Midweek Mumbling – To re-watch or not re-watch, that is the question

Nice mumble! I am always game for a re-watch, too

Never forget to rewatch movies! Not all of them, of course, but some. It’s admirable to explore as much as possible too, but one shouldn’t forget that movies are meant to be enjoyed. Revisit old favorites, because they deserve it, and maybe you’re curious to see if they hold up. Revisit great ones you’ve seen recently, to spot new things about them. Revisit the ones you didn’t necessarily love, but the ones that left you mystified and puzzled in a good way, the ones that NEED a second viewing to really get. And revisit the ones others keep saying they only started loving on repeat viewings.

Oh, and the Coens. Always rewatch Coens.

Not sure what your trying to say Scott. Do you rarely re-watch films?

I always re-watch films at home, if you love it why not? I remember watching The Social Network three times in a week when it came out on DVD. Or sometimes you want something familiar or safe because your mind isn’t quite up for taking in a new story.

Interesting mumbling Scott.
I think that that question is depend on the movie…if you like it so much, then do watch it again. If not, then why bother.

I am not a detail person like you, reading your description shame after second viewing is awesome…I rarely paid that much attention even after countless rewatching.

I, myself, is a rewatcher. If a like a movie or a tvseries I always watch it over and over and over again. It goes the same way with rereading.

That’s a very interesting topic Scott!

I, personally, don’t like to re-watch movies, especially ones that I have seen recently (by that meaning the last 2 years), because I feel I am occupying my spare time with things I have already seen instead of learning or watching something new. I do re-watch films that I forgot everything about it because I saw them a long, long time ago, like Pretty Woman or Before Sunrise, just to name a few I saw lately.

But I would re-watch movies like Shame or Drive, just because they were amazing the first time and I am sure I will notice the things you said, as well.

I don’t feel I’ve ever fully appreciated a film until my second viewing.

I think I have the same question in mind. Obviously, rewatching could be a wonderful thing to do with the movie you love. And so after second viewing you’ll love it more and more. I think if I have a proper time to do second viewing, I would! I once purposely did second viewing on Midnight in Paris, because when I watched it I was a bit tired and it made me look the movie with more cynical response. It helped a little, though.

You saw Shame Twice ?? You are lucky. I still need to watch it. Shame, Take Shelter and Muppets.

I watch or used to watch many movies again and again especially some of my favorites. But my re-watching has gone down drastically since I started my blog since I now have so many new movies to watch. So, in my case, I do re-watch the movies If you really really like it or you do not understand it the first time you saw.

there’s also the famous physical reason to rewatch SHAME, and I’m thinking of Fass My Benders (or at least some of his parts…)

I do enjoy re-watching movies as you always see something new.

However, I find it sad when, having re-watched a movie lots of times you put it on again and realise you are not paying attention to it even though it is brilliant.

Instead it has just become a piece of the furniture.

I’m a huge fan of the re-watch (as you can probably guess) for exactly the reasons you state. Even average movies, it’s hard (and I find it almost impossible) to pick up on everything that the film’s makers are trying to achieve. And when you start talking about top quality cinema, some of the best ever made like The 400 Blows or The Godfather or pick any of the best ever made, there’s a lot that went into making those movies. It’s what makes them so great.

I will say, though, if you want 2012 to be about new discoveries and learning about new films, it can’t hurt to shelve the re-watches for later. The longer between the first watch and the second (or third+) re-watch, you find some really interesting things about the way your attitudes about movies change. Or at least, that’s how it works for me.

Hi, Scott!

Interesting topic for Mid Week Mumbles.

I’ve found older films much more enjoyable when it comes to watching and re-watching.

I’ve watched ‘Inception’ several times. More for the interplay between Arthur, Eames and Adriana and superior special effects than for Leo Di Caprio.

