Is there any point in re-watching films/TV shows?

[ColtDan]

Ive re-watched the Band of Brothers quite a few times over, its a master piece. anyone thats seen it will probably agree

 

[ColtDan]

ive also re watched goodfellas, human traffic, blow , and others which i cant be assed to type at the moment. all very re watchable in my opinion

 

[tribal girl]

I think some people idolize and obsess over certain celebrities/ films/ tv shows/ etc and thereby limit themselves to the number of ideas they can be exposed to.

When I was a kid I was obsessed with Madonna. Whatever it was, whatever she did, I said it was great, regardless of whether that was true or not. Some people grow out of that mentality, some people carry it with them forever.

If anyone or anything grabs my interest nowadays and they put out something a bit iffy, I can be honest with myself and others and admit I don't like it. I think that's where a lot of this stems from. Overly dedicated fans who buy the shit just because of the name™.

But do you really need to watch them 14 times? I mean they aren't particularly complex films (the ones you mentioned). I don't see how there could possibly be much more to be absorbed from the film after the 2nd viewing, let alone the 13th.

Why does something need to be complex for you to get multiple enjoyment out of it?. Sometimes the simpliest of things are the most enjoyable.

Whenever you encounter a new film there are branches connecting to dozens of others. Other work by the same writer/director/actors/producers.... or other films that are cited as influences... and then from each of those films are brances to dozens of others.

Like Rated E already stated, I don't understand why you can't do both. (new smiley alert :D)

What happens when you look back on your life and realise that you wasted time worrying about what other people did and liked?

Good point. :D

 

[TheDeceased]

It might be a good point if I did worry at all about what you guys like to do. It is something that has recently occured to me and I am genuinely curious as to where the appeal lies in repeated viewings. I'd also like to encourage people to break out of their routines and stop repeating the same experience, just because it's safe. The limited amount of time I have spent discussing it on this thread doesn't really equate to the hundreds of hours people spend watching films over and over again.

If I had had this discussion before, then I would see your point.

Why does something need to be complex for you to get multiple enjoyment out of it?. Sometimes the simpliest of things are the most enjoyable.

Rated E said that after rewatching films he picks up more things from them which contribute to discussion he has with his friends. The reason I said the films aren't very complex is because I struggle to understand how he could pick anything up from the films after having already seen them. This would'nt neccesarily apply to complex and difficult to understand films that in some cases require a second viewing to totally grasp them.

I didn't mean to imply that films have to be complex. Tonight I'm going to watch 'Role Models'.

Trainspotting also got me into Underworld and Lou Reed / Velvet Underground.

I've seen most of Boyle's other films (28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Slumdog Millionare, Sunshine, The Beach), and to be honest, I didn't like them nearly as much, though I did really like certain aspects of Sunshine, and 28 Days Later is pretty awesome

Anything that introduces you to Velvet Underground is undoubtedly a good thing.

Having said that, I agree with you about Boyle. Trainspotting is the only film of his that I remotely like.

I thought about tracking down Where the Buffalo Roam, but I heard bad things and they don't have it at the local video store.

It isn't Fear and Loathing but it isn't bad either. It's interesting seeing another take on Thompson, especially since it's Bill Murray in the leading role. Also Peter Boyle is great in the Lazlo/Gonzo role.

I think you'd enjoy Where The Buffalo Roam more than your 15th viewing of Fear and Loathing.

This is my point.

 

[Rated E]

^
It's much easier to watch a dvd that's in my cupboard, than to track one down that I'd probably have to end up buying off the net.

But even then, convenience isn't even the only reason I re-watch movies. If I ever lost my copy of Trainspotting, I'd eventually buy it again. Some movies are worth owning and re-watching, some aren't. I actually bought a second copy of Human Traffic after I lent the first one to a friend.

 

[TheDeceased]

Aha!

I think that's the first time in this thread that anyone has mentioned convenience/laziness as a reason for rewatching old films.

BTW, assuming you live near a fairly large city I'm sure that a videostore somewhere in your vicinity has a copy of Where the Buffalo Roam. Find a video store that is mostly stocked with weird, imported titles. I managed to find one fifteen minutes drive from my house and I live in Melbourne (and yes it has a copy of 'Where the Buffalo Roam' among many other hard to find titles). Sure beats the hell out of being limited to what the commercial chain stores have on their shelves...

You shouldn't have to buy it off the net I don't think (assuming you don't live in the desert).

