Movies: Good, better, and best.

[fellow]

I've been looking into gradually acquiring the classics for my young family to enjoy throughout the years. So far I have found that movies are judged generally on the same criteria. You can find a short list here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_10...y_Edition)

What I am intrigued by, however, is what separates the men from the boys? what separates good movies, (Ben Hur, Yankee Doodle Dandee, etc.) from better movies (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, etc.) as well as the best movies (The Godfather, Citizen Kane, etc.)?
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

[Bork]

Not sure what you're looking for here. The criteria there are pretty broad ones and basically all they say is: To be considered for this list it has to be a feature-length movie, it has to be relevant for an American audience, and it has to be generally considered great. Those are pretty good criteria when trying to make a general list of great feature-length movies aimed at an American audience.

If you're asking what makes a really great movie a really great movie I don't think you'll find a simple answer and I'm pretty sure you'll find quite a few different opinions. Personally I'd reverse part of your list and happily claim that Yankee Doodle Dandy is better than Butch Cassidy which is better than Citizen Kane.

[fellow]

Let me try and rephrase my question. What does it take for a movie to be "good"? In addition to that criteria, what makes a movie "better" (somewhere between good and ungodly). Finally, What aspects make a movie one of the greatest of all time? What does it have that the others do not? I do not know if that helps. But I hope it does.

Bork, Thank you for your insights and prompt response. You are right. It is broad, but I think I'm looking for the general characteristics I guess.

[Wombi]

For me personally a "good" or "great" movie is dependent on one thing: script.

[GARY]

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IMO younger people, do not care much about the quality of acting, cinematography, or even the plot as much as adults do. I know when I was a teenager all I cared about seeing were fighting, things blowing up, fast cars, and hooters.

It's quite hard, but extremely profitable, 2 make movies that have great appeal 2 all age groups male and female.

But my avatar has managed 2 pull that off nicely
_________________
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I owe $100,000 and wasted 4 years of my life.

And all I got was this silly hat



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[Wombi]

age has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[GARY]

[Facetious]

[Facetious]

[GARY]