What new films would you INSIST are masterpieces?
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Contec
Master Member
Scareb
Sr Member
Kinda suprised no one has Mentioned Jurassic Park. It's a classic film and perhaps and most likely be considered a Masterpiece.
I also agree with Mic though, No films in the last little while can be considered a masterpiece in my books. They need to gather some dust on them first.
I also agree with Mic though, No films in the last little while can be considered a masterpiece in my books. They need to gather some dust on them first.
Paul Andrew
Master Member
Yeah. Can't argue with that. Trippy premise on top of solid action and storytelling. A real mind@#$! of a movie.
weaselflinger
Sr Member
In this instance, I'll define "masterpiece" as could not be made better. As far recent films, The Big Lebowski, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Up, The Descent, Hot Fuzz, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club.
Valaraukar9000
New Member
Brazil
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman
The Princess Bride
UP... all Pixar
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman
The Princess Bride
UP... all Pixar
cayman shen
Master Member
I think without some consensus on what a "masterpiece" is, this will just be a "my favorite movies" thread.
ModernDayMarc
Well-Known Member
I have two for my opinion:
The Usual Suspects
The color of Money
The Usual Suspects
The color of Money
woffpack
New Member
I don't think these have been mentioned yet:
The Bourne movies
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Star Trek (2009)
some of the M. Night Shyamalan films
It seems that many "classics" are films which did very well in the box office and their popularity spreads more quickly and easily.. After years of dust collecting on them the titles are still very recognizable. Examples: Star Wars, Raiders, Gone with the Wind, etc.
The Bourne movies
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Star Trek (2009)
some of the M. Night Shyamalan films
It seems that many "classics" are films which did very well in the box office and their popularity spreads more quickly and easily.. After years of dust collecting on them the titles are still very recognizable. Examples: Star Wars, Raiders, Gone with the Wind, etc.
Well, as in *new* many of the lists I've seen on here are kinda all over the place spanning the last 20-30 years. I summerize a masterpiece as a film that will withstand the test of time and never "get old" for any generation watching it,where as others are just commercialized P.O.S/ one hit wonders(at best) and easily forgotten. I have to disagree with some of the favorites listed in here. Sorry, but neither of the Pixar films,Transformer films nor the Harry Potter films are even close to being masterpieces."Up" was a regugitated idea with a new plot and characters,nothing more.Those are commercialized pieces of S&%&*?*%!@(particularly the Transformer films) with bad acting and scripts.Possibly entertaining(at least the Harry Potter and some/most of the Pixar films were),but no where near a masterpiece.I have to question your definition of what a "masterpiece is"?As for me, my list goes as follows and I'll attempt to go in order.Some were previously mentioned,but few (if any) within the last 10 years make my "Masterpiece" list.I think 30 listed is enough.I could continue but fell this is enough.Some of you may agree, some of you may not agree?However, most of these (regardless if they were Oscar winners or not) are true masterpieces of film, character and story telling I.M.O.
1. Blade Runner "Final Cut"
2. Alien (both theatrical and director's cut)
3. Star Wars (original release)
4. The Empire Strikes Back (original release)
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark
6. Aliens
7. Terminator
8. Robocop
9. An American Werewolf in London
10. The Evil Dead
11. Evil Dead II Dead by Dawn
12. Jaws
13. Appocolypse Now
14. E.T
15. Full Metal Jacket
16. Platoon
17. Saving Private Ryan
18 Forest Gump
19. Ghostbusters
20. Resevoir Dogs
21. Pulp Fiction
22. Fight Club
23. Goodfellas
24. The God Father
25. The God father II
26. Kundune
27. Raging Bull
28. Rocky
29. Wall Street
30. Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels
1. Blade Runner "Final Cut"
2. Alien (both theatrical and director's cut)
3. Star Wars (original release)
4. The Empire Strikes Back (original release)
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark
6. Aliens
7. Terminator
8. Robocop
9. An American Werewolf in London
10. The Evil Dead
11. Evil Dead II Dead by Dawn
12. Jaws
13. Appocolypse Now
14. E.T
15. Full Metal Jacket
16. Platoon
17. Saving Private Ryan
18 Forest Gump
19. Ghostbusters
20. Resevoir Dogs
21. Pulp Fiction
22. Fight Club
23. Goodfellas
24. The God Father
25. The God father II
26. Kundune
27. Raging Bull
28. Rocky
29. Wall Street
30. Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels
Probe Droid
Master Member
You win the door prize. It's an "eye of the beholder" thing, but, yikes, so much total crap. That's what makes a horserace, I suppose. What the hell, doesn't cost anything, right?
cayman shen
Master Member
I think we see eye to eye here...
Carson Dyle
Sr Member
To me, the term "masterpiece" refers to a master artist's best work.
For example, "2001" represents Kubrick operating at the height of his creative powers... "Citizen Kane" is Welles firing on all cylinders, etc.
