I don't do snob well, but I know what I like.
If I said I loved Scarface, The Mask, Casablanca, almost every Clint Eastwood film ever made and probably a few things not appropriate for mention on a forum, would you view that as bad or good?

I tend to enjoy films that work both as a blockbuster movie and as a message movie.

The Dark Knight is probably the most recent (and one of the best) examples of this, but I also thought the horribly under-appreciated Children of Men was amazing.

I love that movie.

zoozilla:
but I also thought the horribly under-appreciated Children of Men was amazing.

I loved that movie.

pssh, film snobs. The best movie to come out in the past two years was Epic Movie. I mean, it was just SO EPIC!!!!!!

Who the hell's not a Kurosawa fan? Not once in my life have I met anyone who didn't think "Seven Samurai" was an utter masterpiece. His other more prominent films, like Yojimbo, Ran, and Rashomon are also spectacular. I can no longer easily watch that Spaghetti Western, a Fistful of Dollars, having seen Yojimbo.

Hey Joe:
Bubba Ho-Tep was awesomepants!

Awesomepants indeed!
Also, this somewhat (if not very) off topic but is the Don Quixote movie any good?
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

the monopoly guy:
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

Kahwik-sote.

And on the not of A Clockwork Orange, I loved the film because I found the message very pointed, and fantastically executed. For anyone who didn't get the message, the main idea is that you cannot really have free will without having 'evil' or at least horrendous violence along side, as this is a fundamental part of human nature.

To my eye the artistic side of the film brought that out in an accurate and amusing manner. I found myself empathising with Alex DeLarge despite the horrors he perpetrated, due to both the manner the character was presented in, and the narration.

Hey Joe:

Armitage Shanks:
Will you accept movies by Zhang Yimou?

Borderline, I will say yes because of Shanghai Triad.

Shanghai Triad and not Raise the Red Lantern? I am shocked! Shocked and appalled!

rossatdi:
I'm a film snob of cult, horror and action films. Fuck art house.

Some of the best films ever: The Wicker Man (1973), Death Race 2000 (1975), Vanishing Point (1971).

I thing there is room in film taxonomy for the genre, Great Trash. Death Race 2000 is trash, glorious trash. I would say that Rocky Horror Picture Show is also Great Trash, and maybe House of A Thousand Corpses as well. My definition of Great Trash is that it is a movie I would never defend but will always watch.

The fact that I will argue about film classification, the delimitations of genres, and whether what film qualifies for what genre may not make me a film snob, but it does make me a film geek. I'm sure some people would not consider my tastes refined enough to be a true film snob. I could not, on pain of death, find anything of interest in a Robert Altman film, for instance. And though I understand why Citizen Kane is a great film, it never fails to bore me into a stupor.

I like a very eclectic variety of films. Some of my more artistic choices came from Eourpean Film class at university, the best class I ever took and the only one worth my time AND money. I love Run, Lola, Run. It is one of my favorite films, and if I could just get my hands on some of Tom Tykwer's other works, I'd be able to die happy. I hear the one about perfume is pretty good. I also saw some Almodovar, I like him. And anything with Penelope Cruz *in the original Spanish*. And French fimls are surprisingly good too, anything by Luc Besson (the original Nikita) or with Jean Reno (Wasabi). I also particularly like Asia Argento as an actress.

Asian film is pretty good too. I loved Raise the Red Lantern and am totally jonesing for Red Cliffs. Korean films are great, Tae Guk Gi was very sad, and Conduct Zero and Volcano High were hilarious. Really want to see JSA. Gotta say Ran and Seven Samurai were awesome, really looking forward to Samurai Trilogy.

I have a friend whose taste in movies is nearly a polar opposite of mine, and I found out that we go at movies from opposite directions. For lack of a better way of putting it, she listens to the movies, for her it's all about the script and the visuals are secondary, while I watch movies, and am more likely to notice directorial technique, what the actors are doing rather than saying, and the visual organization of the movie. For instance, in Kurosawa's Ran, there are no close-ups. There might be a few upper-body shots but in three hours of film, there is not a single close-up that I could find.

I think this might be why two people can watch the same film and come away with totally different impressions of it, and why some people are BOOM!-lovers and some aren't.

Speaking of Kurosawa, people seem to think he's the alpha and omega of the samurai genre, but there are a lot of directors in his shadow who are just as good as he was. If you like Kurosawa's samurai films, check out the work of Kihachi Okamoto and Masaki Kobayashi. For more recent movies, check out Yoji Yamada's films.

I like to think I occupy some kind of middle ground when it comes to film appreciation.

On the one hand, I will scoff at cheap hollywood effects and poor scripts. Yet, on the other, I will not fall head over heels for a film that takes itself too seriously at the viewer's expense.

Ultimately, having no experience/education in the cinematic sphere, I enjoy films that I personally connect for some reason or, detest those that I have wasted my time/money on and give a resounding MEH to the rest.

