.

Joe Carney · May 3rd, 2004, 01:10 PM

<<"Last Tango in Paris." First film I studied at university. It opened my eyes for possiblities.
<<

Yes, everyones' attitudes toward butter changed forever.

May 1st, 2004, 07:06 PM	#1
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Name some innovative movies Can you name some movies that pushed the form of cinema, and are still at the frontier by today's standards? How were they original? To name some examples: 2001: Sparse dialog, with emphasis on the score. Breaking the Waves: Jump cuts to disorient the viewer. Magnolia: Illustrations to support the narration.

May 1st, 2004, 08:56 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Many of Akira Kurosawa's movies that were pre-war or early post-war are marvels of composition. They have fluid, modern direction that you would recognize in many movies today. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

May 1st, 2004, 09:50 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I second Keith's nomination for Kurosawa. Largely as a result of Keith and Dylan's interest in samurai films I recently purchased a Criterion Collection edition of some of Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. Watching "Seven Samurai" with the commentary track playing is like a mini-film school. I highly recommend this if you're genuinely interested in the fine points of a really fine film. Lest you think that Kurosawa's samurai films are irrelevant, think again. Their basic model of story and many of their visual attributes have been replicated so often during the past 50 years they've nearly become cliche. You'll find the form over and over, even today. If you really want to look for works that defined the artform you have to travel back to works such as "Birth of a Nation" and Abel Gantry's "Napoleon". The number of noteworthy references is far too numerous to list here. For a very good tour, get a copy of "A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies". For more of a cinematographers' perspective, get a copy of "Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography" __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

May 1st, 2004, 10:29 PM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Also, much of his catalogue are non-samurai films. "Stray Dog", "Drunken Angel", "Ikuru", "High and Low" are all excellent movies that are set in post-war Japan. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

May 3rd, 2004, 12:35 AM	#6
Rich Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles Ca Posts: 126	blade runner for sci-fi. will a sci-fi movie ever get made again that is as cool as this one? Citizen kane, the techincal things they did in that movie were ahead of there time and still used today. those are the obvious kinds i guess.. i think 3 movies john frankenhiemer did in the 60's were pretty great at pushing film in another direction... -Seven Days in May -The Manchurian Candidate (there was an amazing sequence in this movie when some soldiers were being interviewed by officials from china and russia... brilliant!) -Seconds (my fav) the way he used wide angle lenses and "Snorri" cams (cameras attached to people with rods ala darren aronofsky) to help push the story along were amazing. __________________ Rich Lee http://www.rich-lee.com

May 1st, 2004, 11:16 PM	#5
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	I think Tarantinos PULP FICTION made people step back and look at how movies are made; numerous copycat films because of it. Funny, I always got the impression that his films were very similar to early DePalma (Compostions and Style) DIE HARD I think changed how the action film is made in terms of PREMISES.

May 3rd, 2004, 01:18 AM	#7
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	"Last Tango in Paris." First film I studied at university. It opened my eyes for possiblities.

May 3rd, 2004, 10:17 AM	#8
Linda Schodowsky Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 139	Spike Lee has alot of shots in his movies where the background is moving when characters are walking and talking, but the characters themselves seem to be standing still. Almost like they're floating. Very different, I must say.

May 3rd, 2004, 01:10 PM	#9
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	<<"Last Tango in Paris." First film I studied at university. It opened my eyes for possiblities. << Yes, everyones' attitudes toward butter changed forever.