 

[Finder]

I think some shows/movies have more re-watch value than others. Oddly, I rarely READ the same books, but there are some films I have probably seen over 50 times (The Big Lebowski) as well as some TV. I'd say a good example of a comedy with large re-watch value was Arrested Development--it practically encourages multiple viewings with their joke structure.

Sometimes familiarity is a good thing...I'm not sure how you can move past everything you've heard/seen/read after one time? What if you interpreted something wrong the first time? Perhaps you want to revisit a film that moved you in a powerful way and view it with a different perspective. There are a million different reasons why people re-watch TV and film. Are we to take your position there is nothing you want to see more than once? Sure, some people take re-watching to an extreme, but that can be said about anything.

The Big Lebowski is still going to make me laugh every time.

 

[junglist15]

hmmm well, i'm working my way through the complete series of The Wire again. in the middle of season 3 right now. i recently finished the first season of True Blood, and watched every episode at least twice. there are some movies i've watched 5-10 times easy. Star Wars maybe 20 times etc...is there a point? not really, just a way to spend your free time i reckon

 

[alasdairm]

I think some people idolize and obsess over certain celebrities/ films/ tv shows/ etc and thereby limit themselves to the number of ideas they can be exposed to.

perhaps but i think you're stretching a little and, even if they choose to limit the number of ideas to which they expose themselves, i'm not sure why it upsets you so much.

i have watched certain movies a ridiculous number of times. for example a lot of kubrick's work (e.g. barry lyndon). also, one of my favourite movies of all time is 'the fifth element' which i rewatch, in part, because it contains, for me, many beautiful shots.

to me, your complaint is like saying "why look at a beautiful picture more than once?" for me, and others it seems, there are works of art which continue to inspire/delight/challenge/whatever even after multiple viewings. is that really such a hard idea to grasp?

alasdair

 

[Finder]

to me, your complaint is like saying "why look at a beautiful picture more than once?" for me, and others it seems, there are works of art which continue to inspire/delight/challenge/whatever even after multiple viewings. is that really such a hard idea to grasp?

This is what I was getting out of your complaint myself, although worded better.

 

[Rated E]

The Big Lebowski is still going to make me laugh every time.

I enjoyed the Big Lebowski much more the second time I watched it.

BTW, assuming you live near a fairly large city I'm sure that a videostore somewhere in your vicinity has a copy of Where the Buffalo Roam. Find a video store that is mostly stocked with weird, imported titles. I managed to find one fifteen minutes drive from my house and I live in Melbourne (and yes it has a copy of 'Where the Buffalo Roam' among many other hard to find titles). Sure beats the hell out of being limited to what the commercial chain stores have on their shelves...

You shouldn't have to buy it off the net I don't think (assuming you don't live in the desert).

I live in a suburban area about 40 mins drive from Sydney (yes, we're not as cultured as you Melbournians). It's not hard to find a decent video rental store if I'm willing to travel a bit. But the thought of travelling there AGAIN to return it is mind boggling.

 

[TheDeceased]

How do you approach music? Because personally, I don't even consider myself to be "into" an album until I've listened to it all the way through at least a couple of times. The kind of album / music it is while determine how many listens before I properly become aquainted with it.

I think music is different to some extent. I don't usually sit down and listen to music while doing nothing else. It's a background thing for me. But having said that, I mostly listen to the radio and songs that I've heard too many times annoy the shit out of me.

to me, your complaint is like saying "why look at a beautiful picture more than once?" for me, and others it seems, there are works of art which continue to inspire/delight/challenge/whatever even after multiple viewings. is that really such a hard idea to grasp?

I'm not struggling to grasp anything. My wife said to me yesterday she wanted to go and see the Salvidor Dali exhibit again before it leaves Melbourne. My instant response was: "Let's go and see someone else's work."

I don't see why I would go to see Dali twice when there are so many other artists and so many other ideas being expressed on canvas. Even if I missed a couple of little details. Those little details don't compare to a whole new exhibition full of new ideas that I haven't been exposed to.

Sometimes familiarity is a good thing...I'm not sure how you can move past everything you've heard/seen/read after one time? What if you interpreted something wrong the first time? Perhaps you want to revisit a film that moved you in a powerful way and view it with a different perspective. There are a million different reasons why people re-watch TV and film. Are we to take your position there is nothing you want to see more than once? Sure, some people take re-watching to an extreme, but that can be said about anything.

Don't you think watching a film 50 times is a little extreme?

i'm not sure why it upsets you so much.