On Japanese film:

The Japanese government recently released all films made before (and possibly during) 1953 into the public domain, as they are now considered classics of Japanese culture.

Did anyone see Battle Royale? That was truly a disturbing film.

For samurai films, the Zatoichi series was pretty good. One of the better Kurosawa samurai films was Rashomon, which had a lasting effect on film globally (many Rashomon-inspired stories, including one South Park episode). Twilight Samurai was a truly moving film, a must-see, my so-far favorite non-Kurosawa samurai film.

Does anyone watch ninja films? I loved Red Shadow (Akakage). Azumi and Owl's Castle look good. Did anyone see Shinobi: Heart Under Blade? Was it good?

mshcherbatskaya:

Speaking of Kurosawa, people seem to think he's the alpha and omega of the samurai genre, but there are a lot of directors in his shadow who are just as good as he was. If you like Kurosawa's samurai films, check out the work of Kihachi Okamoto and Masaki Kobayashi. For more recent movies, check out Yoji Yamada's films.

On the flipside to this, lately for all the 'Samurai Epic' films that Kurosawa has done, I've found myself really digging his more urbane crime noir stuff like High and Low, Stray Dog and Drunken Angel.

Ikiru in my opinion, is Kurosawa's finest work and almost his most underrated. Oh, and somebody mentioned digging Persepolis which came out earlier this year. That was one of the better flicks of the year, and better yet, when I saw it there were only two people in the theatre.

It. Was. Awesome.

The only way I consider myself to be a film snob is that I WILL NOT watch anything with Adam Sandler in it!! Or anything of the ilk of Scary Movie.

Labyrinth:

the monopoly guy:
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

Kahwik-sote.

That's chiefly a British thing.

The original name sounds more like "key-hoe-tey" -- not exactly like that since it's all old Spanish and stuff, but close. Most international pronunciations are fairly similar. "Key-hoe-tey" is the pronunciation that you will learn in the US. (However, note that "quixotic" is pronounced "kwiksotic" even in America.)

-- Alex

I've only ever heard people pronounce it "key-hoe-tey" in Britain.

Alex_P:

Labyrinth:

the monopoly guy:
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

Kahwik-sote.

That's chiefly a British thing.

The original name sounds more like "key-hoe-tey" -- not exactly like that since it's all old Spanish and stuff, but close. Most international pronunciations are fairly similar. "Key-hoe-tey" is the pronunciation that you will learn in the US. (However, note that "quixotic" is pronounced "kwiksotic" even in America.)

-- Alex

I'm under the impression that he's joking. But who knows, I could be wrong.

It is difficult to tell on a forum.

Labyrinth:
Pan's Labyrinth is one that I simply adored, as did I Sin City and A Clockwork Orange (Though, I really need to read the book.) Soon I plan to watch 1984 upon friendly recommendation. Heavenly Creatures is another I loved, on that note.

Does that count? Keep in mind I have been known to hiss and scream at films such as Die Hard, which make me choke on typical Hollywood nationalism.

Same here.

But what about Harvie Krumpet, The mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello, or Birthday Boy? I mean, they're my favourite Short Films.

Samirat:

Alex_P:

Labyrinth:

the monopoly guy:
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

Kahwik-sote.

That's chiefly a British thing.

The original name sounds more like "key-hoe-tey" -- not exactly like that since it's all old Spanish and stuff, but close. Most international pronunciations are fairly similar. "Key-hoe-tey" is the pronunciation that you will learn in the US. (However, note that "quixotic" is pronounced "kwiksotic" even in America.)

-- Alex

I'm under the impression that he's joking. But who knows, I could be wrong.

No, I was curious one day and was assured that it is kee-hoe-tee (though the 'h' was almost silent when I heard it). And yes, quixotic is usually pronounced phonetically in English - but that's probably because of all the people who think it's kwik-soh-tee. Weird.

I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

Hey Joe:

Miyazaki? Kurosawa?
DISCUSS

Yes and Yes. At this point, though, I don't think you have to be a Film Student to actually be fans of these people.
It's like becoming a psychology major and studying Freud. Of course it's good for your studies, But it doesn't make you special the way studying, say... Dawkins. Or possibly Skinner.

ninjablu:

Saskwach:

Samirat:

Alex_P:

Labyrinth:

the monopoly guy:
And how the hell do you pronounce Quixote?

Kahwik-sote.

That's chiefly a British thing.

The original name sounds more like "key-hoe-tey" -- not exactly like that since it's all old Spanish and stuff, but close. Most international pronunciations are fairly similar. "Key-hoe-tey" is the pronunciation that you will learn in the US. (However, note that "quixotic" is pronounced "kwiksotic" even in America.)

-- Alex

I'm under the impression that he's joking. But who knows, I could be wrong.

