With 3D coming back from the dead in a big way this past year, it’s only appropriate to look back at film history and appreciate how the last century (that’s right, film has only been around for 100 years for those who grew up with DVR and YouTube) has produced some significant achievements.
From physical technology to visual language to the marriage of entertainment with intellectual ideas, a lot of stuff went down, and we celebrate them all here in a nutshell.
AVATAR (2010)
Yes, this is an obvious choice, but it is notable not just for employing a revamped way of doing 3D, but also introduced brand new technology. James Cameron and his company of mad scientists conceived and entire new camera system called the Fusion in order to achieve the visuals for their new classic. While many studios are trying to add 3D to 2D movies, this is the only camera that will do it natively and is expected to be used more widely soon (and by better films than Resident Evil: Afterlife).
SUPER SIZE ME (2004)
Yes, Michael Moore has been making thought-provoking documentaries since Roger and Me, the Maysles documented Grey Gardens before HBO cast Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange in a fictional adaptation. But Morgan Spurlock’s film represents the little guy – the promise that anyone with the commitment, nerve and a couple of video cameras can shape an idea into an entertaining and biting documentary. Without it, there may not have been attention paid to important films like The Cove.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
This Wes Craven classic truly spawned decades of horror / slasher films, countless sequels, remakes and rip-offs that all recently culminated in the successful SAW series. The original Elm Street and Friday the 13th and Halloween all set up the ‘rules’ so well pointed out in Scream (again, Wes Craven) that continue to scare the life out of us, or at least those of us brave enough to go into a dark theater.
STAR WARS (1977)
As much as you love the next advancement in special effects, you cannot deny that the film industry hit a peak with George Lucas’ unforgettable space war epic. None of this stuff was created in computers back then, and he fused old filmmaking tricks with innovative new ones. But you can also argue he squandered all that inspiration away with his prequels. See it again on DVD, or wait for the upcoming 3D theatrical re-release we just got wind of.
SEVEN SAMURAI (1953)
Prior to this classic film by Akira Kurosawa, there were no films about a band of misfits who get together to save a group of people in need – since then, every film from The Magnificent Seven to A Bug’s Life have used this template. This is also one of the few three-hour-plus film where virtually every frame is exciting to see. If you see it now, you have to get the fully restored Criterion Collection edition to see it the way it was meant to be seen.
CITIZEN KANE (1941)
These days, what visionary actor and director Orson Wells and cinematographer Gregg Toland must have gone through to achieve this groundbreaking film would be well documented on video and supplied in the extras section of the DVD. But alas back then, they didn’t have such technology so we can only imagine the thought and effort they put in to create all of the breathtaking visuals that still impress budding filmmakers and longstanding film theorists.
BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925)
Again, you know a great film when it is quoted in others – this historically significant film from 1920’s Russia has been paid homage in scenes from The Untouchables (the train station shootout) to The Godfather. Director Sergei Eisenstein is pretty much credited with coming up with the theory of ‘montage’ and makes full use of it in this groundbreaking cinematic experience.
But ultimately, every film has added something to the tapestry – we can easily name another three or four-dozen that can be argued to be a game changing film. How about you? Which films do you think changed moviemaking for better or worse? Feel free to tell us!
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