After viewing the film and hearing some of the commentary by Roger
Ebert, what do you remember the best (and what is most important for you about
the film?). Does it deserve its status as one of the greatest films of all
time? Would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not?
I think that, perhaps, my feelings about the film are coloured a bit by Roger Ebert’s enthusiasm. As a reviewer I deeply respect, it seems fair to me to open my mind to new interpretations and to understand why Ebert feels that the film is such a great one. That reaction is also coloured by the opinion of my good friend Francois, a Quebec film maker and camera man, who also adores the film. Why such enthusiastic responses? I did wonder when I first saw the film as a young man. Now that I understand more about its genius cinematography and bold narrative structure, I can appreciate the film on its own terms. It will never be easy to watch (now that I’ve seen it five or more times) and it will never be easy to listen to Susan Alexander’s grating voice! A scene I will always remember is when Kane, upon being finally abandoned by his wife at Xanadu, tears apart her bedroom. Charlie Kane seems like a child having a tantrum and so, finally, I understand his last word, “Rosebud.” He had spent his whole life chasing that safe and secure feeling one has as a child (represented by his sled). As for recommending the film for a friend, I would be careful. Most of us want to be entertained when watching a film and, in the case of “Citizen Kane” we may feel more hit over the head by its grim portrayal of a deeply flawed man. Only a few of my friends would want to spend their evenings that way!—264 words
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the movie “Citizen Kane” twice, I still did not understand the reporter’s efforts to search for the answer to the “Rosebud.” After I read the commentary by Roger Ebert, I better understand the representative meaning of “Rosebud.” Also, I found the film is an extremely excellent movie, because of the film review by Roger Ebert. Moreover, I am astonished to know that the film was even made by Orson Welles first. I adore the film after watching it more. I didn’t pay attention to the sled when the Charles played with his sled on the snowy ground. After Brad played ”The Battle over Citizen Kane,” I noticed that the sled only showed up five times. For example, the first time was Charles pulled the sled and run then put it down on the snowy ground. I could see the sled from his living room through the window. The second time was when Charles took the sled to go to talk with his father. The third time was when he threw the sled at Mr. Thatcher. The fourth time was when the sled was close-up to be covered by the snow. The fifth time was when the sled was given as Christmas gift, and finally it was placed in the warehouse and was thrown into the furnace and burned. Even though the sled is the answer to rosebud, I did not notice its important position in the film. Therefore, I was confused about the ending. One scene that was revelational, is when Kane indignantly destroys every costly thing in his luxurious main bedroom, until he finds the crystal glove and mumbles “Rosebud.” When he is a child, Charles is poor, but happy and content. However, the rich Charles is upset and solitary. Finally, I would like to recommend the film for my son and his friends who graduated with a film degree. I hope they will learn more from the film. -321 words
ReplyDeleteRoger Ebert's commentary on "Citizen Kane" was very interesting and opened my eyes to how and why this film gained the status of one of the best of all time. Although I do not agree with that status I do however appreciate the films technical innovations for the era in which it was made. The scene with the mother and father talking to the gentleman about Charles was most memorable because of the explanation of the camera going threw the table and watching the vase shake when the scene was still going. I would recommend this film to my friends only after recommending that they watch" RKO 281" first, After all that is where they will find the true meaning of Rosebud and have a better understand of "Citizen Kane" the movie.
ReplyDeleteIs it made me think through about the movie? That is my perspective of watching movies, because I don’t want to waste my precious 2 hours for mindless time-killing movies. Maybe I’m not interested about those classics, so “Citizen Kane” is not my best of all time film. But, it made me struggle to figure out the message of the movie. The most important scene of “Citizen Kane” is picking up the sled out of tons of piles of valuable waste. The scene is the heart of the movie that the writer wanted to say earnestly. The answer is in our inner world already before asking about it from the outer world desperately, but it is covered by meaningless displays if we don’t search it from there. Honestly, this film had been taken 70 years ago, so I can’t recommend it rashly to someone. Most of those movie maniacs might have watched it already, and others may think it is just another old movie. Frankly, 4:3 ratio is a little suffocating.
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