What determines a classic? Are any more classics being made today??? If so, what are they?

Just something to discuss...

In general, a classic film has been considered an older film which maintains some prestige by being historically-significant ("The Birth of a Nation", "Intolerance"), techically-innovative ("Citizen Kane"), or just flat-out entertaining (Singin' in the Rain") or artistic (Vidor's "The Crowd", Murnau's "Sunrise"). The thing is the original classics keep getting older, and film watchers/students/historians keep growing older (just a fact of life), so that means more "newer" films may qualify to be called classics. Also, you hear the term "modern-day classic." I've never used that term, but I've inferred it to mean a movie which is as entertaining/artistic/important as the older classics, but hasn't actually stood the test of time. If I ever were to use the term, it might be for something as narratively-innovative and artistically-powerful as "Schindler's List."

To me, I'd consider any film which is great to be a classic, but this definition wouldn't be very highly-regarded among film historians; for one thing, my definition would delete many "true" classics because I would think there was nothing very interesting about them aside from some historical significance. It would also throw the question of "classics" into a subjective realm, as opposed to a theoretically-more-objective historical area. Whoa, Nellie! That's my clue to stop since that last sentence reads like total BS.

Classics here are obviously older movies that don't show up too often at theatres nowadays, but if you're lucky, you might come across a revival theatre, art museum or library which shows classics on a regular basis. There's also good ole Turner Classic Movies.

Shut up, mark.

Over the top Mark!
Let us say that 'classic is as classic does'... you get to define classic; a classic movie is not limited by time... older is not synonymous with 'classic'... let us digress on the term classic: archetypal, the model, set a standard, atypical, timeless, unforgettable, memorable, a masterpiece. For example the minute I saw Pulp Fiction, and Fight Club..Yup Classics... they were of the genre of 'cultural archetypal' like Rebel Without a Cause, On the Waterfront, Easy Rider.... and of course others of this genre. How about the classic mystery/suspense: Gas Light, The Spiral Staircase, Wait Until Dark, .... Then we get the classic psycho/serials... Phantom of the Opera, Psycho, Silence of The Lambs... Ohhhh,the way he said "Clarisse" ...yup a Classic! Musicals: South Pacific, Music Man, Oklahoma, Singing in the Rain, Moulin Rouge, Guys and Dolls (oh Frank!) soooo many! Could go on and on .... Any new classics emerging today... you tell me; now that is the real question. Don't you think?

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beauty
Slacker
Posted 04 March 2009 07:11 PM Hide Post
first it should be a very long history. it has been tempered by the time. second, it should have a large content. nobody wants a classical one is a hollow! for example, Doctor who and Stargate Atlantis are two classical dramas. they all have the characteristics i have mentioned before

I wouldn't necessarily agree with your choices for classical dramas, particularly Stargate Atlantis which doesn't even have the "very long history" as might say the original movie itself Stargate (1994). I'm also somewhat confused by your selections which appear to be more appropriate for the television forum rather than the movie forum which could because of the difference of the medium have different defintions of "classic" episodes or series rather than a movie. As to what you mean by "large content," I'm not sure what the phrase means or "hollow." You've set out the beginnings of a defintion, but it seems to require further attention.

The American Film Institute considers the following criteria when considering what are the "greatest" movies:

- Critical recognition.
- Popularity over time.
- Historical significance.
- Cultural impact.
- Major award winner.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tabuno,

The Antique Autos are considerate real treasures and many people pay a lot for them,? the quality of a good antique autos especially the classic ford cars represent many money, are a exception of the rule because can have higher prices in the market, the antique autos are a good option for some part of the society like the classic ford cars too, that meaning power, and position in a society that every day need it more of course, and the antique cars or classic ford cars like for example the Buick classic, the classic corvettes.

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Autos
Slacker
Posted 12 March 2009 02:35 PM Hide Post
The Antique Autos are considerate real treasures and many people pay a lot for them,? the quality of a good antique autos especially the classic ford cars represent many money, are a exception of the rule because can have higher prices in the market, the antique autos are a good option for some part of the society like the classic ford cars too, that meaning power, and position in a society that every day need it more of course, and the antique cars or classic ford cars like for example the Buick classic, the classic corvettes.

Shawn K. Henderson

Technically speaking your discussion about "classic" cars does fall under the title of this post (if not the Forum which is for movies). Your descriptive is intriguing somewhat nevertheless. Whether it has value for determining a classical movie, I'm not sure. However, you have brought up several points:

1) Movie as a "treasure" (though how that might be established isn't clear and might be more a of tautology where "white" = "white."

2) Movie as a product that many people pay a lot of money for. While this might be a way to identify a classical movie, it does not explain why people will pay a lot for a movie? And it raises a fascinating distinction between whether or not the movie is any good versus people just believe it has great monetary value, regardless if it is a piece of crap.

3) Movie as having "high quality" and considered an "antique." Unlike a car with a lot of physical mechanical parts as well as well manufactured, perhaps, hand-made parts, a film has a number of more subjective items such as editing, sound, visual, acting, directing and other components that can be measured in quite the same way. It's not like one is judging the quality of the actual film that the movie is finally used though that might affect the ultimate result.