Why do people love Citizen Kane?

[CthulhuRlyeh]

having skipped through the thread a little, the primary reason it's so highly touted is the innovations it brought to cinematography at that time. A lot like how Star Wars had to invent a whole lot of technology to make their movie, CK did sort of the same thing.

People also tend to forget that Star Wars popularized the used future concept, not Alien.

 

[lukemdizzle]

That said, when a movie adds something for seemingly no reason, it can be a bit disconcerting, but I try to give it a chance, even then. (Clockwork Orange does this apparently, although I've never read the book.)

Clockwork Orange misses something vital out though. Alex repents in the end. He rejoins society.

The film makes him succumb to his darker desires. That totally alters the entire story.

Fight Club also makes Tyler accept his alter-ego rather than struggle with it.

Eyes Wide Shut? Acceptance rather than struggle. That's indicative of the film audience rather than the basis of the books.

Citizen Kane? Struggle right to the end.

It's a better film, imho, because it doesn't take the comforting "heroic" way out. Charles Kane suffers due to his excesses, rather than revels in them - like Alex, Tyler or Bill Harford.

The Picture of Dorian Gray wouldn't be the masterpiece it is without Dorian's decline into madness. Same with Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, Bladerunner, 2001,Dr Jekkyl and Mr Hyde...

Actually, the narrator in Fight Club suffers because of excesses. At first he was a slave of consumerism, and then he was a slave of anti-establishment.

to clear up the Clockwork Orange argument. The movie was based on the version of the book published in America which for whatever reason did not include the last chapter that was included in the British publication. Kubric read the American book and based the movie on that

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange#Omission_of_the_final_chapter

 

[OutforEC]

Likely it's already been mentioned numerous times but the cinematography is amazing, the characterization is superb, and the narrative is still relevant.

 

[CthulhuRlyeh]

That said, when a movie adds something for seemingly no reason, it can be a bit disconcerting, but I try to give it a chance, even then. (Clockwork Orange does this apparently, although I've never read the book.)

Clockwork Orange misses something vital out though. Alex repents in the end. He rejoins society.

The film makes him succumb to his darker desires. That totally alters the entire story.

Fight Club also makes Tyler accept his alter-ego rather than struggle with it.

Eyes Wide Shut? Acceptance rather than struggle. That's indicative of the film audience rather than the basis of the books.

Citizen Kane? Struggle right to the end.

It's a better film, imho, because it doesn't take the comforting "heroic" way out. Charles Kane suffers due to his excesses, rather than revels in them - like Alex, Tyler or Bill Harford.

The Picture of Dorian Gray wouldn't be the masterpiece it is without Dorian's decline into madness. Same with Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, Bladerunner, 2001,Dr Jekkyl and Mr Hyde...

Actually, the narrator in Fight Club suffers because of excesses. At first he was a slave of consumerism, and then he was a slave of anti-establishment.

to clear up the Clockwork Orange argument. The movie was based on the version of the book published in America which for whatever reason did not include the last chapter that was included in the British publication. Kubric read the American book and based the movie on that

Even though I would imagine Kubrick not using the last scene nevertheless.

 

[Trogdor1138]

Most of the cinematography seen in Citizen Kane was the first time it was ever used. It completely changed the way films were made.

This is a big reason, especially to people like me that work in cinematography.

It's basically because Citizen Kane was very important to the future of film, but even now I feel it is still a great movie. I feel most films from this era don't hold up relevance to modern viewing, but Kane is one of the few that I can't really fault in that regard.

It's interesting that it had a bad reaction when it initially came out, lots of controversy about that.

So yeah, you don't have to love it, but I definitely suggest understanding why other people do.

 

[T.D.]

When I watched Citizen Kane, actually whenever I look at aged arts I compare it to other works at the time.

Now Citizen Kane had technology that was brilliant for it's age, BUT beyond that I found it to be a bit of a rip off of Great Expectations. The only big difference (and improvement) was the ending (but I don't give points for that because GE's ending's sucked).

That's what I think Citizen Kane is really, Great Expectations turned into a tragedy. Which in my opinion isn't really worth the large amount of ype it is given.

However Kane himself was very interesting (A man who had everything he could ever want, and then lost it), and it is a good film. Just not one I would put in my top ten.

 

[SeriousIssues]

Fight Club also makes Tyler accept his alter-ego rather than struggle with it.

Didn't the Space Monkeys cut his balls off on a bus? Then he came back to stop them from detonating their bomb even at the cost of his life knowing that them and Tyler would murder him to achieve their goals? He ended up holding himself at gunpoint before finally getting absolving his split personality and deciding to commit sucicide?

Unless you mean how Tyler Durden himself gave into the Narrator after he was mentally overpowered and decieved, which I wouldn't say is acceptance.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Well, it did quite a few things that people found impressive and as time went on, these things became more common-place and Citizen Kane is now a milestone as opposed to still inovative.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I too never got it however I can appreciate that it did change things for the film industry completely for the better. Technically, fucking amazing but I just never entertained me and personally that's more important but I love the ambition of the film but the characters fucking suck and just nothing entertains me.

The thing is, it's legend is also it's massive flaw. Everyone says how amazing it is and anyone who says otherwise is flamed as a moron but I don't know anyone to ever want to watch it for entertainment. The same is with a lot of films though, the godfather series is another one. I personally hated the series, it was boring and maybe it was far more significant then but I can't stand watching them. Let me make this clear I like films that aren't all guns and explosions, The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite films along with the Lion King.

Someone is going to think I am a moron who doesn't deserve to watch cinema but you can go fuck yourself because I think you are a prick,if you are the kind of person who insults someone for having an opinion. Will edit grammar and spelling in the morning, I can't sleep well so I'm on here

 

[CthulhuRlyeh]

snip

Great avatar, brah.

