I forgot Woody Allen!

No, Matt, I'm not a Republican.

No, I don't believe everything older is better.

I do believe -- in fact, strongly feel -- that too many of the suggestions on this thread are from people who have never watched a black-and-white film; who have never considered anything older than they are to be worth anything.

The fact is, movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s stand up much better as brilliantly crafted films with story flow, great editing and writing than the overwhelming percentage of the dreck Hollywood churns out on an annual basis.

From a technical standpoint, of course, there's no comparison. But I'll tell you -- I watched a terrible movie over the weekend -- it was "Armageddon". It was terrible for many reasons, including its acting, its dialogue and its editing.

Sure, the special effects were terrific, until each effect had to top the last one and they just kept coming and coming and coming. I can only suspend my disbelief so long....and then contempt sets in. Armageddon was an overproduced special effects exhibition without any attempt to create drama outside of CGI effects.

Trevor Rabin's score was sooooo Horneresque -- lots of "Titanic"-sounding stuff in it...and I'm damned if I can figure out who or what in the film was Irish.

Many on this list may get off on MTV-styled movies, especially the effects-laden ones, but they're not telling stories and they're not going to last.

In the annals of Hollywood, Matt, the older directors I named ARE better than 99.9% of directors working today. They invented movies.

There are, perhaps, directors out there experimenting to find new ways to be cinematically creative. Perhaps a few of them will truly make his or her mark with a breakthrough....but I don't think movies have been re-recreated by any of them yet.

Outside of Spielberg, that is. But, of course, he's enamored of the older directors, too. I guess his obeisance counts as little to you as mine does.

Ron

Know to whom you are speaking and ensure you know exactly what you're talking about.

I stated my opinion. You don't like it, fine. It's just my opinion.

I didn't get profane and I didn't threaten anything.

However, I don't know who the hell you are nor do I know who the hell you think you are.

But if you ever threaten me again, I shall move heaven and earth to find you.

That's a ****ing promise!

Ron

I like Jaws and Schindler's List very much. I have certain problems with SL, but they are far outweighed by its achievements. Other Spielberg films just seem too sugary or heavy-handed to me.

Rocco--I love Murnau. Sunrise is about doing the right thing and finding great things where you didn't think they were. Tabu, City Girl, and The Last Laugh are equally wonderful. I didn't put him in my top ten, but I'm still a young guy......

Thor--I can't consider the Marx Bros. directors although they and no director is responsible for what their comedy is. I love Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Tati, Laurel & Hardy, Woody Allen, Monty Python--but the Marx Brothers tower over them all. Every top ten list should include Duck Soup IMHO.

Ron--Cukor, Minnelli, DeMille, and especially Billy Wilder, all great choices. And you included Hawks too!

But please remember: IT IS JUST MY OPINION!!!

Personally, I don't think I'll ever get around to watching them. My father has all the war classics, but I just can't bring my self to watch them. I'd rather watch Saving Private Ryan or The Thin Red Line.

By the time I read Matt's post, my head was pounding. To say I reacted exactly the opposite way than I should have would be understatement.

It is I who should have been laughing wildly.

Matt, the post you were alluding to was not meant to be a personal response to your previous post. I know I started my post by directly addressing your statements about my thinking older things were better and declaring myself NOT a Republican.

Beyond that, I was expounding upon modern technical capabilities and then ranting over a recent example -- "Armageddon." Nowhere did I say I thought you had brought it up or expressed any sort of opinion on it.

As for your final statement, I don't want to be on anyone's bad side. The laughing wildly part would be in reaction to anyone asserting he has the power to spoil my passion for film music. I would not, however, react kindly if anyone tried.

For the gentleman who says I chewed him out over things he said about Marco Polo:

All I asked was that you tell me you didn't have a clue what Marco Polo was all about. You cited that label and Varese as being behind commercial releases of film scores that were only guaranteed sellers.

True enough for Varese, but Marco Polo is so totally NOT guilty of that -- I had to stick up for them.

I'll try to play more nicely, guys. Promise.

The republican crack wasnt a personal attack, it was just me making fun of republicans.

No big deal...I got a good laugh at the end there, and you got to blow off some steam. Do try to read my posts more carefully in the future tho, as my first was never an attack on your opinion, nor was it an insult. It was merely a comment on concentrating solely on either newer or older directors. After that things got heated...

remember, Repulicans are people too.

Scott

At least they inhale when they try it.