| Quote: Originally Posted by Sixgun Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, we all know those are classics. They're also over 60 years old. Movies from the 70's and 80's like The Godfather or The Shining can certainly already be considered classics. But what about some newer movies, from the early 90's? Do you think Unforgiven or Schindler's List are already classics? What about American Beauty or Magnolia? And some newer fare like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? Also, which of the recent critically acclaimed movies (No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood, etc.) will become classics some years down the road? And when? I wouldn't consider Unforgiven a classic, nor would I say that about Magnolia or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; I may be saying that out of personal preference though, as I didn't care for any of those flicks. I'd say 10 years minimum is when you can begin throwing around the tag "classic", if you wanted to simply discuss time frame. At the end of the day, I'd define a classic as something that effectively changed cinema and provided the movie going public with a cinematic memory that they will never forget. What you may consider a classic I may consider trash, and vice versa. It's all subjective. If I had to list my personal criteria for a classic, it would be a film that broke new ground, told an amazing story, and was enjoyed by more than just a niche of people. The "enjoyed by more than a niche of people" is why I say Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Magnolia aren't classics, as they're films cinema buffs love, but weren't really accepted by the general public in the same way. Flicks like The Godfather, Schindler's List, and The Shining appealed to a broader audience, so I believe they're more deserving to be dubbed with the title "classic" than others you mentioned. |