The greatest of all movies would be The Blair Witch Project.
This would be due to some simple reasons that combined created a complex situation. First was the internet feeding from the local news of missing people. This made tens of millions of people from other parts of the world to become interested.
Second was the internet feeding information about the purpose of the missing people's assignment. Video showed that hand held cameras discovered revealed the story of what happened. This created the impulsiveness of tens of millions to feel the need to see this footage at the theaters.
Third was the experience of being in the theaters viewing the documentary with hundreds of other viewers. The footage from 2 or 3 seperate cameras recorded the vents as they unfolded. Many people at this point was wondering if this film was true or false.
Fourth was after the fact that the film was entirely fictional and no people were actually missing. It was a giant hoax and made many people mad but the rest truly enjoyed the largest prank of all time. No other attempt had been made since the Orson Welle's broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" on radio in the 1930's.
Fifth was the financial implications. The film cost around $700,000 to make with the usual 20 million in marketing and distribution. The box office take in North America alone was 150 million. The best record at the time was a little movie in 1977 that cost 30 miilion to make and made 350 million in two years of release with an addditional release 20 years later for another 100 million. Film studios took notice from the hoax movie of true profit. How many big buget films with big stars has tanked? Waterworld, Cutthoat Island, The Cable Guy, and others. This year alone showed two examples of low budget movies with great story telling, Distict 9 and Paranormal Activity.
Does the greatest of all movies imply that 1) be a huge special effects movie 2) be a true story 3) be one that requires a moral ending? If so, then #1 would be Titanic, various science fiction and fantasy films, various war films that utilize CGI. The #2 category would be historical films, biographical movies, and documentaries. The last category would be films closely realted to catgeory 2 but be hinged on a particular viewpoints like war, religion, finance, medical, and other issues in society where the main characters have to make a difficult choice.
Was The Blair Witch Project a hoax? Yes
Was it a riduculous movie? Yes
Was it displayed in poor recording quality and sound? Yes
Was it intriguing at first? Yes
Was it suspenseful? Yes
Was it fun to watch? Yes
Was it fun to watch the people even after hearing the truth still believed? Most definetely yes.
Did more people watch it based on supposed actual events? Yes
Did more people watch it based friends believing it to be true? Yes
Did we all get duped? Yes
The film didn't possess the epic storline of an action adventure. The film didn't have any big stars. The film didn't have a big director. The film didn't have a big budget. The film didn't have a romantic storyline.
The film had humor, suspense, and feeling that you were with them on the journey.
When it comes to the title of "The Greatest Movie of all Time"? The true answer lies with the individual. Each individual has different outlooks in life that vary from person to person. Many of the replies in the earlier posts I'll agree with as great movies. And, there's many more not listed so far.
To actually choose one movie above all others is truly unfair. There would have to be a criteria agreed on by all to choose the one that fits the criteria 100 percent. Is that possible? Probably not.
The only real question in this line of thought would be what is your greatest movie of all time? This way the answers truly reflect the individual and not trying to compare great movies from different genres at the same time.
