Hehe, I guess I had it coming (too bad you throw horribly!That fire had nothing to do with netty. Well, maybe a little bit wrote:Let me be one of the first then! [picks up tomato]The Fires of Escapeii wrote:1940, drama/quasi-biography (Kane is a fictional version of William Randolph Hearst), RKO Radio Pictures.
Like Star Wars, it's a cinematic innovation for its time (for its then-unique use of camera angles, deep focus, make-up, sound, etc.), but the story is about as vapid and melodramatic as poorly-written high school poetry. Seriously, it bores me to death if ever I watch it (and film snobs everywhere are now lining up to throw tomatoes at me...).
As we've often discussed when bemoaning Fantasia censorship, the non-release of Song of the South or Leonard Maltin's introductions on the Treasures sets, vintage film has to be looked at in context. And Citizen Kane is an amazing film when viewed in context for so many reasons.
Firstly, as Escapay point's out, this film showcased many technical innovations. They've become part of the film experience now, but like Ub Iworks' innovations in the 30s and 40s in animation (any later, beyond), the impact of these cannot be understated. All, in all, they're probably just as important historically as Jurassic Park was with its groundbreaking use of CGI and everything that came afterwards.
Secondly, the film is - probably satire is the wrong word - but it's a modern morailty tale, which constantly warns the audience of the dangers of a single person having too much power. It seems laughable now in the days of vast media empires like Disney and Fox, but Citizen Kane really did have something serious and relevant to say about the media, politics and influence. When asked what people will think, and Kane replies "What I tell them to think." is just as relevant today as it was then. More so, I'd wager.
Thirdly, I think it's wrong to dismiss the script. It really does have lots of quick and witty one liners and quotes in it. Considering Wells was - what, I forget, but his late 20s? - when it co-wrote, directed and acted in it, it's an incredibly bold and confident film. And the whole Rosebud mystery and conclusion is, I think, very poignant and revealing. For all his wealth, power and achievements – good and bad – it implies Kane himself hated what he had become. So did nature make the man, or did nurture make the man – against nature's intent?
[throws tomato]
So take that Albert!
[misses by a mile, because 2099net throws like a girl]
I know I'd rather see Citizen Kane over any Godfather (or Star Wars) film anyday.
).I agree with pretty much everything you said, but at the end of the day, Citizen Kane will never be my cup of tea. Essentially, I know it's a great film, I won't deny it's a great film, but it's a film that I rarely watch because I don't enjoy it the way I want to enjoy films.
It's like trying to read a Hemingway novel (for example, The Sun Also Rises) because everyone says it's good, and even if you hate reading it, you can't deny that it's good (regardless if everyone said it was or wasn't), but you're still bored with it and will likely never read it again.
Of course, the difference between Citizen Kane and The Sun Also Rises is that I actually like The Sun Also Rises.
Albert
:D
That's just adorable. 