Dear People who Haven't Seen This Yet:
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OzOverTheRainbow — 9 years ago(June 29, 2016 09:54 PM)
I first saw it without being influenced by any hype. I loved it the first time I saw it and I have loved it when I have watched it since. I have probably watched it more than twenty times. I think that it is a masterpiece and the greatest film ever made.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. -
zinabaggins — 9 years ago(July 29, 2016 03:46 PM)
I tried to evaluate it as a masterpiece and as a normal film. It falls short as a masterpiece. It simply isn't, for me. It is better than an average film and very innovative in its technical aspects, but that's it. Incredibly overrated. If a film has such a protagonist and doesn't make you care, there's a huge problem there. If a film doesn't make me think or feel, something's really wrong.
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chefdonnag — 9 years ago(August 22, 2016 10:02 AM)
I have seen this movie at least 20 plus times and I really enjoyed it every time. Yesterday I saw it on the big screen at our art house theater. Wow. There were so many details that even a big screen TV can't begin to match. If you love this film go see it at the theater! I know it's surrounded by hype. For me it is a wonderful film..
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HarvSoul — 1 month ago(January 31, 2026 03:47 AM)
Spot on. The "Greatest Film of All Time" label is a heavy burden for any movie to carry, especially one from 1941. If you walk in expecting a life-altering religious experience, you’re going to be disappointed that it’s "just" a black-and-white mystery about a rich guy.
The best way to watch it—as you suggested—is to ignore the pedestal and look at the craftsmanship:
The "First" Time for Everything: It's like listening to the Beatles; you’ve heard the tricks so many times in other movies that you forget Kane invented or perfected them. The deep focus, the low-angle shots showing ceilings, and the non-linear storytelling were radical at the time.
The "Seinfeld" Effect: Just like the Seinfeld finale, the ending of Kane was controversial and polarizing because it didn't give a "happy" resolution. It left the audience with a pile of junk and a burning sled.
The Entertainment Value: Strip away the "Magnum Opus" talk, and it’s actually a pretty snappy, sarcastic, and cynical character study. It has more in common with a modern political drama than a dusty museum piece.
Watching it as "just a film" lets you see the human story—a kid who had everything except the one thing he actually wanted