Comments on: MovieMake-out.com Poll: Should Citizen Kane become required viewing?

By: skp

skp — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:43:56 +0000

The problem with showing movies in high school is that almost no school has a 3 hour period for which to watch the whole movie uninterrupted. Watching a movie like CK in three or four parts would ruin it. Assigning it as a homework assignment is unreasonable as it would be nearly impossible to get all the kids a copy of the DVD/tape and you can’t assume all the kids have a tv/dvd player.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:15:11 +0000

I actually took a film class in high school and we watched Citizen Kane, and I loathe this movie. While I greatly respect it for its technical aspects and innovative camera work, the story and acting does not resonate with me at all. I loved every movie we watched in that class (Casablanca, Some Like It Hot, Strangers on a Train, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Graduate, Life is Beautiful) but I hated Citizen Kane. I dont know why, but I just do.

I will admit that if it wasnt a mandatory watch I might have enjoyed it more, but I still cant ignore the fact that I loved every one of the other movies we watched. In fact some of those movies are my all time favorites. Its a very odd situation.

By: Graehaus

Graehaus — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:00:38 +0000

I think it should be, I have seen it once in my 37 yrs. And I think it should be shown, it was a great movie. If schools will show the 90’s Romeo & juliet for culture. Kane would be a better choice, it’s filming, acting is all boss.

By: Gordon McAlpin

Gordon McAlpin — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:58:01 +0000

To me, the real magnificence of the film is mostly technical: the film added so many new tricks the film lexicon* that for a FILM History class, yes, it should be required viewing.

For a History class? Uh, I suppose it depends on the context.
* http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Citizen_Kane_-_Filmmaking_innovations/id/1231880

By: KitsuneFather

KitsuneFather — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:54 +0000

Well, for my two cents, making something mandatory almost guarantees it will go unappreciated and ignored, or become hated. I know many a person in my circles who hate certain books because they ‘had’ to read it in school.

The better thing would be the extra credit idea, or to show it as a culmination to a section on that period of history, if at all, and allow people the option of doing an extra credit assignment on it. Thereby the people who won’t care won’t develop ill will toward it, and those who would care can actually benefit from its showing.