No, I was curious one day and was assured that it is kee-hoe-tee (though the 'h' was almost silent when I heard it). And yes, quixotic is usually pronounced phonetically in English - but that's probably because of all the people who think it's kwik-soh-tee. Weird.

As someone who loves the Spanish language, I say you would pronounce Quixote key-hoe-tee.

EDIT: Double post. look ^

nilcypher:
I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

My bad.

Labyrinth:

nilcypher:
I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

My bad.

I don't think that it's a 'bad' per se, it might just be a regional thing.

Another film snob reporting here! I judge all my friends who like films such as Underworld, Dodgeball, etc. Especially those who are on my degree course! (Am currently studying Film & Television Production)

Of those who you mentioned I would have to say I prefer Kurosawa, though I don't think Seven Samurai is his best work. Also have recently become a fan of Del Toro, having now seen his earlier work :)

Would like to know what you think of my favourite director Sam Mendes? People seem to have mixed opinions about him...

EDIT: Thought I'd post my favourite short film aswell, to give you an idea of the style of film I like: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=abFe-VBokOY The sound quality is kind of poor but it's still a brilliant piece of work.

nilcypher:

Labyrinth:

nilcypher:
I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

My bad.

I don't think that it's a 'bad' per se, it might just be a regional thing.

I live in a country who's culture is either Aboriginal or filched, so it's not really much of an excuse.

To be honest.. I watch films all the time, more than I go on escapist anyway. So you can just imagine me watching films before I go to college, After college, when I'm eating, before I go to bed, when I'm in bed. It's always there. I can watch the same film over and over again and I love it! And oh yeah, I once watched Lord of the Ring *extended* for a whole week, does that make me sad?

p.s I dont even like the film

Labyrinth:

nilcypher:

Labyrinth:

nilcypher:
I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

My bad.

I don't think that it's a 'bad' per se, it might just be a regional thing.

I live in a country who's culture is either Aboriginal or filched, so it's not really much of an excuse.

Filched?

Saskwach:
Filched?

Nicked. Stolen. Bodily ripped off.

Just as the English Language doesn't just rip off other languages, it follows them down dark alleyways, acts a bit intimidating them mugs the poor suckers to mop up any unused adjectives.

Labyrinth:
Nicked. Stolen. Bodily ripped off.

Just as the English Language doesn't just rip off other languages, it follows them down dark alleyways, acts a bit intimidating them mugs the poor suckers to mop up any unused adjectives.

I knew the meaning; I was curious about how you thought our culture was filched (more than any other culture has liberally taken and synthesised from its neighbours and immigrants) and how that made it substandard or worthy of scorn - and how it was relevant.

Saskwach:
I knew the meaning; I was curious about how you thought our culture was filched (more than any other culture has liberally taken and synthesised from its neighbours and immigrants) and how that made it substandard or worthy of scorn - and how it was relevant.

More amusement than scorn, though with the "Auzzie pride brah." thing.. ick. And it was in reference to the 'cultural differences' thing.

Labyrinth:

Saskwach:
I knew the meaning; I was curious about how you thought our culture was filched (more than any other culture has liberally taken and synthesised from its neighbours and immigrants) and how that made it substandard or worthy of scorn - and how it was relevant.

More amusement than scorn, though with the "Auzzie pride brah." thing.. ick. And it was in reference to the 'cultural differences' thing.

I still don't quite see the link, but meh, that's cool (yes I use it sometimes - it's a word I hope stays around). Keep on keeping on, you Aussie you.
PS: Bogans=gah.

nilcypher:
I'm British and I say Key-Hoe-Tay. I thought that was just how it was pronounced.

According to some of my former literature professors, it's "kisjot" or key-shot (more or less). But I think we need the opinion of someone who speaks fluent Spanish.

Movie snob? Only in the sense that I enjoy weird/arty movies or God forbid, movies where people talk for more than 30 seconds at a time. The only thing I truly loathe are typical romantic comedies (think 90's Julia Roberts), which are always poorly constructed drivel with no real message other than "if you haven't found true love at 30, kill yourself".

I had no idea I had so many fellow Argento fans around here, I always thought he was little-known. And though I'll take some flak for this, I rank Phenomena as his best.

Let's see, a few random thoughts...

Recently, the local art-house theatre here in Madison did a showing of the works of Mikio Naruse, one of the many Japanese directors who's never had a film open commercially in the west. The man is awesome.

I like Yasujiro Ozu, but I prefer his silent comedies to his dramatic works.

My dad once described Carl T. Dreyer as "Robert Bresson with a sense of humor."
Needless to say, I like Dreyer.

As for China, I like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee, but I think my fave from China is Wong Kar-Wai. But it's not a contest, fortunately. :-)

But if I had to choose an all-time favorite director, I'd be hard pressed to find a better choice than Howard Hawks. That man was awesome.