Having finally viewed Citizen Kane, I am left wondering what it is about that film that supposedly made it so great? Only recently toppled from #1 on many lists of the top 100 films, it clearly had legs. I just could not see them. Well, anyway, it’s a tick from the list.

 

Would not get my vote
Would not get my vote

It’s actually difficult to find a top 100 films list that we want to work with. Many of them are solely American films, others voted on by present day film-goers tend to be slanted towards the newest blockbusters. I lean mostly towards Empire’s 500. This list at least encompasses the output from beyond the Americas.

The Godfather tops the 500 list – this is a film that I have actively avoided watching for much of my life. It has never held any appeal for me, and I really cannot stand Marlon Brando. It’s time to grit my teeth and find out what I have been missing. As soon as we get hold of a copy, I’ll be more informed. Maybe On the Waterfront will follow 🙂

Oddly, #2 on  the 500 list is Raiders of the Lost Ark. I have seen it many times and it is undoubtedly a lot of fun… but is it really a great film? I’m not sure that I would have voted it so.  I mean, Harrison Ford was well hot, but he’s never going to be judged on of the world’s greatest actors, is he? Similar comments apply to ‘#3, of course, The Empire Strikes Back.

The Shawshank Redemption at #4 is a long-time favourite of mine; it is followed by Jaws. Now, I have certainly seen some of Jaws, but am not sure that I have ever sat all the way through it. I found it to be tripe. Numbers 6, 7, and 8 I have seen but Pulp Fiction at no 9 is yet to be watched. Another one that I have avoided to date. I have seen number 10, Fight Club and thus we come to number 11 in the list before finding the next “to be watched” film and again, it is one that I have actively avoided: Raging Bull.

Funny, I had expected this part of my education to be fun and enjoyable – but Tarantino, Marlon and Sly are not my idea of watchability. Ho, hum. It is looking like the holes in my film education are self-selected!

(Empire’s poll was conducted in 2008. Ob: some recent good films are missing.)

I had intended to go to Kirkwall today as I cannot go tomorrow, we are expecting a visitor from America at Spinning and I cannot miss it. A call from my GP, making an appointment for this morning rather messed up my plans. He is referring me to a cardiologist as a non-urgent  referral. I need to get bloods done for fasting blood sugar and for cholesterol and lipid profiles etc. This I shall probably get organised for next week some time. Between now and then I have a little job to do for the doctor.

Some time ago I was involved in producing a booklet aimed at enticing a new doctor to our island. The doctor that was appointed was very impressed by the publication and now wishes me to update it in order to seduce a District Nurse. If there are any nurses out there fancying a quiet island life, consider this a heads-up. An earlier version of the booklet is available for download on the Sanday community website under the Live and Work section.

Right, I need to get my bobbin filled and my wheel set up for spinning group tomorrow. Tempus fugit.

 

 

Published by Scattered Thinker

The Scattered Thinker is somewhat past her prime, but not yet in any danger of giving up. In the Inter-world, she is often known as plumbum, or sometimes as ulygan. In the Real Life, she goes by the name of Beth. Beth is a roamer. She lives in a motorhome and has a backup static caravan that serves as a bolthole if needed. Bricks and mortar are very much a thing of the past. Contact Beth if you would like to correspond with paper and pen.

4 replies on “That was… great?”

  1. Many of Empire’s readers are male. I think this is demonstrated in the lists of films. I like a good action film, but I prefer films that make me think. Shawshank is one of my top films. Great Escape and Thomas Crown Affair (Pierce Brosnan remake) are also in the top 5.

    1. I find modern action films very boring. Those crash scenes that go on and on and on and on… though there was one of those in the 3rd Bourne movie and I still enjoyed that 😉 Shawshank is great, and the Great Escape is indisputable but I’ll take Steve McQueen over Pierce Brosnan any day (though that’s ‘cos I’m old and sentimental) and now I shall be humming “Windmills” for the rest of the day. Noel Harrison was pretty cute too, come to think of it. I’ve not actually seen the remake, though I have suggested it to Mr L on a compare and contrast basis. Perhaps we shall get around to it.

    1. I’d say that it was not worth the bother but.. as a period piece and to complete one’s film education, I suppose it had to be done. I only dropped off once, so it cannot have been too dull.

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