Movies

Being a former film major, I feel I should comment on some of the movies on the list Dr. Sexson sent out, looking a little at myth and a little at entertainment. With some I will provide the most basic mythic idea in the film that I find, which will work as little more than starting points. I note when the movies are not in English and which language they are in. I would recomment on those movies that you watch them with subtitles, rather than dubbed, for a lot is lost in dubbing.

2001 This movie was considered one of the greats of its day, but many of its qualities have been overshadowed by never films. As a movie, it is rather slow and many would find it boring, but if you are willing to but in the time (it's three hours long) and the energy, it can provide some interest. Myth: beginnings.
After Hours Standar Scorsese fair. Myth: quest.
Andre Rublev Subtitled - Russian.
Beauty and the Beast Not the animated Disney version, this is one of the classics of Fantasy Cinema. Subtitled - French.
Blade Runner An excellent science fiction movie. As a personnal reconmendation, I would suggest you try and not see the directors cut, but the original is very difficult to get a hold of. It is based on the Phillip K. Dick short story "Do Androids Dream of Robot Sheep?"
Blow Up As part of Italian Neo-realism, Blow-up is a rather unique film and arguably difficult to grasp. Myth: appearance/mystery. Subtitled - Italian.
Blue Angel, The I am not sure if this is referring to the 1930 German film or the 1959 American film. They are the same story, but as anyone who has scene the animated Lord of the Rings can tell you, the same story does not mean much.
Children of Paradise Subtitled - French
Chinatown One of the last great dark films of the seventies (shortly after Jaws and Star Wars made cinema light and fluffy).
Citizen Kane Often considered one of the best movies of all time. Fairly long, but does not suffer from slow plot as some other films do. Myth: man.
Coffee and Cigarettes A Jim Jarmusch filme, it is, like most JJ films, a little odd. It is more a collection of stories than a single story. Myth: well, myth, I suppose.
Days of Heaven *shrugs*
Dead Man Once again, more Jim Jarmusch, but this time with Johnny Depp action. A western, it follows a man named William Blake into the west. It could be considered a 'modern' western. Myth: man.
Double Indemnity One of the top three Noir films of all time. This film is still highly enjoyable as a film, even to most modern audiences. Myth: evil.
High Noon This film is considered one of the most iconic westerns of all time. There are a few scenes here that everyone has seen, as they have been spoofed beyond all counting. A wonderful film to watch, even if not for class. Myth: man/quest.
La Strada Another Italian Neo-Realist film. Subtitled - Italian
Little Big Man One could to look at this film as a metamyth, a myth told as a story, or one could simply view it as a story. Myth: story
Magnificent Seven, The A remake of the Japanese film The Seven Samurai by Akira Kurusawa. I would recommend all people to see the original, though they mythic position is different in the latter due to its shift to America. It is a long film, but rarely slow. Myth: fellowship.
Mulholland Drive A David Lynch film, and thus it has a certain strange quality to it.
Natural, The We've talked enough about this one in class.
Night of the Hunter A rather deadly film.
Piano, The A happier film.
Planet of the Apes I am assuming that this means the original, 1968 original, not the recent remake, as the first is arguably the better. Much of the effects are dated, but the story is still strong. Myth: new worlds.
Satyricon Very much an inherently mythic film. Set in first century Rome, it draws the viewer into what is considered the mythic past. Subtitled - Italian.
Searchers, The Another western (which is, arguably, the mythic cycle of America). This is also one of the better westerns out there.
Seven Beauties Subtitled - Italian
Seventh Seal A very complex film, it deals primarily with God. Myth: end times. Subtitled - Sweedish
Smooth Talk Myth: man
Solaris I am making the assumtion that this is the 1972 Russian version. A sci-fi film, it is more along the lines of Blade Runner than Star Wars. Subtitled - Russian
Spirited Away I have a soft spot in my heart for Spirited Away and any film Hayao Miyazaki worked on. It is an animate film from Japan, but is not what most people would consider 'anime.' The mythic imagery in this film earned only two stars, but I suggest anyone who watches this to study the Japanese mythology, for you will find much more than you expected (and probably enough to fill many posts). Click here for more on his films, all very mythic. Myth: quest/initiation. Subtitled - Japanese
Sweet Hereafter, The *shrugs*
Terminator, The I'm pretty sure everyone knows about this film and most people enjoy it (at least to the degree they enjoy destruction). Myth: evil
Third Man, The And Orson Welles film, set during the Cold War and the spy battles of that age. It is a little slow compared to modern thrillers, but it stil backs a bunch.
Treasure of Sierra Madre Another western, though darker than most of the others on this list. Myth: fellowship/treasure
Ulysses' Gaze A mythic quest for the very things that movies are made of. Subtitled - Greek
Vertigo One of the lesser known films by Alfred Hitchcock. A powerful thriller, though it might be a bit much for someone afraid of heights.
Wild Strawberries Another Ingmar Bergman film, this one also deals with the issues of emptiness. Subtitled - Sweedish
Wings of Desire I personally think that this name sounds like a film of ill repute, but what do I know? The original German title, Der Himmel Uber Berlin, literally means The Heaven Over Berlin. This is quite a good film, and is the original for City of Angels. Subtitled - German
Wizard of Oz, The I am not a big fan of this movie, but I am sure most of you will not be swayed by my opinion. One of the simplest movies on this list, it does offer a couple surpries (and no, I don't mean when played with Pink Floyd) after repeat viewings. Myth: quest.
Wuthering Heights I am assuming this is the 1939 version, but there are many others out there. Based on the novel by Emily Brontë.