Now the problem is a 16 year old girl isn't going to like all of those movies. I talk to a lot of 16 year old girls and all of the don't like some of them. So be prepared to have her tell you that at least some of these were a waste of money. But if you want to play god and try and anticipate what your girl is going to like, count on no better than a 50% hit rate. The before 16 ones, those one's are a written in stone.
Sixteen year old...girl? Start with with what might holds her interest at that age...Molly Ringwald anyone?
1. Pretty in Pink
2. Sixteen Candles
3. The Breakfast Club
4. The Pick-Up Artist
Then get "edgy" and "artistic"
5. Peggy Sue Got Married
6. Heathers
7. Dazed And Confused
8. The Fabulous World Of Amelie
9. Run Lola Run
10. Boys Don't Cry
Others...
Requiem For a Dream - Great anti-drug message (Sid and Nancy's good one too)
Romeo & Juliet (DiCaprio and Danes version)
Rebel Without a Cause - classic teen angst
Thelma & Louise - the female "Easy Rider"
Gilliam? The Fisher King...or Brazil
Don't foist your favorites, testosterone flicks or old flicks at that age unless it will interest her (who knows what male teen idol she'll be swooning over in the near future). They didn't really interest my teen nieces. But they LOVED Molly Ringwald. Can't go wrong with those four...I like them! Some of Audrey Hepburn's films might interest her (Breakfast @ Tiffanys)...but I doubt it...black and white is a turn off...
but perhaps I should clarify: the collection would not be for her to enjoy immediatly, but to have and to keep for her life and enjoy over time.
and, I want them to be the BEST as in the GREATEST WORKS OF ART!
That is why they have that "art house" flavor
Besides she will be growing up with two working artists . . . wife=painter and I am a video/installation artist . . . she will be steeped in the stuff
I didn't say that I didn't like the Third Man just that I did not remember seeing it
and though I appreciate the French movies that you listed I don't think they are up to snuff (The 400 blows coming closest though) Hopefully by the time I start amassing a collection Godard's full multi-volume, L'Histoire Du Cinema will be out . . . that is amazing
the Gilliam crossed my mind: I do love Brazil to no end and it did sort of set a standard of a kind . . .
And of Python I should have automatically inserted The Meaning Of Life . . . because it exemplifies why I thought of this gift idea
Jaws?!?!? it is good for what it is . . it defines the standard and manipulates us magnificently in ways that, if they weren't allready cliches, became cliches from emmulation . . . but that's best if the collection were about film history as in a film history class . . . I like to think about it like giving great books so she can immerse, enjoy and grow with them . ..
I'd have thought Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" would almost have to be included. And something by Dziga Vertov (I think that's who I'm thinking of - doco style, lots of editing with juxtaposed images, influenced Hitchcock?) If I've got the right Soviet film maker, his stuff is just brilliant.
Singing in the Rain: wonderful dancing and choreography. Not to mention, it provides a brief film-history lesson in the transitioning to talkies.
Wonderful idea.
May I suggest another? Provide a second boxed of sixteen films: one that you feel is the best in each year of her life. This way it provides a bit of history during her lifetime--and not imply that only good films were made before she was born.
No offense, but you're gonna damn near bore this girl to death with these movies. I think the best course of action is to wait some 15 years, strangely enough not all people share the same interests you do, for better or for worse.
Well. Speaking as a female, I have to say that females like
(yep, you guessed it) CHICK FLICKS!!!!!
You know - those movies you guys just HATE!!!
I remember showing my 8th grade classes (age 14) Ivanhoe, with (I think) Anthony Andrews. The girls came up to sit on the floor so they could be close to the screen to scope out the 'hero' more minutely. heh.
They like movies with cute guys in them.
They like romances.
Ivanhoe had knights and castles, gallant (and cute) guys.
Girls in long flowing dresses, with long flowing hair.
And they like current-time versions of the same story.
I personally think Ten Things I Hate About You is a classic teen film - based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
I think your idea of the greatest films is wonderful.
I would just suggest that you collect several sets of films.
A set of the Disney classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, etc. A set of teen-type films like Footloose, Ten Things, etc. A set of films women in their 20's and up like, such as Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Last of the Mohicans (Day-Lewis version), Gross Anatomy (with Matthew Modine), Pride and Prejudice (mini-series), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews again), etc. etc. etc......
These aren't the greatest films of all time, but they are well-loved films - well-loved by females. And there are LOTS more.
Yeah, if she were a boy then I'd say you'd have to include Field of Dreams...although you really don't appreciate that until your Dad is older or gone.
What fun to have artists as parents! My own parents encouraged my artistic abilities but they couldn't pass along techniques, that would have been valuable AND limiting....you understand that. Good luck on not trying to influence her with your own ideas and prejudices (it's impossible). But do give her some wiggle room and don't barf if she does like "Gone With The Wind".....Carol's already told us that a lot of girls like period romances~
I just realized that "Contact" is a much grander version of "Field of Dreams"......."if you build it, he will come". Wow...how about that. There you go, a chick version of Field for your little girl.
If you're going to put Rushmore in then you should include Royal Tennenbaum, I know a couple of girls who love that movie. Very interesting film....it definitely gets the "art house" nod....and I think somebody already named "Lost In Translation"...just so you can make sure she'll try to date her first professor~
Yeah the whole Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums set would be worthy in my opinion Still need to see Lost In Translation. Bill Murray is great.