I’ve actually been rewatching some classics lately, yes GP-related of course but also did so with The Rocketeer. I think a re-watch is great depending on the film and if time allows. Some movies simply DEMAND a rewatch in order for you to fully grasp its concept or if you miss some details on first viewing, i.e. Inception. But of course, there are a lot that I simply can’t watch again nor do I want to.

I don’t do nearly enough rewatching, and I’ve been trying to do it a bit more frequently this year. I think it’s important because it is impossible to catch everything the first time around. But the ‘problem’ is, there are always so many films I still want to see, and so limited time to watch them.

Hmmm… I’m with Dan on this one, I don’t feel like I’ve ever fully appreciated a film until my second viewing either. Like you said yourself, you notice so much more when you watch the film for a second or third time.

This is particularly in the case of films where you really have to pay attention, like Inception. You don’t want to miss something important, and this leaves little time to see what’s going on in the background.

I love rewatching – although not too soon after the last time – but, because there are so many I haven’t got round to watching yet, I try to prioritise first viewings over rewatches.

I’m the same with books and rereading, and games and replaying. Only music is the opposite where I prefer to listen to things I have already heard rather than new stuff.

I don’t rewatch as many films as I would like, but it’s usually a refreshing experience, especially if it’s something that I watched in the theaters and haven’t seen for years. It’s also interesting to check out classics to see how they hold up years later. Sometimes my perspective on a movie can really change based on my current situation (father, 36-year-old) as opposed to being in college or my mid-20s. Nice post.

I need to watch “shame” for the first time myself. I find it to be a good habit to get into time permitting to re-watch stuff. Been enjoying multiple spins of “drive” lately myself. I like it when you see things differently on repeat viewings.

Well I would say you are probably seeing too many movies Rewatching movies always bring something new to the table that you missed the first time or two. Most good movies, you should actually want to rewatch pretty much right away.

To me I think re-watching helps to create a better understanding of a film, which in return makes a person’s critiquing of a film better. I don’t tend to re-watch though, so don’t feel bad

I think The Fifth Element is one of the most re-watchable movies ever made. Sure it’s cheesy and corny and stupid and ridiculous, but it never gets old. Chris Tucker should have gotten an Oscar nomination, seriously.

Woohoo, Scott!

Congratulations! This thread has been picked up by IMDb through a link towards the bottom of its home page.

Very cool!

I am a major proponent of the re-watch.

The first time through, a viewer is managed by the filmmaker: you know what he wants to know (and when he wants you to know it!); you see what she leads you to see. The second time through, a viewer is free to wander through the film unguided; the director no longer knows any more about the story than you do, and have no more means of manipulating your attention.

Good films are so layered that it’s usually impossible to notice all of the thoughtful details in a single viewing. If you enjoyed a movie the first time, chances are you’ll find a bunch of thoughtful grace notes filmmakers planted that you’ll notice fully only the second time around (but which probably influenced your experience subconsciously the first time anyway).

One of my favorite re-watches: “Dead Again.” But then, I do like me some Kenneth Branagh.

Congrats on the IMDB Hitlist Scott.

I always re-watch films, heck when I was younger I rewatched several films. I still do as an adult but not as much, sometimes I would watch a film I hated the first time I saw it but then when I see it for the second time, I didn’t hate it as much.

I don’t catch many movies in cinemas and rewatch virtually none there. I hate rude people and I love my big room at home. At home, I plan to watch everything more than once, but don’t get to as much as I’d like.

For me, there are (at least) two kinds of rewatch on video: watching the movie from start to finish, and watching it with the remote in my hand. It’s nice to back up and re-watch scenes or compare parts of the movie by jumping around, but it’s not something I normally do unless I’ve watched the whole movie recently.

My main rewatch is usually with the commentary on. I use that opportunity to pay extra attention to the visuals separate from the story or dialog.

