What aspects of films make them
outstanding, better than average or
just bad?
EXAMPLE ONE: Titanic
 View the following clip from the film Titanic and write down elements of
the clip that do or do not qualify it as a “great” film.
 Start with a T-Chart that identifies “Good” elements of the film and “Bad”
elements of the film.
 As you start to accumulate items in the columns, start identifying the
elements by category as best as you can (Are some of them technical
aspects? Plot elements? Acting? Try to narrow your categories down to
between 4 and 5.
What Criteria Make a Film “Good”?
 Now that you have watched the clip and made your list, come to the
board one at a time when asked and write down aspects that make the
film “good” or bad, specifying as many categories as you can.
•
Example for “Good”: Believable characters (Acting)
•
Example for “Bad”: Inappropriately unrealistic characters (Acting)
 Once a complete list is on the board, we will try to limit it to 4-5 broad
criteria that determine if a film is “good” or “bad”…
What Are Some Broad Criteria That Tell
the Viewer If a Film Is “Good” or “Bad”?
1) Stand the "Test of Time" (why do people still watch Charlie Chaplin
Movies, Gone With the Wind or The Wizard of Oz?)
2) Quality in all aspects of filmmaking – technically (directing, lighting,
editing, etc.) and acting (Best Picture winners, generally)
3) Story - a compelling story that says something about humanity or explains
the human condition (why was Titanic such a success? - everyone could put
themselves on the boat as a viewer, consider how would we respond in our
humanity.)
4) Sets a "standard" for other films in its genre, or filmmaking technique, or
ground-breaking ideas, etc. ( 2001: A Space Odyssey - changed the way space
looked for all future films, Toy Story - 1st computer animated film, Gone With
the Wind - defined "epic" film making)
What do Film Makers and CriticsThink
Are Great Films?
AFI Top 25
#
MOVIE
YEAR
1
CITIZEN KANE
1941
2
THE GODFATHER
1972
3
CASABLANCA
1942
4
RAGING BULL
1980
5
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
1952
6
GONE WITH THE WIND
1939
7
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
1962
8
SCHINDLER'S LIST
1993
9
VERTIGO
1958
10
THE WIZARD OF OZ
1939
11
CITY LIGHTS
1931
12
THE SEARCHERS
1956
13
STAR WARS
1977
14
PSYCHO
1960
15
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
1968
16
SUNSET BLVD.
1950
17
THE GRADUATE
1967
18
THE GENERAL
1927
19
ON THE WATERFRONT
1954
20
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
1946
21
CHINATOWN
1974
22
SOME LIKE IT HOT
1959
23
THE GRAPES OF WRATH
1940
24
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
1982
25
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
1962
What Does the Public Think Makes a
Great Film?
AMC Film Site:
1. Casablanca
2. Star Wars
3. The Godfather (I and II)
4. The Shawshank Redemption
What Does the Film Industry Think Is a
Great Film (based on $ earned)?
http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice.html (I encourage you to look at the lists
on line to see how factors such as inflation and WORLD-WIDE acceptance
can impact the financial success of a film. For example, using an
international standard, Harry Potter films are making a considerable amount
of money!).
1. Gone with the Wind
2. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (The Original Star Wars)
3. The Sound of Music
4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
5. The Ten Commandments
Homework
Create an 8 ½ x11 Poster that lists one film of your choosing (with visual
image from the film such a the movie poster or key scene)
This poster is due MONDAY and must include four specific (3-5 sentence)
paragraphs indicating how the film addresses the four criteria mentioned
previously.
You will present these posters briefly on Monday, so know what you are
talking about and BE SPECIFIC in your analysis! (No words like “cool” and
“good things” please!)