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"What makes a film great?"

To make a truly great film, what do you need? I’ve heard many arguments on this, and there’s always going to be debate. But I think I’ve narrowed it down to certain areas. So, without further ado, let’s proceed.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Ah, that most controversial and magnificent of areas. I’ve seen plenty of films where bigger and better special effects have ruined what could have been a superb idea. The Mummy Returns is probably the best example. They GCI of the Scorpion King at the end just let it down, and I found myself thinking that it couldn’t hold a candle to The Mummy. Special Effects can cause a movie to forget about other more important areas, such as plot and screenplay. However, if produced in union with these areas, special effects can make a movie live in our memories. Think about films with huge breakthroughs in special effects – Star Wars, Alien, Jurassic Park, The Matrix. These films are pure legends. But is it just because of their special effects? I don’t think so. All these films had great acting and plot. The special effects added to the atmosphere, that is true, but it was just the icing on the cake. I’m afraid that CGI aren’t all they are cracked up to be, although they do bring in the crowds. You could argue that special effects make a successful film, but since when had successful meant great?

ACTING

The visible face of the film. A great actor can carry a film on his shoulders and still give the performance of a lifetime, lifting those around him. Without doubt the most crucial part to a film. A well known motto of film critics is that ‘a great actor should rise about his material’ – basically saying that even if the plot is dire, the film should be good because the actor carries it. Modern myth, or jaded truth? I’d say truth, but only to an extent. Although a truly great actor can carry a film even with a dire plot, it will never be great. Take Gladiator. This film had one of the greatest plots ever, yet I’d bet that without an actor of the calibre of Russell Crowe, it wouldn’t have been saluted as a great. He made that film his own, but only through a symbiotic relationship with the scriptwriters. He gave the plot the representation it deserved, and the plot made him able to show his ability. In all honesty, a great film needs great actors, but there have been exceptions. Look at Star Wars, with Mark Hamill as the lead character, Luke Skywalker. He, without argument, starred in one of the greatest films ever. Channel 4’s Top 100 Film List rated Star Wars: A New Hope/The Empire Strikes Back the top films of all time. Yet you could hardly call Hamill a Hollywood legend. There were others in the film that are some of the film worlds finest – Harrison Ford and Alec Guiness. However, the film is a great film even without a memorable lead actor. So, onwards..

PLOT

Without a good plot, a film is doomed to failure. It’s as simple as that. The plot is what captivates the viewer, controls how we watch the film. Some films have a plot automatically set out for them – these are the book based films – Pelican Brief, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings. All these have great plots, but the problem with books is that a book rarely appeals to everyone. You’ve got fantasy fans who will go to see Lord of the Rings, thriller fans who went to see Silence of the Lambs, and so on. But a truly great plot is written solely for the film, not adapted or taken from elsewhere. This is an argumentative view, but hey, that’s me. George Lucas didn’t take the plot for Star Wars from a book, he created that piece of magic for himself. I think that deserves more credit than to someone who adapted a book. Plot is one of the most important areas, for without it all else in the film will fail. Enough said.

MUSIC

One of the most overlooked, and therefore crucial parts to a film. I wonder how many people sit on the edge of their seats during a particularly gripping scene, or feel their blood rise during a chase, without realising it is the music that is creating the atmosphere? The classic example has to be Jaws. Without the famous John Williams beat to the approaching shark, the film would never have been so gripping. The anticipation that was generated as the music slowly grew faster and faster… You knew what was going to happen, and you wanted it to happen. What a great feeling that was. Another great scene – Maximus charged through the trees in the opening sequence of Gladiator, backed by the Roman cavalry, all screaming ROMA VICTOR!, to the backdrop of another stroke of brilliance from John Williams. I don’t think there will ever be another film moment quite like that. I have always thought that music is what makes a film memorable. Not great, but memorable.


I think everything except special effects is needed. Oh, a great film may be helped on it’s way by special effects, and they can greatly enhance the atmosphere in the cinema, but they aren’t needed. The Italian Job didn’t need them, and that’s a cinematic classic. Neither did Citizen Kane, Casablanca or the Godfather. The plot, tempered by a great actor, backed by stirring music. This gives great cinema, and can truly be labelled great.