I just want more time to watch and re-watch. So many movies…

Great post and an admirable project, but I’m saddened by your relegation of technique to a secondary status beneath story. The two aren’t mutually exclusive at all and technique doesn’t only function subliminally. I’m often much more interested in the story the technique is telling (mood, pace, atmosphere: the abstract emotional aspects) than what dialogue and facial expressions and other literal/concrete aspects suggest (which in alot of great movies are actually at adds w/ what the technique is telling us) and could just as easily be accomplished in other media. I watch films for the film, not the story. Some good exercises I did in film school were to watch films with the sound and subtitles off – what is being communicated only through visual information? Also if 400 Blows and 12 Angry Men are a novelty to you as B&W, a great exercise I did was turning off the color contrast on my TV (this was the 90s; I don’t know where that stuff is now!) and watching my favorite films in B&W (Deakins’ work w/ the Coens will blow you away!) Also please look at some films that John Alton photographed. Best of luck!

xoxo,
wig

Nice post Scott, If a film is worth watching its worth watching more than once. If I had the cash or the time I would be all for rewatching many films at the theater but I usually end up waiting till they are streaming or on DVD.

Nice post! If I love the movie I have to see it more than once – I can have 30 or 40 movies waiting for me to see them the first time, but I always chose the one I already saw – maybe it’s because I know that movie experience will not be disappointing. For example I saw “My week with Marilyn” for the first time today and it was pretty bad, but it was preceeded by “The Artist” and “Shame” trailers and I couldn’t help by think I’d rather see those movies again than MwwM. There are plenty of things you notice during rewatch – I think the best movies do that, with every rewatch you catch something new.

Re-watching is always a good thing.
The line I hate hearing is this one:
“How did you like the movie?”
Answer, “I don’t know, I have to watch it again.”
I hate the idea that you have to watch it multiple times to know how you feel about it.

I usually re-watch a film if I like it enough, just because I feel that’s how you know it’s a good film. It’s difficult to appreciate a movie to it’s fullest extent when you’re watching it for the first time, especially if it’s in the cinema – you come out buzzing, but on the re-watch, it may not be so good.

I think it’s important to be able to watch a film multiple times – who can honestly say they’ve only watched their favourite film once? That’s how you know it’s a good film – it stands up to scrutiny and is enjoyable time after time.

Nice mumble Scott. Well as you know I am DTRW (Down To ReWatch) and I do it all the time. In fact, before I review a film, I find I often have to watch it twice, or if I’m not able to (or if it’s a bad movie and I don’t want to), I’ll simply take notes on it during my first viewing so I don’t have to rewatch it. But this is rare. Anyway, rewatching is definitely a big part of my life.

I think that re-watching a movie has merits. I would like to say that I found this article rather awesome, god job on that. The mentioning of hat you saw the second time around, the camera work, the color palette, etc. that was incredible. I have just recently started a film history course and am being introduced to films a whole new way. I have found myself going back and re-watching the films from class and catching things that I didn’t see the first time around, and for the most part, it makes the films even better. One film in particular that I found to be almost better the second time around was The Passion of Joan of Arc. First time through I was overwhelmed by the performance of Falconetti, so moved by her. Then on the second showing I was drawn to the camera work and the way it actually added to the story and the feeling of utter madness and chaos. I may have missed that whole feeling and may have missed that discovery if I had not of gone back and re-watched it at home. Just a rambling thought of my own to add to your wonderful mumble.

Hey Scott,

this is a question that has always puzzled me. I am crazy about movies and have watched mostly all good movies. I crave for new lists and or for some new piece of gem.

For the past few months i have been wandering about revisiting some of my fav., i tired to do that but then after trying out with a few i realised that, it is not the same experience for me. For me the most important part of a movie experience is the whole concept of uncertainty, i dont like movies were u can predict wats gonna happen. And most of all the best part is when u see a gr8 film and you think about it the whole night or maybe even for a few days.

So when i tried to watch some of the old classics, I just felt that i wasn’t that involved in them as i would have been if I was seeing them for the first time. As if i was doing injustice to the movie and the director.

well this is only my opinion, but i know people movie freaks like me who watch the same movies over and over agin.

