Some classic directors

[ono]

And I was seriously looking into Birth of a Nation (I had previously read about it years ago), but my older brother watched it in a history class and said it sucks, because its so...racist.

that's a kinda simplified and unfair summation....

Not really.  It sucks because it's not only sickeningly racist, but it's really, really boring.  One of the worst ever in my opinion, and if D.W. Griffith didn't come up with the so-called revolutionary techniques of that film, someone else would.  They're that basic.  So, the film doesn't really deserve to be revered at all.

[Chest Rockwell]

And I was seriously looking into Birth of a Nation (I had previously read about it years ago), but my older brother watched it in a history class and said it sucks, because its so...racist.

that's a kinda simplified and unfair summation....

Yea, well...I guess my brother isn't exactly the best role model as far as movie-buffs go

[Ernie]

Here's an excerpt from a Coen Bros interview briefly denouncing "The Birth of a Nation", Joel might be kidding but you can never be sure with those guys. This is one of the main reason I haven't sought out the film...this and all the talk of racist overtones in it. But such a bad reaction from one of America's best filmmaker's is enough for me to ignore it right now. I'll stick with FW Murnau, he's not racist.

Q: Have you ever walked out of a film?

TOGETHER: Oh yeah!
JOEL: "Birth Of A Nation", that's one boring movie, man.

[SoNowThen]

Scorsese seems to think it's important...

here's a snippet from a review by the fellow at dvdmoviecentral:

you have to take it for what it is, and the time period it came out of. For better or worse, a film like this could only have been made in the freedom of pre-studio system Hollywood. It happens to be one of the greatest examples of storytelling on film ever made, that just happens to have a disturbing point of view. There's no reason to view a picture made in 1915 as politically topical in today's world. In fact, even though the Klan of the teens and twenties used this picture as a rallying point, both Griffith and novelist Dixon publicly and loudly denounced them, and Griffith in his own writings expressed sorrow and hurt over the fact that people, especially African Americans, considered him a racist.

[Alethia]

birth of a nation..you have to see it...it's definitly worth a view no matter who you are

[Alethia]

edit - nm.

[cine]

I'm shocked that Birth of a Nation is getting such negative remarks. If you're into film history at ALL, its a must. A MUST. You don't turn it down because its racist. That's all the more reason to watch the film - to see how the African Americans were perceived. This is one of the greatest films ever made. For anyone to say a 3 hour + Griffith epic from 1915 is boring, well I can safely assume that's not the film's fault.  
Everyone do themselves a favour and purchase Kino's Griffith Masterworks Set.

[Chest Rockwell]

Any recommendations on the DVD edition or anything from where I can get Birth of a Nation?

[Slick Shoes]

I really think everybody should see this. Fuck whether it's entertaining or not -- the fact of the matter is that this is an important film and you need to have an opinion about it. D.W. Griffith was a visionary who also happened to be a racist. Sure somebody else would have broken ground the way he did eventually, but that's not the point.

[Pubrick]

jesus christ, some ppl just don't know shit about movies.

[cine]

Any recommendations on the DVD edition or anything from where I can get Birth of a Nation?

Buy it here.

[NEON MERCURY]

FRANKENHEIMER -- The Manchurian Candidate
.

.and Seconds......or whatever the name is.......

but a perfect list by ebeaman.....

[MacGuffin]

but a perfect list by ebeaman.....

Except for not enough Billy Wilder.

[Alethia]

FRANKENHEIMER -- The Manchurian Candidate
.

.and Seconds......or whatever the name is.......

another frankenheimer essential would be Reindeer Games.....

[Chest Rockwell]

but a perfect list by ebeaman.....

Except for not enough Billy Wilder.

Sunset Blvd kicks ass.