 

[slackboy72]

That said, when a movie adds something for seemingly no reason, it can be a bit disconcerting, but I try to give it a chance, even then. (Clockwork Orange does this apparently, although I've never read the book.)

Clockwork Orange misses something vital out though. Alex repents in the end. He rejoins society.

The film makes him succumb to his darker desires. That totally alters the entire story.

Fight Club also makes Tyler accept his alter-ego rather than struggle with it.

Eyes Wide Shut? Acceptance rather than struggle. That's indicative of the film audience rather than the basis of the books.

Citizen Kane? Struggle right to the end.

It's a better film, imho, because it doesn't take the comforting "heroic" way out. Charles Kane suffers due to his excesses, rather than revels in them - like Alex, Tyler or Bill Harford.

The Picture of Dorian Gray wouldn't be the masterpiece it is without Dorian's decline into madness. Same with Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, Bladerunner, 2001,Dr Jekkyl and Mr Hyde...

Actually, the narrator in Fight Club suffers because of excesses. At first he was a slave of consumerism, and then he was a slave of anti-establishment.

to clear up the Clockwork Orange argument. The movie was based on the version of the book published in America which for whatever reason did not include the last chapter that was included in the British publication. Kubric read the American book and based the movie on that

Even though I would imagine Kubrick not using the last scene nevertheless.

And the new testament is a little different if Jesus isn't nailed to the cross.

The fact is Kubrick knew of the final chapter and chose to ignore it.

 

[bootz]

I really like the movie.
The story and they way of telling it was so original.
Kane was so human, I dont think your suppose to like him just pity him.
His rise and fall, how he lost everything he cared for.

"It's easy to make money if all you want to do is make money"
He let it blind him.

 

[mjc0961]

Long story short, is this an attempt at trolling?

Of course. Anyone disagreeing with a popular opinion is always trolling. There's no way someone could actually dislike a movie, after all.

It's akin to growing up with a PS2 and wondering why everyone gives DOOM so much credit, its graphics are shit, the music is bland and its not scary in the least, but when it came out it was groundbreaking, scary and controversially gory.

Really? I think Doom is a bad example; it's still fun to play today (and that's without nostalgia goggles). The same can't really be said of Wolfenstein 3D however.

I recently picked up Duke 3d from GOG and the controls are fucking awful. I get that it came out ages ago and stuff but, if you use the mouse, you have to use the D buttons. If you use the D-buttons to aim then it is hard as hell to look up, and changing weapons is like pulling teeth...

This just in, Duke 3D =/= Doom.

 

[Jimber_Jam]

You know what was arguably more innovative than Citizen Kane? This:

Yeah.

Also: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/birth_of_a_nation/

 

[chach_face]

You guessed the plot twist? That doesn't really make any sense.

As regards your other suggestions for best movie, they seem flawed. I can't testify to Fight Club, having not seen it, but Eyes Wide Shut and A Clockwork Orange are regarded as Kubrick's worst works...

Long story short, is this an attempt at trolling? I found the movie fresh and original even though I watched it 60-odd years after it was filmed...

Edit: apparently A Clockwork Orange is considered on a par with the rest of Kubrick's good works. Who knew?

In regards to your edit, what list are you going by?
Really it doesn't matter what some list online says, it's what you think when you watch the films.

 

[Swifteye]

When something is ground breaking and does things no one else has ever seen before at the time it gains much popularity and respect. But it also makes it a precedent which means eventually they won't be everlastingly unique or interesting. A film buff would usually keep this in mind but a regular person. Well plant a 10 year old kid infront of an early 3d game and you'll see what I mean.

 

[CthulhuRlyeh]

You know what was arguably more innovative than Citizen Kane? This:

Yeah.

Also: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/birth_of_a_nation/

Nobody is denying its innovation.

And the new testament is a little different if Jesus isn't nailed to the cross.

The fact is Kubrick knew of the final chapter and chose to ignore it.

So? He felt that it wasnt organic to the plot. Kubrick wasnt some studio director, he was an auteur. If he didnt feel that the scene would work, then why should he have used it?
Complaining that Kubrick wasnt 100 % faithful means nothing, considering he made The Shining. Is The Shining faithful? No. Is it one of the best horror films? Undoubtedly.

 

[floppylobster]

It's one of those films that gets better with age. (Yours and the film's). You need to watch it again when you're older (with a lot more life experience) and it will start to resonant more with you. Probably on your third viewing 12 years from now you'll realise how good it is and finally understand the love.

Spoiler

Also the 'plot twist', as you call it, is not a plot twist, it's a revelation. A profound truth. And guessing it - though I don't know how you would as there is no clue given that there is a sled named Rosebud (of you did guess that it is only from watching countless films that followed that used this device) - is not important to the overall effect of the film. If anything knowing that fact, then watching it again, makes many scenes work on a deeper level. So perhaps watch it again in a week or two, then once more in 12 years. Then you'll 'get it'.

 

[SuperVegas]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny

See this page, I think it explains things rather well.

Again, its been said before but it bares repeating.
The movie is well regarded because it was one of the first movies to use camera work as artistic expression, and to enhance the story.

Before that, movies had never really seen that kind of work before, most people thought of movies as a quicker way to tell stories already written and the medium wasn't as well respected.
So this was one of those films that solidified the medium as an art form.

 

[tonguetied]

It was years ahead of its time [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_kane#Filmmaking_innovations]. It really is quite hard to believe such a technically proficient film was made in 1941.

I've only seen it once, but I really liked it. It's quite obvious to me why it's considered a masterpiece. It's just superbly written, directed, shot, and acted.