ChristineCB

There was another thread's comments about the increased needs of film education. That made me think about the famous films I've never seen. This list can be hundreds or thousands (in my case) but here are some notables, off the top of my head.

GONE WITH THE WIND (I don't care for the subject matter - I've seen bits and pieces over the years, but I've never sat down intentionally to watch it. I have more often intentionally avoided watching it.)

None of the Kurosawa/samurai films. (Very limited interest in my perceived notion of these films' contents.)

None of the Bergmans except for SEVENTH SEAL. (Idly curious but I find myself spending time doing other things.)

None of the Felinis except for 8 1/2. (8 1/2 is probably why I've never watched the others!)

And many more, I'm sure.

I could be embarrassed if I was a film student about the vast holes in my education, so I try my best to retain my Fan (amateur) status instead of being a 'student' although I enjoy the study of films a bit too much.

GOAL OF THIS THREAD? Maybe someone will write an interesting response that will perk my interest to the point of watching some of these never-seen films.

ChristineCB

As I started thinking more about this, a lot of my avoided-films are because of the stars involved, or a genre.

Elizabeth Taylor leaves me cold. I don't think I've ever seen any of her films for more than a scene or two. And if Richard Burton's in it (HOT TIN ROOF, CLEO, etc), I won't even stay that long.

Charlie Chaplin. Not a fan. I love Keaton, but don't care for Chaplin, although I've seen most of GOLD RUSH, CITY LIGHTS and MODERN TIMES. That was the extent of my patience. But Laurel & Hardy? Sure. Harold Lloyd? Oh yes. Buster Keaton? Any day of the week. I think my anti-Chaplin stance comes from some perception of "meanness", although L&H, Lloyd and Keaton also had similar unpleasantries written for them.

I avoided most musicals (even the 'modern' GREASE), although SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and MY FAIR LADY have somehow slipped into my Favorites list.

ChristineCB

Streetcar Named Desire

Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and probably a lot of war films

Jazz Singer

Animal House (not a huge fan of Belushi)

The "Road To" films by Bing and Bob Hope - bits and pieces only. I enjoyed what I saw, but maybe it's Bing that doesn't do it for me... I find them easy to avoid.

And a lot of Westerns.

smiffy

TITANIC.I was turned off by the hype,but my daughter loves it ,can't comment never seen it

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

JamesM

Films I have not seen mainly due to not 'getting round to it' but aim to see

Seven Samurai
A Streetcar Named Desire (though I have just purchased this)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (a treat awaits)
Nil By Mouth
Exterminating Angel
Brief Encounter
Vertigo
Tokyo Story
East of Eden
The Crying Game
I'm Alright Jack
Brute Force

Steve Crook

Don't you like Shakespeare?
That would let you in to Ran (1985) which is a version of King Lear and Kumonosu jô (1957) [aka Throne of Blood] which is his version of Macbeth.

Steve

Steve Crook

If you've seen those two then you've covered the best of the musicals

Steve

Steve Crook

Put Kind Hearts high up on your "must see" list.
Nil By Mouth isn't exactly pleasant viewing but I think it's a very good film.

Steve

Moor Larkin

Some of my favourite films are the ones I'd never heard of before. Not being a cinema Filmgoer (although I used to watch Barry Norman's shows all the time and so kept up with cinema on a 'once-removed' basis) I generally catch up with movies two or three years after their release, when they come on TV.

As such I am always conscious that I may misjudge excellent cinematic movies like "Lord of the Rings"........

On the other hand I caught "Dark City" totally unprepared some years ago, late at night. Some time before that I was utterly stunned when a movie with a weird name turned out to be breathtaking and perhaps one that I genuinely regret not seeing on the big screen: Koyaanisqatsi.

Big movies I always generally avoided were modern romances - Chick Flicks? - My ageing daughter has broadened my taste however and I'm quite a fan of Kirsten Dunst these days. On the other hand I was forced to watch "Love Actually" the other evening and remembered why I disliked modern romantic movies.

I have to confess to never having sat and watched the whole of of "Gone With The Wind" either but I have watched "Casablanca" several times. I don't think I've ever watched a David Lean movie all the way through, perhaps I've got a poor attention span.

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

zapsat1942

Two Come to my mind

Sound of music
Titanic

faceoff

I sometimes decide not to see films at all. Titanic, the Harry Potter series, although I caught the end of one of the latter on TV once - but it didn't leave me wanting more of the boy wizard. What decides me is the hype that accompanies movies sometimes. So I stand back and say - no.

penfold

Try Chaplin's short films from 1916-1918....little miniature gems, The Cure, Easy Street, The Pawn Shop, The Adventurer, The Immigrant.......these were the films that made his reputation, not the 20's-30's features. Little gems of brilliance, balletic slapstick, amazing comic timing, and bits of social satire and comment in the mix....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

DB7

Crikey, you'd have to have lived in a cave to have avoided some of them.

I've never see The Maltese Falcon.

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

The Godfather series, 4 Weddings and a funeral, Notting Hill, Goodfellas, Lord of the Rings (100s more of like ilk I'm sure)
After seeing the first Harry Potter I've no desire to see any of the others.
I wish I hadn't bothered with The Full Monty.

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

I recall Eric Sykes commenting in an interview that he, and many comedians of his acquaintance didn't rate Chaplin very highly; he said he felt that a lot of the comedy relied upon the camera being "cranked up."
I have to say I think Modern Times is absolutely brilliant.