Sir, Might I recommend Enter the Void. One of the best movies I've seen in a while that didn't have the name David Lynch attached to it. It was produced just last year as well so it's quite new, and has given me a bit of hope that indie cinema is still alive, and still pushing the borders of the imagination.
Modern Cinematic Example Of Imagination?; Losing Hope
- Thread starter IPunchWithMyFists
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Go watch the new movie "Hugo" the film is Scorsese's love letter to film making as an art form, and really shows how much he loves the very thought and love that goes into a film, very creative, very original, very very good (also for once the 3D enhances the movie)
With all due respect, when has the movies industry NOT been like this?
Even the old "classic" disney films themselves were fancied rehashes of old tales.
There are several main stories that seem to be told again and again, just with different characters and details, and it's been throughout history.
Even the old "classic" disney films themselves were fancied rehashes of old tales.
There are several main stories that seem to be told again and again, just with different characters and details, and it's been throughout history.
"Dark City" was a really original movie in my opinion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_City_(1998_film)
Which is now a Cult-Classic and had some of the backdrop used by the first Matrix film, and is quoted by Christopher Nolan as being one of his inspirations for "Inception". "Inception" wasn't plot inspired by "Dark City" but was rather a inspiration alongside "The Matrix", "The Thirteenth Floor", and "Memento" were some films he said gave him a idea of design/feel to the film.
Which is now a Cult-Classic and had some of the backdrop used by the first Matrix film, and is quoted by Christopher Nolan as being one of his inspirations for "Inception". "Inception" wasn't plot inspired by "Dark City" but was rather a inspiration alongside "The Matrix", "The Thirteenth Floor", and "Memento" were some films he said gave him a idea of design/feel to the film.
Inception was pretty unique so I'd check that out. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is coming out later this year and it looks interesting as well. I'm talking about the American version.
I have no response to that. To me, that's like saying "I hate food". I mean, there are some foods I hate (banana-flavored Laffy Taffy) and some movies I hate ("The Room" (2003)), but there's always something to love.IPunchWithMyFists said:
Hopefully these movies will change your mind...?
You have come to the right place, my friend. I am perhaps one of the few escapees who is a bigger filmnerd than gamenerd. And one of the few filmnerds who prefers modern cinema over classic (70's, really) cinema.IPunchWithMyFists said:
I could go after the great decade that was the 90's, and even early 21st century, with the South Korean film Renaissance, but you know what? I'll go one step better- last five years, go:
"Children of Men" (2008) Superb Sci-fi and capital cinematography.
"Mr. Nobody" (2009) Scintillating Sci-fi and exceptional editing.
"Synecdoche, New York" (2008) Wresting writing and delectable directing.
"Wall-E" (2008) Amiable anthropomorphism and amazing animation.
"(500) Days of Summer" (2009) Choice characters and stupendous scoring.
"What?", you say, "Yes these are fine but you said something about the 90's, and what's this about South Korean renaissance? I'm intrigued!" Well, surely you didn't think I'd drop those tasty nuggets and leave you to starve? Fear not! First, let's start with the 90's and early 21st century:
"Pulp Fiction" (1994) This film actually changed cinema as a whole, though most don't know it.
"Office Space" (1999) Probably one of the best comedies since Monty Python's little masterpiece.
"Trainspotting" (1996) Danny Boyle's breakout hit, and for a reason!
"Fight Club" (1999) a book adaptation that's somehow better than the source material. (Though hopefully you already know this one.)
"Donnie Darko" (2001) the quintessential cult classic.
"City of God" (2002) Just remarkable film-making whose production challenges rival those of "Apocalypse Now" (1979).
"Amélie From Montmartre" (or "Amélie" or "Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain") (2001) Probably the only film that's almost completely happy, still intriguing, and still a cinematic masterpiece.
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) A mindfuck that leaves you smiling, doesn't get better than that!
"Requiem for a Dream" (2000) All "Black Swan" (2010) fans make sure you've seen Darren Aronofsky's masterpiece (so-far), which makes his oscar-contender look like a stroll through the park.
"The Squid and the Whale" (2005) Fantastical while completely grounded in reality.
"But what's this about South Korea?" you blurt, interrupting me while I'm on a roll, "There's an artistic renaissance occurring somewhere and almost nobody knows it? Absurd." No, it's true! South Korea has undergone a strange emergence of enormous creativity with public reception since the year 2003, and nobody's really sure why (although some theorize it has something to do with the tension between North and South Korea).
But anyways, here is a small smattering of new South Korean cinema:
"Oldboy" (2003) This film, and pretty much all of Park Chan-wook's work, is usually one what gets people into South Korean film. Watch this one first. You've never seen anything like it, trust me. This film (well, actually "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002), but mostly this) literally created a new genre, in South Korea they call it the "Revenge" genre. Watch it. Please, watch it.
(Note: this is actually based on a comic book, so it sort of breaks your rule, but it's better than the source material and I figured you hadn't heard of it.)
"Memories of Murder" (2003) One of, if not the, slickest crime-thriller ever. It will make you laugh, gasp, and think about the sorry state of most other film industries.
Park Chan-wook's work.
Bong Joon-ho's work.
"The Chaser" (2008) Another brilliant crime-thriller. You start out confused, then you get more confused, then it starts to clear up, then you just get really into it for some reason. It's strange, but watch it after you've adjusted to South Korea's darker sensibilities.
"A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003) Speaking of darker sensibilities, this film will fuck you sideways and make you thank it.
"My Sassy Girl" (2001) Though this is the complete opposite side of South Korean cinema, it is light and has no overt sadomasochism, it is the very best of that side, and I recommend checking it out if you want to be sure that South Korean cinema isn't a one-note song.
So there you go. There's quite a bit more out there, but I've tried to engineer my choices to give you a step in the door of a bunch of different modern cinema avenues (he says, mixing metaphors). Have fun movie hunting!
TL
R- just look at the movie titles, I suppose.EDIT: Rereading the title, perhaps you'd also like a modern movie specifically playing on the concept of imagination itself? If so, look no farther than "The Science of Sleep" (2006), which is a Michel Gondry film and interestingly multilingual.
With all due respect, why does a licensed/ comic book movie automatically mean it's bad in your eyes?
I'll throw in Inception too, for all the reason said above.
I'll throw in Inception too, for all the reason said above.
Perhaps he/she just wants to see some stories original to film, which I can understand. Though to limit yourself in that way is rather foolish, I agree.LobsterFeng said:
I agree. More recent is Gaspar Noé's film "Enter the Void" (2009), which isn't as good but much weirder. Almost the entirety of it is from an over-the-shoulder point-of-view, which is interesting.Marter said:
I would also recommend Dr Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog, a nice little view at how a supervillain would view the world, with excellent characters written by the great Joss Whedon and good acting from Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Filion.