Is this movie all that it has been built up to be?

Rating: Null/10 (1 February 2002)

Walking in to see Citizen Kane, I had nothing but high expectations for this film and perhaps a little skepticism. Almost all of what I had heard about this movie from everyone whom I discussed it with is that it tops almost all the "Best movie of all time" charts. How could this be that this movie is at the top of all these lists when I can't even answer with the same answer every time I'm asked, "What's my favorite movie?" However, while watching Citizen Kane, which the name alone sometimes gives me chills, I began to realize what all the fuss is about. That a movie made in the fifties could have such shocking images and such great filming techniques that preceded its time and still fifty years later can still shock an audience is truly a great feat. After just beginning my first film studies course and just finishing my first real reading analyzing film techniques I, scene after scene, minute after minute, saw all the effective techniques that were explained in the chapter as guidelines in order to make a film that will impact and have a subconscious long lasting impact on the viewers. Thus I had to ask after leaving the film which came first the books on film techniques or Citizen Kane?