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What movies HAVE to be seen on the big screen?
During Oscar night, host Jon Stewart cracked a joke about how great Lawrence of Arabia looked on his iPod with its whopping 2.5-inch screen.
That - and a suggestion from regular reader/commenter SRCputt - prompts me to ask you all: What movies HAVE to be seen on the big screen?
I don’t hesitate for a moment before answering “ANY movie.” As I have made clear on this blog in the past, I am a true believer in the theatrical experience. Any director worth their salt will tell you their movies are meant to be seen in theaters.
I don’t care if a movie is as visually extravagant as Star Wars or as visually plain as Knocked Up. Every kind of movie, no matter what its genre or visual palette is, benefits from a big screen, and even more importantly, the audience.
That means that I also don’t care if your TV at home measures 50 feet across, much less 50 inches. The audience is missing. Sure, you can get a bunch of your family or friends to watch a movie with you, but love them though you may, they just don’t create as powerful a response as a shared reaction between strangers. That’s why last Saturday, I went to AMC Theatres’ Oscar-movie marathon in which they played all five Best Picture nominees back to back to back to back to back - even though I had already seen all of them.
It makes me sad that so many people actively avoid theaters today. I know times are tough, prices are insane and the audiences that do go seem to get ruder by the week. As much as I hate to admit it, home viewing is not only here to stay, it’s probably going to become even more prevalent.
That said, I wish the ratio between home viewing and the cinema weren’t so lopsided. Seems to me most people these days only go out to theaters to catch the big-ticket event movie, like Harry Potter or the big-ticket family film (the annual Pixar entry). Hopefully, the following examples of big-screen must-sees will inspire people to venture out, and then venture into their local cinemas, at least a little more often. Click the jump:
Star Wars (any of them): The trailer for the 1997 re-release of Episode IV said “If you’ve only seen it this way (on TV), you haven’t seen it at all.” Entirely too true.
The Polar Express: As I mentioned in my DVD reviews Tuesday, I saw this movie both in IMAX 3D and in flat 2D. The 3D version, which I saw first, blew my mind. The 2D version was still entertaining, but not nearly as transporting. I really hope a nearby IMAX theater books it again this Christmas.
Rear Window: Grace Kelly only looks more stunning on the big screen, especially in this scene:
But this film is most fun with an audience, especially if some of them haven’t seen it before. You CAN hear people squirm - and it’s fun!
Monty Python and the Holy Grail: It’s no great shakes visually, but I never had more fun with this movie than when I saw it with a bunch of Python nuts who knew it by heart. Besides, laughter times a few hundred is especially potent.
And, because every list must begin and end with this movie:
Lawrence of Arabia: If you’ve seen it on a small screen and thought you didn’t like it, see it in a theater. Even money says you’ll change your mind.
Your turn. What movies have you not truly seen unless you’ve seen them in a theater?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Moviegoing
Comments
By Geoff
March 5, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
2001: A Space Odyssey. ‘Nuff said.By Sir Critic
February 28, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Some Guy: You get the comment of the week award!By Some guy
February 28, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Four syllables: CaligulaBy mike
February 28, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
I’ll drive 500 miles to see anything if it’s being projected from a real 70mm print.By SRCputt
February 27, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
I would also mention any silent movie is better on a screen with a live music score. I’ve seen Nosferatu with two different music groups, Metropolis with a live organ player in Columbus, and am looking forward to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari playing in Springfield at the State Theater four weeks from now.By SRCputt
February 27, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
I forgot the second best choice for this list (after Lawrence). The first time I saw Apocalypse Now was on TV, pan and scan, and I didn’t understand the fuss. The second time I saw it, it was a 70mm mint condition print from the second row when Neon Movies was still one screen, and then I understood.By SRCputt
February 27, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
Deb’s point about Rocky Horror is a great one. Most great comedies work better with an audience. I fondly remember seeing the first show of There’s Something About Mary, where we were laughing so hard we missed dialogue. I also saw Plan 9 From Outer Space wih a crowd, which was delightful. The biggest regular movie screen I’ve ever seen was the Uptown Theater in Washington DC. That was where I first saw The Last Emperor. It isn’t the same on TV.By Deb
February 27, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Definitely Gone with the Wind deserves the big screen, even if there is no one else in the theater. The best movie to be seen with an audience is Rocky Horror Picture Show!