By that standard, I regard "Inception" as Christopher Nolan's masterpiece (one I suspect he may find difficult to top).
Likewise, Peter Jackson will probably go down in cinematic history as the guy who did right by Tolkien. I mean, if the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy doesn't qualify as a masterpiece then the word is meaningless.
But 21st century masterpieces aside from those mentioned above?
Hmmm...
Well, the century is young.
For example, "2001" represents Kubrick operating at the height of his creative powers... "Citizen Kane" is Welles firing on all cylinders, etc.
By that standard, I regard "Inception" as Christopher Nolan's masterpiece (one I suspect he may find difficult to top).
Likewise, Peter Jackson will probably go down in cinematic history as the guy who did right by Tolkien. I mean, if the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy doesn't qualify as a masterpiece then the word is meaningless.
But 21st century masterpieces aside from those mentioned above?
Hmmm...
Well, the century is young.
cayman shen
Master Member
That's a good definition. So you could argue that Darabont's masterpiece is Shawshank, despite having several other good films under his belt, that's the most highly regarded one? Can we agree that some directors have not produced masterpieces (Uwe Boll or however you spell it comes to mind)?
SSgt Burton
Sr Member
Yeah I would say that the term "masterpiece" is VERY subjective. Like Carson mentioned the century is still young. 
My "criteria" for a masterpiece-
-The story must be nearly flawless without obvious plotholes, and be plausible within its genre (in other words, a sci-fi film like 2001 can still be a masterpiece despite interplanetary space travel currently being impossible). The plot can be intricate, but not so convoluted it becomes impossible to follow... nor can it be written for 5th graders.
-The acting must be as believable as possible. Ricardo Montalban had to recite some pretty cheesy lines for Star Trek II, however he delivered every line with such conviction that when he made his "Chase him round the Moons of Nibia" speech, you believed every word!
(I'm not so up on the technical side of filmmaking but here goes nothing)-
The film itself must be beautifully shot. There are no scenes that are "too dark" or action shots that take place "too fast" with ADHD editing.
-The musical score must be inspiring.
Honestly in the last 11 years I really haven't seen a film I could say is a "masterpiece". Films I enjoyed sure.
20th century films I would called masterpieces would be films like "Seven Samurai", "2001", "Blade Runner" or "Jaws". "Apocalypse Now" comes close, however it really does fall short with the scenes with Brando: the climax is almost anti-climactic compared to the brilliant helicopter assault.
Star Trek II is my favourite film. Do I think it is a masterpiece of film making?
Why yes. Yes I do.
I think maybe "Memento" comes close to being a contemporary masterpiece. And I know I'll probably catch blazes for it, but I think "Matrix: Reloaded" comes pretty close as well.
(By the way: I haven't seen "Inception" or LOTR, so I can't comment.)
Of course this is all my opinion. YMMV.
Kevin
My "criteria" for a masterpiece-
-The story must be nearly flawless without obvious plotholes, and be plausible within its genre (in other words, a sci-fi film like 2001 can still be a masterpiece despite interplanetary space travel currently being impossible). The plot can be intricate, but not so convoluted it becomes impossible to follow... nor can it be written for 5th graders.
-The acting must be as believable as possible. Ricardo Montalban had to recite some pretty cheesy lines for Star Trek II, however he delivered every line with such conviction that when he made his "Chase him round the Moons of Nibia" speech, you believed every word!
(I'm not so up on the technical side of filmmaking but here goes nothing)-
The film itself must be beautifully shot. There are no scenes that are "too dark" or action shots that take place "too fast" with ADHD editing.
-The musical score must be inspiring.
Honestly in the last 11 years I really haven't seen a film I could say is a "masterpiece". Films I enjoyed sure.
20th century films I would called masterpieces would be films like "Seven Samurai", "2001", "Blade Runner" or "Jaws". "Apocalypse Now" comes close, however it really does fall short with the scenes with Brando: the climax is almost anti-climactic compared to the brilliant helicopter assault.
Star Trek II is my favourite film. Do I think it is a masterpiece of film making?
Why yes. Yes I do.
I think maybe "Memento" comes close to being a contemporary masterpiece. And I know I'll probably catch blazes for it, but I think "Matrix: Reloaded" comes pretty close as well.
(By the way: I haven't seen "Inception" or LOTR, so I can't comment.)
Of course this is all my opinion. YMMV.
Kevin
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Yeah the problem is if masterpiece is an artist's best work then every single director would have a masterpiece. A masterpiece to me is a film which excels artistically and intellectually.
Carson Dyle
Sr Member
Your statement suggests that every single director is an artist. Not what I said.
Coppola is an artist. Kurosawa is an artist. Hitchcock is an artist. Brett Ratner is a hack. The first three have each directed films I regard as masterpieces. The fourth hasn't and never will (but, hey, he's producing the Oscar telecast, so that must count for something).
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