Comments
The Meaning of Life
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Ghandi
Tank Girl
Committed
The Hot Chick
The 10 Things I hate About You
The Last Star Fighter
Total Recall
Being John Malkovic
Amadeus
And before she's sixteen how about
The Secret of Nihm
The Secret Garden
The Princess Bride
The Never ending Story
Now the problem is a 16 year old girl isn't going to like all of those movies. I talk to a lot of 16 year old girls and all of the don't like some of them. So be prepared to have her tell you that at least some of these were a waste of money. But if you want to play god and try and anticipate what your girl is going to like, count on no better than a 50% hit rate. The before 16 ones, those one's are a written in stone.
Avalon
I'd also have to add Death of a Salesman, the nice version that, I think it was CBS did with Dustin Hoffmin as Willie and John Malkovic as Biff.
Nick
1. Pretty in Pink
2. Sixteen Candles
3. The Breakfast Club
4. The Pick-Up Artist
Then get "edgy" and "artistic"
5. Peggy Sue Got Married
6. Heathers
7. Dazed And Confused
8. The Fabulous World Of Amelie
9. Run Lola Run
10. Boys Don't Cry
Others...
Requiem For a Dream - Great anti-drug message (Sid and Nancy's good one too)
Romeo & Juliet (DiCaprio and Danes version)
Rebel Without a Cause - classic teen angst
Thelma & Louise - the female "Easy Rider"
Gilliam? The Fisher King...or Brazil
Don't foist your favorites, testosterone flicks or old flicks at that age unless it will interest her (who knows what male teen idol she'll be swooning over in the near future). They didn't really interest my teen nieces. But they LOVED Molly Ringwald. Can't go wrong with those four...I like them! Some of Audrey Hepburn's films might interest her (Breakfast @ Tiffanys)...but I doubt it...black and white is a turn off...
Don't buy the videos now. The standards and formats will change. In 15 years, there will be something better than DVD's as we know them.
but perhaps I should clarify: the collection would not be for her to enjoy immediatly, but to have and to keep for her life and enjoy over time.
and, I want them to be the BEST as in the GREATEST WORKS OF ART!
That is why they have that "art house" flavor
Besides she will be growing up with two working artists . . . wife=painter and I am a video/installation artist . . . she will be steeped in the stuff
I didn't say that I didn't like the Third Man just that I did not remember seeing it
and though I appreciate the French movies that you listed I don't think they are up to snuff (The 400 blows coming closest though) Hopefully by the time I start amassing a collection Godard's full multi-volume, L'Histoire Du Cinema will be out . . . that is amazing
the Gilliam crossed my mind: I do love Brazil to no end and it did sort of set a standard of a kind . . .
And of Python I should have automatically inserted The Meaning Of Life . . . because it exemplifies why I thought of this gift idea
Jaws?!?!? it is good for what it is . . it defines the standard and manipulates us magnificently in ways that, if they weren't allready cliches, became cliches from emmulation . . . but that's best if the collection were about film history as in a film history class . . . I like to think about it like giving great books so she can immerse, enjoy and grow with them . ..
another endless foreign arty film . . . but really, a masterpiece
I'd have thought Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" would almost have to be included. And something by Dziga Vertov (I think that's who I'm thinking of - doco style, lots of editing with juxtaposed images, influenced Hitchcock?) If I've got the right Soviet film maker, his stuff is just brilliant.
Annie Hall
Sleeper
Love and Death
...er... Manhattan?
Originally posted by pfflam
and, I want them to be the BEST as in the GREATEST WORKS OF ART!
Ah, OK, that's easy then.
Barbarella.
...or Lawrence of Arabia.
can't say I much like Kiezlowski though . . .
Wonderful idea.
May I suggest another? Provide a second boxed of sixteen films: one that you feel is the best in each year of her life. This way it provides a bit of history during her lifetime--and not imply that only good films were made before she was born.
Well. Speaking as a female, I have to say that females like
(yep, you guessed it) CHICK FLICKS!!!!!
You know - those movies you guys just HATE!!!
I remember showing my 8th grade classes (age 14) Ivanhoe, with (I think) Anthony Andrews. The girls came up to sit on the floor so they could be close to the screen to scope out the 'hero' more minutely. heh.
They like movies with cute guys in them.
They like romances.
Ivanhoe had knights and castles, gallant (and cute) guys.
Girls in long flowing dresses, with long flowing hair.
And they like current-time versions of the same story.
I personally think Ten Things I Hate About You is a classic teen film - based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
I think your idea of the greatest films is wonderful.
I would just suggest that you collect several sets of films.
A set of the Disney classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, etc. A set of teen-type films like Footloose, Ten Things, etc. A set of films women in their 20's and up like, such as Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Last of the Mohicans (Day-Lewis version), Gross Anatomy (with Matthew Modine), Pride and Prejudice (mini-series), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews again), etc. etc. etc......
These aren't the greatest films of all time, but they are well-loved films - well-loved by females. And there are LOTS more.
What fun to have artists as parents! My own parents encouraged my artistic abilities but they couldn't pass along techniques, that would have been valuable AND limiting....you understand that. Good luck on not trying to influence her with your own ideas and prejudices (it's impossible). But do give her some wiggle room and don't barf if she does like "Gone With The Wind".....Carol's already told us that a lot of girls like period romances~
I just realized that "Contact" is a much grander version of "Field of Dreams"......."if you build it, he will come". Wow...how about that. There you go, a chick version of Field for your little girl.
Forrest Gump
Rushmore
Muriel's Wedding
Seabiscuit