Comments on: Out With the Old? Netflix and Rethinking Film http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film Where The Christian Faith Meets The Common Knowledge of Our Age Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:18:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-447 Greg Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:31:30 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-447 Well, for a nerdy film type guy who might be more obsessed with cinematography than story, Potemkin is worth it. Of course, you have already seen the best part. Now you just need to watch it for street cred. Well, for a nerdy film type guy who might be more obsessed with cinematography than story, Potemkin is worth it. Of course, you have already seen the best part. Now you just need to watch it for street cred.

]]> By: The Dane http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-438 The Dane Sat, 19 Jan 2008 06:58:42 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-438 @Greg - I'll be honest, I haven't actually finished <i>Potemkin</i>. I paused it after watching through the fabulous staircase-at-Odessa scene to go out for pizza. That was nine years ago, and I haven't yet returned to it. I feel sad in my heart for that. But only a little. Was it really that awesome? @Greg – I’ll be honest, I haven’t actually finished Potemkin. I paused it after watching through the fabulous staircase-at-Odessa scene to go out for pizza. That was nine years ago, and I haven’t yet returned to it. I feel sad in my heart for that. But only a little. Was it really that awesome?

]]> By: Greg http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-436 Greg Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:43:22 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-436 Totally understand the problem of old movies and high school kids- it's very frustrating. My wife and I got a Netflix subscription because of their massive back catalogue. After many fruitless Blockbuster trips, we decided it was the way to go. And don't forget some of the awesome silent films like Battleship Potemkin and Man with a Movie Camera! Totally understand the problem of old movies and high school kids- it’s very frustrating.
My wife and I got a Netflix subscription because of their massive back catalogue. After many fruitless Blockbuster trips, we decided it was the way to go.
And don’t forget some of the awesome silent films like Battleship Potemkin and Man with a Movie Camera!

]]> By: Rich Clark http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-426 Rich Clark Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:15:16 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-426 Geoffrey, that's good stuff. Thanks. Geoffrey, that’s good stuff. Thanks.

]]> By: Geoffrey Seven http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-424 Geoffrey Seven Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:04:49 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-424 Caught Casablanca on TCM last night. Such a great movie. I don't believe movies have to be explicitly about God, or about Christians, to show us important things about our relationship to Christ, and things like sin, sacrifice and redemption. I am particularly fascinated by the character of Louis. He is a far worse person than Rick. At one point we learn he has tried to coerce a beautiful young married woman into sleeping with him in exchange for the exit visas that she and her husband desperately need. He is not a good guy. Yet when appropriately inspired by Rick's example of self-sacrificing love, something in him changes. And the way films is rather like a parable. In Christ's parables, there usually is no mention of God, because he is represented by the father or the landowner or the woman seeking her lost coin. In Casablanca, we have the glowing, "perfect" example of self-sacrifice in the character of Victor Lazlo who risks death and loss with no thought for himself, in the name of vanquishing the ultimate evil of Nazism. And despite the brokenness of the characters around him, they stumble forward, however imperfectly, to be more like him. Isn't that how we are with Jesus? Caught Casablanca on TCM last night. Such a great movie. I don’t believe movies have to be explicitly about God, or about Christians, to show us important things about our relationship to Christ, and things like sin, sacrifice and redemption. I am particularly fascinated by the character of Louis. He is a far worse person than Rick. At one point we learn he has tried to coerce a beautiful young married woman into sleeping with him in exchange for the exit visas that she and her husband desperately need. He is not a good guy.

Yet when appropriately inspired by Rick’s example of self-sacrificing love, something in him changes.

And the way films is rather like a parable. In Christ’s parables, there usually is no mention of God, because he is represented by the father or the landowner or the woman seeking her lost coin.

In Casablanca, we have the glowing, “perfect” example of self-sacrifice in the character of Victor Lazlo who risks death and loss with no thought for himself, in the name of vanquishing the ultimate evil of Nazism. And despite the brokenness of the characters around him, they stumble forward, however imperfectly, to be more like him. Isn’t that how we are with Jesus?

]]> By: Matt http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-423 Matt Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:14:54 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-423 It's unfortunate that many young people in society today have no sense of history or perspective. Their favorite movies are whatever came out last year and their new favorites are what will come out this year. In a sea of overconsumption and crappy movies, when we look back to certain movies we realize what the classics are. These days movies seems to be of less quality than ever because people will spend money on just about any movie that comes out. It’s unfortunate that many young people in society today have no sense of history or perspective. Their favorite movies are whatever came out last year and their new favorites are what will come out this year.

In a sea of overconsumption and crappy movies, when we look back to certain movies we realize what the classics are. These days movies seems to be of less quality than ever because people will spend money on just about any movie that comes out.

]]> By: David Dunham http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-412 David Dunham Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:30:15 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-412 Good choices brothers. Casablanca, Philadelphia Story, The Maltese Falcon are some of my all time favorites! Good choices brothers. Casablanca, Philadelphia Story, The Maltese Falcon are some of my all time favorites!

]]> By: The Dane http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-411 The Dane Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:01:05 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/film/out-with-the-old-netflix-and-praising-what-is-worthy-in-film/#comment-411 Here are my own top choices for older films to be sure not to miss (I've only included English-language films for now, since to include subtitled affairs would grow the list far too large). Unfortunately, one of my top choices has not yet been transferred to dvd. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Clowns-Jason-Robards/dp/B00005JNIG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1200613184&sr=8-2" rel="nofollow"><i>A Thousand Clowns</i></a> is incredibly worth one's while. One of the best films I've ever seen. So then: 15 Old B&W Films on DVD that You Should See (alphabetical list): 12 Angry Men Arsenic and Old Lace Casablanca Citizen Kane Double Indemnity Dr. Strangelove Invasion of the Body Snatchers Lord of the Flies Philadelphia Story Stalag 17 The Big Sleep The Spy Who Came in from the Cold The Third Man To Kill a Mockingbird Touch of Evil And here are 5 more recent B&W films that are worth the time: Dead Man Good Night and Good Luck Pi Schindler's List Young Frankenstein Here are my own top choices for older films to be sure not to miss (I’ve only included English-language films for now, since to include subtitled affairs would grow the list far too large).

Unfortunately, one of my top choices has not yet been transferred to dvd. A Thousand Clowns is incredibly worth one’s while. One of the best films I’ve ever seen.

So then: 15 Old B&W Films on DVD that You Should See (alphabetical list):
12 Angry Men
Arsenic and Old Lace
Casablanca
Citizen Kane
Double Indemnity
Dr. Strangelove
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Lord of the Flies
Philadelphia Story
Stalag 17
The Big Sleep
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
The Third Man
To Kill a Mockingbird
Touch of Evil

And here are 5 more recent B&W films that are worth the time:
Dead Man
Good Night and Good Luck
Pi
Schindler’s List
Young Frankenstein

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