Who do you think the greatest director of all time is and why?

Mathieu Ghekiere · June 3rd, 2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornady Setiawan

also Night Shyamalan, etc.

Forgot about him! Great director too with a complete own visual style!

Chris Luker · June 5th, 2006, 12:58 PM

I will go see anything by Luc Besson.
He's my fav.

Aaron Koolen · June 5th, 2006, 03:34 PM

People slag Speilberg off all the time cause he's all "Hollywood" but when I first read this thread, I looked back in my mind to all the films I've enjoyed over the years from a single director and he came out on top.

Watched Jaws last night again - great film.
Always loved ET - I still cry when I see that ugly little beggar get all sick.
Indiana Jones - Ultimate adventure movie
Jurassic Park - Dinosaurs!
Minority Report - Good adaptation of a book by my favourite author

Duel - I'll just forget about that one ;)

Aaron

Frank Granovski · June 5th, 2006, 06:45 PM

I always liked Alfred Hitchcock.

Graeme Nattress · June 5th, 2006, 06:52 PM

Rudolf Cartier - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174444/ - a TV pioneer, who made such fantastic dramas with next to nothing in the way of technology. His 1984 is a true television classic that always amazes me how much feeling can be got across with such crude technology.

Graeme

Leo Pepingco · June 5th, 2006, 07:33 PM

For Direction, and cinematography: Akira Kurosawa.

For just basic direction: Hitchcock. I think, no matter what you make of him, he always told the story through the pictures. In essence, if you do your film literacy and history, he started the Speilberg style. The best example is "Psycho" when the Private eye goes into the house, he looks left, then we see it, he looks up, we see it, he looks right, we see it... then, a door opens, and we think its one of the two doors on the left or right.... NO! ITS THE ONE ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS!!!! OMG OMG!!! NOOOOOOOOO...... oh... hes dead.

That kind of direction is what made hitchcock, and gave modern day directors a foundation to work with. If it wanst for Hitchcock, Jaws would have been a very bad movie, the film is littered with Hitchcockness...

Shervin Mandgaryan · June 5th, 2006, 08:25 PM

Kubrick, Ridley Scott and Akira Kurosawa

Leo Pepingco · June 5th, 2006, 08:49 PM

You know, I would have normally put Ridly Scott in my list, but ever since Bladerunner, I really didnt have a lot of praise left for him. Dont get me wrong, I like the film, its really good, but I think there is a balance between a literary film and a popular film. It just never did well, and there were so many bad reviews written about it at the time of release.

Maybe someone can change my mind?

Tim Goldman · June 5th, 2006, 09:14 PM

Well, as much as you might not like his movies, modern cenima starts with D.W. Griffith. Yes other people at the time were doing some inturesting stuff. But Griffith is realy the first one to but it together, amek it work, and use the basics of what we all know as cinema. He is dated now, but he deserves credit for what he did for all of us in terms of film work (not subject matter)

Hitchcock is good, for a director he's up there at the top.(you have to say that he stoped with the birds tho.)

Orson Wells is brilliant, try watching F for Fake.

Nick Roeg, give walkabout a spin.

Best use of FX I'd have to go with kubrick, take a look at 2001, it's still amazing after all these years...with 0 computers, now thats true film work!

Keith Loh · June 5th, 2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo Pepingco

You know, I would have normally put Ridly Scott in my list, but ever since Bladerunner, I really didnt have a lot of praise left for him. Dont get me wrong, I like the film, its really good, but I think there is a balance between a literary film and a popular film. It just never did well, and there were so many bad reviews written about it at the time of release.
Maybe someone can change my mind?

Feel free to criticize "Blade Runner" but the criteria you are using shouldn't matter. Popularity in the box office and other people's reviews shouldn't factor in what is a question of personal opinion.

Dylan Couper · June 6th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Koolen

People slag Speilberg off all the time cause he's all "Hollywood" but when I first read this thread, I looked back in my mind to all the films I've enjoyed over the years from a single director and he came out on top.

I like your point. If I was stuck on a desert island and could only watch the films of one director, I'd choose... uh, who was the guy that made Debbie Does Dallas? Anyway, after him I'd choose Speilberg.

Tom Hardwick · June 6th, 2006, 02:21 AM

Kubrick. You could print any frame from Barry Lyndon and hang it in your home.

tom.

Tony Tibbetts · June 6th, 2006, 04:01 AM

Kubrick, Scorsese, Kurosawa are my top three. I also like Steven Spielberg, George Miller, Alfred Hitchcock, Ridley Scott, Orson Welles, Sam Peckinpah, and Walter Hill. William Friedkin and Paul Schrader did some classic films in the 70's and 80's. Both don't get enough credit. For newer blood I like Chan-wook Park, Zhang Yimou, Paul Thomas Anderson, Seung-wan Ryoo, David Fincher, Alexander Payne, Wes Anderson, and Wayne Kramer to name a few.

Did anybody see "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"? Great film, directed by Tommy Lee Jones.

