Rating: Summary: What a bore! Review: I'm always curious about the rabid Kanites who sit back and pompously declare that this is the greatest of them all. Especially the ones who rave on and on about the "camera angles" "the deep focus photography", etc. You are a really strange movie addict if this is your sole criteria for naming a work "the greatest of them all." A truly great movie should make you FORGET the flashy "camera angles" "deep focus photography", the script. As several perceptive reviewers have pointed out, Welles did a brilliant job borrowing from previous great movies and then merged them into this one creation. Maybe some of you rabid Kanites should try watching some REAL landmark movies like Battleship Potempkin, Greed, Ben Hur, Son of Frankenstein, Dark Victory, The Bare Naked Truth etc.--instead of freeze-framing every "cool" and "brilliant" "camera angle", "deep focus photography" of this greatly over-rated flick." Get some fresh air. Try some newly restored videos of silents. Don't forget to watch "the greatest of them all--Gone With the Wind."
Rating: Summary: The Ultimate Film! Review: What is there left to be said of the Greatest film ever made.?Its all been said before..Gregg Tolland, Bernard Herrman, Mankiewicz, Robert Wise et all.. combine with Welles to make THE movie experience . This film was made for $ 750,000 ..the cost of one explosion in the films hollywood puts out today. Think about that! If that doesnt not haunt you for your days you might reflect on some of the dialogue..a while to ponder their meanings... " Charlie. Kane...huh...he loved himself all right...I suppose his mother....too..he just wanted to convince you that you should love him..." " I will arrange for the investigation...indictment and conviction of Boss Jim Gettys." " No....I dont think one word can describe a mans life" A Towering Film..that somehow seems to be eternal..
Rating: Summary: WOW! Review: Never thought that much of Citizen Kane, being a teen, but recently HBO aired a drama of the making of Citizen Kane called "RKO281" it starred Liev Schreiber, John Malkovich, Melanie Griffith, James Cromwell and Rob Scheider. This movie made me want to see Kane, so I did. And I have to say, when it started out I thought it was stupid. But I kept at it. And it's a touching, moving story of a man. It's a wonderful film, and for 1942, that makes it even more brilliant, I can image what people thought when it came out. It was WAY ahead of their time. It's wonderful, just see it.
Rating: Summary: Perfect! Review: There is a reason why the majority of critics consider this film to be the greatest of all time: it's amazingly good. The direction was supurb, the acting was excellent, the story was wonderful. But enough silly adverbs, just know that this is a film that everyone must see; it is a significant piece of American culture. And after you've seen Citizen Kane, be sure to check out other Orson Welles films like A Touch of Evil and The Trial.
Rating: Summary: The quintessential example of a classic film. Review: "Citizen Kane" is often hailed as one of the greatest, or even the best, film ever made. The main thing that makes this film a classic are the innovative lighting and camera shots (thanks to Gregg Toland, director of photography), very expressionistic in outlook, that are reminiscent of German silent classics such as "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" or "Nosferatu". The scenario has lost some of its meaning over time, for not that many people know on whom the character of Kane is based (media magnate William Randolph Hearst). The scenario by Herman Mankiewicz was written as a parody of Hearst, which explains why the latter tried to have the film banned and, when this failed, to give it bad reviews in his newspapers in order to make the film a commercial failure. Even though the real meaning of the film has been lost over time, it still enjoys popularity because of the cinematographic innovations it contains. The script, however, has several flaws. The entire story revolves around a reporter's attempt to find the meaning of Kane's last word before his death, "Rosebud". Yet there was nobody in sight when Kane uttered his last word. In general, however, this film deserves to be called a true classic.
Rating: Summary: Extraordinary Genius Review: Like the protaganist Charles Foster Kane, this film is indeed the sum of its contradictions. The film is breathtaking, Orson Welles' masterpiece. I highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: ......with epic proportions Review: If you're reading this review then you're almost convinced to watch CITIZEN KANE. I'll try my best to convince you some more to watch this fantastic movie with epic proportions. To begin, you must watch the movie through antiquated eyes. Relative to today's movies there is no real originality of CK. Relative to the movies made in the 40's and even the 50's, CK sticks out like a sore thumb. The choreography, the music, the story, and even the dialogue all hold original qualities. This original approach consequently became a path for other movies to follow. Although Kain was a successful man, the movie is in fact a tragedy. Some of my own-adapted themes: -capitalism vs life; is it all worth it? ie: Money and identity does not equal love. The richness of life is purer than any sum of money. Kane had everything, but he didn't have happiness. Happiness comes not from boardroom meetings or fancy Dinner Balls, but from inside of oneself. He knew this, but he never found a way to grasp it.
Rating: Summary: Uh-oh, here come the NO HELP votes Review: Yes I know, you're about to vote thumbs down on my review of Citizen Kane. So be it. This movie was called the greatest movie of all time. Why? Because Orson Welles is supposed to be a genius and this is supposed to be his masterpiece? It's a long, boring movie, poorly directed, choppy, and annoying. The reaction to this movie reminds me of the story of the emperor with no clothes on. There's nothing here to rave about. How can you put this in a class with African Queen, Casablanca, and the other truly fine flicks?
Rating: Summary: An arguement over Citizen Kane? Review: Distinguishing a film albeit any major piece of art as the finest remains a daunting and unwanted task by anyone. Who is able to discern Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as greater than Mozart's 26th Piano concerto? A Pollack from an Ingres? These lofty and admittedly erudite examples prove the impossibility of sufficiently noting who shot the greatest film of all time. What a simple Simon question? And why answer or argue? With his first film, Welles added to the director's pallette as no other. Welles allowed Toland's camera to sing and Wise's editting to harmonize. When defaming and brooding over the AFI's decision consider Welles' interpretation of Kane's first marriage. In five quiet and quick scenes each occuring at a the very same dinner table, Welles managed to present the rise and decline of a marriage. This film does draw noticable comparison to previous silents but to deny its value in toto because of this intrinsic nature of all expression seems foolish. Are we now to criticize VanGogh's later work because he adopted a more colorful, thus Parisian palette. What of Ginsberg's relation to Whitman? No, this may not be the greatest film of all time. What of Rashomon, Persona, Fellini's 8 1/2, The Searchers, Intolerance, Modern Times, Grand Illusion and the many more that would pack volumes. Do not quibble, refuse to do so. To quibble only reveals the ignorance you hold in your hand. Orson Welles incorporated quite literally every major cinematic and narrative device in his first time at bat. Yes, it's outta here.
Rating: Summary: A Major Let Down Review: I have heard that this movie was THE best American made film ever, but when I watched it I had a very different impression. I love watching old black and white movies, but I found this one too long, boring, and pointless. It got a little better near the end, but it got off to a REALLY slow start. I certainly don't think this is the #1 film, but that's only my opinion....
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