It doesn't upset me in the slightest, alasdair.

There aren't that many in depth discussion on F&T and I don't think this topic has been discussed before. I'm not sure why you think I'm upset about anything.

 

[Finder]

Don't you think watching a film 50 times is a little extreme?

Perhaps, but it is one film out of many I've seen only once. I just happen to enjoy it just about every time I see it. Now, some of this enjoyment may be 30 minutes of the film, or the first half and not the second. You didn't answer any of my questions. Don't you have any favorite scenes you like to revisit? As strange as it is from your perspective, I find it strange there are no characters you enjoy revisiting, no scenes so beautifully shot they stand out against 100 other films, no lines delivered with perfect timing you need to remind yourself of from time to time.

 

[alasdairm]

I don't see why I would...

you don't see why you would. exactly.

this isn't just about you. you wouldn't . other people would (for a variety of reasons, some provided here).

alasdair

 

[L2R]

TD, do you buy any dvds?

it's extremely benefitial to analyse why you enjoy some films and why you don't enjoy others, considering your hopes of making film. more often than not, this take repeat viewings.

 

[TheDeceased]

Quite a long time ago I gave away all DVDs/videos because by having them in my possession it was possible I might rewatch them if I was stoned and had nothing better to do and couldn't be bothered getting off my ass. I tell people this yet they continue to give me DVDs as presents sometimes. So I have to periodically throw away/ give away my collection as it builds up. I just filled up my rubbish bin with my current DVDs and videos. I should have given them away, but oh well. It feels good to purge them, no matter how I do it. Try it and see!

it's extremely benefitial to analyse why you enjoy some films and why you don't enjoy others, considering your hopes of making film. more often than not, this take repeat viewings.

I guess it's a matter of opinion. I find it far more useful towards my inspiration/understanding of film to watch something new that might challenge/surprise me.

Don't you have any favorite scenes you like to revisit? As strange as it is from your perspective, I find it strange there are no characters you enjoy revisiting, no scenes so beautifully shot they stand out against 100 other films, no lines delivered with perfect timing you need to remind yourself of from time to time.

I'm not trying to suggest that I'm incapable of enjoying something after I've already seen it. But I don't enjoy it very much. Maybe 20% of what I take from it initially. Jokes that made me laugh hysterically, make me chuckle a little bit. And then the third time, maybe a smile. But maybe I'm weird like that. I used to think the same thing of waterslides when I was little. Everyone else would just keep climbing the stairs and going down the same slides over and over again, seemingly enjoying themselves as much as the first time they went down. They were quite happy to keep going all day, whereas I got bored after a little while and wanted to leave and go and do something else.

you don't see why you would. exactly.

this isn't just about you. you wouldn't . other people would (for a variety of reasons, some provided here).

I'm aware that it isn't just about me. I was just expressing how I feel. I can't help but use the word 'I' when talking about myself. Lots of other people have used the word 'I' as well, but I (there it is again!) don't quote them like you've done with me and patronizingly tell them that the world doesn't revolve around them.

Bit of Deja Vu, here alasdair.

You've made the same meaningless distinction numerous times in conversations with me.

 

[L2R]

that's cool.

from this thread can you see how others might find reason and point to repeated viewings?

 

[TheDeceased]

Yeah of course I understand yours and others perspectives. That doesn't mean that I agree with your reasoning, neccessarily.

Like I said in my original post I understand rewatching films to a certain extent, but I don't understand rewatching television at all - because it's a completely disposable form of entertainment.

But still with films there has to be some sort of a limit.

Like if someone watches the same film a thousand times or ten thousand times, wouldn't you agree that they should fucking stop it and watch something else instead?

I guess everybody's limit would be different. Mine is about 2-3.

If a friend of mine suggested watching something that they'd seen to death and could quote in it's entirety, then I would INSIST that they watch something else...

 

[Binge Artist]

I propose the "Wall Paper Theory of Re-Watchability".

Most of us don't change our wall paper every day, right? We usually find some color we are content with, sets the right kind of mood, etc. I'd say some of the same aesthetics applies to movies. Certain movies have interesting colors, moods, etc, and we're happy to have them on, even if we're not focusing intently on them, simply as a "background".

 

[alasdairm]

You've made the same meaningless distinction numerous times in conversations with me.

if that is, indeed, the case, there are a couple of conclusions one could draw.

I guess everybody's limit would be different.

indeed.

alasdair