I have but one thing to say…RE-WATCH, RE-WATCH, RE-WATCH! I have re-watched most of the movies on my favorite films list, and every single solitary one was better the second time. Only the higher ups (about 50 and up since my favorite films list is over 90 movies long) lasted past 3 or 4, but still, re-watching a second time is extremely important to understanding the director’s use of symbolism in his shot composition (The Departed) and the writer’s use of foreshadowing to hint towards some inevitable twist in the end (anything by Christopher Nolan). I have re-watched my favorite movie, Martin Scorsese’s award-winning masterpiece, The Departed, about 30 or 40 times (no exaggeration), and I have learned something new about the movie every time I’ve watched it. Maybe I don’t catch on to tiny details quickly. Maybe I’m obsessed with The Departed. Either way, my point is, RE-WATCH!

I find myself re watching porn films frequently.

I am notorious for re-watching films much to the annoyance of friends and family. I have noticed they get extremely upset when I suggest a film that I, or we, have already seen. Why this seems to be such a problem eludes me. It seems like nothing for me to watch a film 2 and sometimes even 5 times—that is a habit developed from having to write film essays for college. I know that seeing a film just once never seems enough. The first viewing I know that I will pick up on the basis of the story, the message of the film, and an impression if I like it or not. Seeing it a second time, I can focus on the actual filmmaking process. At least for me this is where I develop my true opinion of the movie. And what I just wrote goes double for foreign films—the first time I spend the whole time reading the dialogue that I don’t have time to absorb the other parts of the film, so the second viewing is a must.

I find myself asking this same question a lot. I don’t rewatch movies too often, simply because there are always so many out there that I have yet to see. I just keep indulging in new films rather than go back to old favorites. Having said that, it’s always a great feeling to share a loved film with someone who has never seen it. In that regard, I have no problem spending time on the same movie again.

If you ever feel that you haven’t gotten all you can from a film, you should re-watch it — maybe more than once. Some films are so shallow that once is enough. Others demand multiple re-watches. Let the film be your guide. Those that deserve re-watching will demand it.

Unless I really despise a movie, I normally re-watch them at some point. Heck, I’ve even re-watched movies I hated and then wondered why I hated them (maybe I needed to do some growing up?) I think with quality films, it’s a disservice to not see them at least twice, because I hardly ever seem to catch all the nuances the first time around. Sometimes seeing a film a 2nd time is like seeing it for the first time; for me, anyway. Jest one gal’s opine.

Rewatches can be infinitely valuable, especially in cases like Inception or Shutter Island.

I always find myself rewatching movies, but usually not with the purpose of intense examination or anything like that. Usually it’s because I know what I’m in the mood for, so I’ll watch that. However, rewatches have always been helpful for me, especially with the ones I saw when I was a lot younger. I find I can often get a better understanding of what they’re trying to say. Basically, I just rewatch whatever I want to rewatch, and that’s fine by me! Nice post, Scott, and it’s cool that this was on IMDb!

Like you Scott, I guess I wish I had the time but there’s just always more new films or old classics to watch. Loved the deatils you picked up on. That is the joy of re-watching! As a film and media lecturer, I’m lucky in that I get to show the students loads of bits of films and I get to re-watch some of my absolute faves every year, For example I get to re-watch Fight Club, City of God, La Haine, United 93, This is England, Do The Right Thing and Crash every year! Plus I’m always showing the opening scenes of Team America and Saving Private Ryan! Makes it sound like a cool job. Perhaps I should stop complaining about it so much!

Hi Scott,

I tend to re-watch quite a lot, often as a result of reading reviews or comments on various boards which highlight themes or occasionally plot details that passed me by. This sometimes causes me to wonder how I miss these things, maybe I am not watching in the right frame of mind?

I often think that a first watch is about pure enjoyment, additional watches are about understanding?

Maybe I should be able to do both the first time round!

Love the site.

TMH