5. Soundtrack/Music
While music or sound is not completely necessary it certainly adds something to the movie watching experience. Music can add a certain mood, tension and suspense to scenes that could otherwise be quite insipid. There are no rules on how a soundtrack should sound and I really enjoy movies with a different kind of score.
Examples:
Requiem For a Dream (2001)
There only a few soundtracks in the world of film that can compete with this one created by Clint Mansell. The movie itself is very unique (the camera work for example). It needed a unique score and got one.
Dead Man (1995)
One of the coolest soundtracks ever is this electric guitar soundtrack by Neil Young, which he created by improvising as he watched the film. This soundtrack really sets the mood for the entire movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The use of classical music has always been common in movies. It has always been used perfectly by Stanley Kubrick and in the intro segment in 2001: A Space Odyessey, "The Dawn of Man" we find one of the most well-known classical music scenes, when a man-ape suddenly realizes that he can use a bone as a weapon and tool.
4. Acting
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| Eddie Marsan in Happy-Go-Lucky |
Great acting is refreshing, but not required for a movie to be good. Bad acting can be fun too and even used deliberately in movies like "braindead".
Good acting is not only up to the actor. It is quite clear that some directors almost always bring forth great performances even from actors that are often considered bad actors. Of course the acting performances also depends on the story and the character they are given to work with.
Examples of great acting:
a) Nicholas Cage in Adaptation:
Nicholas Cage must be one of the worst actors at choosing movies. The movies most of us have seen him in are mainstream action movies with little place for character developement. Most of the time he's just Nicholas Cage put into different scenarios, rather than the character he's playing. Apparently, he wants to be seen as a kick-ass treasure-hunter known for his skills behind the wheel.
But, to the point: There's a few exceptions, Adaptation being the best one. In this movie he shows us that he can be funny, wierd, and entertaining, without being cheesy.
b) Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath
Henry Fonda cannot be accused of being a bad actor. In The Grapes of Wrath he gives one of the greatest performances ever seen in movies.
c) Eddie Marsan in Happy-Go-Lucky
A good example of a not so well-known actor in an amazing role. As the driving-intructor Scott he gives a performance full of emotion and eventually you forget that Scott's only a character.
3. Cinematography
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| Pan's Labyrinth |
The nicer a movie looks, the better. If all the other elements are okay (not great), cinematography can decide if I like watching a movie or not. Sometimes it doesn't depend on the moviemakers, but how you watch the movie (In cinema, dvd or blu-ray and on a big screen or a small laptop)
Example:
Melancholia (2011)
Visually one of the greatest movies ever. Be sure to watch it on blu-ray.
The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
One of the biggest productions of all time, and it pays of. It's obvious how much they invested in the project.
2. Dialogue
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| In Bruges |
Good dialogue is essential for a movie to be perfect, but a good dialogue can also make a poor story entertaining. The dialogue is of course a part of the story, but I'm referring to how dialogue is used to tell a story.
Examples:
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Typical Tarantino Dialogue.
Persona (1966)
The dialogue is a huge part in this movie and it kept my attention.
Persona (1966)
The dialogue is a huge part in this movie and it kept my attention.
12 Angry Men (1957)
In a movie where the entire movie takes place in one room, a good dialogue is necessary. In this case the dialogue is the story.
In a movie where the entire movie takes place in one room, a good dialogue is necessary. In this case the dialogue is the story.
1. Story
The most important element in a movie is the story. It is the story the movie wants to tell us, the rest is just aids to make it reach the viewers and be entertaining and memorable. Most of the time, no matter how great the other elements are, I will not enjoy watching a movie with an uninteresting story. I don't need a large-scale story, just an interesting one. It's a huge plus if a story has no plot holes, but it's not necessary to be entertaining.
Example:
Frequency (2004)
A movie that may contain some plot holes and cheesy scenes, but with a story that interest me. This makes it easy to enjoy watching.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
One of the most well-written stories ever and also my favorite movie of all time.
Comment: What's the most important elements according to you?
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
One of the most well-written stories ever and also my favorite movie of all time.
Comment: What's the most important elements according to you?
