Why do these two movies get so much praise?

[pikasub]

Ok this question has stumped me for a really long time now and I'm really hoping that someone here will finally answer my question. I keep hearing about how 2001: A Space Odyssey and Citzen Kane are always on people's favorite movies list as well as the best films of all times list. All I want to know is WHY? I watched both of them and I simply didn't see the appeal to either of them. I feel like I'm missing the point of these movies so could everyone please tell me what you liked about the films.

 

[deftron]

They tell a good story.

 

[kduncan5]

Don't really know about Citizen Kane, but as a Horror/SciFi fanatic I can tell you that, for the year in which it was made, 2001-A Space Odyssey boasted some of the best state of the art special effects, and was extremely thought-provoking. The ending had me baffled for a long time though..... But then 2010 came out and cleared things up a bit -kd5-

 

[amnesiac]

It's kind of like how Andy Warhol is praised as one of the greatest contemporary artists by so many people but some look at it and say, "Oh. Campbell's Soup. Great."

You have to really be familiar with all the subtleties and techniques present (eg be a film geek) to really appreciate the full experience of 2001 or Citizen Kane. Also, the general public is spoiled rotten by the film industry who has a tendency to crank out films with dumbed down plots and ramped up special FX. Not saying that today's films are any better or worse than those of yesteryear, just saying that films today are made more for commercial value than art value.

 

[Czar]

Havent seen citezen kane, but I have 2001 and I have never watched it all.

did you know that it takes 25minutes for the movie to begin in 2001!!!

 

[SirFshAlot]

I still haven't figured out the ending to 2001 and I have seen it a dozen times.

I actually saw it's premiere at the theatres back in the '60s.


Citizen Kane was stupid, IMO.
I usually agree with the critics, but this one is the biggest exception to greatness.

 

[JoeKing]

Personally I think 2010 the "sequal" to 2001 was blasphemous and totally diffrent from the route the original movie took.

 

[thebestMAX]

2001 had great appeal to all the "heads" of the time.