From: barrus@cod.nosc.mil
Subject: Re: Enough is Enough (was Re: Top Five Movies of All Time)
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 21:59:32 GMT


In article <4448@cvbnetPrime.COM> csroc@dime.UUCP (Charles Sroczynski x4014 5-2) writes:
>In article <kaxiras.724462968@cs.wisc.edu> kaxiras@falcons.cs.wisc.edu (Stefanos Kaxiras) writes:
>>
>>I agree with Pentti. Americans are very ignorant regarding
>>foreign cinema. Most masterpieces do not come from USA.
>>You people have no idea of Italian cinema, German cinema
>>(epsecially the very early one - silent ), Jpanese, Russian
>>( two of my favorite movies -SciFi mind you- come from Russia ),
>>and what have you.
>
>
>
>Well....excuuuuuuuusssssse me!
>You claim Americans are very ignorant regarding Italian cinema,
>Gee.. does a week go by without mention of Cinema Paradesio,
>and Fellini and MM(astrioni)etc.
>
>You Claim Americans are very ignorant regarding German cinema,
>Gee.. does a week go by without mention of Das Boot.
>
>French films play in all major American cities(and I imagine
>some not so major ones.
>
>Indian films, especially by the figure who recently passed away,
>Singat Ray(pls excuse my spelling)
>
>Haven't you noticed that Kurowasa((sp)) and Bergman are
>idolized as GODS of cinema in America.
>
>Australian films, Canadian films, English films, etc. can be
>seen all over America.  ten years ago when I was on business
>in Houston, I watched a Dutch film in Greenway Plaza.
>
>Actors and Actresses from all over the world are stars in America
>examples...Mel Gibson, Sophia Loren, David Niven, Brigette Bardot,
>Gerauld depardiu(in fact, this news group fights not only over the
>spelling but the pronunciation of his name!), Topol, Marlena Detrich,etc etc etc.
>
>It is you who are ignorant of Americans(IMHO), not the Americans
>ignorant of foreign cinema.
>
>
>>
>>Enough is enough.
>>Do not use the term 'top five movies of all time'. There
>>is no such thing. 
>I agree there is no such thing as THE top five movies of ALL time.
>This changes from person to person and year to year and by the
>memory(which changes over time) of the person. One can only pick
>ones favorite movies. I cannot say what everyones favorite movies are,
>only an individual opinion on such a matter is meaningful. You have
>your favorites based on your mind and interpretation and memories
>of the movie.  You are influenced by different things at different
>times and will change your opinion of a movie as time goes by.
>
>>
>>Say '*MY* five most favorite movies'.
>>And don't have any illusion that *you* judge art work.
>>You only talk about how much entertainment you've got out
>>of the money you paid for the ticket.
>
>Ah...but one always judges art work!
>We value (in general) a Van Gogh over something painted by Louis
>down the street.  This is not illusion, it is reality and human nature!
>Some of us pick our favorite movies because of the entertainment
>value we receive from that experience; others pick their favorite
>movies by the "ART" content in it(or what they perceive or judge
>to be the "art" content.  Some enjoy an Alfred Hitchcock movie because
>they are entertained; others see the craft of the director. Some 
>love Casablanca for its timeless, selfless love story, others love
>Bogie and Bergman, some like it for the ideals, others hate it for the same
>reason. We are always judgemental or we miss out on much of lifes experience.
>Some Americans love the movie "The Magnificent Seven", they are happy
>with the entertainment that comes from viewing it; other Americans are
>horrified that these people do not rightfully recognize, "The Seven Samurai"
>as the original masterpiece and hate "The Magnificent Seven" because
>it is only a ripoff.