Seriously... saw this in my film history class and wanted to shoot myself. I think I may have chuckled once during the entire movie. That and I wanted to kill someone seeing chaplin do that retarded walk with those shoes that stick up into the air for no apparent reason...
So yeah out of curiosity what does this film have that makes you people like it?
Ugh, f-cking teenagers. Nobody was asking for your damned ages.
Why can't any board for a classic film exist without a bunch of high school/early college zitfaces patting themselves on the backs for being a youth consumer of classic film? STFU and talk about the movie rather than yourselves, if possible.
I watched this movie early this morning, and I fell in love. I knew who Carlie Chaplin was, but this was my first experience with any of his films. I didn't get to finish it, because it ended at 5:30 in the morning and I needed to get up for class, but I regret not finishing it. I though it was pure brilliance.
The part about the lunch-time feeding machine had my in hysterics! Just the look on his face... I am definitely going to keep two eyes out for any other Chaplin films. The humor trancends time, and that is something that just can't be said for more contemporary films.
In a word: Amazing.
Oh, and to answer the OP- I can like this movie because, like every person (or most, technically) here, I have a personal taste. I don't like what's shoved down my throat. I hate most movies that are in theatres for that fact. It was early in the morning, I couldn't sleep, and I found Modern Times on TCM. I didn't even know the name of the movie until a few minutes before I went to bed. But I watched it, nonetheless. I have an opinion. Simple (or not; your choice) as that.
"If you've never seen an elephant ski, you've never been on acid." -Eddie Izzard
I think most kids feel like justifying themselves on boards like this because the majority of people around here are condescending bitches who think anyone under the age of 40 cannot possibly comprehend the genius that is ... well, anything actually. This doesn't just pertain to silent films, but anything. I don't really think age has anything to do with it in the long run. It's all about taste level, which varies, obviously, from person to person. A 5 year old might love this movie where a 50 year old might not. So just relax and be thankful that there might actually be hope for the future if there are kids willing to broaden their perspectives and enjoy entertainment that their friends might not.
shareHahaha. Hilarious. "I'm 16 and I thought it was really funny. I LOL'd till my balls finally dropped!" I'm glad I was doing other things besides watching classic films when I was sixteen.
shareIt's actually pretty easy to like this movie. If you can't, I'd say you're onto something about wanting to shoot yourself.
Believe me, you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head."
Well Bob,...original poster on this thread
I suspect you'll live to be VERY embarrased by that posting...but you'll have to do a lot of growing up first.
Ciao, e buon auguri
Sorry you felt that way. MT is ONE of my favorite Charlie Chaplin movies. I laugh a lot anytime I see it. And some of the underlying themes are pretty serious.
shareThat's why i think people shouldn't show old movies to students who aren't interested. Because they're too stupid and just don't deserve it.
"Well, I think if people loved eachother more, they'd shoot eachother less!"
Then where would we be? Teachers should definitely not have that attitude. Believe it or not, "they" are not all stupid and uninterested. I'm willing to bet that most of the other students in the OP's class enjoyed Modern Times. Beats having to do actual schoolwork.
shareDon't tell me you didn't crack up at the cocaine in the salt shaker. I haven't laughed this much at a film since I saw Borat for the first time. It's endearing, and puts a smile on your face. Call me f!cking sentimental, but I loved the hell out of this movie, even if it was an odd duck hybrid of a talkie and a silent.
_____
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=12320866
Well bob,
You need to be old enough to understand the evolution of human comedy and not assume that life has ALWAYS been the way you found it when you were born.
"I thought you might be ignorant...then you opened your mouth and removed all doubt"
Ciao, e buon auguri
i don't see how you can't like this movie. i was laughing throughout the entire thing. and plus, Paulette Goddard is the most gorgeous woman i've ever seen in an old b&w movie. normally they look horribly overdressed and stupid, but she was 100% perfect.
EDIT: and, did you see that rollerskating scene? HOLY CRAP!! that's what did the movie for me. as soon as i saw him do that, it was instant 10/10 when i got onto IMDb. i was seriously freaking out. i've never "freaked out" watching a black-and-white movie, EVER before. Charlie Chaplin wins at life.
I think "Modern Times' is great - I gave it a 10/10, but I'm not going to jump on someone's case because they don't like it or are "too young" or "too [fill in the blank]" to appreciate it.
It's difficult for people to realize how popular Chaplin was - before WWI, there were comic strips based on Chaplin's tramp character - within a year or so of his film debut. Chaplin had some advantages that many actors never did or will. He owned his own studio - he wrote, directed, produced, starred in, created the music and took quite a few years before "Modern Times" was released. That probably has some bearing in people's thinking behind how they view this or other Chaplin films.