Great Movies vs. Enjoyable Movies

In the course of film history you come across movies famous for
technical or political reasons, but these same movies aren't always
particularly enjoyable. While I can fully appreciate the significance of
Citizen Kane and its beautiful lighting, I get no real enjoyment
out of watching that particular film, I can say the same thing about
Battleship Potemkin...

On the other hand some movies with technical and political/social
comments I love, such as Charlie Chaplin's work. And then there
are films which are fun, but have no real critical value, such as Bill
& Ted lol

What do you think?

With movies the general case is that you get out what you put in. If you are looking for some good camera work and well-composed shots, you're going to like a movie that has that, but not one that has mostly static cameras. If you are looking for good performances, you may like a three hour-long character epic, but not an hour and a half romcom.

Pretty much every genre of film has merit, but they strive for different things. There's no benchmark or baseline on which to judge all movies by. The closest to that anyone can get is maybe taking the best from each genre or facet of filmmaking, and hold that up as an example that others in the same vein should strive towards. But even then so much is based on taste. Not everyone likes high school comedies, but those people may love dark comedies.

"Critical value" is essentially useless to anyone striving to make a film that is going to get wide release and public attention. Yes, critics often influence the public perception of a movie, but that doesn't stop a movie about CGI guinea pigs who are spys from making $31 million in its opening weekend. It doesn't stop the hordes who saw the movie and liked it from thinking it was an enjoyable film. That doesn't make it a good film, but it does mean that quite a few people liked it.

I thought District 9 was a great movie.

I think Lord of the Rings was an example of a great movie. And I think something like Commando is something enjoyable.

Not to say great movies aren't also enjoyable.

I agree with nolan: there's no universal rule for what makes a good movie. I don't generally listen to critics and I don't even listen to fans all the time... they certainly got it wrong when they panned The Cable Guy.

Famous films, as with famous books, don't actually tend to age that well.

Some of them do, like Casablanca, but others are, well, Battleship Potemkins, difficult to appreciate decades later.


Still, there's not necessarily any conflict between a movie being great and it being enjoyable (see, again, Casablanca, or Star Wars) Indeed, many critics see Charlie Chaplin's works as great movies and I know I find them largely enjoyable.

Hey bill and ted was a great and enjoyable movie, wish I could say the same about the sequel that one was only enjoyable. I think that great movies go hand in hand with enjoyable but not the other way around. Just my own thoughts on the subject because "A few Good Men" is a great movie and and at the same time enjoyable the same could be said about "The Terminal". On the other hand when you have a enjoyable movie like "Transformers" its just enjoyable the story it self was lacking another example would be "Final Fantasy: Advent Childern". Of coruse all of this comes from own personal opinion, I only speak for myself not for others.