not watching a movie but assessing history

Rating: Null/10 (28 October 2008)

It has no doubt been years, maybe decades, since anyone came to this movie cold. Film buffs, film school students and historians are obliged to view it, compelled to tick it off on their Viewing List so they can talk about the evolution of varying shot size, juxtaposition, and the Odessa Steps sequence. In fact, my Viewing List recommended watching the Odessa Steps sequence only.
An attempt to access the film in terms of empathy for characters, emotional catharsis, or intellectual stimulation, is fraught with difficulty. The film is silent, foreign, ancient and propagandist. Yes, the shot flow, when analysed, reveals significant steps in the evolution of cinema narrative. However, The Boneshaker Bicycle was an important step in the development of bikes, but I wouldn't want to ride one. BP no doubt thrilled its contemporary audience, and film theorists can tell us why it is important. Personally, it just felt too far away in time for me to embrace it.
An important film, yes; but not a wonderful one.