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La grande illusion (1937)
No doubt, one of the best films from the 1930's
This being my first Renoir films, one of the first things that I noticed, was that La Grande Illusion doesn't look or feel like a film released in 1937. If I didn't know any better I would have said this was a late 40's or early 50's film. The acting and dialog feel very loose and real, very unlike anything i've seen from the 1930's.
The story overall is pretty good, and it develops at a nice steady pace. La Grande Illusion never feels tiring or too long. Overall i would say it's length is spot on.
The cinematography and different camera shots are great and one of the best I've seen from this era. Really surprised my to be honest.
As mentioned the dialog is great, and this works in part thanks to the amazing cast. All the different characters are well written and convincing, not to mention very likable. Also i love that correct languages are used for French, German and English characters, something that even today is not standard practice.
At the end of it all, I really enjoyed this film.
Looking forward to more from Renoir
Donnie Darko (2001)
The greatness of the Theatrical Release
Donnie Darko, a dark and gripping story about a troubled and somewhat disturbed teenager and his friend Frank who tells him that the world is going to end in 28 Days, 6 Hours, 42 Minutes and 12 Seconds.
Now what makes this movie great in my opinion is the overall mood and vagueness surrounding this movie. You're constantly thinking and wondering, trying to figure out a logical explanation for the events that happen. It is a movie that still leaves you thinking and wondering long after the movie is over.
This is why i Highly Recommend watching the Theatrical Version. This version unlike the Directors Cut leaves you stunned and shocked at the end, and leaves everything wide open for your own interpretations. It's this version what makes this movie so great.
The Directors Cut explains a whole lot more about the different events that occur in the movie. It explains mostly everything what in the Theatrical Version is left up to the viewer to interpret. In my opinion it makes the whole movie a lot less appealing, by taking away what a big part of what makes this movie so great.
By my opinion only watch the Directors Cut if you've seen the Theatrical Release a few times end still don't understand any of it. I even recommend doing some reading about this movie on the web before even thinking about the Directors Cut.