Meryem Ersoz · June 6th, 2006, 07:07 AM

i've never seen a film by sidney lumet which i have not liked.

i can't say this about any other single director....

plus, he is willing to take on challenging material with a light touch...like that about him, too....he has had amazing success over a long, storied career, not just made a handful of good films among the dreck. for consistency, he's hard to beat....

Mathieu Ghekiere · June 6th, 2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

I like your point. If I was stuck on a desert island and could only watch the films of one director, I'd choose... uh, who was the guy that made Debbie Does Dallas? Anyway, after him I'd choose Speilberg.

LOL!!

For a great article about spielberg, try this, it talks about him being so popular, many people don't like him while he still remains one of the most talented directors in the world - to my opinion. Check it out, it's really great and informative:

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/conten...spielberg.html

June 5th, 2006, 03:34 PM	#18
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	People slag Speilberg off all the time cause he's all "Hollywood" but when I first read this thread, I looked back in my mind to all the films I've enjoyed over the years from a single director and he came out on top. Watched Jaws last night again - great film. Always loved ET - I still cry when I see that ugly little beggar get all sick. Indiana Jones - Ultimate adventure movie Jurassic Park - Dinosaurs! Minority Report - Good adaptation of a book by my favourite author Duel - I'll just forget about that one ;) Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

June 5th, 2006, 06:52 PM	#20
Graeme Nattress RED Problem Solver Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,365	Rudolf Cartier - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174444/ - a TV pioneer, who made such fantastic dramas with next to nothing in the way of technology. His 1984 is a true television classic that always amazes me how much feeling can be got across with such crude technology. Graeme __________________ www.nattress.com - filters for FCP

June 5th, 2006, 09:14 PM	#24
Tim Goldman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 135	Well, as much as you might not like his movies, modern cenima starts with D.W. Griffith. Yes other people at the time were doing some inturesting stuff. But Griffith is realy the first one to but it together, amek it work, and use the basics of what we all know as cinema. He is dated now, but he deserves credit for what he did for all of us in terms of film work (not subject matter) Hitchcock is good, for a director he's up there at the top.(you have to say that he stoped with the birds tho.) Orson Wells is brilliant, try watching F for Fake. Nick Roeg, give walkabout a spin. Best use of FX I'd have to go with kubrick, take a look at 2001, it's still amazing after all these years...with 0 computers, now thats true film work! __________________ Wish I had something witty to say

June 5th, 2006, 12:58 PM	#17
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	I will go see anything by Luc Besson. He's my fav.

June 5th, 2006, 06:45 PM	#19
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I always liked Alfred Hitchcock.

June 5th, 2006, 07:33 PM	#21
Leo Pepingco Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 275	For Direction, and cinematography: Akira Kurosawa. For just basic direction: Hitchcock. I think, no matter what you make of him, he always told the story through the pictures. In essence, if you do your film literacy and history, he started the Speilberg style. The best example is "Psycho" when the Private eye goes into the house, he looks left, then we see it, he looks up, we see it, he looks right, we see it... then, a door opens, and we think its one of the two doors on the left or right.... NO! ITS THE ONE ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS!!!! OMG OMG!!! NOOOOOOOOO...... oh... hes dead. That kind of direction is what made hitchcock, and gave modern day directors a foundation to work with. If it wanst for Hitchcock, Jaws would have been a very bad movie, the film is littered with Hitchcockness...

June 5th, 2006, 08:25 PM	#22
Shervin Mandgaryan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 85	Kubrick, Ridley Scott and Akira Kurosawa

June 5th, 2006, 08:49 PM	#23
Leo Pepingco Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 275	You know, I would have normally put Ridly Scott in my list, but ever since Bladerunner, I really didnt have a lot of praise left for him. Dont get me wrong, I like the film, its really good, but I think there is a balance between a literary film and a popular film. It just never did well, and there were so many bad reviews written about it at the time of release. Maybe someone can change my mind?

June 6th, 2006, 02:21 AM	#27
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Kubrick. You could print any frame from Barry Lyndon and hang it in your home. tom.

June 6th, 2006, 04:01 AM	#28
Tony Tibbetts Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 385	Kubrick, Scorsese, Kurosawa are my top three. I also like Steven Spielberg, George Miller, Alfred Hitchcock, Ridley Scott, Orson Welles, Sam Peckinpah, and Walter Hill. William Friedkin and Paul Schrader did some classic films in the 70's and 80's. Both don't get enough credit. For newer blood I like Chan-wook Park, Zhang Yimou, Paul Thomas Anderson, Seung-wan Ryoo, David Fincher, Alexander Payne, Wes Anderson, and Wayne Kramer to name a few. Did anybody see "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"? Great film, directed by Tommy Lee Jones.

June 6th, 2006, 07:07 AM	#29
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	i've never seen a film by sidney lumet which i have not liked. i can't say this about any other single director.... plus, he is willing to take on challenging material with a light touch...like that about him, too....he has had amazing success over a long, storied career, not just made a handful of good films among the dreck. for consistency, he's hard to beat....