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Originally Posted by jorgelito
Why not break the mold of stuffy, take-themselves-way-too-seriously, pretentious, snotty film people and pick some more fun films. Most film lists have become cliched. Be bold. Be different.
Try something new and more importantly, have fun. Good Luck!!
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I can agree with you on this to a point and that point is what is the actual topic of the paper and what year is guthmund in? If he's writing a first year paper in Introduction to Film Studies, about Narrative Film Editing, Mise en Scene, etc. Then I would strongly suggest staying with a classic Hollywood film like Casablanca or It's a Wonderful Life. I would do a compare and contrast with something that breaks the rules or uses a different set rules like the films of Jean Luc Goddard or Sergei Eisenstein.
The main reason I suggest this is that in an introductory course the whole point is to learn how to conform your arguments and discussions to Films Studies speak. To show that you know how to recognize the basic language of film and how to apply it to concrete examples. Basic stuff. Using the films I've suggested allows you to keep it simple.
However, if he is writing a more advanced paper and explore genre, an auteur, post modern or post structuralist theory, historical, interdisciplinary, etc. then yes, I would say some of the films on your list (and many of the films above are ripe for use). In the case of more advanced papers, points are scored not only for your ability to apply the theories you have learned but also to do so in novel ways with interesting films. In other words you are an advanced student who must bring more to your work than the basics.
In first (and second year papers) it is very important (unless you are willing to risk it because you really know what you are doing) to follow the KISS rule of thumb -- Keep It Simple Stupid.
Trust me on this. I spent more time than I ever want to again taking film studies courses and marking first year film studies papers.