So what do you think? What makes a great film for you? There are surely areas that you think are important - perhaps scenery, screenplay, director(s) or publicity?Discuss..

Cheers, Stryke.

Mrs Leto wrote:
> Alex was saying today so if theres snow is it christmas now,
> bless. Yeah ill wait til December to put stuff up and brave the
> freezing temperatures to put my outside lights up. Then my c**t
> of a neighbour will cover his chavvy house with more lights than
> Blackpool.

We will have to nip over to see who can "out Christmas light" each other x

Yoo-Vee wrote:
> ooooooh i love this time of year.
> and its been snowing here too ^_^
>
> i went shopping for a Christmas train to run round the base of
> the tree,and inspired also bought a couple of thomas christmas
> train sets too.
>
> my very next project for sensory toy inclusion was born
> ,inspired from looking for a train to go round the Christmas
> tree.
>
> * excited *


I have a train to go around the tree. Wolf bought it for me last year. It has little lights too. We just put it in the conservatory last year. Can't use it this year because our kitten would kill it ;)

Alex was saying today so if theres snow is it christmas now, bless. Yeah ill wait til December to put stuff up and brave the freezing temperatures to put my outside lights up. Then my c**t of a neighbour will cover his chavvy house with more lights than Blackpool.

ooooooh i love this time of year.
and its been snowing here too ^_^

i went shopping for a Christmas train to run round the base of the tree,and inspired also bought a couple of thomas christmas train sets too.

my very next project for sensory toy inclusion was born ,inspired from looking for a train to go round the Christmas tree.

* excited *

Been out today and have seen at least four houses all trimmed up for Christmas. I love Christmas but would at least wait until December.
Having said that I can't wait to put up out tree :)

Good point. But however, there are films that have suceeded doing stuff that has been done before - e.g. Gladiator was just the natural progression from films like Spartacus, Ben Hur and El Cid. But the majority, I admit, do something new and unusual:

Bullet time in the Matrix
Special effects for the shark in Jaws
Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park e.t.c

Stryke wrote:


Steven
> Spielburg: Star Wars,Indiana Jones,Jaws, Jurassic Park, E.T (NOT A.I)


Wasn't it George Lucas who directed Star Wars. I am a big fan of the star wars films but I din't think Spielburg was involved with them.

SO what makes films great? One thing that could be said that kind of is linked to Star wars in a way is new techniques that haven't been used before. Like in star wars they moved the cameras instead of the objects which made things much better than previous films. So maybe doing something new and unique could also make them a little better. Then again it could totally spoil the whole thing. Just another risk some would take and some wouldn't.

The director does have a signficant part in any film, that is true. I guess without seeing what goes on behind the scenes we'll never know how important they are. All we can judge by is their films. Bit off topic, but who do you consider to be the 'great directors':

Ridley Scott: Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner, Gladiator.

My favourite director of all time. Timeless classics.

James Cameron: Titanic, Terminator 1 & 2.

Another decent director, but verging on being a bit 'Spielburg-esque' at times.

Steven Spielburg: Star Wars,Indiana Jones,Jaws, Jurassic Park, E.T (NOT A.I)

I hate the guy personally, he's far too American. But I can't deny Jaws is one of the all time greats, as is Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

Any others?

What makes a film great fo me?

I am not sure about this.
I love a good plot. Especially one that keeps you guessing. I loved The Generals Daughter with John Travolta because the film kept me guessing. Who killed her? And the way that the plot unravelled was good as well.

I do like special effects in a film, but there does need to be more. Special effects alone will not make the film great for me. I was really impressed with the way Final Fantasy looked, but I fell asleep during the film several times because the plot just didn't interest me.

And, my favourite type of film is an action/martial arts film, so there must be good fight scenes in it.

Good Post. I think the director plays a big part in it, they have the overall say as to how the whole thing should turn out. It is what makes some great but also makes some very poor.

I would write more but Im at uni and better do some work.