Epic Movies

[Alaric_Prympax]

How about these...

A Bridge Too Far
Spartacus
Cleopatra
Fall of the Roman Empire
Quo Vadis
Battle of the Bulge
The Bible (a John Huston film, it had George C. Scott as Abraham, Peter O'Toole as an angel)
The Patriot (the one with Mel Gibson)
Apollo 13

 

[barsoomcore]

The definition of "epic"

Wow, whatever I mean by that word is CLEARLY not what some of you mean. That's very interesting.

How many posts did it take to get to Ben-Hur? Or Spartacus?



We aren't missing too many obvious ones anymore (and we've got a LOT of extra ones. The Matrix? Epic? Huh?) but a couple that need mention:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Once Upon a Time In the West
Princess Mononoke
Titanic
Apocalypse Now
2001: A Space Odyssey
Napoleon
Zulu
El Cid
The Grapes of Wrath
The Killing Fields

Honestly, Star Trek? The Mummy? Don't get me wrong, love those movies, but epics? Huh? I don't get it.

 

[MEG Hal]

If we are doing all genres and types of movies then add:
Brotherhood of the Wolf
The Usual Suspects
Fight Club (I was mentally drained by the end)
Silverado
and all of the above posts as well.

 

[Phowett]

The most epic of epic movie ever: "Dude, Where's My Car?"

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Re: The definition of "epic"

Honestly, Star Trek?

From your list, you only seem to be addressing a certain aspect of what an epic is.

From Dictionary.com:

ep·ic Pronunciation Key (pk)
n.
1. An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
2. A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
3. A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.

adj.
1. Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
2. Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: “A vast musical panorama... it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice” (Tim Page).
3. Heroic and impressive in quality: “Here in the courtroom... there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment” (Scott Turow).

The sheer scope of Star Trek I makes it epic. Movies are a visual medium, so the immensity of the spacescapes of that film alone make it epic in my opinion. In addition, the story itself is very epic in nature, especially if you consider the entire story of V'ger itself. The movie plods, but there is a majestic quality to it.

Star Trek II is operatic, and very much epic, in tone. Revenge that spans space and time seems very epic to me. Moby Dick is an epic, so, since STII uses the story of MD, it is also epic, by extension.

Other films I feel are epic:

Patton
Babylon V: In the Beginning
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Hunt for Red October
Intolerance
Birth of a Nation

 

[DarkShiv]

The Matrix was just about as epic as it gets in movies for the past five years or so. Lord of the Rings hit it also. Barsoon, I hate country music but there are some people who feel that Thunder Road is an epic song. Freebird (although not technically country) is equally respected and irritating to me.

What is epic to one in not to another. If it broadens the imagination and open the mind then epic it is to the veiwer.

 

[boothbey]

Epic...

Saw Seven Samurai listed...so have to add...

Ran - Kurosawa's King Lear movie.

Princess Mononoke - Animated movies can be epics too!

Saving Private Ryan

 

[Cougar]

Transformers the Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Forrest Gump

 

[Zappo]

Wow, everything has been listed save the kitchen sink. I reckon that the definition of epic is a bit fuzzy for many people.

 

[Darkness]

Moved to non-rpg sci-fi/fantasy.