Currently Reading: Currently Watching

I am currently reading Roger Ebert's great book of cinema aptly titled GREAT MOVIES. I've always been a cinefile, yet I haven't seen most of the films in this catalog of 'must see movies'. Ebert has done the film viewing community an incredible service by writing essays on films he views as classics, yet films that may be falling by the wayside, considering today's film students are (according to the introduction) no longer very interested in black and white film (not that all of the films written about in this book are black and white). I happen to think that most color films do not hold a candle to black and white when it comes to power and impact: think THE THIRD MAN or TOUCH OF EVIL. I'd be hard pressed for anyone to find a film more suspenseful than Harold Lloyd's SAFETY LAST--that's black and white and silent, to boot (see image above. NOTE: Despite losing half of his left hand in a fireworks accident, Harold Lloyd still did all of his own stunts.). Was there ever a more charming love story than Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS? I think not. Just because a movie was made over 50 years ago doesn't mean that it's a bad film: quite the contrary. Many people make the mistake of thinking black and white films are somehow boring. I think not, once again. I bet the only black and white films most people have seen is CITIZEN KANE. I thought that film was so boring; I was calling my friends and begging them to tell me who/what Rosebud was. I'm not joking. I'm not ashamed to admit that I didn't enjoy the CITIZEN KANE storyline; however, I did love the filming. I believe this was the first film where everything in the view of the camera was in focus (in other words, the backgrounds were not out of focus, as they normally would be to draw your eye to the subject in the foreground).

There are so many great films that have been forgotten about because, well, there aren't many places left in the world that show old films--unless, of course, you live in New York City or San Francisco (United States). Now, with Netflix, for example, most of the classic movies that Ebert writes about are available for your viewing.

I am going to be watching many of these old classics--some for the first time, and others for the second, third, or even fourth time--and then I am going to write my own review/essay regarding the film. I will also place a link to Roger Ebert's online review (when available). I am hoping to keep some of the films that inspired me to be a photographer alive for a very long time. (Yes, I used to watch old films to get ideas for modern day photo shoots when I photographed rock-n-roll bands, famous artists, and even lawyers, etc.)

I would like to invite anyone who has a NETFLIX account to become a 'Netflix Friend'--whereby we can view each other's queue and trade thoughts on movies we've rented and watched. Cousin Chrissy and Cousin G are already Netflix friends--it's pretty cool to see who likes what movies and why.

To sign up to be a Netflix Friend of Jai Bhakti, simply go to your Netflix account, click on the 'FRIENDS' tab at the top of the page, and send me an email invite. Here's my email address: jaibhakti@aol.com

Movies are a great pastime because they take us out of our own worlds and let us see the world through someone else's eyes and imagination. Don't be afraid of 'black and white': I can guarantee you that many of the classic black and white films are far superior to some of the crap that Hollywood puts out these days.

Happy Viewing!
Bhakti


tags: Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, humor,movies, Roger Ebert, Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, Citizen Kane, movie reviews, Charlie Chaplin, City Lights, Touch of Evil, Third Man, black and white films,